primary challenges of congressional never-trumpers are going by the day. but these people are so desperate for relevance in a post-bush world that they don't have the situational awareness to see when they are being used and exploited by the press. and that is "angle." joining me now is the aforementioned journalist ryan girdusky who spoke with us on this show nearly three weeks ago about john weaver in the lincoln project. and also author of the book "they're not listening." you have proof the lincoln project members are lying when they said they just learned recently of weaver's depravity. tell us. >> right, i got the emails from young men starting in late may. i was working with another writer on this project for months trying to get young men to go on the record. during that time frame, i got calls from other friends who were plugged into washington, d.c., circuit that several members had heard that i was asking questions about john weaver and very involved in trying to see where i was on the investigation. an advisor to the lincoln project called seve

a never-trumper. and those people who called him out after january 6th were right to do that. but this will be a continuing problem for donald trump and republican party. while the trump brand has great value within the republican primary system, it's not clear how much weight it carries among the general electorate now. >> speaking of nikki haley, these two women reportedly have not spoken since january 6th. what do you make of this, can nikki haley have it both ways with donald trump? how much did her statement condemning trump for january 6th damage any potential 20 24 run or can she garner support from the non-trumpian republicans for her honesty? ? i think the last part of that question is kind of an open-ended question. put the first part of that question about whether or not donald trump will forget, no, he will not. i think anybody who crossed trump post november 3rd, quite frankly, is going to be on a list of sorts. he always talks about how he likes to sit back and get revenge on people he s

>> i think, lou, a lot of democrats and especially never trumper republicans, such as they were, theythis idea that they were so fixated on trump that trump was opposed by these moderate democrats under the guise of joe biden. joe biden had never said anything moderate throughout the whole campaign. to the extent that he even campaigned, more or less a virtual campaign, it was pretty radical. i mean, he was for open borders, he was for stopping the wall, he was for stopping fracking. he said it all. and and so they all believed, nevertheless, that once trump was out of the way, he would be the adult in the room and restrain the aoc, elizabeth warren, and he was only going to be a one-term caretaker. and i think they never really looked at the evidence. and i think much more likely is that joe biden feels that he's liberated. he's probably not going to run for re-election, he doesn't really care about the midterms. he's got two years, he's got the legislative support in the congress. i think he always felt that he was somewhat inferior in stature to barack obama, and now he's going to

but i would say he's been sometimes trumper like a lot of these republicans in washington have beenthey need him, they love him. what they don't need him they try to discard him and mistake they're making it number one that's the wrong way to approach politics but number two millions of supporters uncomfortable with republican party but they were willing to go there because they like donald trump outsider, donald trump talking about immigration, donald trump talking about trade and china. i for one would like to hold on to volters and expand our coalition, so that we can put more conservatives on supreme court and take back the white house. some republicans are insis tangt to make our coalition smaller. and i'm not going to be for that. jon: over at the white house they're putting on a what me worry face jen psaki president spoke woman urn concern about prospect of former trump taking the microphone and the bully pulpit if you will at cpac tomorrow listen to what she had to say. >> the president knows that we spent a whole lot of time not we, but in this briefing room talking about

it's about donald trump's family , the legacy movement, the trumper's and the republican party who areut there to spell -- out there espousing thisype of rhetoric that donald trump ebled. this is it. this is the final offramp for these republican senators to take a stand if they want to bring the republican party back to true conservative values. jane: do you think he should be allowed to run again in office or should he, as the democrat say in this trial, be banned? guest: i don' think donald trump is fit to be preside -- jane: but should he be banned? guest: i thinke should be banned. he led an attack at the u.s. capitol on the congrsional leadership and his own vice president. if that doesn't disqualify him, i don't know what does. jane: thank you very much for joining me. in mexico, more than 100 70,000 people have died due to covid, the thd highest death toll in the world. but the country has lost more than 300,000 lives in its decade long war on drugs. in one city, the double pandemic is plain to see. warning -- this -- some viewers may find elements of the story stressing. repor

the big split is the pro trumpers and less pro trumpers.d on the other side, mitch mcconnell and liz cheney. he went down to mar-a-lago. they are pulling more favorable in the party than mitch mcconnell, who has been lukewarm. it speaks very much to that split in the republican party about the establishment and the trump. former president trump still has a stronghold over the republican party. that has been a lot of tension in the party to figure out what the future of the party is. we see the vote on liz cheney, whichs a secret vote and kicking marjorie taylor greene off her committee to emphasize the split in the party. >> nicholas johnston, i hope those lamb burgers were tasty for dinner last night. . >> they were. >> okay, good. thanks so much for being up early with us. we really appreciate it. just to underscore this point one more time, liz cheney overwhelmingly backed up by her colleagues on a secret ballot. only one of 10 to go out in public and say this. so that's really the difference between the people having the courage to step

hardcore trumpers who actually believed nothing was wrong with what happened in january 6. basically the base that you don't want to lose a few republicans looking for reelection in the house in 2 years or in the senate. >>michael most people have seen the video from january the 6 all of us have seen portions of it since it happened. what did you think of the showing of the 30 minutes today and whether it will release way anybody the senator certainly know what happened that day. >>well what's really was really powerful about that video and i remember doing the on air conjuring kronon during during the whole incident is that all we saw was on the outside. and we could really sink up what was happening on the outside with the carnage that was occurring inside the fact that 5 people during that during that rampage. we can see that i'm mean of the president's remarks in the president's reaction to what was going on inside. i think that was powerful others, it's a powerfully well done by the house democrats to remind the american people that there is a there is a line a direct

the michigan republican party elected firm trumper people in leadership and the wyoming republican party said officially they are not only censoring liz cheney, they want to run a primary opponent against her. so the idea that the republican party is split may be true if you just look at mitch mcconnell and some of the senators who've been critical of trump. but back home, i don't think there's much evidence at all for anything other than trump has a very firm grip on the base of the republican party. >> sreenivasan: let's talk a little bit about the current present. he had a meeting with senators this week who came back with a counterproposal to his stimulus plan or the pandemic relief plan. that was about a third of what he's asking for. you know, this is that sort of conundrum. do you, when you have the power, make the change that you want or do you try to appeal for some semblance of bipartisanship here, especially when it comes down to something like checks that people need right now? >> it's a really fascinating example now that we're back to a kind of normal presidential congressi

it's the midterm elections the 2020 elections or some of the tone between the lincoln project and trumperyou see that same type of dynamic playing out when you contrast that with the rest of the american electorate you quarantine rules for incoming travelers as you to come into effect in the u.k. from monday people arriving from 33 high risk nations to isolate in an airport hotel for 10 days but officials at london's heathrow airport say there's been no guidance about passengers soft mingling when travelers disembark. lebanon's vaccination program is underway and on monday elderly citizens are going to start getting their dozes caretaker prime minister visited the hospital over the 1st shots of the pfizer vaccine were given on sunday he said he wouldn't be getting his job ahead of medical workers who sacrificed so much and i've been on struggling with a recent surge in cases intensive care units are full and there's a shortage of oxygen tanks. the former president of argentina conason adam has died at the age of 90 his casket has arrived at the national congress for the way to argentina's

disowning their children this is happening in ordinary american families it's tough my husband's trumper has caused such strive daily feel like i want a divorce i'm a registered republican who is now an independent who voted democrat my republican family however has dug in they think i'm the crazy one they were more shocked to find out i hated the tea than they were to hear i was also known as none of my family members talk to me i'm so sorry for anyone who's lost a family over politics it has. you can see it in the workplace where playing politics can get you fired and the spotlight of national news like the former what a burger employee who wore a black lives matter mask to the job it went ahead but that's the ticket that i made in the style of clothing that i think if they don't think it's a good thing. you probably shouldn't buy the wrong item either unless you want to incur the wrath of those who don't agree with you going to food for example is now being boycotted just because the boss prays donald trump for a also under boycott because the company dropped its contract with a conse

so this is out there these are the top stories and lawyers for former us president total trumper filed defense papers saying the senate's impeachment trial starts on tuesday is unconstitutional they also deny the challenge to trump and cited his supporters to storm capitol hill the democrats prosecuting trump say he has no falut defense the trial is clearly constitutional by every frame of analysis by constitutional text historical practice senate precedent and basic common sense a president cannot simply resign to avoid accountability for an imp.

mrtrumper making mr trumper making that unfounded claim against.a good way to put it. there was not anything that happened in conservative politics in america over the last 30 years that rush limbaugh wasn�*t behind. whether it was the contract with america, whether it was any of the major candidates, his stamp of approval was on it so he was very, very influential. there are not many people, are there, that you can call a racist, sexist misogynist bully without fear of lawsuit or contradiction but, actually, he revelled in that persona. he was deliberately a provocateur. was it in any way an act, a persona or was that him? i think it was partly an act. i mean, he considered himself an entertainer in so far as it is in entertaining to insult people. his career as an insult entertainer goes back before he became a political commentator, to when he was a dj on a top a0 music station, in various places in america. and he sort of honed that act where people would call in, and he would insult them and then he would play a record. he adapted that to poli

picture of the supporters who believe that they were following trump's orders and also an unrepentant trumper who has written refusing to to condone the violence or twister that the highlight so we've had this this far. astray afterwards the and that dramatic video where no discussing very much the aftermath whether or not donald trump showed any remorse the fact that many of his supporters when they have been arrested and remember has been more than 200 people know charged with the events on january the 6th here in capitol hill many of them have said they were acting because they were told to by donald trump they were simply following his instructions ted lou made the point he's one of the impeachment managers congressman from california a former prosecutor as well and delivered it very matter of fact lee saying look i don't worry about donald trump running in 4 years i run about him losing in 4 years and invoking the same sort of violence that we saw there one of the impeachment managers made a very clear case that had the trump team not helped organize the rally on january the 6th would we

i do have a comment about the woman who called earlier she said she was a trumper and she was saying that she did not think that trump incited everything with his speech on the morning of the sixth but that is not even the point. i don't know if she has been watching or not but he shrewd his followers for months and elevated his attempt to overthrow the election from one level to the next to the next as he lost and lost and finally he kept telling them go take your country back which is just insane, i was so upset i've never seen anything like this in my life, well it's never happened in america in my life. but yes, he completely incited and he is 100% responsible for what happened and for not stopping it and i find it unbelievable that people cannot see that. >> debbie as you were watching today, what piece of evidence, video or otherwise resonated with you? >> gosh, i don't think there is any one piece. i wouldn't want to take any one thing out of context, it was the whole story that they told. how he elevated and went from this to that, there have been people with these kind of be

it's not just the trumper. but we've been seeing invisible americans for a long time.he asian community now when we're attacked like this wants to stand up. but, yes, the vulnerable elderly, this is an issue. not just asian peep but everyone knows that elderly asian don't have cars walk around the streets. carry cash, easy targets for people to go for. criminal elements look at that and go, that's an opportunity there. >> yeah, and we have seen a response already which has been great in oakland where we see community members making their own foot patrols getting out there as a form of escort service, if you will. but what can we do beyond that? have there been discussions that either of you all have had about how we can, i guess, utilize, the resources that are already here because we're not getting anymore, not in this climate, in this economy, this pandemic, right? what can we do now, kamau? >> i mean, i think that a big part of this is actually supporting the activists and organizers in the neighborhood who often do the work on a shoe string budget. and those of us

in his first broadcast interview since becoming president, joe biden said he was worried about mr trumperss. he also spoke about the upcoming impeachment trial. he was asked if he would have voted to convict donald trump if he was a centre. i have voted to convict donald trump if he was a centre. i ran like hell to _ trump if he was a centre. i ran like hell to defeat _ trump if he was a centre. i ran like hell to defeat in _ trump if he was a centre. i ran like hell to defeat in because l like hell to defeat in because i thought he was unfit to be president. i wash and everybody else watched what happened when that crew invaded the united states congress. but i am not in the senate, now. i will let the centre make that decision. let me ask you something that you do— let me ask you something that you do have oversight of as president. should former president donald trump still receive — president donald trump still receive intelligence briefings? ithink— receive intelligence briefings? i think not. receive intelligence briefings? i think not-— receive intelligence briefings? i i think not

interesting, because you voted for president trump, you liked his policies, it's not like you were a never trumperld accountable for inciting an insurrection? >> i don't think they believe that he incited the insurrection. i think they believe it's all part of fake news. and it's, to me, there's a long history of him trying to undermine the very basis of our democracy, what he did following the election. contacting governors to get them to appoint different electors, to pressuring the secretary of state in georgia to find 10,000 votes. just all of the actions and then to see him on the capitol steps telling them to go down there and make your voices heard or whatever he said, it certainly incited a riot. he should have known it, and he should have stopped it. >> what does this say, dave, about the grip that trump still has on the gop? >> well, it says that his grip is still very strong. in part because, you know, his policies are still, his policies were wonderful. they, we think, turned this country around and got it going in the right direction. and i don't think they want to turn their back on

george conway photographed at cocktail parties with the other never-trumpers because he embarrassed hismething curious about the timing here. rather line the hunter biden criminal investigation, they wait until the election is over and the group has served its purpose and this stuff comes out. >> that's right. there is another comparison with the way the information that is coming out has been subject to -- or not subject to what twitter discusses as itself policy like in the hunter biden. they said you can't share this material. they applied a different standard in this case. it's not anti-trump. the establishment is having a different set of words. the only thing that brings them together is their hatred of donald trump. >> yes. it's amazing to me. this leaking personal messages from my old new hampshire chum jennifer and they decided to just bat her into the ground too. >> yes. >> we have to go. we will see you on the next revolution on sunday. good to see you. i am furious you didn't wear a collared shirt for me. we will let it go. in the spirit of valentine's day. forget tradition,

say, you know, a never trumper like me. say there's a small never trump faction within the party. there was the hope that after donald trump left office, things would reset and maybe go back to normal. but that's just not the case. the republican party is largely clinging to trumpism in the way that he defined his candidacy, his campaigns with politically driven lies, okay? and so whether it's marjorie taylor greene today or what's going to happen in the senate with impeachment next week, the party has to confront these politically driven lies. and so far, i feel like they have been hiding behind these fake argument about procedure, whether it's constitutionality -- we don't like the democrats stripped a republican of her committee assignment. but this is coming. future republicans are not going say, where were republicans on whether or not donald trump was convicted on a former president? they're going to say, are you guys still doing all this lying stuff about elections? like, that is coming, and that is the central thing why we're in this mess. >> doug, listen, amanda's a -- am

like the never trumper charlie dan. and he thinks he has a way of saving the g.o.p. >> the party needs to make a clean break from trump and i would argue that clean break from trump with all its ugly populism, we need to empower adam kinzinger and those who want a new direction to the party that is much more socially tolerant and constructively engaged on the international and domestic stage. >> laura: oh, my god, to comfort hair hurts. congresswoman is this with the party needs? >> i certainly didn't come here to oppose republicans, not that's not the fight that i was sent here to be part of and so my agenda is taking back the house in 2022 and representing the people of colorado. but i don't see the republican party going away from this america first agenda. that's what motivated me to get to washington, d.c. i have four children, i know the conservative values are what leads them to a free and and a prosperous life. they are terrified of me and people like me. i grew up in an democratic home dependent on democratic p

they're trumpers and they have been. >> i have to go anna. >> i have to tell you something. that excuse in rage is so much because it is nothing but cowardice. if you were in a court of law and the issue of venue had been decided, any juror would have to then decide on the case, on the merits of the case. >> you're right. >> they are hiding behind this because they can't find their spines. >> yes. >> their spines are somewhere in mar-a-lago to say the truth and to be able to reckon, reckon with what they have done. >> got to be the last word, anna. >> what happened on january 6th. >> right. they're being legitimate process is a force of law behind it. it's been deemed that and they have to take that into consideration that they're not doing their duties. thank you both. we'll be right back. jackson hewitt knows your job description may have changed this year. to say... account manager... third grade teacher... and senior vice dog-walker. don't add tax preparer. let jackson hewitt do it for you, so you can be certain your taxes are done right, guaranteed. >>> we're back with

you have the old-school bush and reagan-era official who's have always been never-trumpers, if that'se, okay anthony, than who is left in the republican party? what is the party? >> well, it's a very large group of people that are in the penalty cult of donald trump and you've got those who will acquit and you get to ask those people at some point, what does the president have on you? and when does he get it on you? because you can see prima facia that he broke the allow, he disa vowed the constitution. it's not just political expedient yenscy, i agree with what matt said holding on to something that doesn't exist but it's more than that they have an opportunity to have lights out by him, he has been weaken, disa vowed on twitter, and he's not coming back. the gollum is effectively dead, don, so what does he have on those guys, why they won't turn on him, all of those independent of donald trump either making salaries away from him, not tied to him politically but there's a large group of people that seem to be tied to them or maybe he has something on them that we don't fully underst

love to trot out former congressman who don't have to answer to constituents anymore, like the never trumper charlie been and he thinks he has a way to save the g.o.p.d watch. >> the party needs to have make a clear break from trump and i would argue a clear break from the trumpism with all of its ugly populism, isolationism, protectionism. we have do counteract adam kinzinger direction much more socially tolerant, engaged on the international and domestic stage. on>> laura: my god, my hair hurts. is this what the party needs? >> i didn't come here to opposed to republicans. that's not what i was sent to be a part of. my agenda is taking back the house in 2022 and resenting the people of colorado. but i do not see the republican party going away from this american first agenda. laura, that's what motivated me to get to washington, d.c. i have four children. i know the conservative values are what leads to a free and prosperous life. thi grew up in a democrat home dependent on democrat policies and those policies failed me. they led me to stand in line for government cheese. the american drea

think i'm doing the wrong thing by voting the acquit, but i'm actually saving the party from more trumpersby giving myself a chance to win. >> you're being coopted by donald trump then, if that's your excuse. if that's your reason that you need to go along with this. you've been coopted. i've always felt if more members spoke up in greater numbers, you know, basically, the base could be let. they will follow you, if you lead. that's the problem. too few people have spoken up. we see adam kinzinger and liz cheney. what's a leader with the guy taking a walk, so you need a whole bunch of people out there speaking up. so those ten members in particular in the house who voted to impeach, republicans, resigned to the fact they may have committed a political act with the consequence they could be defeated but also been liberated. they feel like they've done the right thing but they also know too that over time, that this vote will look even better politically. that's a good vote now but it will look even better because as we learn more about what's occurred under this trump administration in part

then you have to old school bush and reagan era officials who have always been never-trumpers.case, okay, anthony, then who is left in the republican party? what is the party? >> well, it's a very large group of people that are in the personality cult of donald trump, and you've got the act colites that matt is referring to that are going to acquit him. i think you have to ask those people, what does the president have on you and when did he get it on you? you can see prima fascia we droek the law. it's not just political expediency. i agree with everything matthew said about the demographic of the country, and people trying to hold on to something that doesn't exist anymore, but i think it's something more than that. because they have this opportunity to put him lights out right now. they don't need to be intimidated by him anymore. he's been weakened, disem bowled on twitter, and he's not coming back. the golem is effectively dead. so what does he have on these guys? why are they not willing to turn on him? you have all these people you mentioned. they're independent of donal

they're trumpers and they have been. >> i have to go anna. >> i have to tell you something. much because it is nothing but cowardice. if you were in a court of law and the issue of venue had been decided, any juror would have to then decide on the case, on the merits of the case. >> you're right. >> they are hiding behind this because they can't find their spines. >> yes. >> their spines are somewhere in mar-a-lago to say the truth and to be able to reckon, reckon with what they have done. >> got to be the last word, anna. >> what happened on january 6th. >> right. being a legitimate process there has to force of law behind it. it's been deemed that and they have to take that into consideration that they're not doing their duties. thank you both. we'll be right back. (man) how hot is the diablo chili? (waitress) well, you've got to sign a waiver. [loud laughter] (woman) is this even a road? (man) yeah. (woman) so what should we do second? (vo) the subaru forester. the most adventurous forester ever. (vo) get 0% for 63 months on select new 2021 models. now through march 1st.

think i'm doing the wrong thing by voting to acquit, but i'm actually saving the party from more trumpers and more radicals by giving myself a chance to win. >> my quick argument to that, chris, is you're being co-opted by donald trump, then, if that's your excuse, if that's your reason that you need to go along with this, you've been co-opted. i've always felt if more members spoke up in greater numbers, you know, basically the base could be let. they will follow you if you led. that's really what the problem hassen about. too few people have spoken up. we've seen adam kinzinger and liz cheney. but what's a -- you know, what's a leader without a guy taking a walk? so you need a whole bunch of people speaking up. those ten members in the house who voted to impeach, republicans, those folks have resigned themselves to the fact that they may have committed a political act with the consequence they could be defeated. but they've also been liberated. they feel like they've done the right thing, but they also know too that over time, that this vote will look even better politically. it's a goo

the only people trying to focus on the january 6th speech are trumpers.f the single larly responsible line. >> it was only the bravery and sacrifice of the police who suffered death and injuries as a result of the president trump actions that prevented greater tragedy. at trial, we will prove with overwhelming evidence that president trump is single and directly responsible for inciting the assault on the capitol. >> so, was tuesday's gop vote against the constitutionality of the impeachment? abuse of powerly about fealty to trump or senators maintaining power for themselves. let's take this loyalty question to anthony scaramucci. good to see you. appreciate yo. >> good morning. >> is your party dead? will you have a ross perot situation. where you back somebody else? >> the party is dying. it's on the hospital bed and hasn't gotten into intensive care. doctors are trying to figure out what to do. the one thing we learned in law school was the but for causation. plain and simple. but for donald trump, there's no violence at the capitol. if he accepts the

watch for republicans who were full-on trumpers, especially those who want to be president, watch for start saying, i never liked the guy, i thought he was wrong all along. ben sasse is already on the board in this effort, and now so is -- wait for it -- nikki haley, the former south carolina governor, trump's former u.n. ambassador, not happy with her old boss for turning on mike pence. tim alberta of "politico" magazine, on july 12, hailey said she was disgusted with his comments. she said, we need to acknowledge he let us down. he went down a path he shouldn't have. and we shouldn't have followed him. we shouldn't have listened to him, and we can't let that happen ever again. so back with us tonight, jon meacham, presidential historian. professor, on the american president on vanderbilt, he advises the current president, and also author of that book "impeachment." michael steele is with us tonight, former chairman of the republican national committee, former lieutenant governor of maryland. he's also the host of the michael steele podcast. michael, here is a further quote from tim