he's co-chair of the progressive caucus and melissa harris perry, host of the melissa harris perry show here on msnbc. thank you both for coming on the show. >> thank you, al. >> congressman, let me go to you first, this deal comes down to taxing the rich. how can they not realize this is what the country wants? >> i don't think that the republican leadership cares what the country wants. i think they care about what their biggest donors want and their big donors want to reorganize america so that -- because they believe that the rich don't have enough money and the poor have too much. so what we're hearing here is an expression of an et you logical idea that we need american society to be cost competitive with places like china. that means giving rich people even more money. and we're not going to standby. >> as i was listening to the president's statement, when he said that he appealed to them, he brought them together, there was some progress. but he also says if it goes over the deadline, he's calling only senator reid to call for an up and down vote. explain the significance of tha

joining us sound on is melissa harris-perry, host of nbc's melissa harris-perry show.honda lee, your response is reasonable and perhaps kind and thanked them. explain, why did the explanation fire you. did they explain it properly is? was it just about this response issue? >> well, initially, i was -- i actually brought are that particular comment to the attention of management. i sent them a screen scrap at the time, and i told my manager, randy, at the time, well, you know, it seems like, i'm okay with not everybody liking me. that's fine. but a lot of our comments as of late have come across more racist than anything. so i would like to help with getting a policy together so that we can, one, block offensive posts like this. and two, maybe start a good dialogue for educating people and getting a good discourse, going on the web. so then the next few days after that, i was called into our general manager's office, and i was told that while we got lucky this time. and i got a little confused at first. i'm like, lucky, what do you mean? apparently according to the gm,

. >> joining me now is melissa harris perry which airs on msnbc. melissa, good to see you. could he be transformative in different ways, tim scott? >> i don't think he's transformative. the numbers that you showed about the paultry number of americans is because it's difficult to win statewide office. what would be transformative, republican or democrat, south or north or midwest to the west could actually win statewide office. this is much like an appointment and i don't think you would see transformation. on the other hand, it's a good pick for a republican governor out of south carolina? sure, it's a reasonable pick. i don't think that african-americans are going to be particularly thrilled with a republican southerner. but diversity matters and it would be nice to have an african-american in the senate. >> governor nikki haley will be appointed says this, i want to make two things clear from the outset. number one, i will not take two things and jim demint and i share. just to the point that you are making there, he goes -- he is apointed. he does go up for election. is

that is something, for which we have no words, and, yet, as melissa harris perry said, we want to buildhis moat and say we want to be -- have a response, a natural response to what appears to be a supernatural reality when we can do the stuff we can do. stop the flow of guns. stop the ready accessibility of guns and, guess what, black and brown communities deal with this trauma on an every day basis, and they have nobody to speak for them and nobody to defend their children, and it's another tragedy that has tobacco knowledged as well. >> we're talking about systemic failure, right? >> across the board. >> systemic failure in our society, and certainly it's not just days like today that we should be looking at this. this should be a part of the national discussion. we have to leave it there. i want to thank you for hanging with me through this. andrea mitchell will have continuing coverage of the shooting in newtown, connecticut. stay with us. >> and thanks very much. right now on "andrea mitchell reports" a horrifying scene unfolding in connecticut at an elementary school. a shooting a

i'm melissa harris perry.e looking back at the moments of 2012 that made nerdland do a double take and say, say what? how politicians, especially republicans dealt with women. i mean they tried to deal with women, but they failed. they had the wrong message, the wrong tactics, definitely the wrong emissaries. >> i love you women. >> i don't know about the rnc women, but i sure didn't feel the love this year. especially hen your husband said this. >> we took an effort to go out and find women who had backgrounds to be qualified to become members of our cabinet. i went to a number of women's groups to help us find groups. they brought us binders full of women. >> right, mitt. that's where you find qualified women, in binders. now you'll have plenty of time to look through them. not only did they want to put women in binders, but they wanted to be up in our vajjs. what is your fascination with the female reproductive system. apparently, you don't know a thing about how it works. >> this contraceptive thing, my go

i'm joy reed in today for melissa harris-perry. this week, every member of commerce had something in common. they lost one of their own. senator daniel inouye passed away. he was a senior member serving his home state of hawaii for half a century. members of congress stood shoulder-to-shoulder at the memorial thursday bowing their heads to honor their colleague as he lay in the capital rotunda. friday, they came together for a somber recollection of a man who represented an era long gone. president obama delivered the eulogy remembering the senator's key role in the investigation of the watergate scandal. >> as i watched those hearings watching him ask those piercing questions night after night, i learned how our democracy was supposed to work. our government of and by and for the people. we have a system of government where nobody is above the law. where we have an obligation to hold each other accountable. >> president obama was not only honoring a public servant who inspired him personally, but paying homage to a past or a funct

coming up next is melissa harris-perry. he latest on the gun conference, and find out what we can do to prevent tragedies in the future. that is melissa harris-perry. that is coming up tomorrow morning at 8:00. thank you for getting up "up." oh my goodness! oh my gosh, this looks amazing! [ male announcer ] our new maine stays! 15 entrees under $15, "up.""up.""up."oseafood, chicke! our new maine stays! oo! the tilapia with roasted vegetables! i'm actually looking at the wood grilled chicken with portobello wine sauce. that pork chop was great! no more fast food friday's! we're going to go to red lobster. yep. [ male announcer ] come try our new menu and sea food differently! and introducing 7 lunch choices for just $7.99. salad, sandwiches, and more.

i'm joy reid in today for the lovely melissa harris-perry.ay, i am almost speechless because yesterday, the leading political force behind pro-gun policy, the national rifle association, broke their silence with a flabbergasting response to the tragedy in newtown. wayne lapierre made his assessment plain. >> the only way to stop a monster from killing our kids is to be personally involved and invested in a plan of absolute protection. the only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun. >> in the seven days that have passed since 20 children and seven adults lost their lives in newtown, the country has been immersed in a national dialogue not only to explain this event but to achieve a legislative response that will make our country safer. the nra's contribution? more guns. >> i call on congress today to act immediately to appropriate whatever is necessary to put armed police officers in every single school in this nation. >> given the nra's track record, this is no idle chatter from a grand-standing lobbyist. this is what

up next is melissa harris-perry. it may be the law of the land. nors are lining up to do what they can to obstruct the affordable care act. melissa has the former obama administration official. that's melissa harris-perry coming up next. we'll see you next week here on "up." and some difficult ones. but, through it all, we've persevered, supporting some of the biggest ideas in modern history. so why should our anniversary matter to you? because for 200 years, we've been helping ideas move from ambition to achievement. and the next great idea could be yours. ♪ maybe you want to incorporate a business. or protect your family with a will or living trust. and you'd like the help of an attorney. at legalzoom a legal plan attorney is available in most states with every personalized document to answer questions. get started at legalzoom.com today. and now you're protected. who have used androgel 1%, there's big news. presenting androgel 1.62%. both are used to treat men with low testosterone. androgel 1.62% is from the makers of the number one prescribed

i'm melissa harris perry. it is december 1st, one month from the deadline for the so-calleded fiscal cliff. the drama is building. check out what house speaker, john boehner, had to say this week. >> the white house spends three weeks of trying to develop a proposal that calls for $1.6 trillion in new taxes, calls for a little, not even $400 billion in cuts and they want to have this extra spending that's actually greater than the amount they are willing to cut. it was not a serious proposal. right now, we are almost nowhere. >> oh, mr. boehner, you have got it all wrong. it is a serious proposal, really serious. godfather serious. >>> watching the d.c. drama convinced those of us in nerdland that president obama must be a fan of the francis ford copel la masterpiece. remove the lethal components and there are valuable negotiating lessons that the president seems to be picking up on, like this one. >> my father taught me many things here. he taught me in this room. he caught me keep your friends close but your

i'm melissa harris-perry. this friday we will reach the first big milestone in the signature piece of legislation from president barack obama's first term. december 14th is the deadline for states to notify the government will plans setting up health care exchanges mandated by the affordable care act. republican governors who have been dragging their feet can no longer treat the reform law like a boogeyman that will disappear if they wish hard enough. because, if i may borrow a phrase from method man, when the american people elected president obama, they let you know it's real. yes, it's really real son. even the president's political nemesis, john boehner, knows that to be true. >> you had said next year that you would repeal the health care vote. that still your mission? >> i think the election changes that. it's pretty clear that the president was re-elected, obama care is the law of the land. >> now, of course, boehner promptly walked those comments back later that day. that doesn't make what he said any

i'm melissa harris-perry.e are awaiting a press conference on the latest on the school shooting in newtown, connecticut. today, we are focused entirely on newtown. approximately an hour and a half outside of new york city, newtown, connecticut, is a small commuter town locateded in fairfield kocounty. it is a predominantly middle-class white community with approximately 30,000 people. they have several schools and synagogues and churches and it has a rotary club and basketball league like many other towns, but yesterday, as many of you know, newtown became the latest statistic of what is a disturbing pattern of mass gun violence. a gunman opened up fire against schoolchildren and staff at sandy hook elementary and killing at latest count 20 children and 6 adults. the president addressed the nation yesterday in response to the tragedy. >> as a country, we have been through this too many times, whether it is an elementary school in newtown or a shopping mall in oregon or a temple in wisconsin or a movie theater

i'm melissa harris-perry. earlier this year, nerdland made a contribution to the political lexicon with the term premature speculation. you know, it's the way we in the media jump the gun to call the winner before the race really gets going. well, this week we beg your forgiveness for our own more than slight case of premature speculation. but fact is fact. even before we've inaugurated the election of 2012, positioning has begun for election 2016. there was former florida governor jeb bush, just this week making political reporters salivate by getting about his close to the white house as he could without actually being in it. he met with a group of former staffers at a hotel on pennsylvania avenue giving a smile and a coy response when asked about his plans to one day vie to occupy the presidential mansion just up the block. then just two saturdays ago, florida senator marco rubio was showing a little leg in iowa showing this early nominating state where he broke a fundraising record for the governor there.

i'm melissa harris-perry.o say it has been quite a year for the labor movement, well, that may be the understatement of the year. let's take a quick review of some of the events that made headlines. in june, wisconsin unions were dealt a blow when efforts to recall anti-union governor scott walker failed. ally labors launched an extensive campaign but no match for the deep pockets of walker's donors. in september, chicago's teachers went on strike for the first time in 25 years. while they did get a pay raise they had to make concession like longer school days. and walmart organizers began to strike for holidays. and there was also michigan passing a right to work and making them the 24th state with such laws. the events of this year can leave anyone with mixed feelings and uncertainty about the future of organized labor, but that is looking at the glass half empty and in direct opposition of what labor has stood for in this country, hunkering down and getting the job down. uaw president bob king understands v

coming up next is melissa harris-perry. a speaker with no clout, a president with no deal. i would like to wish you a merry christmas or a merry war on christmas, which ever you celebrate. and they're them. yes. but they're here. yes. are you...? there? yes. no. are you them? i'm me. but those rates are for... them. so them are here. yes! you want to run through it again? no, i'm good. you got it? yes. rates for us and them -- now that's progressive. call or click today.

but straight ahead, more smart political talk with "up with chris hayes" and then "melissa harris-perry msnbc.

i'm melissa harris-perry.n at half mass to recognize the loss of those murdered on friday. president obama will head to newtown today to meet with the families of the victims. he's expected to speak at a vigil tonight. the tribute to those lives lost are growing as details continue to emerge. what we know now is suspected shooter, adam lanzas forced his way into the elementary school. he carried four handgun, had an assault rifle in his car. the names of the victims have been released. the 20 children killed, 12 were girls, 8 and boys all ages six and 7. all six of the adults killed were

. >> i have to respond to melissa harris perry and her notion that just because she says shooting is therefore black boys and black men are in danger does not make it a racially-motivated shooting. just because she says that. now, it's very, very important to know that we have to have voices like barbara jordan, the former congresswoman are 23r frs is my faith in the con substitution is whole and complete. complete. people have to be brought to justice because they're perceived as being a thug, no. a person arrested and charged with murder has a legal presumption to be tried by a jury of their peers, not all blacks, not all whites, but a jury of their peers. >> if you look at predominantly african-american neighborhoods, we read about it all the time. black on black crime. out of control. >> that's right. >> sean: if liberal policies were so successful and i would argue many of the inner cities in the country have been governed for decades now by the left, and there's poverty, and as a result, you see a rise in crime. drugs have not been cleaned out. >> breakdown of the family. >> se

i first saw it on the set of melissa harris perry's show back in may.ching and all said, what's he wearing. the president nine times out of ten knocks it out of the park with his choice of navy blue or gray, but this sort of, i want to be cool on the weekends, light suit for the summer thing, not working for him. >> all right. let me show you a picture of sarah palin campaigning for the senate. you got the superman t-shirt. love it or hating it there? >> i'm not loving it. what was it laundry day? the superman t-shirt. the capri pants fine. what's up with the stilts. they're very tall. >> we won't be the first to talk about this, jonathan. governor chris christie, and the infamous fleece. "saturday night live" made fun of him and he made fun of it itself on it. >> chris christie's fleece, it says chris christie governor, if we don't know who he is. he wore that every day in the aftermath of sandy and it got to the point you wondered if it was tattooed on or what. >> hillary clinton the sunglasses, the very intense look. you remember the picture brought

me tomorrow, house minority whip stenny hoyer, clyburn, ted strickland, and my colleague, melissa harris-perrylex wagner is coming up. what do you have coming up? >> hello, thomas, still in d.c. with another action-packed show. we'll have the latest on the slow, unfolding drama, emphasis on slow, that is the fiscal cliff negotiations. the white house and speaker boehner trade proposals and tension. we will discuss with house democratic whip steny hoyer, ezra klein, sam stein, jane mayer, and jen zocki. plus, csi gop, as the republicans make the long slog to redemption, we discuss lessons learned. and the war on women rages on in the lone star state. we will look at planned parenthood's fight in texas. all that starts in a mere 180 seconds. ♪ [ male announcer ] we began serving handcrafted coffees in seattle, and people seemed to like it. so we wondered -- where else could we take this? ♪ for over 40 years, we've brought our passion for fine coffee and espresso to people everywhere. but one place was impossible, until now. our lattes, espresso and brewed coffee, now in your home from a machine

pacific when she is joined by chris hayes, melissa harris-perry, professor michael eric dyson, and drnc emmanuel. until then, you can find alex on facebook.com/now with alex. andrea mitchell reports is next. good afternoon, andrea. >> good afternoon, joy. great to see you there. thanks so much. coming up here, the country wants a compromise and do the clintons have their eye on the white house again in 2016? a lot of politics. plus, america seems to hope that the clintons do take that plunge. we'll have our new northbound news-wall street journal poll coming up. also, the international consensus is growing that syria's president's days are numbered. russia now joining in. could stronger laws have prevented that gun violence in oregon? we'll talk to brady campaign president dan gross. andrea mitchell reports is next right here. gives you 1% cash back on all purchases, plus a 50% annual bonus. and everyone...but her likes 50% more cash. but i'm upping my game. do you want a candy cane? yes! do you want the puppy? yes! do you want a tricycle? yes! do you want 50 percent more cash? no! ♪

and coming up next is the one and only melissa harris-perry, and we will see you next week here on "uplutter is no match for someone with big ideas. with a new project in mind, some how-to knowledge to give us an edge, and more savings down every aisle. it only takes a few twists and turns for those bright ideas to make the new year even brighter. more saving. more doing. that's the power of the home depot. start fresh and save with hdx 20 gallon totes, a special buy at just $5.88 a piece.

i'm melissa harris perry coming to you from the msnbc studios at rockefeller center in new york city. i interrupt our program to bring you the following news. cyboergs are among us. new recording that is uncovered the extent to which these artificial entities have taken over our country. right before our eyes, they have been taking over all of our nation's institutions, slowly extending their control over our political, legal, and economic systems with their insatiable appetite for profits and prophets alone. these amoral immortals are decimating the rights of us. they are not criminals but they can live forever. even when they take a death blow, a quick cash infusion can keep them going. you may not notice them yet. soon, they will amass every single asset capable of generating hefty returns. these undead are recreating our civic and political culture in service of politics and policies that serves their voracious desire for capital. >> how do these automatoniic corps corps corpses disguise their altered state. they have taken the place of average companies. >> corporations are peopl

that and a lot more on melissa harris-perry. we'll see you next week here on "up."ople of bp made a commitment to the gulf. bp has paid over twenty-three billion dollars to help those affected and to cover cleanup costs. today, the beaches and gulf are open, and many areas are reporting their best tourism seasons in years. and bp's also committed to america. we support nearly 250,000 jobs and invest more here than anywhere else. we're working to fuel america for generations to come. our commitment has never been stronger. i have obligations. cute tobligations, but obligations.g.

i'm melissa harris-perry.et to including the housing rebound headlines you have been seeing as well as the renewal for the against women act. first, we want to make sure you have the latest information on newtown. president obama will visit the shaken community today. we go to chris jansing who has been in newtown since the news broke on friday. what is the latest? >> reporter: good morning to you. we are learning more about the shooter who was described by people who knew him well as a loner. we know now, for the first time that he went to sandy hook elementary school, where, of course, he opened fire killing 20 students and six adults. when he walked down the hall, he would grasp his computer, walk along the walls and rarely interacted with anyone. this is a day to remember the victims and president obama will be here later today at 7:00 eastern time. he will be addressing a medical service that was planned by local clergy. they have obviously been deeply affected by this. they have been spending every wakin

coming up, melissa harris-perry.ping nra statement about school shooting in newtown, connecticut. plus controversy about "django's" depiction of slavery. that's coming up next. see you here tomorrow at 8:00. o] playing in the nfl is tough. ♪ doing it with a cold, just not going to happen. vicks dayquil -- powerful non-drowsy 6-symptom cold & flu relief. ♪ no matter what city you're playing tomorrow. [ coughs ] [ male announcer ] you can't let a cold keep you up tonight. ♪ vicks nyquil -- powerful nighttime 6-symptom cold & flu relief. ♪

. >> coming up next, melissa harris perry.me to understand this is an offer they simply cannot refuse? that and the woman suing the pentagon so they can fight in combat. >>> we'll see you right here tomorrow at 8:00. thanks for getting up. a winter wonderland doesn't just happen. it takes some doing. some coordinating. and a trip to the one place with the new ideas that help us pull it all together. from the things that hang and shine...

next is melissa harris-perry. first ever book back in laughter. she's joined by a roster of comics.part the hilarity and absurdity. she's coming up next. see you next week here on "up." [ laughter ] smoke? nah, i'm good. ♪ [ male announcer ] every time you say no to a cigarette, you celebrate a little win. nicoderm cq, the patch with time release smart control technology that acts fast and helps control cravings all day long. ♪ quit one day at a time with nicoderm cq.