>> NEWS FOR THE GENERATION OF NOW IS NBC NEWS NOW. >>> FRIDAY, ATTORNEY GENERAL MERRICK GARLAND APPOINT A SPECIAL COUNSEL TO OVERSEE THE ONGOING INVESTIGATION INTO HIS BOSSES SON, HUNTER BIDEN. AS THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE NOW SAYS THAT HUNTER BIDEN WILL LIKELY HAVE TO FACE A TRIAL ON TAX AND GUN CHARGES. >>> PLUS, DONALD TRUMP'S LAWYERS ALSO APPEAR IN FEDERAL COURT TODAY AS THE JUDGE LIMITS WHAT THE REPUBLICAN FRONT RUNNER CAN SAY IN HIS ELECTION INTERFERENCE CASE. AND, ISSUES A NEW WARNING AGAINST INTIMIDATING WITNESSES. >>> AND, NEW IMAGES OF THE UTTER DESTRUCTION FROM WILDFIRES ON THE ISLAND OF MAUI IN HAWAII. 55 PEOPLE ARE DEAD, MORE THAN 1000 ARE STILL MISSING. WHAT THE GOVERNOR IS CALLING THE WORST NATURAL DISASTER IN THE STATE'S HISTORY. >>> HAPPY FRIDAY, WELCOME TO MEET THE PRESS NOW. I AM CHUCK TODD REPORTING FROM WASHINGTON, WE BEGIN WITH MULTIPLE BREAKING DEVELOPMENTS ON LEGAL CASES THAT HAVE SIGNIFICANT POLITICAL IMPLICATIONS FOR THE 2024 RACE FOR PRESIDENT. IN AN UNEXPECTED, BUT ALSO PERHAPS, IN HINDSIGHT, INEVITABLE MOVE TODAY, ATTORNEY GENERAL MERRICK GARLAND ANNOUNCE THE APPOINTMENT OF U.S. ATTORNEY DAVID WEISS, TO NOW SERVE AS A SPECIAL COUNSEL TO OVERSEE THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT'S ONGOING INVESTIGATION INTO PRESIDENT BIDEN SON, HUNTER BIDEN. >> ON TUESDAY OF THIS WEEK, MR. WEISS ADVISED ME THAT IN HIS JUDGMENT, HIS INVESTIGATION HAD REACHED A STAGE AT WHICH HE COULD CONTINUE HIS WORK AS A SPECIAL COUNSEL, AND HE ASKED TO BE SO APPOINTED. UPON CONSIDERING HIS REQUEST, AS WELL AS THE EXTRAORDINARY CIRCUMSTANCES RELATING TO THIS MATTER, I HAVE CONCLUDED THAT IT IS IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST TO APPOINT HIM AS SPECIAL COUNSEL. >> JUST MOMENTS AFTER THAT ANNOUNCEMENT FROM THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, WEISS'S TEAM REVEALED IN A COURT FILING THAT PLEA NEGOTIATIONS OVER TAX AND GUN CHARGES HAVE FALLEN APART, AND THEY EXPECT THE CASE TO GO TO TRIAL. WEISS WAS APPOINTED U.S. ATTORNEY IN DELAWARE BY DONALD TRUMP AND HE IS NOW ONE OF THREE SPECIAL COUNCILS APPOINTED BY MERRICK GARLAND, THAT INCLUDES ROBERT HUR, WHO IS SOMEBODY YOU DON'T HEAR A LOT FROM. HE WAS THE ONE APPOINTED TO INVESTIGATE PRESIDENT BIDEN'S HANDLING OF CLASSIFIED DOCUMENTS. IN FACT, NBC NEWS WAS FIRST TO REPORT EARLIER TODAY THAT ATTORNEYS FOR PRESIDENT BIDEN ARE IN TALKS WITH FEDERAL PROSECUTORS OVER THE IDEA AND THE TERMS OF AN INTERVIEW WITH THE PRESIDENT. ALL OF THESE DEVELOPMENTS, AS LAWYERS FOR DONALD TRUMP AND FEDERAL PROSECUTORS ARE WORKING FOR JACK SMITH. THE JUDGE RULED THAT A PROTECTIVE ORDER LIMITING WHAT THE FORMER PRESIDENT CAN SAY ABOUT EVIDENCE CAN ONLY APPLY TO SENSITIVE MATERIAL, NOT ALL MATERIAL, AND IT WILL BE UP TO THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT TO DEFINE SENSITIVE MATERIAL. TRUMPS REPUBLICAN RIVALS ARE FIGHTING IT OUT IN WHAT IS, TRADITIONALLY, GROUND ZERO IN THE FIGHT FOR A PRIMARY CAMPAIGN FOR PRESIDENT, IOWA, WHERE THEY ARE MEETING, GREETING, AND EATING WITH VOTERS ALL OVER THE PLACE. LET'S UNPACK THE LEGAL SITUATION. JOINING ME NOW, JUSTICE REPORTER, RYAN RILEY, AND GARRETT HAKE, WHO COVERS THE CHUM CAMPAIGN. ALL RIGHT, LET ME START WITH YOU, RYAN. I WANT TO GET -- LET ME ASK THIS, WHAT TOOK SO LONG? WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE RATIONALE THAT MERRICK GARLAND LAID OUT FOR NAMING JACK SMITH AS SPECIAL COUNSEL, AND IN FACT, I HAVE THAT I WANT TO PLAY IT RIGHT NOW. >> THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE HAS LONG RECOGNIZED THAT IN CERTAIN, EXTRAORDINARY CASES, IT IS IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST TO APPOINT A SPECIAL PROSECUTOR TO INDEPENDENTLY MANAGE AN INVESTIGATION AND PROSECUTION. BASED ON RECENT DEVELOPMENTS, INCLUDING THE FORMER PRESIDENT'S ANNOUNCEMENT THAT HE WAS A CANDIDATE FOR PRESIDENT IN THE NEXT ELECTION, AND THE SITTING PRESIDENT STATING ATTENTION TO BE A CANDIDATE AS WELL, I HAVE CONCLUDED THAT IT IS IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST TO APPOINT A SPECIAL COUNSEL. SUCH AN APPOINTMENT UNDERSCORES THE DEPARTMENT'S COMMITMENT TO BOTH INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTABILITY IN SENSITIVE MATTERS. >> THE REASON I PLAYED THAT AGAIN, HE SAID THAT IN NOVEMBER. IT'S THE SAME RATIONALE. WHAT TOOK SO LONG? >> HUNTER BIDEN ISN'T A PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE. MOREOVER, I THINK THAT THE U.S. ATTORNEY IN CHARGE, NOW THE SPECIAL COUNSEL, SAID THAT HE NEEDED EVERYTHING -- HE HAD EVERYTHING HE NEEDED, RIGHT? THERE WASN'T REALLY A REASON FOR HIM TO BE APPOINTED SPECIAL COUNSEL. NOTHING CHANGED RECENTLY, AND THAT WAS ON TUESDAY, APPARENTLY, WHEN FOR THE FIRST TIME, THE U.S. ATTORNEY ASKED TO BECOME SPECIAL COUNSEL. >> WE DON'T KNOW WHAT CHANGED. >> WE DON'T. >> WHY SHOULD HE BE CHARGED? IT'S A FAIR CRITICISM. THIS GUY BOTCHED THE PLEA DEAL. WHY PUT THE SAME ATTORNEY IN CHARGE OF THIS? >> HE IS A TRUMP APPOINTED ATTORNEY. HE WAS THE ONE LOOKING AT THIS FROM THE BEGINNING. THIS CASE WAS ON HIS PLATE WHEN THIS ALL CAME ABOUT, AND ULTIMATELY, THE STUFF THAT THEY FOCUSED ON, WAS NOT, ULTIMATELY, IN DELAWARE. GOING FORWARD, WE WILL PROBABLY SEE THEM INCHING D.C. OR CALIFORNIA. THE ONLY REASON THAT IT MOVED FORWARD TEMPORARILY IN DELAWARE WAS BECAUSE HUNTER BIDEN AGREED. >> ARE YOU SAYING THE RATIONALE MAY SIMPLY BE SO HE CAN FILE CHARGES IN ANOTHER JURISDICTION? LITERALLY, THAT IS THE ONLY REASON? >> THAT IS ONE EXPLANATION OF MANY. HE DOESN'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO THAT. AT THIS POINT, BECAUSE THERE IS NO PLEA DEAL ANYMORE, HE HAS TO MOVE FORWARD. HE CAN'T REALLY DO THAT IN DELAWARE. HE HAS TO DO IT IN THE PLACE FOR THE ALLEGED CRIMES TOOK PLACE, BECAUSE THIS IS NOW A CONTESTED ISSUE. >> MONICA ALBA, I KNOW WHAT THE WHITE HOUSE IS SAYING PUBLICLY, NOTHING. THEY CAN SAY NOTHING PUBLICLY. WHAT ARE YOU HEARING BEHIND THE SCENES? HOW CONCERNED ARE THEY? THIS IS NO LONGER SOMETHING THEY CAN COMPARTMENTALIZE AS A RIGHT-WING OBSESSION. JOE BIDEN'S ATTORNEY GENERAL DECIDED TO NAME A SPECIAL COUNSEL. THIS TAKES THAT TALKING POINT OFF THE TABLE. WHAT IS THE ARGUMENT NOW? >> THIS NOW BECOMES INCREDIBLY COMPLEX, POLITICALLY, BUT I THINK THE BIG THING I AM HEARING FROM SOURCES IS THAT THE ADDED FAMILY DYNAMIC TO ALL OF THIS REALLY COMPLICATES IT, AND WE DID GET A PREVIEW OF THAT WHEN THE PLEA AGREEMENT NEWS INITIALLY EMERGED EARLIER THIS SUMMER, AND THE PRESIDENT AND FIRST LADY PUT OUT THAT STATEMENT THING, WE LOVE HIM, WE SUPPORT HIM, AND WE ARE GOING TO SAY ANYTHING ELSE. OVER THE COURSE OF THE WEEKS AFTER THAT, I DID A LOT OF REPORTING ON HOW THE PRESIDENT USED ANYTHING RELATED TO HUNTER. WHEN AIDES BROUGHT IT UP IN THE PAST, HE TOLD THEM, GET OUT OF HERE, I DON'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT THAT. I DON'T WANT TO LISTEN TO WHAT YOU ARE SAYING TO ME ABOUT MY SON. I LOVE HIM DEARLY. REMEMBER, WE SAW HUNTER AT THE STATE DINNER, AND MANY APPEARANCES IN THE WEEKS AFTER THAT. THERE WAS NO EFFORT TO MAKE ANY KIND OF A CHANGE TO THE REAL MODUS OPERANDI OF THIS FAMILY INSIDE THE WHITE HOUSE. I DON'T THINK THEY WILL EXPECT THAT SHIFT. AS PART OF MY CONVERSATIONS TODAY, THAT IS STILL THE LINE. THIS IS THE PRESIDENT, NOW DEALING WITH HIS OWN SPECIAL COUNSEL SEPARATELY. HIS SON IS UNDER SPECIAL COUNSEL REVIEW, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, THEY ARE SAYING THIS IS A FATHER, AND THAT IS HOW HE VIEWS THIS, THROUGH THAT PRISM, FIRST AND FOREMOST. WHETHER THAT CREATES A TON OF BLIND SPOTS FOR HIM, OR SOMETHING THAT POLITICALLY BACKFIRES, HE DOESN'T REALLY CARE. THAT HAS BEEN THE MORE EMOTIONAL REACTION TO ALL OF THIS. THE WHITE HOUSE WILL CONTINUE TO SAY THIS IS LIKE ANY OTHER DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE PROBE. HE DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH IT. WE DID NOT HAVE A HEADS UP. THEY WANT TO MAKE THAT A VERY CRYSTAL-CLEAR POINT AS WELL, CHUCK. >> WE SHALL SEE WHAT THE POLLING NUMBERS -- THEY ARE IN TERRIBLE SHAPE WHEN YOU CONSIDER WHO HIS OPPONENT IS, AND SPEAKING OF THAT, RYAN, LET'S MOVE TO THAT. YOU WERE IN THE COURTROOM, AND I WILL GET YOU IN HERE, GARRETT, BECAUSE YOUR PEACE IS A TRUMP PIECE. THE JUDGE, ON ONE HAND, ACCEPTED THE PREMISE, BUT SHE ALSO PUT THE BURDEN ON THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT TO DECIDE WHAT IS SENSITIVE AND WHAT ISN'T. >> I THINK THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT WANTS TO MAKE THAT A LOT OF THINGS. THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT ARE PUBLIC THAT YOU CAN ACCESS IN OTHER WAYS. HE ALREADY HAS ACCESS TO DISCOVERY. WHEN YOU HEAR 1.6 MILLION DOCUMENTS, IT'S A LOT, BUT HE ALREADY HAS A LOT OF THAT. IT'S ALL SEARCHABLE. IT'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF TRANSCRIPTS, CERTAINLY, A LOT OF WORK. THE DOJ IS COMING OUT AND SAYING, A LOT OF THIS SHOULD BE PROTECTED, BECAUSE OF THE LANGUAGE WE HAVE ALREADY SEEN TRUMP USE ON SOCIAL MEDIA. IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE IT IS PROTECTED THE JUDGE SENT A VERY STRONG MESSAGE AT THE END OF THE DAY. SHE SAID SHE WOULD DO WHAT IS NECESSARY TO MAKE SURE THIS DOESN'T BECOME A CIRCUS. WE ARE GOING TO KEEP THESE RULES IN PLACE, AND THEY WILL OPERATE AS NORMAL AS POSSIBLE. >> I THOUGHT THE JUDGE CAME UP WITH A VERY EFFECTIVE ENFORCEMENT MECHANISM. HER COMMENTS THAT ANYTHING YOU SAY THAT COULD PREJUDICE THIS CASE OR INTERFERE WITH THE JURY POOL OR WITNESSES WILL SPEED UP THE DAY IN WHICH WE NEED TO GO TO TRIAL. I THOUGHT THAT WAS AN EFFECTIVE WAY TO DO IT. THE MORE YOU MESS AROUND WITH IT, THE QUICKER WE GET IT STARTED. >> I THINK DONALD TRUMP'S TEAM WANTS MORE THAN A DELAY. >> LET ME PUT UP THE CURRENT CALENDAR. THIS IS THE CALENDAR PROPOSED BY THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT RIGHT NOW. THIS IS TRUMP'S PRIMARY CALENDAR, IF YOU WILL JANUARY 2nd WOULD BE THE START OF THE TRIAL. 13 DAYS LATER, IOWA. THEN, WE HAVE LEFT OUT ALL OF THE OTHER PRIMARIES IN BETWEEN JANUARY AND MARCH. WE WILL UPDATE THAT WHEN WE GET THE CHANCE. THERE ARE COUPLE THINGS I'M HEARING. NUMBER ONE, THAT THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT, IS A TRUMP LEGAL TEAM GOING TO BE REALISTIC? >> NOT AT FIRST. I WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED IF THEY ASK FOR A DATE IN 2025. THAT BECAME MORE CLEAR TODAY. SHE SAID IT SEVERAL DIFFERENT WAYS. BASICALLY, YOUR POLITICS OR YOUR PROBLEM. SHE MADE IT VERY CLEAR THAT DONALD TRUMP BEING A POLITICAL CANDIDATE IS NOT GOING TO FACTOR INTO HER DECISION AT ALL. >> BEFORE I UNPACK MORE OF THIS LEGAL STUFF, SUDDENLY, DONALD TRUMP IS ADDING THE PHRASE, MY OPINION, QUITE A BIT NOW. HE STILL SAYS THE ELECTION IS STOLEN, IN MY OPINION. IT'S A NOTICEABLE CHANGE. ARE YOU NOTICING IT? >> YES, BUT THIS IS THE KIND OF THING WHERE HE GETS CAUTIOUS FOR A FEW DAYS OR SPEECHES AND HE BACKS OFF. WE HAVE SEEN THIS PATTERN FOR EIGHT YEARS NOW. I WOULDN'T EXPECT IT TO HOLD. IT DOES SEEM LIKE THE LAWYERS GOT A HOLD OF THE TELEPROMPTER FOR A LITTLE BIT. >> WHEN SHOULD WE EXPECT A FINAL DECISION? >> THE END OF THE MONTH, SO TRUMP'S TEAM HAS TO RESPONDED THE NEXT FEW DAYS, AND BASED ON WHAT THE JUDGE SAID TODAY, GIVEN THERE ARE 1.6 MILLION DOCUMENTS, I THINK THEY WILL TRY TO GO AS LONG AS THEY CAN. >> THAT WOULD PROBABLY BE JANUARY. >> IF I HAD TO PICK A NUMBER, MAYBE MARCH, SOMEWHERE IN THERE. >> ALL RIGHT, LET ME BRING IN CARROLL NOW. CARROLL, I WANT TO START WITH THIS HUNTER BIDEN THING. WE ARE TWO WEEKS REMOVED FROM A NEAR PLEA DEAL, AND NOW STATE VERSUS SPECIAL COUNSEL. I CAN'T RECALL SOMETHING LIKE THIS. YOU HAVE DONE THIS FOR A CAREER. HOW UNUSUAL IS THIS? >> CHECKS, I THINK YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT WHAT WAS GOING ON IN MERRICK GARLAND'S WORLD DURING ALL OF THESE SPECIAL COUNSEL'S. THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE IS NOT SET UP TO BE AT THE PARTNERS. MAYBE YOU HAVE ONE SPECIAL COUNSEL INVESTIGATION GOING ON AT A TIME. AT ONE POINT, HE HAD THREE. THE PENCE SPECIAL COUNSEL FINISHED ITS WORK, AND NOW IT LOOKS LIKE THEY WILL HAVE THREE AGAIN. THAT'S VERY UNUSUAL. I THINK RYAN WAS EXACTLY RIGHT WHEN HE SAID THAT THE DIFFERENCE HERE IS THAT HUNTER BIDEN HIMSELF IS NOT A PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE. I THINK MERRICK GARLAND WAS TRYING TO KEEP A DOOR, OR RAISE THE BAR FOR HAVING A SPECIAL COUNSEL, AND AT THAT POINT, WHEN HE LET DAVID WEISS PROCEED AS A U.S. ATTORNEY, AS OPPOSED TO A SPECIAL COUNSEL, THAT HE COULD GIVE HIM INDEPENDENCE. HE WAS A TRUMP APPOINTEE. HE CAN TELL HIM, THE FIELD IS CLEAR FOR YOU, AND THERE WAS A POSSIBILITY THAT THEY WERE WORKING TOWARDS A PLEA, AND THAT WOULD BE -- WHAT CHANGED THIS WEEK WAS THAT NEGOTIATIONS HAVE TOTALLY BROKEN DOWN. SO, IT LOOKS LIKE NOW, AT LEAST FOR NOW, THEY COULD ALWAYS RESTART AND WE COULD ALWAYS SEE A PLEA IN THE FUTURE, BUT FOR NOW, IT LOOKS LIKE THEY ARE HEADING TOWARD A POTENTIAL INDICTMENT ON CHARGES, AND POSSIBLY A TRIAL. WITH THAT KIND OF SITUATION FACING HUNTER BIDEN AND THESE IRS WHISTLEBLOWERS, WHO HAVE COME FORWARD AND SAID, THIS WAS NOT AN OBJECTIVE, FAIR INVESTIGATION, I THINK THAT MERRICK GARLAND MADE THE DECISION THAT THIS IN BETWEEN SOLUTION HE FOUND OR CREATED TO HAVE DAVID WEISS AS A U.S. ATTORNEY WASN'T ENOUGH FOR APPEARANCES, SO NOW HE IS GOING TO TAKE THE NEXT STEP AND MAKE IT A SPECIAL COUNSEL SITUATION. THERE IS NO IDEAL SITUATION HERE FOR MERRICK GARLAND, BUT HE IS TAKING A STEP, ESPECIALLY, WHEN DAVID WEISS ASKED TO BE MADE SPECIAL COUNSEL. HE COULDN'T SAY NO AT THAT POINT. THAT'S WHERE THEY ARE. >> I GET WHY IT HAPPENS, BUT THIS WAS -- IT DOESN'T FEEL LIKE THE RIGHT SOLUTION, BECAUSE THIS DOESN'T ABSOLVE WHAT HE IS TRYING TO ABSORB THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT OF. >> THERE IS ALWAYS A PERCEPTION OF BIAS. THAT'S THE PROBLEM. THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE WORKS FOR THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH. THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE WORKS FOR THE PRESIDENT, AND SO GENERATION AFTER GENERATION, YOU SEE THIS ISSUE COMING UP. THE WORST EXAMPLE WAS A SATURDAY NIGHT MASSACRE. THERE IS INHERENT TENSION THERE, WHERE THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE REPORTS TO THE PRESIDENT, AND NOW WE HAVE HAD THREE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES IN THIS ELECTION, THIS ANTICIPATED ELECTION, WE HAVE HAD THREE WITH SPECIAL COUNSEL APPOINTED TO INVESTIGATE THEM, AND NOW A FOURTH TO INVESTIGATE ONE OF THE CANDIDATES SONS. YOU ARE NEVER GOING TO GET RID OF THE TENSION. >> THE IRONY WAS, THE WHOLE IDEA -- MERRICK GARLAND WANTED TO AVOID ALL SPECIAL COUNSEL, AND IT DID FEEL AS IF THE MINUTE HE FELT TRUMP FORCED HIS HAND TO DO IT, WHEN TRUMP DECIDED TO ANNOUNCE AS A CANDIDATE, AND THE MINUTE HE DID IT, IT FELT LIKE HE OPENED THE DOOR. ONCE YOU MAKE A PERCEPTION OF BIAS, YOUR RATIONALE FOR STARTING ONE, HOW DOES IT NOT APPLY TO ALMOST EVERY OTHER POLITICIZED CASE YOU ARE DEALING WITH? >> THERE IS A BIG DIFFERENCE OF OPINION ON THAT VERY POINT, CHUCK. SOME PEOPLE FELT IT WAS NOT NECESSARY TO APPOINT A SPECIAL COUNSEL IN THE CASE OF DONALD TRUMP. SOME PEOPLE SAY IT WAS INEVITABLE. THERE IS NO GREAT SOLUTION TO THIS. MERRICK GARLAND MADE THE CALL HE MADE, BUT YES, ONCE HE WAS BEING INVESTIGATED FOR RETENTION OF CLASSIFIED DOCUMENTS, AND THEY WERE FOUND IN THE POSSESSION OF BOTH MIKE PENCE AND BIDEN, IT BECAME INEVITABLE THAT HE HAD TO APPOINT SPECIAL COUNSEL. >> LET ME ASK YOU ABOUT THE JUDGES IN THE TRUMP TRIAL, USING SPEEDING UP THE TRIAL DATES AS AN INCENTIVE NOT TO SPEAK OUT. DO YOU THINK THAT IS THE BEST WAY SHE COULD ENFORCE HER WARNING? >> I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S THE BEST WAY, AND I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S THE ONLY WAY. THIS IS A BIG POWER STRUGGLE BETWEEN DONALD TRUMP AND TANYA CHUTKAN, AND SHE HAS TO WIN THE STRUGGLE. THIS IS HER COURTROOM. SHE HAS TO MAKE SURE HER RULES ARE FOLLOWED. I WAS EXPECTING HER TO SOMEHOW INVOLVE HIS LAWYERS, BECAUSE THEY HAVE THEIR OWN INDEPENDENT RESPONSIBILITY TO FOLLOW ETHICAL RULES. >> SHE COULD BUT SHE HAS NOW MADE THEM PART OF HER REQUIREMENTS. SHE SAYS, YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT HIS NOTES. YOU HAVE TO ESTABLISH THAT HE IS NOT WRITING DOWN ANY WITNESSES, IDENTIFYING INFORMATION. IF HE COMES OUT AND DISCLOSES THAT PUBLICLY IN HIS TWEETS OR SOCIAL MEDIA, SHE IS GOING TO BRING THOSE LAWYERS IN AND SAY, DID YOU DO EVERYTHING I TOLD YOU TO DO? THAT DOESN'T VIOLATE THE ATTORNEY CLIENT PRIVILEGE. SHE IS IN, I PUT THESE REQUIREMENTS ON YOU. THEY ARE NOW FEELING NERVOUS ABOUT IT, AND THAT'S GOING TO MAKE THEM MORE DILIGENT AND MAKE THEM PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT DONALD TRUMP IS DOING. >> ALL RIGHT, THAT IS THE LEGAL SITUATION. WE WILL GET INTO THE POLITICAL FALLOUT FROM THIS. MONICA, I WANT TO GET YOUR TWO CENTS. DOES THE BIDEN TEAM, ARE THEY AWARE THIS COULD -- THERE IS ALREADY HANDWRINGING ABOUT HIM IN THE PRIMARIES, THERE IS HANDWRINGING BECAUSE OF THE WHOLE NO LABEL THING. ARE THEY WORRIED THAT THE SPECIAL COUNSEL COULD LEAD TO MORE OF THAT? >> I THINK THIS IS A LESS THAN IDEAL SCENARIO, NO MATTER WHO YOU ASK, BUT THEY HAVE ALSO REALLY TAKEN THE VIEW THAT COOPERATING AND ALLOWING THIS TO UNFOLD THE WAY IT NEEDS TO IS A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF THE CALCULATION. I THINK YOU ALSO HAVE A WHITE HOUSE THAT IS WATCHING AND WAITING LIKE EVERYONE ELSE, TO SEE HOW LONG THIS IS GOING TO TAKE. IF WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THIS GOING TO TRIAL FOR HUNTER BIDEN LATER THIS YEAR, DOESN'T GET PUNTED TO SOMETIME ON THE 2024 CALENDAR YEAR? YOU HAVE THE PRESIDENT'S SON ON TRIAL THAT THE -- AT THE SAME TIME AS A FORMER PRESIDENT. THAT'S NOT BEYOND THE REALM. THAT BECOMES A PART OF THE CONVERSATION THAT THEY CANNOT IGNORE, EVEN THOUGH THAT WILL BE THEIR STRATEGY. I DON'T EXPECT ANY KIND OF A MESSAGING SHIFT TO CHANGE HERE. I THINK THEY WILL CONTINUE TO SAY THAT THIS IS WHAT WE ARE DOING, AND HUNTER BIDEN ZONE ATTORNEYS CAN SAY THEY THINK HE WILL BE CLEARED OF ALL WRONGDOING. WE WILL SEE. >> GARRETT, I ASSUME SOME FOLKS ARE A STATIC. IT'S ALL MUDDY. THIS IS ALL HE WANTS. HE JUST WANTED TO LOOK MUDDY ON EVERYBODY. >> HUNTER BIDEN DOESN'T HAVE TO BE CONVICTED OF ANYTHING. CERTAINLY, JOE BIDEN DOESN'T HAVE TO. NOW, IT'S ALL THE WAY TO THE BANK, REGARDLESS OF THE SPECIAL COUNSEL. >> IT WAS A HEAVY OPEN, BUT YOU GUYS WERE TERRIFIC. THANK YOU ALL. COMING UP, OLD-FASHIONED POLITICS. ALL EYES ON IOWA. THE 2024 RIVALS ARE FIGHTING TO WIN OVER IOWA VOTERS, FIGHTING TO BE THE TOP TRUMP ALTERNATIVE. WE WILL TALK POLITICS AT THE ALL-IMPORTANT STATE FAIR, THAT'S NEXT. >>> BUT FIRST, LIKE A BOMB WENT OFF. THAT IS HOW THE GOVERNOR OF HAWAII >>> WELCOME BACK. AT LEAST 55 PEOPLE ARE CONFIRMED DEAD FROM THE WILDFIRES IN MAUI, AND OFFICIALS EXPECT THAT NUMBERS TO RISE, AS RECOVERY MOVES INTO A FOURTH DAY, AND THEY'RE ABLE TO GET TO MORE OF THE ISLAND NOW THAT THE FIRES ARE CONTAINED IN GETTING PUT OUT. MAUI COUNTY MAYOR, TOLES THIS MORNING, THAT THE DEATH TOLL ONLY ACCOUNTS FOR PEOPLE FOUND OUTSIDE OF BUILDINGS OR IN CARS. THE INSIDE OF MANY BUILDINGS DESTROYED BY THE FIRE HAVEN'T BEEN SEARCHED YET. THAT'S WHY THERE IS SOME GRIM CONCERN THAT THE DEATH TOLL NUMBER COULD GO VERY HIGH. FIREFIGHTERS CONTINUE TO BATTLE SIX FIRES ON MAUI AND THE BIG ISLAND, WITH THE LAHAINA FIRE NOW 80% CONTAINED. DRONE FOOTAGE SHOWS THE SCOPE OF THE DEVASTATION. BUILDINGS WERE REDUCED TO BURNED-OUT SHELLS, OR SIMPLY TURNED TO ASHES. THE GOVERNOR COMPARED IT TO A BOMB BLAST. SOME SURVIVORS JUST NARROWLY ESCAPED THE FLAMES. >> AS THE FIRES GOT CLOSER, WE REALIZE WE HAD TO KEEP MOVING AND JUMPING INTO THE WATER BECAUSE THE CAR WAS CATCHING FIRE IN THE FLAMES WERE COMING OVER THE WALL, HITTING US. >> I CHOKED ON SMOKE, AND I COULDN'T TELL WHERE I WAS SOMETIMES. >> ONLY FIRST GOT THERE AND GOT THROUGH, IT WAS DEVASTATING. IT FELT LIKE A WAR ZONE. IT WAS STILL FRESH. >> LOCALS ARE POINTING TO ONE GLIMMER OF HOPE. THIS IS A LARGE BANYAN TREE, 150-YEAR-OLD TREE THAT SERVED AS A MONUMENT IN THE HEART OF LAHAINA. IT'S BADLY SCORCHED, BUT OFFICIALS SAY THEY ASSUME THE ROOTS ARE STILL HEALTHY, MEANING THE TREE WILL GROW BACK. STEVE PATERSON IS LIVE AT MAUI'S AIRPORT FOR US. GIVE US THE LATEST TODAY. ARE PEOPLE GETTING OUT OF THE ISLAND? MORE IMPORTANT, ARE PEOPLE ALLOWED TO GO IN AND INSPECT THEIR HOMES YET? >> Reporter: WE ARE HEARING FROM THE GOVERNOR THAT PEOPLE WILL BE ALLOWED TO COME BACK TO THEIR HOMES. IT'S STILL EARLY. I WANT TO MAKE THAT CLEAR. THE ANNOUNCEMENT COULD COME IN THE NEXT THREE OR SIX HOURS. USUALLY, WE GET THE ANNOUNCEMENT EVERY THREE HOURS. IT COULD BE ABOUT 3:00. YES, THE ROADS ARE OPENING UP. YOU CAN GO BACK TO YOUR HOMES. BUT, THAT COMES WITH A WARNING. OF COURSE, THE GOVERNOR SAYING, YEAH, YOU CAN GET BACK YOUR NEIGHBORHOODS AT SOME POINT TODAY, BUT GOD KNOWS WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO FIND. HE MADE THAT ABUNDANTLY CLEAR, THAT THESE ARE SITES NO ONE HAS EVER SEEN IN THIS STATE'S HISTORY. WE ARE AT A SHELTER NOW HERE ON MAUI. THIS IS MAUI HIGH SCHOOL BEHIND ME. WE HAVE SEEN PEOPLE ALL DAY LONG BRINGING BLANKETS, FUEL, FOOD, WATER, MUCH LIKE THE BANYAN TREE, IT IS THE HOPE THAT EXISTS, AND THE ALOHA SPIRIT IS KEEPING PEOPLE TOGETHER. ANYONE WHO WAS A SURVIVOR, HAS NOW BECOME SOMEONE DONATED TO THE CAUSE, WHICH IS GREAT TO SEE, BUT STILL, SO MANY HARROWING STORIES, JUST LIKE YOU HEARD, PEOPLE BARELY ABLE TO ESCAPE. >> WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT WHAT IS STILL BURNING? >> Reporter: SIX FIRES STILL BURNING. THEY ARE NOT OUT. THEY ARE MOSTLY CONTAINED, WHICH IS REALLY GOOD. ESPECIALLY, THE ONE THAT BURNED LAHAINA, 80% CONTAINED. USUALLY, WHEN CONTAINMENT GOES ABOVE 25%, THAT FIRE IS BURNING OUT. THAT IS REALLY THE ONE BIT OF GOOD NEWS THAT WE KNOW. IT IS UNLIKELY THAT ANYMORE FIRES WILL SPREAD TO COMMUNITIES, BUT ANYTIME YOU HAVE FIRE, ALL IT TAKES IS A GOOD WIND GUST, AND ENOUGH FUEL FOR THAT TO MOVE TO A DIFFERENT LOCATION. OF COURSE, FIRE OFFICIALS ARE KEEPING AN EYE ON IT. FOR THE MOST PART, THE OPERATION IS NOW FOCUSED ON THE TOWN THAT YOU ARE SEEING, TRYING TO GET ANYBODY CONNECTED TO THE MISSING, AND TRYING TO PULL BODIES OUT OF THE RUBBLE. >> STEVE PATERSON, THANK YOU. >>> I'M JOINED NOW BY ALEXA CASSIDY, A RESIDENT OF LAHAINA, AND WAS THERE WHEN THE FIRE BROKE OUT. SHE HAS BEEN HELPING TO FEED THOSE IN NEED. ALEXA, THANKS FOR TAKING A FEW MINUTES. TELL ME ABOUT THE MINUTE YOU REALIZE WHAT WAS HAPPENING. >> I WAS A LITTLE BIT SOUTH OF THE FIRE. I HAD BEEN WATCHING IT FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS. PEOPLE HAVE EVACUATED FROM LAHAINA TOWN TO MY HOUSE. WHEN THE FIRES GOT CLOSE TO WHERE WE WERE, WE DECIDED TO EVACUATE WHEN ONE OF OUR EXITS WAS BLOCKED BY FIRE. WE KNEW IT WAS GOING TO BE BAD. WE DIDN'T KNOW HOW BAD. AND, NOW, MY EFFORTS HAVE BEEN MOSTLY TRYING TO GET FUEL TO PEOPLE THAT ARE STRANDED ON THE WESTSIDE THAT ARE OKAY, TO GET IN THEIR CARS TO BE ABLE TO GET TWO HOUSES THAT HAVE BEEN VOLUNTEERED WITH SPACE TO HOUSE PEOPLE DISPLACED RIGHT NOW. >> HOW MUCH WARNING DO YOU FEEL LIKE RESIDENTS HAD? IS THIS SOMETHING WHERE YOU FEEL LIKE THEY SHOULD'VE HAD MORE? LOOK, THIS WAS JUST AN UNUSUAL CIRCUMSTANCE. >> I DIDN'T REALLY HEAR ANY WARNING AT ALL. SO, I THINK THAT IS -- IT PROBABLY COULD'VE BEEN BETTER. IT IS UNUSUAL FOR US TO HAVE FIRES IN LAHAINA. IT'S QUITE DRY DURING THE SUMMER, AND WE DO GET A LOT OF HIGH WINDS, WHICH CAN RESULT IN A FIRE, BUT THIS HAS DEFINITELY BEEN THE MOST DEVASTATING I HAVE EVER WITNESSED. IT JUST SPREAD SO FAST FOR THE 36 HOURS PRIOR TO WHEN WE LEFT, WHICH WAS WEDNESDAY MORNING. IT SOUNDED LIKE FREIGHT TRAINS. THE WIND SOUNDED LIKE A FREIGHT TRAIN FOR A DAY AND A HALF. IT WAS UNRELENTING. IT WAS NOT SURPRISING THAT THE FIRE WAS SPREADING SO QUICKLY, THAT IT REALLY CAUGHT A LOT OF PEOPLE OFF GUARD. >> IN SOME WAYS, YOU SAID IT'S NOT UNUSUAL TO HAVE SOME FIRES START. DO PEOPLE CAMP OUT? CAMPFIRES GONE WRONG, OR JUST THE DRY SEASON? >> I THINK THEY COULD BE STARTED FROM A NUMBER OF THINGS. THE BIG ONE FROM 2018, I HAD HEARD, WAS A RESULT OF ARSON. THERE WERE A NUMBER OF THEM STARTED SIMULTANEOUSLY IN VERY HIGH WIND. THEY DIDN'T LAST AS LONG AS THESE. BUT ALSO, VERY HIGH WINDS SPREAD THE FIRE VERY QUICKLY, AND BURNED OUT A COUPLE OF HOMES. IT SEEMED DEVASTATING AT THE TIME, AND IT WAS, CERTAINLY, BUT IT IS NOWHERE NEAR AS TERRIBLE AS THIS ONE. WE, GENERALLY, DO YOU HAVE A FIRE ON THE WESTSIDE THAT IS FAIRLY SUBSTANTIAL, I WOULD SAY, AT LEAST ONCE A YEAR, BUT THIS ONE IS, BY FAR, THE WORST. >> REBUILDING. HOW CONFIDENT ARE YOU THAT EVERYONE WILL HAVE THE WILL TO DOHAT? >> I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE GOING TO LEAVE. A BUNCH OF PEOPLE THAT I KNOW THAT HAD LIVED IN A RENTAL PROPERTY THAT I HAD FOR EMPLOYEES HAVE TOLD ME THAT THEY ARE LEAVING AND MOVING TO CALIFORNIA OR BACK TO THE MAINLAND IMMEDIATELY, WHICH IS GOING TO BE GOOD FOR SOME PEOPLE. THERE WILL BE JOBS OR WAYS TO MAKE MONEY. THEY DON'T HAVE ANYTHING RIGHT NOW. OBVIOUSLY, PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE TRYING TO REBUILD. I HAVE NO IDEA WHEN THAT IS GOING TO START. >> THIS SETS BACK THE LOCAL ECONOMY A COUPLE OF YEARS, MINIMUM, DOESN'T IT? >> I THINK IT WILL TAKE SIX MONTHS JUST TO PICK UP THE RUBBLE. >> ALEXA, I KNOW YOU HAVE BEEN DOING YOUR BEST TO HELP OTHERS, AS YOU WERE ABLE TO SURVIVE. COMMUNITIES WILL REBUILD. IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU WILL BE ONE OF THOSE THAT PLANT THE FLAG THERE. GOOD LUCK. WE ARE ALL PULLING FOR YOU. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. >>> AS YOU HEARD, SOME HELP IS NEEDED AND WHY. HERE ARE SOME OF THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT CAN USE YOUR HELP. THESE ARE GOOD ORGANIZATIONS. THE MAUI FOOD BANK. THE RED CROSS. AND, THE HAWAII COMMUNITY FOUNDATION. ALL OF THOSE FOLKS WE KNOW, AND HAVE VETTED, AND ARE WORKING ON THE GROUND. >>> UP NEXT, GET THE LATEST FROM CANDIDATES AT THE IOWA STATE FAIR, WHERE TRUMP >>> WELCOME BACK. AS WE MENTIONED AT THE TOP OF THE HOUR, THERE ARE NOW TWO DISTINCT REPUBLICAN PRIMARY CONTESTS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW. ONE IS PLAYING OUT IN COURT, AND WHAT IS HAPPENING ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL. SOME OF TRUMP'S RIVALS WERE AT THE IOWA STATE FAIR, MAKING THEIR PITCH ON WHY THEY SHOULD BE THE PARTY'S NOMINEE. TRUMP WILL MAKE HIS OWN STATE FAIR PILGRIMAGE TOMORROW, BUT HIS LEGAL TROUBLES ARE STILL ON THE MINDS OF PEOPLE I HAVE BEEN SPEAKING WITH AT THE FAIRGROUNDS TODAY. HERE IS SOME OF WHAT FAIRGOERS FROM IOWA HAD TO SAY. >> HE'S BEEN INDICTED THREE TIMES NOW, POTENTIALLY, A FOURTH INDICTMENT COMING. DOES THAT IMPACT YOUR VOTE AT ALL? >> NO. NO, DOESN'T MAKE A BIT OF DIFFERENCE. I THINK THEY ARE ALL BOGUS CHARGES. >> DOES IT CONCERN YOU THAT HE WILL BE TIED UP WITH ALL OF THIS? >> YES, THAT'S WHY I AM LEANING TOWARDS OTHER CANDIDATES. >> WE NEED TO FIND SOMEONE WHO DOESN'T HAVE A WHOLE TRAINLOAD OF BAGGAGE. >> I VOTED FOR HIM WHEN HE LOST TO BIDEN, SO I GUESS IT JUST DEPENDS ON WHAT I HEAR ABOUT THE OTHER ONES RUNNING. >> JOINING ME NOW ON THE GROUND, NBC'S DASHA BURNS. LOOK, I'M ALWAYS NERVOUS WHEN WE TALK TO VOTERS. IS THAT THE CONSENSUS? WE HAD THREE HIGHLIGHTS, AND THEY ALL SEEM TO TO BE TRUMP VOTERS IN GENERAL, BUT SHOPPING FOR SOMEONE ELSE IN THE PRIMARY. IS THAT REPRESENTATIVE OF WHAT YOU HAVE BEEN SEEING? >> Reporter: THE VAST MAJORITY OF FOLKS THAT I TALKED TO SAY THAT THEY ARE OPEN-MINDED. THEY SAY THEY ARE UNDECIDED. THAT'S WHY YOU'VE GOT ALL OF THESE CANDIDATES HERE WORKING SO HARD. THEY ARE LOOKING AT THE BUTTER COWS, THE FREE COWS, THEY ARE FLIPPING BURGERS. THEY ARE DOING ALL THEY CAN TO CONNECT WITH THESE VOTERS, BECAUSE WHILE HIS LEAD IS SO LARGE NATIONALLY, WHAT WE HAVE SEEN IN THE POLLS IS THAT HIS LEAD IN IOWA IS NARROWER. IT'S STILL A BIG LEAD, BUT IT'S NARROWER AND SOFTER, AND WE SAW WHAT THAT SOFTNESS MEANS AS WE TALK TO VOTERS. THEY LIKE HIM. THEY LIKE HIS POLICIES, BUT THE BAGGAGE, THEY ARE CONCERNED THAT HE MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO WIN A GENERAL ELECTION. THEY ARE LISTENING TO WHAT THESE OTHER FOLKS HAVE TO SAY. WE WENT TO GOVERNOR REYNOLDS' CHAT TODAY. THERE WERE VOTERS THERE. THEY WERE LISTENING. THEY WANTED TO HEAR WHAT THE CANDIDATES HAD TO SAY. THE PROBLEM, THOUGH, IS THEY CAN'T REALLY ESCAPE THE TRUMP FACTOR. DOUG BURGUM TRIED TODAY, WHEN HE WAS ASKED ABOUT TRUMP'S LEGAL PROBLEMS. TAKE A LISTEN. >> IF SOMEONE WANTS TO ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT ANOTHER CANDIDATES LEGAL PROBLEMS, THERE IS AN ENTIRE INDUSTRY BUILT AROUND THAT. DIVISIVENESS IS A SUPER PROFITABLE INDUSTRY FOR ALL OF THE CABLE NETWORKS, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT KEEPS PEOPLE TUNING IN, LARGE CONFLICT. LEADERSHIP IS NOT ABOUT CONFLICT. LEADERSHIP IS ABOUT PROBLEM SOLVING. WE ARE RUNNING TO BE THE LEADER OF THE COUNTRY. >> Reporter: THAT'S GOING TO BE THE CHALLENGE FOR THESE CANDIDATES. VOTERS ARE OPEN, BUT TRUMP IS TAKING UP ALL THE OXYGEN, SO HOW ARE THEY GOING TO MANAGE THAT IN THIS PRIMARY? OF COURSE, TOMORROW, TRUMP IS COMING HERE. SO IS GOVERNOR DeSANTIS. THE TWO CLASHING FRONT RUNNERS IN THE RACE. THAT MIGHT CAUSE SOME FIREWORKS HERE. WHEN THOSE TWO IT TOGETHER, SOME ARROWS TEND TO FLY. >> IT WILL BE A PACKED FAIR. I REMEMBER DONALD TRUMP AND SARAH PALIN WERE THE BACK-TO BACK FAIRGOERS BACK IN 2015, AND THAT WAS A MONSTROUS MASS OF PEOPLE. I IMAGINE DeSANTIS AND TRUMP WILL BE SIMILAR. DASHA BURNS, AT THE BEST STATE FAIR ON EARTH. THANK YOU. >>> LET'S GET INTO THE POLITICAL FALLOUT FROM ALL THESE LEGAL RAMBLINGS. SYMONE SANDERS TOWNSEND, AND BRENDAN BUCKY, REPUBLICAN ADVISER. WELCOME. YOU ARE A CREATURE OF THE HILL AS A REPORTER. THERE IS ONE ANGLE TO THIS WE HAVEN'T COVERED YET, THE SPECIAL COUNSEL DECISION ON HUNTER BIDEN. WHAT DOES IT DO TO THE HOUSE REPUBLICAN PUSH TO START AN IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY? >> I DON'T THINK HE PUTS IT ON PAUSE. WHAT REPUBLICANS ARE TRYING TO DO IS CRITICIZE THIS APPOINTMENT. THE REAL GOAL IS TO BAN -- THEY ARE NOT SATISFIED WITH THE APPOINTMENT, THEY ARE ATTACKING THE U.S. ATTORNEYS FOR WHAT THEY CALL A SWEETHEART DEAL. THE REAL GOAL IS TO DAMAGE PRESIDENT BIDEN AND PUT TRUMP BACK IN THE WHITE HOUSE. ANYTHING SHORT OF THAT, THEY WILL STICK WITH THE CRITICISMS. DOES IT AFFECT IMPEACHMENT? I DON'T THINK SO. KEVIN McCARTHY HAS OPENED THAT DOOR. IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO CLOSE. >> I HEAR YOU, BUT BRENDAN, WITH THAT SITTING OUT THERE, THAT'S AN EASY GET OUT OF JAIL FREE CARD. >> I DON'T KNOW THAT IT DERAILS IT ENTIRELY, BUT I THINK IT MIGHT DELAY. >> WE KNOW THE DON BACONS OF THE WORLD DON'T WANT TO VOTE FOR THIS. >> HE KNOWS THAT THEY DON'T QUITE HAVE THE GOODS TO DO THAT. >> SYMONE, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS SITUATION. WE KNOW THE PRESIDENT, HE DOESN'T REALLY WANT TO HEAR ABOUT THESE POLITICAL PROBLEMS. BUT, NOW THERE IS A SPECIAL COUNSEL. THEY CAN'T COMPARTMENTALIZE IT. TO EACH HIS OWN ATTORNEY GENERAL. >> I DON'T THINK WE WILL HEAR MUCH MORE. AFTER THE SPECIAL COUNSEL WAS NAMED, FOLKS WERE WONDERING IF YOU WOULD GO TO THE CAMERAS TODAY. THIS IS DEFINITELY NOT THE DAY TO GO TO THE CAMERAS. I THINK THE APPOINTMENT OF A SPECIAL COUNSEL JUST UPPED THE LIKELIHOOD THAT WE WILL NEVER HEAR ANYTHING FROM THE PRESIDENT OR THE WHITE HOUSE PRESS BRIEFING ROOM ABOUT THIS INVESTIGATION. SET THAT ASIDE, THOUGH. I THINK THAT WITH THE SPECIAL COUNSEL WAS NAMED, I WAS LIKE, WHY DO WE NEED ANOTHER SPECIAL COUNSEL? I LOOKED, DAVID WEISS, AGAIN, THE LETTERS THAT HE SENT TO JIM JORDAN, THE LETTER IN RESPONSE TO SENATOR LINDSEY GRAHAM. IT WAS CLEAR FROM THE LAST LETTER, TO ME, THAT DAVID WEISS FELT THERE WERE SOME ADDITIONAL THERE THERE, AND HE DID NOT GO ABOUT FINDING OUT WHAT IT WAS, BUT HAD ASSURANCES THAT IF HE ASKED, HE WOULD GET IT. TUESDAY, APPARENTLY, HE HAS. >> HERE WE ARE, AND I THINK I HAVE THESE GALLUP NUMBERS FROM EARLIER. THE FACT THAT THE UNFAVORABLE RATING FOR TRUMP AND BIDEN ARE ESSENTIALLY EVEN, THIS IS ACROSS THE BOARD. THIS ONLY MUDDIES THE PICTURE EVEN MORE. DOES IT NOT RUN THE RISK FOR BIDEN, THAT THE CONVERSATION EXPANDS, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE BACKUP PLAN IS NO LABELS? THAT CHATTER WILL NOW GET LOUDER. >> THE CHATTER WILL. >> THE PRIMARY CHALLENGE, I THINK, IS MORE REAL. >> IT IS, AT LEAST, A MAJOR HEADACHE FOR PRESIDENT BIDEN. EVERY MINUTE SPENT ON HUNTER BIDEN IS A MINUTE NOT SPENT ON DONALD TRUMP. THERE IS ALSO A PROBLEM, A POTENTIAL CHALLENGE, AN UNKNOWN ABOUT THE SPECIAL COUNSEL. SOMETIMES, WHEN THEY ARE APPOINTED, THEY FIND THINGS THEY DID NOT SET OUT TO FIND. YOU NEVER KNOW WHERE THIS IS GOING TO GO. THE AUTHORITY IS VERY BROAD. THE OPTIMISTIC TAKE IS THAT THIS IS SIMPLY A PROCEDURAL MOVE FOR DAVID WEISS TO GO TO TRIAL WITH HUNTER BIDEN. HE COULDN'T FILE CHARGES IN CALIFORNIA OR WASHINGTON. YOU CAN WAVE THEM IN A PLEA DEAL, BUT YOU CAN'T GO TO TRIAL UNLESS YOU HAVE BROADER AUTHORITY, SO THAT IS THE OPTIMISTIC VIEW FROM BIDEN WORLD. NOBODY REALLY KNOWS. I THINK SYMONE IS RIGHT THAT THE WHITE HOUSE SAID THEY HAD NO ADVANCED NOTICE OF THIS. >> BRENDAN, DOESN'T TODAY MAKE THAT HARDER? >> I FEEL LIKE JOE BIDEN HAS MADE HIMSELF -- THE BIG ARGUMENT IS, WE NEED TO RUN SOMEBODY THAT CAN BEAT JOE BIDEN. IT LOOKS LIKE ANYBODY COULD BEAT JOE BIDEN AT THIS MOMENT. MAYBE THAT IS NOT FAIR. THERE IS PLENTY OF POLLING THAT SHOWS THAT DONALD TRUMP -- >> BY THE WAY, THIS WAS THE SAME PROBLEM IN 2015. >> THIS IS, CLEARLY, A BLIND SPOT FOR JOE BIDEN. IF YOU ARE ALLOWING YOUR FORTUNE TO BE TIED TO WHATEVER HUNTER BIDEN MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE DONE, AND WE DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS THAT THE SPECIAL COUNSEL IS TRYING TO LOOK INTO. I'M SURE THE PRESIDENT COULD NEVER DO THIS, BUT THROW HUNTER BIDEN UNDER THE BUS. >> I GET ALL OF THE PERSONAL STUFF. THIS IS NOT A 24-YEAR-OLD SON OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. THIS IS A 52-YEAR-OLD GROWN MAN, WHO HAS MADE THESE MISTAKES THROUGHOUT HIS LIFE. WE ALL FEEL SORRY. ADDICTION IS A TERRIBLE DISEASE. HE STILL MADE A LOT OF BAD DECISIONS THAT ARE AGAINST THE LAW, AND HE -- EVERYBODY ELSE WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR OWN ACTION. >> I THINK THAT HUNTER BIDEN HAS TAKEN RESPONSIBILITY FOR HIS ACTIONS. HE HAD A PLEA DEAL, BUT THE PLEA DEAL FELL APART IN COURT, AND WE ALL WATCHED THAT HAPPEN. NOW, THERE IS A SPECIAL COUNSEL INVESTIGATING HIM. I TEND TO LEAN ON THE SIDE OF THE FOLKS AT THE WHITE HOUSE, WHO SAID THEY THINK IT IS PROCEDURAL FOR DAVID WEISS TO TAKE THE LEAD THAT HE COULD NOT TAKE WITHOUT SPECIAL AUTHORITY. BUT, SPECIAL COUNSEL'S HAVE BROUGHT AUTHORITY. HUNTER BIDEN IS NOT MEETING ANY CONSEQUENCES. I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT IS TRUE. HE IS, LITERALLY, UNDER INVESTIGATION. THIS MAN IS, LITERALLY, GOING TO TRIAL. HIS PLEA DEAL, LITERALLY, FELL APART IN FRONT OF THE ENTIRE AMERICAN PUBLIC. >> DESPITE REPUBLICAN EFFORTS, THEY DID NOT FIND ANYTHING TIED DIRECTLY TO JOE BIDEN. I DO THINK IT IS A FAIR QUESTION, DID YOU KNOW THAT YOUR ADULT SON FOR MANY YEARS WAS GETTING RICH OFF OF USING YOUR NAME AND CONNECTIONS? WERE YOU COMPLETELY OBLIVIOUS OF THAT THIS ENTIRE TIME? DID YOU SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THAT? THOSE ARE REAL QUESTIONS THAT HAVE TO BE ASKED AT SOME POINT. >> I WILL JUST NOTE, I WORK FOR HIS FIRST CAMPING, AND THERE WERE QUESTIONS ABOUT, WHAT DID YOU KNOW ABOUT HUNTER BIDEN'S BUSINESS DEALINGS, AND HE SAID, HE WAS NOT AWARE, HE HAD NO PART IN ANY OF THE BUSINESSES. I THINK A FOLLOW-UP QUESTION THAT BRENDAN NOTED, WHAT CONVERSATION DID YOU HAVE? >> HOW COME YOU GUYS GIVE JOE BIDEN THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT? UNLIKE EVERY SENATOR, HIS NET WORTH DIDN'T GROW WHILE SITTING IN THE SENATE. HE WAS KNOWN AS THE GUY -- HE DIDN'T WRITE A LETTER LIKE GEORGE H.W. BUSH DID AND SAY, HEY, PEOPLE ARE GOING TO TRY TO USE YOU TO GET TO ME AND USE THEIR FRIENDSHIP WITH YOU TO GET TO ME. HE DOES SEEM TO HAVE A BLIND SPOT. >> BIDEN DOESN'T HAVE THE SAME STYLE AS THE CLINTON WITH SCANDAL. THIS COULD CERTAINLY DAMAGE BIDEN. THAT'S WHAT REPUBLICANS ARE TRYING TO DO. WHO KNOWS WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN? SO FAR, HE DOESN'T START OFF -- I THINK IT'S NOTABLE. THERE HAS NOT BEEN A DIRECT LINK TO HIM. >> MERRICK GARLAND, HOW IS HE RUNNING THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT, SYMONE? >> PEOPLE ARE LIKE, DON'T BEAT UP ON MERRICK GARLAND PRETTY AS A PLAN. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PLAN IS. JACK SMITH WOULDN'T BE UP AGAINST THE WALL IF THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT, COMING IN IN 2021, WOULD'VE TAKEN A HARD LOOK AT THE ENTIRETY OF JANUARY 6th, NOT JUST THE FOOT SOLDIERS. HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR THE SELECT COMMITTEE, I DON'T THINK WE WOULD BE SEEING ANY OF WHAT IS HAPPENING, INCLUDING DONALD TRUMP BEING HELD ACCOUNTABLE. >> A LOT OF BUTTERFLIES HAVE FLAPPED THEIR WINGS TO GET TO THIS POINT. I THINK IT IS A FAIR POINT ON THE BLIND SPOT, AND JANUARY 6th, AND MERRICK GARLAND. EXCITING, NEW STUFF. >>> I HAVE ONE MORE NEWS DONE FOR YOU, AND IT HAS TO DO WITH SAM BANKMAN-FRIED. HE HAS JUST BEEN ORDERED BEHIND BARS. BASICALLY, THE JUDGE IS TIRED OF HIM HAVING ACCESS TO CLONE I YOU HAVE TO SEE THIS. STAY TUNED NOW, WEEKNIGHTS ON NBC NEWS NOW. >>> WELCOME BACK. IN AN UNUSUAL MOVE, THE UNITED STATES IS TURNING TO KENYA TO LEAD A MULTINATIONAL SECURITY MISSION AMID RISING GANG VIOLENCE AND WORSENING HUMANITARIAN ISSUES IN THE ISLAND OF HAITI. PARTIALLY STEMMING FROM THE ASSASSINATION OF THE COUNTRY'S PRESIDENT MORE THAN TWO YEARS AGO. OFFICIALS IN KENYA HAVE OFFERED TO SEND HAITI 1000 POLICE TO LEAD AN INTERNATIONAL FORCE IN SUPPORT OF HAITIAN POLICE, AND THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY HAS BEEN QUICK TO SUPPORT THIS PROPOSAL AFTER THE U.S. AND CANADA ARE LEADING THEIR OWN SECURITY MISSION, EVEN THOUGH THE CANADA AND U.S. -- THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE INSISTS IT SUPPORT OF HAITI IS UNWAVERING ANY TIME THERE HAVE BEEN PROBLEMS WITH HAITI IN THE PAST, THE UNITED STATES, AND YOU CAN GO BACK DECADES, HAS ALWAYS FELT A KINSHIP, RESPONSIBILITY -- HOW DO YOU WANT TO LOOK AT IT? >> THIS WAS A STRANGE DECISION TO OUTSOURCE. THERE IS NOT A LOT OF ENTHUSIASM BY ANYONE, FRANKLY, TO GO AND DO AN INTERNATIONAL SECURITY MISSION IN HAITI RIGHT NOW. IT'S NOT POPULAR ON EITHER SIDE OF THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM HERE IN THE UNITED STATES. FRANKLY, THERE IS A LOT OF HAITI FATIGUE. WE HAVE DONE THIS A LOT IN THE PAST, AND IT HASN'T GONE WELL. WHY WOULD BE JUMPING AGAIN? A LOT OF THAT I THINK, IS MISGUIDED. THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES WHEN THINGS HAVE GOTTEN CONSIDERABLY BETTER. IT HAS USUALLY BEEN WITH OUR INTERVENTION. THERE ARE 1 MILLION HAITIANS THAT LIVE IN THE UNITED STATES. THE DOMINICANS WOULD LIKE TO SEE A SOLUTION OF ANY KIND. THEY ARE NOT REALLY IN A POSITION TO DO IT, BUT THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOMETHING THAT WOULD HELP THE SITUATION. THEY WOULD NATURALLY DEFER TO US. I THINK THEY ARE OPEN TO OTHER SOLUTIONS. >> WHY HAS THIS GANG ISSUE BEEN SO MUCH HARDER TO DEAL WITH? THE FACTIONS WITHIN HAITI. THIS IS ANOTHER LEVEL. >> IF YOU GO BACK TO 2017, I THINK THAT WAS THE BEGINNING OF WHAT WE WERE EXPERIENCING. THAT IS WHEN THE U.N. MISSION PULLED WAY BACK. HAITI NEEDS A LONG-TERM ACCOMPANIMENT. I WOULDN'T SAY INTERVENTION OR OVERWHELMING FORCE, BUT IT NEEDS AN ACCOMPANIMENT TO KEEP THINGS ON TRACK. IT'S JUST THE REALITY. IT HAS BEEN A RELATIVELY BIG ISSUE FOR QUITE A WHILE. THEY ARE FINANCING, NOW, BY KIDNAPPING. THAT IS THE REAL CHILLING EFFECT THAT IT IS HAVING ON SOCIETY. THEY HAVE TAKEN OVER THE STREETS OF PORT-au-PRINCE, ABOUT 80% OF THE CITY, AND THEY FINANCER KIDNAPPING, A LITTLE BIT THROUGH EXTORTION, BUT MOSTLY SNAGGING PEOPLE OFF THE STREETS. THEY HAVE NEVER REALLY RECOVERED FROM THE EARTHQUAKE. FRANKLY, IT WAS ON THE RISE UP TO THE EARTHQUAKE, BUT FROM THERE, THE U.N. PULLED BACK IN 2017, WHICH MADE IT REALLY HARD SINCE THEN. THAT GAVE THE OPENING TO THE GANGS, AND THE ASSASSINATION OF THE PRESIDENT. >> I'M SURPRISED BY THE LACK OF POLITICAL WILL ON THE SIDE. I GUESS, WHERE IS THE HAITIAN- AMERICAN DIASPORA >> I THINK THERE IS A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SEE THINGS GET BETTER. THEY ARE NOT QUITE SURE WHAT TO DO, FRANKLY. >> FAIRPOINT. >> I WOULD OFFER TWO THINGS. ONE IS THAT THERE IS A NEED FOR A MULTINATIONAL POLITICAL SOLUTION TO THIS. THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY HAS ALSO DEFERRED ON. THERE WAS A MONTANA GROUP. THERE HAVE BEEN A NUMBER OF INITIATIVES. >> OTHER MODEL COUNTRIES WHERE WE HAVE DONE SOMETHING LIKE THIS BEFORE? >> I WOULD POINT, FIRST OFF, TO THE BALKANS, WHERE WE PUT SOME DIPLOMATIC JUICE BEHIND AN EFFORT AND DIDN'T STOP UNTIL WE HAD IT. I THINK IT IS THE KIND OF THING THAT CAN BE DONE. THE FIRST THREE YEARS, THE SAME THING. WE COLLECTED TOGETHER ALL THE DIFFERENT FACTIONS, GAVE THEM A GOOD WAY FORWARD. AND A SMALLER EXAMPLE -- >> ALL OF THIS LOOKS LIKE MISSIONS BY PEOPLE. >> CORRECT. WE PROBABLY NEED TO REBRAND IT. AT THE END OF THE DAY, IF WE WANT TO HAVE A NATION THAT FUNCTIONS, OR WAITING FOR REFUGEES TO WASH ASHORE, THIS IS THE WAY TO DO IT. >> KENYA, HOW OFTEN HAVE THEY WANTED TO FLEX THEIR INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMACY? >> I THINK KENYA WILL BENEFIT IF THEY CAN PULL IT OFF WELL. THERE IS SOMETHING IN THE INTERNATIONAL SPIRIT THAT WOULD BE GOOD FOR THEM. THIS IS THE BEGINNING. WE HAVE TO BE HONEST. THEY AGREED TO LEAD A MISSION IF THERE IS A MANDATE, IF OTHER COUNTRIES WILL COME. THERE IS A LOT STILL TO BE DONE. WE HAVE TO WATCH HOW THAT LINES UP. >> THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS GOING ON. THANKS FOR YOUR EXPERTISE. >>> WE ARE FOLLOWING SOME BREAKING NEWS OUT OF NEW YORK, WHERE CRYPTO EXCHANGE COFOUNDER SAM BANKMAN-FRIED IS NOW HEADING TO JAIL. A JUDGE REVOKED HIS BAIL AND ORDERED HIM INTO CUSTODY, SAYING THAT THE FTX COFOUNDER HAS ENGAGED IN WITNESS TAMPERING. BASICALLY, THEY WANT HIM TO STOP HAVING ACCESS TO A COMPUTER, RIGHT? >> THAT IS PART OF IT. ONE OF THE BIG POINTS OF CONTENTION IS WHERE HE WOULD BE REMANDED INTO CUSTODY. THE GOVERNMENT ALREADY HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH PUTNAM, WHICH IS A JAIL FACILITY THAT WOULD GIVE HIM ACCESS TO A LAPTOP WITH AN INTERNET CONNECTION. THE BIG QUESTION HERE IS WHETHER HE WOULD BE ABLE TO ADEQUATELY PREPARE FOR TRIAL, ACCESS SUMMARY DOCUMENTS, AND THE GOVERNMENT WANTED TO ENSURE THAT WAS POSSIBLE WHILE ALSO PUTTING INTO PLACE SAFEGUARDS NECESSARY TO AVOID THE TYPE OF WITNESS TO -- TAMPERING THAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING. >> SPECIFICALLY, THEY THINK HE LEAKED DOCUMENTS TO A REPORTER. >> THAT IS NOT EVEN A QUESTION. YES. LAWYERS ACKNOWLEDGED THAT HAPPENED. THEY WERE ARGUING THIS WAS A FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHT. THE JUDGE CAME OUT TO SAY, IF EVEN PART OF THAT MOTIVATION HAD TO DO WITH HURTING A WITNESS OR TRYING TO AFFECT THE OUTCOME, IT WAS CONSIDERED A FELONY. >> AS YOU KNOW, THE ISSUE OF WITNESS TAMPERING AND DISCOVERY BEING LEAKED IS PART OF ANOTHER SITUATION WITH THE FORMER PRESIDENT, SO IT'S INTERESTING THAT THIS IS THE WAY THIS JUDGE REACTED HERE. IS THERE ANY CHANCE HE COULD GET BACK INTO THE JUDGE'S GOOD GRACES OR GET BACK INTO HIS STANFORD CAMPUS HOME CONFINEMENT? >> I WAS IN THE COURTROOM TODAY. THIS RULING WAS A 33 MINUTE EXPLANATION FROM THE JUDGE THEY DID NOT FEEL THEY HAD AN ADEQUATE REQUEST HERE. >> THIS WAS A REQUEST FROM THE PROSECUTION? >> IT WAS A REQUEST FROM THE PROSECUTION TO STAY, I AM SORRY, FROM THE PROSECUTION TO JAIL HIM, YES. THE DEFENSE WAS SAYING WE ARE OPEN TO TERMS AROUND HIS HOME ARREST. >> WHEN DO WE EXPECT THE TRIAL TO BEGIN? >> AT THIS POINT, OCTOBER 2nd. THE JUDGE ASKED THE DEFENSE TODAY IF THEY WANTED TO, YOU KNOW, SEEK AN ADJOURNMENT OR EXTEND OUT THE TRIAL DATE. AT THERE POINT THEY ARE NOT LOOKING TO DO THAT. EVERYTHING IS STILL ON TRACK. ONE WOULD ASSUME HE MAY WANT THE TRIAL TO START SOONER THAN LATER. ANY WAY. McKENSY FOR CNBC. THE NEWS STUMP KEEPING ALL OF US NOT ON VACATION WORKING. THANK YOU. >>> THAT DOES IT FOR THIS HOUR, THIS WEEK. WE WILL BE BACK ON MONDAY. I WILL HAVE INTERVIEWS WITH FORMER VICE PRESIDENT MIKE PENCE AND A CONGRESSMAN WHO KEEPS TALKING UP PRIMARY AND PRESIDENT BIDEN. AFTER TODAY'S NEWS
