the membership of the nra endorses the policies and political activity of the nra. the other comment i would say is the roundup program that he talked about, that retailer gathers money on behalf of its customers. pathere are simply a through involved with it. guest: no question. the nra talks about its 5 million members. i think many of its members are law-abiding americans who see some benefits in nra membership. they have a number of programs, magazines, training programs. really it's the leadership at the nra that has ratcheted up its political involvement by spending money in elections. betweeners, $23 million 1989 and 2016. two federal candidates. 2016illion alone in this federal elections. about 60% of that money came it did not ila where disclose the source of that money. in research we were able to track some of that money is in fact coming from gun manufacturers themselves and that is why i mentioned that they are really in essence a trade association for corporations that manufacture weapons and guns. host: andrew is on the line for democrats. what i'm ta

the nra is not an overlord. the reason they're powerful, and i won't dispute that, they're powerful because they have 3 million members who agree with them. i don't think the members -- >> ali, even if it is not all 3 million, you have single issue voters that care so much about the second amendment in the form that it is in at this moment. they're going to show up and vote. those votes matter even more than the dollars. >> rick? >> yeah, well, and i agree. look, i think in blue states, showing who gets nra money will hurt the candidates but in red states, it'll help. people want the second amendment. let me say this, ali and steph, what the president said yesterday in the meeting was disturbing. what he said about due process is really, frankly, amazing. it is tantamount to saying you and i could go to jail for saying things the president doesn't like without due process. duterte's philippines is a place without due process. they murder drug addicts there. >> yup. >> putin's russia is without due process. when

nra tv. warren buffett hasn't said whether he's going to do anything, but as of now he's continuing business as usual. >> he says he doesn't want to get involved in these things, a lot of companies are saying we're giving up these discounts to not get involved, ed stack and rei and these companies have actually gone further to say we're getting involved in the debate and everybody should be. >> it's a big deal. >> companies and even gun retailers are pushing the envelope on common sense responses to gun violence. that speaks volumes. the nra's hold on washington and beyond is said to be absolute. but how the nra justifies its uncompromising stance on any gun laws at all is telling. listen to how the nra and its supporters sell this. >> the struggle up to this point has been that most of the proposals that have been offered would not have prevented not just yesterday's tragedy but any of those in recent history. >> i would not support a gun ban as part of the package simply because gun bans do

. >> the nra doesn't like what you have done.necticut has done things. >> that's exactly right. this is really important. connecticut passed a package of gun safety laws, a limit on the number of bullets you can put into a magazine is and restrictions on assault rifles, universal background check. that didn't restrict anybody's abilities to exercise their second amendment rights. and it has begun to bring down the level of violence. fewer people are dying in connecticut because of that. that's a model for the country. >> linley, you and people of your generation have taken on the largest interest group in america, the nra. they have not chose tone come out and say, hey, we support common sense restrictions that will stop this gun violence. how do you go up against the the strongest interest group in the country? >> obviously they are contradicting a lot of what we have to say. they have the big donors. they have the money. they have the abilities and the connections in politics. but we're the ones with the cause. the students and

the nra admitting they take foreign money.ere is the money coming from and why are we just finding out a lot about. >> they're not providing a lot of details. but in a letter to senator ron widen any say yes a organization we accept foreign donations. but the nra insists none of the foreign money was used in american elections. of course we know that the nra did spend big in 2016. spent more than $30 million on efforts to boost donald trump and just to give you a sense how that spending compares to past cycles. according to the center for responsive politics this is more than 2008 and 2012 combined we you look across presidential house and senate races. it's clear that they were in big and in early for donald trump. but what they're saying is, look, none of that money we spent none of it came from foreign donors. >> is anyone talking about trying to regulate where they can accept money from? >> well there are already regulations about how the nra cuss otto foreign donations. they're allowed to use them essentially to inform me

he meets with the nra, gone.ut this crumbs he threw today. >> the funny thing is he was talking gun control. dianne feinstein has a smile on her face because he's talking about her bill. it's the tuesday trump versus the thursday trump. he had a meeting with the nra and we were onto aluminum and steel. >> what do they say? >> they remind him that they gave him $50 million. they remind him there are folks that would love to see a primary and the nra members are one of the last folks still with him. those are nra folks, immigration folks. >> pretty scary stuff. thank you. up next, a look back at the sights and sounds after a very emotional day here in d.c. this is hardball where the action is. pssst. what? i switched to geico and got more. more savings on car insurance? a-ha. and an award-winning mobile app. that is more. oh, there's more. mobile id cards, emergency roadside service... more technology. i can even add a new driver... ...right from her phone! geico. expect great savings and a whole lot more. looking

it wasn't the nra who missed the red flag. the fbi were told the kid's going to shoot up the school and they don't stop them, and suddenly it's the nra's problem. you've got to be kidding me. that's a lame argument. >> we've had guns in our society since our founding. and kids weren't picking up guns and shooting other kids in schools. what's happened that's caused this phenomenon to take place? fatherless homes, violence that comes from hollywood, we have a slew of issues that have taken place that have undermined our faith and values. you could look at a whole subset of issues that are addressing the anger that kids have right now that cause them to pick up guns. there's a detachment we have. >> sean, you're quite correct. >> last words. >> you've been driven for 20 years that will come up with each new shooting. the bottom line is we have a crisis in america and it's not guns. it's our culture and the way we're raising our kids. >> you've raised a very valid point. and one of the things that we need to do is to use tools th

and these nra groups are not the nra.l radical association. stop calling them. and the no rhubarb alliance. sure they're controversial, but leave them be. there a lot of special interest groups out there. but we only have 26 letters in the alphabet, people, so double-check before you send. it's as easy as abc. "the beat" with ari melber starts right now. >> listening to that made me think omg, smh. >> lol. >> zomg. >> yeah, i would add a letter, but i'm not going to. >> well, brb, and we'll see you soon. >> ttyl. >> i thought i was -- she's gone now. my thanks to katie. we have two developing stories on the beat tonight and sam nunberg joins me here live after spending over four hours with bob mueller's grand jury. i will see you soon. first though, my other top guest

the nra's top lobbyist tweeted, potus and vpotus support the nra. >> the nra weelields a lot of pr inhe federal and state levels. the florida senate is set to hear a bill that could ntains mt gun provisions that could lead to arming teachers. that's what the nra and uber b lobbyists want. joining me now, a man whose daughter was among those shot in the parkland shooting. what do you make of the debate going on in tallahassee? there is a lot of pressure on families to do something on gun reform. all they are doing is modest reforms. they are still not willing to do things like banning assault weapons and to take the steps that displease the nra. what do you make of that? >> i love the fact that i live in florida. unfortu unfortunately, we have elected officials that can't get out of the way of the nra. it is mind-boggling to me that this session could potentially end next week without any reform, let alone mild or modest reform. i'm learning an awful lot about the political sausage-making process. two weeks ago, i was just jamie and jesse's dad. this process is ugly. i am baffled and c

right of the nra. this is just not all of us, there are differing gun lobbying groups. i think what we have been good at is that we have a weekly call and we talk about what is the role of each organization. talks tofords group gun owners and brady does a lot of work on the federal level. we are a national grassroots with chapters in every state. you work on intersectional and you can talk about what you do. we come together with hopefully having these conversations. i think we have evolved because of the conversations. that is the most important part, talking about how to evolve as a movement. >> something to be said about us being separate organizations is an advantage because we can see each other in many ways we could not do if we were one organization. we represent different communities. the responsibilities of inanizations, specifically communities of color where we believe in policy but our work is in the day-to-day talking with people who are victims and perpetrators of violence and looking at

not with the nra. i just can't do the nra psa tonight. i can't do. i can't. maybe it's because my throat is sore. i'm not in the mood. i can't. >> the hypocrisy of hollywood to be sitting there criticizing the nra when they have armed guards -- >> rashid is from chicago. like stop. just stop. i like you as a person, but this is crazy. stop. >> also, alice, when you talk about armed guards, the people there protecting are police officers. many of them are retired police officers. some of them are on the job. they're trained to carry guns. americans around the country are saying should be able to carry guns. most americans want, you know, very stringent background checks. they want some sort of gun control. the nra members are a very small minority of what america actually wants. they're holding the rest of us hostage. >> first of all, let's not be mistaken. the nra has 5 million members. people that own guns -- >> how many people -- >> but, alice, the people in the audience weren't packing guns. >> no. look, what i'm talking about is tens of millions of americ

nra culture.e been able to make guns and firearms a part of an american cultural experience, especially for white people, white voters. now, we're starting to see a rise of anti-gun voters, and if they start to get activated, then we're going to see something we haven't seen. but i haven't yet seen that rise of true anti-gun voters yet. it could be happening right now. i think the jury's out. we just have to wait until the elections to see what happens. >> david, last word to you on this. the nra has aligned itself with the so-called alt-right. they've made it a cultural issue and sent signals that it is the scary brown people you need to arm yourself against. it's crazy messaging. that next generation, very multi-racial, very multi-cultural. they're not interested in that message. does your party understand that this utter alignment with the nra is actually long-term dangerous? dick's sporting goods doing pretty well having walked away from them and walmart doing pretty well. >> no, they don't un

the president meeting with the nra after the statement of if you are scared of the nra.wered his own question. >> how much of the capitalism with the retailers -- there are 60,000 retailers authorized in the united states. these are big retailers taking action. >> corporate america has the ability to move issues if they stick with this and so do the students. that's ultimately the biggest story. do the students continue to mobilize? do they turn it into a movement? a march on washington in a few weeks. that should be taken seriously. i think in many ways, that combined with a corporate push back against guns could have an affect and maybe affect on congress. that versus the nra. i don't know which one wins. >> a tumultuous week in the capital. the nor'easter hitting d.c. was in the white house all along. >> political nor'easter. >> nice to see you. >>> officials are skeptical about vladimir putin's claim he has a missile so powerful it can penetrate nato defenses and even mar-a-lago. we are live in moscow. and when youod sugar is a replace one meal... choices. ...or snac

nra. i had them in here at the white house for lunch a few days ago and we are going to work out a deal. back to the art of the deal. everyone said he couldn't get a tax cut. he got a tax cut. now he is saying is he going to get something on background checks. if he is able to do that that's going to be a big development around here. high point is it's being completely overshadowed. >> martha: communications message of that meeting got stepped on by this news coming out of the white house right after that. ed, thank you. >> thank you, martha. >> martha: david bossie worked with hope hicks as the deputy campaign manager when he was with the 2016 campaign for president trump. is he a fox news contributor. david, good evening, good to see you. >> thanks for having me. >> martha: you were shocked by this news, you say. >> you know what? i was. i know that hope has been looking for -- looking to do other things for quite some time now. it's always a surprise when it actually happens folks close

that is what keeps the money flowing into these lawmakers from the nra and the nra threats to campaign against them at election time if they support anything, even something as reasonable as bump stock legislation. the nra didn't back bump stock legislation. they wanted a regulation, something that's a lot easier to implement and a lot easier to reverse. it's a very, very strong stronghold it has over these lawmakers. >> sarah, we can throw up a map of how states are scored by the giffords law center. gabby giffords, a member of congress who was the victim of a mass shooter which changed nothing. her colleagues in congress didn't change their attitude toward guns at all. the dark blue means you're more permissive. then you look at the polling which is pretty overwhelming. npr asked do you believe gun laws should be more strict or less strict? 75% at the end of february said more strict. the vast majority of the mayor condition people are on one side. the self-declared five-million-person strong nra in a country of 326 million people say they should be more strict. how is it they have s

i can say the nra is opposed to hit. i'm fan of the nra. it's no bigger fan.n of the nra. these are great people. they love our country. that doesn't mean we have to agree on everything. it doesn't make sense i have to wait until i'm 21 to get a handgun but i can get this weapon at 18. i'm curious to what you did in your bill. >> we didn't address it. >> you're afraid of the nra. >> you may remember she was in center of some fierce debate last week at the cnn town hall. i spoke to her earlier. >> in the meeting yesterday the president seemed to express concern for raising the age from 18 to 21. due process is something we hear a lot. do the nra feel betrayed by the president? >> i don't think any of it really made sense to keep our i cans safe and in regards to increase age restrictions, purchasing guns, this is something the nra opposes. millions of young adults for something they didn't do. i want to be quite clear what it is we're discussing. we're talking about putting their liberty on the chopping block and holding them responsible for the incompetency of

nra has done.e protest march of the students the other day i was so excited to see them and i thought, this is really good that they want to have a voice and they want to try and make a difference. thei was disappointed in one young man who stood up there and said and also said on cnn the next morning, he felt the to bented children killed. he actually said it. then he says the purpose of the nra was to sell guns. and when allison said -- and he really went after marco rubio and said nobody should vote for anybody who takes one penny from the nra. i think they need to look at some facts. when allison said to him that he knows that rubio had gone to visit a relative of one of the man's killed and this relative had said he wanted to know what she thought that they could do to improve the situation and it does come down to school security and now these children say we don't want clear backpacks. we don't want this that could be of help. they've gotten a one track mind and they are hurting their cause.

is it appropriate for the nra to accept foreign contributions? >> the nra period is inappropriate.ave anything specific on foreign donations except to say that the 2016 election was certainly a very tangled web that continues to spiral out of control. there's some new pieces of information we learn every day about what trump's campaign manager knew, what his deputy campaign manager knew relative to all the things they've done with russia. now the nra potentially accepting foreign donation that from a search of their own records they don't have any proof that the money was used in the elections. i would be interested to see what someone else's investigations discovered. >> do you think that that practice will invite the misuse of funds if they don't take foreign money, they don't have to worry about the funds being used illegally. >> i don't. i think the nra is pretty smart about this separating the funds. the same way that planned parenthood is not allowed to use funds that come from the american taxpayers for abortions. they separate it so there's a very clear separation line here

the nra has had the republican party in a headlock for deck aids. only the president, this president will have the power to overcome their strength and finally get his republican allies on the hill to move to a place that embraces common sense gun safety policies. america is crying out. the students in florida are crying out for it. it has vast support from one end of america to the other among people of all political persuasions and all political parties. policies that are supported by the vast majority of the american public fed up with gun violence have now the best chance we have had in decades of becoming law but only, only with the president felt. the coming days will prove whether the president's words yesterday's were an aberration, and we hope not, or the beginning of the march to meaningful gun safety legislation. i hope the communities that have been ripped apart by gun violence and the memory of the stoneman douglas victims, the sandy hook parents and this time will truly be different. ready for your questions. [inaudible] >> well, what

they don't care about the nra. they're not getting money from the nra and they have been through a tragedy and they are motivated and they know how to use this powerful tool >> yes. >> this is a new age. you and i unfortunately are a little out dated. >> exactly. >> they know how to do it. >> yeah, they are not dependant on debtigetting permission. they are empowered. that empowerment makes them believe that they can make a difference here. i like one of the young people yesterday said this is the beginning of a marathon. they are realistic and they know it is going to take time. they're not taking no for an answer. >> this is in addition showing the people the meaning of activism and sticking to it. this is an incredible example of what good public schools. >> yes. with teachers who are dedicated. this is the public school system in broward county florida at its best. >> why does not every person around the country have that opportunity. >> yes. >> and also they are amazing. public speakers. they are poised and th

well we found out that he was afraid of the nra, but are you afraid of the nra? we need to make sure that every member of congress republican, democrats, people of all political stripes are more afraid of the next school massacre and they are more afraid of the next death on the streets in our country, more afraid of that than they are afraid of the nra. [applause] and you the student movement are what is going to make it happen. you are what's different this time so i have one simple question because the nra and the gun lobby, they are counting on all of you to go away after today. are you going to go away? are you going to be back here on march 24? are you going to make sure we fight every week and every month and every year until we have a safe america? [cheers and applause] [cheers and applause] >> hi i am so upon and i'm a senior. i would like to thank everyone for coming out here. we are the change -- coming up after next speaker are representatives jamie raskin representative eleanor holmes representative ted deutch. [cheers and applause] we are so privile

you are afraid of the nra. >> the nra said the proposals made for great tv.alk about the companies later. the proposals discussed would not keep our children safe. the white house is expected to release more statements today. more now from phil mattingly on capitol hill. >> reporter: christine and dave, surreal. that was the word by john cornyn who sat in the meeting in the white house more than an hour long. frankly, it is the best word to describe what everyone was thinking after they walked out of the meeting. a meeting in which the republican president, president backed by the nra throughout the campaign. saying how much he loves the nra and the republican viewpoints when it comes to guns. sided with democrats on the policy issues than the republicans around the table. it raised questions as to where he actually stands on the gun debate. you talk to democrats and they were pleased where the president ended up during that meeting. they don't also have a lot of confidence he will stay there. you hear is it tuesday trump or thursday trump? that is referring

the president tweeted he had a great meeting with the nra. you don't have a great meeting with the nra telling them you increase the minimum age. welcome to "early start." i'm dave briggs. >> i'm christine romans. it is 30 minutes past the hour. the big story today, trump tariffs. slapping tariffs on foreign steel and alum upper marlbor al. 25% on steel and 10% on aluminum to help those struggling american industries. >> when it comes to a time when our country can't make aluminum and steel and somebody said it before and i will tell you, you almost don't have much of a country. >> trump gave no further details. in fact, he said the policy is still being written. while this decision makes good on the campaign promise to get tough on trade, it was against the wishes of his top advisers. it is against the orthodoxy of the free trade republican establishment and all of our trading partners don't like it. it could bring a host of negative consequences. "the wall street journal" editorial board said this is the biggest policy blunder and harm u.s.

the nra is not happy about it. good tv, i think, but bad policy. >> the republicans in congress also generally reacted negatively. i think their view basically about donald trump is he pops off. he doesn't know what he's talking about. but we are going to stick with the nra because we're dependent on them. they get us elected. they give us money. and they're going to wait this thing out. and i think ultimately, look, paul ryan and mitch mcconnell have not even said they will hold a vote on any of these measures, that the nra opposes. so i still think the chances sadly of something getting through are slim. >> alice, i want to ask you about this, talk about the republican congressman don young from alaska. he suggested that more jews would have survived the holocaust if they had been armed with guns. what's your reaction to that? >> i think it's an idiotic thing to say. i think it's completely inappropriate, not to mention it's not true. i've been to auschwitz before. i've seen what they went through, and i can assu

president. >> you know why because you're afraid of the nra. >> no the nra -- it never came up. >> it's big issue a lot of people are talking about it. >> that's exactly what you said. he pushed become and said no you're afraid of the nra. do you think the president will stand up to the nra. words mean one thing as you say but actually action is different. >> we'll see. you know, we'll see. but you know, he likes to be a disrupter. and people electsed him to be a disrupter. and if he will actually stand up to the nra, and get other republicans to do so, i'm going to applaud that. i've been fighting this five years. in that time 150,000 people have lost lives to gun violence in this country. 150,000. these kids know what's wrong. they're speaking up. truth to power. and the president actually is aware of their power. >> yeah. >> that's part of what we now. >> let's hope he can do something and you guys can as well. thank you i appreciate it. >> thanks so much appreciate it. >> when we come back much more on the top story hope hicks resigning as communications director. the white house ho

the nra reflected that. humphrey and john kennedy and roosevelt were all members of the nra. the nra and other gun groups, there were no lobbyist, there's no disagreement speak of, but what now become known as the cultural wars broke out in the late 60s, all of a sudden there was this, not a shift of opinion but certainly in the urban areas it was anti- second amendment, anti- firearms so that you had a situation in which in 1968 the johnson administration put through congress the most restrictive firearms laws every adopted in this country called the gun control act of 1968 in the polls showed that most people supported gun control. those were good words. years later, after johnson left office, then instantly some of the research since and shows that one of the motivators was that opposition to second amendment was beginning to become a liberal left mantra. one of his motivating factors with these people were all upset because of that war in asia. that didn't work, but he tried. a year later, richard nixon attorney general ellie richardson appointed a commission which then r

you know that the nra does not like me. i don't care. you know, they game in the grade f and i have not received a penny from him -- them and don't want one. we have lost too many of our mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, too many of our fellow students. too many of our fellow teachers you are the leaders of the 21st century. videos and do it in an orderly and peaceful fashion. victory and it will be a victory for all of america. it will be a victory for our world. we must leave this rules that we call america a little greener and cleaner and peaceful. have been arrested 40 times and comes and comes in those in congress, five more times. i will probably get arrested again for something. some of you might recall reading that a group of us, members of congress, on the house side, and tryingsit-down leadership to bring forth the build. we may have to sit in again. i will be there. hang in there. never give up, never given. eyes onr faith and your the prize. thank you very much. it is my pleasure to to welcome desk >> thank you for coming

is not the nra's job. that is yours. am joining nra tv and i really excited about bringing stories that matter. by the way, if anybody at the on york times needs a fresh what this means, i will be at the nra tv but later on this afternoon. we can also a slinky what anglo-saxon heritage also means and a discussion of law enforcement and all of that. i know that was a big obstacle for a lot of people in media as well. i do not want to cut into the vice president's time. i will leave you with a couple of point of advice here. always remember, politics is downstream from pop-culture. if it happens, it will have been in culture first before happens in policy. remember that, a very good friend of mine said that irma and mentor of mine, god rest his soul. never compromise or principles, ever. your job to change hearts and minds, not the government. a free people have the right to criticize and hold accountable our free press. we are free, we are conservatives, our principles are proven and to anybody other who says that conserv

now last night he met with the nra. we all know whoever has his ear last is often where things get set. do you have any idea what they will put out in terms of their gun policy position? >> i think the nra was very nervous about what the president was going to say. and they were nervous in suburban districts about what he said and what that means. i'm not sure what this ultimately defines the policy is. it is true whoever is with him last tends to have the most impact. in that 34g meeting the other day, he tweeted repeatedly what a great person wayne la pierre of the nra is. but we need background checks. i think he will continue to say both things. it is interesting because if the president does go ahead with some real push through for change, the movement in republicans are in favor of additional gun measures is because the president has been moving. it's from republicans. the president moving in that direction. he has a huge ability to influence his party. if he gets something accomplished on guns it will benefit him

he meets with the nra, gone. nothing but this -- crumbs he threw today. >> the funny thing is, he was talking gun control, dianne feinstein's got a smile on her face, she's talking about her bill. it's the tuesday trump versus the thursday trump. we were on to aluminum and steel. we were talking tariffs. >> what do they say in the room, when they put the muscle to these guys. >> they remind him who got him where he was. they gave him $50 million, they remind him that there are folks out there that would love to see a primary, and the nra members are one of the last folks that are with him. those are the immigration folks, the nra folks, the alex jones folks. there's a lot of them out there. >> i'm watching homeland about alex jones, pretty scary stuff. >>> up next, a look back at the sights and sounds after a very emotional day here in d.c., this is hardball where the action is. i'm not a bigwig. or a c-anything-o. but i've got an idea sir. get domo. it'll connect us to everything that's going on in the company.

of course this whole issue at the nra a bunch of companies announced to sever ties with the nra.polling here, morning consult a couple of days ago saying this is what happened to the images of the company that is did that. enterprise, they announced, they said the discount for members going away. they're not doing that anymore. nor tan anti-virus, lifelock, metlife. sort of partnership programs with the nra and severed them. before this all happened, just a couple of weeks ago this was the net favorable image score for the companies. very popular. 49 points more positive than negative. 37 more positive than negative. 35. 33. you can see they all took a hit in the wake of that announcement. went down to -- sorry. that was supposed to illustrate. down to 25 for enterprise, 20, 22, 21. double digit sort of drops in the favorable image with consumers. when's going do drive that? polarization and tribalism all the time. look at this. enterprise, among republicans, before they severed ties with nra, a 50-point margin, flifrible view. by a 9-point margin, a negative view. that's a chang

that he was afraid of the nra. but are you afraid of the nra? >> no. >> we need to make sure that every member of congress, republicans, democrats, people of all political stripes are more afraid of the next school massacre. the they are more afraid of next death on the streets in our country. more afraid of that than they are afraid of the nra. [cheering] movement,he student are what is going to make it happen. you're what is different this time to have one simple question. the nra and the gun lobby and the senate, they are counting on all of you to just go away after today. are you going to go away? >> no. >> are you going to be back here on march 24? >> yes. >> are you going to make sure we fight every week and every month and every year until we have safe america? let's go get them! [cheering] >> i'm danny, i'm a senior in high school. i would like to thank everyone for coming out here. we are the change that congress is scared to see. [cheering] coming up after our next speaker, are representative jamie -- jamie raskin, representative elean

from the nra. let us pray. youan you step aside -- are that crown check program and feinstein assault weapons ban? me schumer: if mentioned to -- if it can get 60 votes and close loopholes, that would be great. there are other proposals as well. >> is good better than nothing? mr. schumer: from my time in politics, i never let the present be the enemy of the good. this is the right thing to do. if we can get a good portion of it, not all of it, fine? >> have you spoken to leader mcconnell? mr. schumer: not yet. he knows my feelings. i've said on the floor that we ought to have votes on these things. they have opposition in their own caucus. not every republican will vote for this. if the president worked the room , meaning the senate, we can get this done. democrats will supply most of the votes. not all. tom. >> the president expressed a strong interest to allow teachers to be armed as part of this package. the overwhelming majority of experts that i have talked to, and the overwhelming majority of take -- tea

if you are doing the bidding of the nra, and all of the double talking of the nra.vote you out. and a number of -- of students were interviewed on this network today and they with asked about the minor changes that were in the spending bill that was passion passion -- passed in congress yesterday. we have some -- the bump stocks and more guards to a school to a tee the students said we won't be bought off with the silly political cover meaningless gestures. we want real reform. so i think we'll start to see things -- the discussion going past assault weapons to much more serious reform like other countries. >> and i have to take in a break but this is a serious day on a lighter note it is nice to see you out in your natural habitat. i learned that you were a natural dad and i didn't know you had a steve bannon thing going on. >> multiple layers. >> one two, three -- >> i wanted to wear my baseball cap but my girlfriend talked me out of it. >> if steve bannon goes the kaes a -- to the casino and loses his shirt, he is fine because he has five more shirts. we'll be ri

ties with the nra.he attorney said she never said that. reached out to mcclatchey about it. he ran with the story anyway. this is par for the course for fake news unfortunately. >> jon: also that attorney hadn't worked for the nra for about ten years or so. chris, what do you think about this? are there holes here big enough to drive a truck through or not? >> look, jon was a reporter for 20 years. these stories are very well-written. what mcclatchey is reporting is that the facts of the case as we know them. a kremlin linked politician who is directing mob money inside spain, who has a lifetime membership to the nra, talked about at being every nra convention since 2012, meeting every nra president, tweeting that he knows donald trump through the nra, that he met donald trump jr. during the 2016 nra convention. that shows in his own words that he's very involved in the nra and that comes at a time when the intelligence community says we're convinced that russia meddled with our elections, this politici

the nra they are the critics.ve, misguide, or disingenuous. >> here is an honest proposal. either you admit it that you want to ban all guns, or you stop endangering good people by limiting their option to protect themselves. >> the nra whose membership usually spikes after a mass shooting, spent at least $175 million to push its agenda in 2016. often on its own online tv channel. the pattern of presentation after each of these disasters, seldom varies. a few days of self imposed silence. followed by a full throated defense that links guns to freedom, and kricritics to trea. >> we can defend freedom with your passion. >> in january, before the parkland massacre, the nra youtube page had 430,000 views. last month though, the number rose to 1.4 million. >> this firearm gives average people the advantage they so desperately need. >> roanoke college professor, harry wilson who owns 50 firearms and belongs to the nra says fear works wonders. >> i think they play a role in stoking fear in general. because, fear for any

nra members have children themselves. people who work at the nra have their own children. do you think that you are polarizing in saying things like that maybe it would be to get the nra on board? >> if the nra was on board they would implement safety and give people grants to these schools and not -- their programs to actually ensure just school safety alone have not been enough. what they do, what the nra does from my perspective, they don't teach enough gun safety. many members of the nra are safe responsible people. most members of the nra are safe responsible gun owners that just want to protect their second amendment rights to own a weapon. when the people at the top are paid by the gun industry to ensure that they scare american citizens and that they're able to sell more guns and scare more people as a result they don't get people enough training to own these guns. we are not trying to take your guns. we understand that you have a right to the second amendment and to pone a firearm. if you have a criminal history, a history of mental illness or history of domestic

nra says on a daily basis.he nra are not good players in this thing. good law-abiding gun owners are. they don't do anything wrong. >> i don't know anyone at the nra who shot up a school. whose killed people. gun owners in this country by and large are the most peaceful people out there. but of course there is a very small percentage of individuals who misuse guns. if we focus our policies, our concerns, our attention, if the kids are smart enough to realize in some cases, they're being used politically. but it is good that they get involved. they are the future. they are the only way that we're going to really affect meaningful change in this country is when citizens take control of their own government. >> which -- which these kids are doing. so let me ask susanna. have you been -- do you think you're being used politically, you or your classmates as a result of this. >> i don't think that we've been used politically, i think we're speaking what we believe in. i think that we have our own opinions. it is a la

>> the nra. this happens when you have a president who really doesn't believe in much of anything and he defers to the interests that powered his political rise. let's not forget just how crucial the nra was to him in the 2016 election and running tens of millions of dollars of advertisements on his behalf and gal vinizing membership to turn out to the polls for him. despite initial misgivings as being seen as too favorable to the gun lobby, caved in. when he met with them at the white house, one of the things he got hung up on was raising the age for the assault weapons ban. he couldn't understand, he told wayne lapierre why it was easier to buy a long gun than a handgun, and he appeared to be troubled by this, but in the end he deferred. >> he talked about not having much political support, something that passed in florida, jeremy, when he says not having much political support and peter just mentioned there's a bipartisan number of lawmakers who support this. when the president says not much p

we understand nra higher ups met with the president. you know two, days ago the president was in all ideas are welcome moment. got a lot of republicans nervous. other people got optimistic that something would actually get done. could you tell us what the nra concerns were and is anything off the table after that meeting? >> look, i don't think the nra has had concerns with this president. he has been very committed to supporting the second amendment. but, also looking for ways that we can promote school safety and reduce gun violence. this is something that we have been having ongoing conversations with. the president president has madr he wants to talk to all big stake horlsdz in this process. parents, teachers, students. local law enforcement. state and federal authorities as well as members of the nra. he is going to continue to have those conversations. continue to work with congress to create legislation that we think can help improve the system and make sure we're doing everything we can to protect kids in the school. brian: wher

all it took was a gentle nudge from friends at nra.e wake of wednesday's remarkable televised meeting with lawmakers, trump at a private dinner with leaders of nra last night. same people who spent $30 million helping him get elected. chris cox lead of the lobbying nra attended the meeting. later tweeted he had a great night. we all want safe schools. mental health reform. keep guns away from dangerous people. vice president and vice president support the second amendment. support strong due process and don't want gun control. roughly an hour later the president tweeted, good. great meeting in the oval office tonight with the nra. more than two weeks since the parkland high school shooting. we have no idea what the president is going to want to ask for. that is part of the trump two step sometimes. promise everything and deliver in the end nothing. on the hardball round table tonight. kimberly atkins. chief washington report. edward isaac. chief correspondent for politico and gibson respondent for reuters. thank you. let's start off. t

trump: because you are afraid of the nra. amy: two weeks after the school shooting in parkland, florida, president trump appears to break with the nra and his republican colleagues, urging lawmakers to pass, rants of gun control measures, including expanding background checks, raising the minimum age to buy guns, and other measures. but trump is still pushing to arm teachers and get rid of gun-free zones. we will speak with the brady campaign to prevent gun violence, the campaign to keep guns off campus, and randi weingarten, president of the american federation of teachers. valueddren should be more than guns. children should be valued more than guns. amy: we will also look at the arctic, where temperatures have soared to record shattering highs. is alarming heat wave causing scientists to reconsider even their bleakest forecast of climate change. all that and more, coming up. welcome to democracy now!, democracynow.org, the war and peace report. i'm amy goodman. in parkland, florida, teachers and students at marjory stonema

because nothing will ever be done, because they are getting paid i the nra--. paid by the nra. besides the nra, they are giving grades by each -- to each congressperson. is this school? this is all about money. host: it is all about money, all about the nra. is thecertainly, that main argument people use against republicans -- tried to tie the amount of money they received from the nra to their stance on gun policy. the interesting thing about viewing the crime scene, the president held a listening session with survivors from the parkland shooting. you saw people on both sides of the aisle commending the president for speaking to the families, the students -- the visibility is there. i do not know if that would be enough to change their minds. there is a lot of political calculus behind this. we are seeing this in the proposal, the difference between what the president said in front is aneras -- the nra argument, but it is not the only reason. had its ownss has shootings -- gabrielle giffords and then steve scalise. guest: one of the differences has been the activism of the stu

nra's night race.nce the shooting in parkland, florida. five years ago, hall of fame jim kelly revealed he had oral cancer, he beat it. returned, kelly revealed he had been cancer-free for 18 months, yesterday the buffalo legend told us cancer was tack. the touching photograph shared by daughter erin, we will fight right along with him. jim kelly, 58 year's old. nhl team appears strong candidate for seattle with approval for arena already under belts, one that could be used for nba team, remember the sonics, ownership group trying to bring hockey to seattle, big day yesterday dpo sits on potential season tickets came in, going like hot cakes, 10,000 season tickets in 12 minutes 25rbgs thousand commitments already and they have hasn't nhl team in seattle since 1924. lauren: wow. jared: i have a hundred big ones if you can tell me the name of the team? connell: seattle pilots, oh, that was baseball. jared: metropolans. my producer told me and i'm trusting him. lauren: fox news headline 24/7 jared. connel

the nra doeslear, not have power over congress.has power over the republican party. 90% of americans, as i mentioned, want universal background checks and 90% of democrats in the congress will vote for universal background checks. it is the republican party that has stopped these measures over and over and over again. the explanation certainly has something to do with the amount of honey that the nra put -- money the nra puts into the campaigns, but it is more about the fact the republican party over the years has become essentially a party of one idea. that idea is less government, getting government out of every aspect of our lives. if you want to be a republican candidate, you have to prove how much you hate government. you have to hate government more than the others. there is one organization that stands more than others for the sheer hatred, and that is the nra. the nra stands for the ability of citizens to arm themselves in server action against the government. so the republican party has formed this alliance with the nra be