tommy tubervillle has the moll position right now.barrassment to the republican party, particularly republican party that claims to care about the military, claims to care about national defense. and as a result of his demagoguery on all this, the marine corps for the first time does not have a commanding general in its history. why is that happening? why are his fellow senators allowing that to happen? why is mitch mcconnell allowing that to happen? why is chuck schumer allowing that to happen? it's one thing to have somebody as deplorable and dumb as tommy tubervillle. then the question is why does the -- the world's greatest deliberative body allow him to have that kind of clout? and why are republicans going to go into 2024 with him being basically -- holding the whip hand on fundamental issues of national security. it's crazy. >> but again, as charles pointed out, we're dealing in a crazy world. we have to understand that we are not dealing in a world where rational decisions always dominate. and this is something we need to come

military is the latest target of the right wing culture wars with senator tommy tubervillle blockingy promotions and now a school district is banning the military memoir "jarhead," author anthony swafford joins me tonight. >>> but we begin tonight with the on going efforts by donald trump's maga minions in congress to go to bat for their dear leader, acting not as representatives of the american people but as an extension of the defense team for the twice-impeached, twice-indicted former president. you may remember that one of trump's most loyal followers in the house, jim jordan, made it very clear last summer that defending trump was going to be their top priority. with just one goal in mind if they took the house in the midterms -- >> all those things need to be investigated just so you have the truth. plus, that will help frame up the 2024 race when i hope and i think president trump is going to run again. we need to make sure that he wins. >> and there it is. we need to make sure that he wins. and keeping to his word, house republicans have made every attempt to do just that. in

the white house is slamming republican senator tommy tubervillle for holding up military promotions.ma reacting? we'll take you there next. >> i'm pro life, i'm a conservative, but i really don't believe that he should hold up military promotions. >> i'm certain he would not compromise nor do i think he should. ♪ >>> a cascading effect of delayed promotions threatens to brain drain from the military. military families don't know where they will live, where spouses will work, where children will go to school. >> that was white house press secretary karine jean-pierre. the alabama senator, tommy tuberville, has blocked hundreds of nominations over a pentagon policy that provides aid to members of the military who travel out of state to obtain abortions. lauren, you just got back from huntsville, alabama, talked to some of the senator's constituents about his standoff. what did you learn? >> just the fact that huntsville is such a military town. >> this is pitting two core conservative pillars once agone another, the military and abortion. they will tell you they are concerned this coul

. >> tammy duckworth criticizing tommy tubervillle's blockade.pelled grenade. >>> also on capitol hill, the republican-controlled house approved defense bill loaded with far right social issues that has almost no chance of passing the senate. we're going to take a look at the looming showdown over funding the military. >>> also ahead, we'll dig in this brand new reporting special counsel jack smith is now putting the pressure on a worker inside the trump organization who is connected to the classified documents investigation. >>> meanwhile, trump's top republican challenger in the 2024 race is already shaking up his presidential campaign staff. a move which governor ron desantis' team says is not related to his lagging poll numbers. >>> plus, a perception versus reality problem for president joe biden when it comes to the economy. we'll break down the polling that's not lining up with the latest economic data. >>> good morning and welcome to "morning joe." it's monday, july 17th, i'm jonathan lemire, back from europe. i'm in for joe, mika and wil