how do we do this to children, nia malika? >> you know, i think one of the things we're going to see happen this week is that senators in congress votes are back in their home districts. they are likely going to see these local reports on their local news stations and in their local papers and likely here from folks who are struggling with a lot of these cuts that have trickled down over these last weeks. that was -- that was the point. the president came out initially. some might say maybe he overhyped what the effects would be. 750,000 jobs being cut in all of these furloughs. now we are finally seeing the effects and their real world impacts. people are experiencing across the country. so perhaps this will be a real week and a real opportunity for senators and congressmen to hear from folks back home. perhaps they'll come back to washington and try to reverse some of these cuts. >> you know, amanda, it's real people that you talk to that we hope will impact because of your report and others like this lady we just showed tha

nia malika, what was your take-away on the subject of syria. because the president really did seem to try to soft-pedal any talk of military action. he said that the pentagon has been planning for a year at his request, but they're not doing anything very soon. >> that's right. i mean i think in a lot of ways we didn't learn much more than we already knew. which was that this was an administration that has been active so far with sanctions and providing us some humanitarian aid and communications aid. but as far as anything more than looks like a military engagement. he certainly didn't suggest that the administration is in any way prepared to do that. it looks like we're in for a long haul in terms of a timetable in confirming the use of chemical weapons, who used them. why they were used, who was killed. and that sort of thing. so this again is a sort of iraq war hangover. where that was a situation where people think there was a rush to judgment. on no wmds turned up and here you have a president outlining the obama doctrine, which is trust,

n nia-malika, let me play you something from rush limbaugh. he said this about immigration today.he democrat version of this happens, it's going to be amnesty, and if that happens, it won't matter. the republican party's finished anyway. whether it's official or not. they're never going to win another election. >> nia-malika, it doesn't sound like rush limbaugh expects the gop to win over many hispanic voters any time soon, does it? >> that's right. he's obviously looking at history here in some ways. romney didn't do too well. he got 23%, 24%, 25% down from the historic highs we saw george bush reach. you have a situation where rubio on one hand is trying to persuade conservatives, persuade people like rush limbaugh, but he's also reaching out to immigration folks, pro-immigration folks. i talked to a latino pollster. he said the best thing that rubio can do is to keep seeming like he's a leader on this issue. on the other hand, i talked to a conservative iowa tea party guy. he said the best thing rubio can do is to kill immigration. so those are the sort of two warring factions

joining me now is "washington post" nia malika hepderson. thanks for coming on the show tonight. >> great to be here, rev. >> if this probe is involving, you know, the fbi probe can't be a good thing. what can you tell us tonight about this probe? >> that's right. where the main focus of this probe is trying to figure out if, in fact, there was a relationship where there was quid pro quo from this donor, who owns -- or who's the head of a pharmaceutical company, to the governor. as you laid out there, they are personal friends. they've been friends for about five years. and the governor and his family have gotten gifts from mr. williams. now, in virginia, candidates can get gifts or elected officials can get gifts from donors. but they just have to report them if they're over $50. and family members as well can get gifts as well. in that sense, he hasn't broken any laws. now this probe is trying to figure out if, in fact, the governor has given any incentives, any financial incentives, to his friend to promote this company. so far there isn'

. >> joining me now is the press secretary for the obama campaign and nia-malika henderson from "the being here. >> thank you, rev. >> ben, as i mentioned, this is a big week for obama 's agenda and his vision. what do you think he's doing to get over the finish line. >> well, you've seen him on the bully pulpit keeping pressure on congress. anyone who saw the interviews last night with the newtown families is calling for the passage of this legislation. members across the country have to see that pressure in their congressional districts because the nra and other groups are working them. one surprise for anybody who has worked in the white house worked in the administration and previous administration who burrow in and try to scuttle your agenda or others pursing their own agenda, i think there's no doubt that the president is in control. he's making sure that the health and human services department is doing everything it can to implement health care reform, that the energy department is doing everything it can to create clean energy jobs and fight climate change just like he's doi

in washington, nia malika henderson for the "washington post." steve clemens of "the atlantic." good afternoon to both of you. steve, given the terrible toll of the last ten years and still uncertain outcomes in places like iraq and afghanistan, is it really time to engage in yet another military conflict with an arab nation or does the humanitarian situation in syria simply demand an intervention? >> well, there's no simple answer to that good question in the sense that, you know, whether it's your framing or lindsey graham saying other nations are watching this and he wants a cookie cutter approach to intervention. the fact is that syria is not libya, and syria has its own somewhat compounding circumstances and the largest of which are that despite humanitarian trauma which is clear and evident, despite now with the potential use of chemical weapons in syria that i think would bring a lot of realists into the camp and say, this is a different kind of conflict, basically, you know, issuing a u.s. military intervention, whether it's a no-fly zone strategy or something more robus

joining me, nia malika-henderson, and ana maria cox for the guardian.ou are the senior south carolina political analyst since you are from there. what are we hoping for here just in terms of fun. are we hoping governor sanford wins so we can take him all the way through the general election here against elizabeth colbert busch? >> you know, i think that's right for fun. here is a guy who has this checkered past, but is a charismatic guy, he comes across in early ads like a preacher with a slow drawl in the way he talks. he has so far resonated with south carolina voters there. of the internal polls, some ways you have to take any internal polls with a grain of salt, but i think they show a close race. they also remind us that in 2008 a woman named linda ketner ran as a democrat, ran as an openly gay woman, campaigned openly with her partner, and came within 2 percentage points of winning this seat. that was in 2008, it was an election year, so she was able to ride the obama wave and the obama coalition showed up, but there does seem to be real energy on

joining me now, nia malika henderson, amy holmmes and ana marie cox, political columnist for "the guardian." ana marie are the media and their enthusiasm overstating the degree of progress? >> i'm not sure because so little progress has been made. let's think about this. a vote to filibuster was overcome. the fact that counts as a success is a sad commentary on how little progress has been made on any gun control or gun legislation at all. the nra has had an effective lock on congress. they're still threatening to grade senators on any vote going forward on amendments. and senators and congressmen run scared from the nra. that's the problem with this debate. not so much that, you know, individuals in the media are misinformed about guns, some people are, or congress want a registration, although some might. the way we debate this has been hijacked by this powerful group that doesn't represent that many americans. >> with the focus on the filibusters, i think there is this kind of feeling in the press that let's at least have a vote, that filibusters are bad because they're blocking action.

joining me, nia malika-henderson and dick harpootlian, chairman of the south carolina democratic partyck, i want to go to you first. nancy pelosi references were flying on the stage tonight. mark sanford really making attempt to tie colbert busch to nancy pelosi and unions and national democrats. she repeatedly pushed back. let's take a listen. >> first of all, i want to be very clear, mark, nobody tells me what to do except the people of south carolina's first district. if you have been looking at the commercials, i am fiscally conservative, independent, tough business woman. if you notice one last point, i push back on the obama budget, so let's talk about independent reach across the aisles and being reasonable. i told you no one tells me what to do. i am an independent business woman and i will reach across the aisles. [ applause ] >> dick, i thought she might reach across the debate stage and knock one on sanford's chin there. she was not pulling any punches, not tying herself to nancy pelosi. elizabeth colbert busch was channeling the fighting spirit of nancy pelosi. what did you

and nia malika henderson is a political reporter for the "washington post." it just struck me this afternoon to hear rush limbaugh refers to the people who have come to capitol hill and are wonderfully moving around the hill right now with their wonderful green ribbons, he calls them human shields. in other words, they're just sort of props. >> well, i don't know that we can take seriously anything rush limbaugh said recently. >> you have to take it seriously because he has a bunch of naybobs and dittoheads out there who do. >> that's fair enough. the victims of newtown, it's impossible to call them shields. they are the faces of this tragedy. and they're the ones out there telling lawmakers to do something about it and to show the courage and do the right thing. >> do you think it's working? >> yeah. >> tell me how. >> we've had a great week. you know, last week the washington press was writing the obituary of the background check. fair and square, they were saying it's dead. this week we have one of the most conservative republicans in the senate agreeing t

. >> joining me now nia malika henderson, and john harwood, two good buddies., what are you hearing about the direction of this investigation. >> it's mostly people covering their bases and being cautious before declaring these two acted alone. obviously you have the six months when the older brother was back in russia that causes suspicion, but there's a lot of evidence to indicate, including the testimony that dzhokhar has given to his questioners that they learned how to do this stuff themselves onlinings you can see what the older brother was posting and watching on youtube, so they're trying to make sure it was something bigger. it doesn't sound like there's a very strong -- >> what about, nia malika, the ke question about what the fbi knew and when and whether capitol hill might get involved in an investigation. >> you hear john mccain and kellie ayotte call for an investigation. they had concerns about tamerlan, the older brother, the cia ended up putting him on the terror watch list. the fbi launched and investigation and came up empty-handed and unable

us today, david ignatius post,"he washington kelly o'donnell with nbc news, nia-malika henderson withwashington post" and mark mazzetti with "the new york times." it with ours had long winter of washington gridlock so you're seeing checks andls on gun immigration and even if they only last as long as the cherry gunsoms, the bargains on checks and immigration are a boom to the president's hopes legacy.cond term the biggest move this week was toma's gamble, offering cuts social security, the most district bid from either side for a bargain that would create and boost the middle class, a huge achievement. hisade it clear this is second-term priority. here he is after winning in november. i don't presume that because i won an election that everybody suddenly agrees with me on everything. i've got one mandate. i've got a mandate to help class families and families working hard to get into middle class. chris: he did it this week. been watching the ping pong game but he says i'm going to serve, you guys react. bold. >> it's very bold. i heard president obama saying quote lyndon johnson, wha

and nia malika henderson is a political reporter for the "washington post." it just struck me this afternoon to hear rush limbaugh refers to the people who have come to capitol hill and are wonderfully moving around the hill right now with their wonderful green ribbons, he calls them human shields. in other words, they're just sort of props. >> well, i don't know that we can take seriously anything rush limbaugh said recently. >> you have to take it seriously because he has a bunch of naybobs and dittoheads out there who do. >> that's fair enough. the victims of newtown, it's impossible to call them shields. they are the faces of this tragedy. and they're the ones out there telling lawmakers to do something about it and to show the courage and do the right thing. >> do you think it's working? >> yeah. >> tell me how. >> we've had a great week. you know, last week the washington press was writing the obituary of the background check. fair and square, they were saying it's dead. this week we have one of the most conservative republicans in the senate agreeing t

nia-malika henderson and jose, great to see you. >> thank you. >>> governor will sign a bill requiring abortion clinics to use doctors who have the approval to admit patients to hospitals in the same city. opponents say the net effect will be that it will put abortion clinics out of business because of regulation. the governor says the bill will make it safer for women to have an aborgs. personally, he is opposed to them. [ jackie ] it's just so frustrating... ♪ the middle of this special moment and i need to run off to the bathroom. ♪ i'm fed up with always having to put my bladder's needs ahead of my daughter. ♪ so today, i'm finally talking to my doctor about overactive bladder symptoms. [ female announcer ] know that gotta go feeling? ask your doctor about prescription toviaz. one toviaz pill a day significantly reduces sudden urges and accidents, for 24 hours. if you have certain stomach problems or glaucoma, or can not empty your bladder, you should not take toviaz. get emergency medical help right away if your face, lips, throat or tongue swells. toviaz can cause blurred vision,

"washington post" political reporter, nia-malika henderson. we heard harry reid there go into a laundry list of bills and even nominations he says that the republicans have played the role of obstructionist with. going back to the central issue of guns, 90% of americans, including many of those who are republicans and many in the nra support universal background checks. that's what the democrats and harry reid, that public pressure. that's what they're banking on. they're starting out banking that the american people will put pressure on congress as a whole. >> that's right. he said very pointedly and dramatically that the nation is listening and calling republicans on the carpet about their plans to filibuster. it looks like there is a plan of about 13 or so. what reid needs, we have to remember he is someone who john kerry called dracula and lazarus. here is a guy who has had a history of snatching victory from the jaws of defeat. he knows the senate very well. he knows that he needs at least five republican senators to join those 55 or so d

joining me now, mark fullman, senior editor with mother jones, frank smooit, and nia malika-henderson, reporter for "the washington post." mark, the nra report had a pretty rough first day of fact checking. you're the one that discovered the gem about the minnesota incident that was wrong. what else have you found in fact checking of the report? >> well, i found the usual things you would expect from a big report from the nra. there's various points where there's slight of hand talking about incidents involving school shootings. i have to say, lawrence, i wasn't surprised to see this in the report. we covered the nra and mass shootings at mother jones for many months, and this is their m.o.they call for more guns, they play to fear and fantasy to sell that agenda. they're willing to twist the facts or use completely unreal facts as we see with them citing that mass shooting that never happened in minnesota. they point to a case at a high school in pearl, mississippi in 1997 where they hold it up as a shining example of an armed citizen, armed educate or and leave out the fact he was a

us today, david ignatius post,"he washington kelly o'donnell with nbc news, nia-malika henderson withost" and mark mazzetti with "the new york times." it with ours had long winter of washington gridlock so you're seeing checks andls on gun immigration and even if they only last as long as the cherry gunsoms, the bargains on checks and immigration are a boom to the president's hopes legacy.cond term the biggest move this week was toma's gamble, offering cuts social security, the most district bid from either side for a bargain that would create and boost the middle class, a huge achievement. hisade it clear this is second-term priority. here he is after winning in november. i don't presume that because i won an election that everybody suddenly agrees with me on everything. i've got one mandate. i've got a mandate to help class families and families working hard to get into middle class. chris: he did it this week. been watching the ping pong game but he says i'm going to serve, you guys react. bold. >> it's very bold. i heard president obama saying quote lyndon johnson, what the hell's