PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES, BUT TO DONALD TRUMP. TO DONALD TRUMP. AND THERE’S MORE THAN ONE WAY TO AND THERE’S MORE THAN ONE WAY TO COVER WHAT THE PRESIDENT OF THE COVER WHAT THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES DID AND SAID UNITED STATES DID AND SAID PUBLICLY TODAY. PUBLICLY TODAY. IT’S AN EXTRAORDINARY DAY AND IT’S AN EXTRAORDINARY DAY AND IT’S A DIFFICULT DAY TO FIND THE IT’S A DIFFICULT DAY TO FIND THE RIGHT APPROACH TO WHAT HAPPENED RIGHT APPROACH TO WHAT HAPPENED IN THE TRUMP PRESIDENCY TODAY. IN THE TRUMP PRESIDENCY TODAY. OUR FIRST APPROACH TO THE TRUMP OUR FIRST APPROACH TO THE TRUMP NEWS TODAY, EVEN A FEW HOURS AGO NEWS TODAY, EVEN A FEW HOURS AGO WAS TO DO WHAT WE USUALLY DO, WAS TO DO WHAT WE USUALLY DO, WHICH IS TO DEAL WITH THE POLICY WHICH IS TO DEAL WITH THE POLICY AND POLITICAL IMPLICATIONS OF A AND POLITICAL IMPLICATIONS OF A SERIES OF COMMENTS THAT THE SERIES OF COMMENTS THAT THE PRESIDENT MADE TODAY THAT NO PRESIDENT MADE TODAY THAT NO OTHER PRESIDENT OR POLITICIAN OTHER PRESIDENT OR POLITICIAN WOULD EVER SAY OR DO. WOULD EVER SAY OR DO. LIKE THREATENING TO CLOSE OUR LIKE THREATENING TO CLOSE OUR SOUTHERN BORDER. SOUTHERN BORDER. SOMETHING THAT THE REPUBLICAN SOMETHING THAT THE REPUBLICAN LEADER OF THE SENATE SAYS WOULD LEADER OF THE SENATE SAYS WOULD BE CATASTROPHIC ECONOMICALLY. BE CATASTROPHIC ECONOMICALLY. SOMETHING THAT WOULD SHUT DOWN, SOMETHING THAT WOULD SHUT DOWN, I MEAN SHUT DOWN THE AMERICAN I MEAN SHUT DOWN THE AMERICAN AUTOMOBILE MANUFACTURING AUTOMOBILE MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY, AND, YES, SOMETHING INDUSTRY, AND, YES, SOMETHING THAT WOULD MEAN THE UNITED THAT WOULD MEAN THE UNITED STATES WOULD RUN OUT OF STATES WOULD RUN OUT OF GUACAMOLE IN THREE WEEKS, GUACAMOLE IN THREE WEEKS, LITERALLY THREE WEEKS. LITERALLY THREE WEEKS. THAT’S THE OFFICIAL CALCULATION THAT’S THE OFFICIAL CALCULATION ON WHAT MEXICO’S AVOCADO SUPPLY ON WHAT MEXICO’S AVOCADO SUPPLY MEANS TO THE UNITED STATES. MEANS TO THE UNITED STATES. BUT THINGS GOT STRANGER THAN BUT THINGS GOT STRANGER THAN USUAL WITH THE PRESIDENT TODAY. USUAL WITH THE PRESIDENT TODAY. HE SAID THINGS FOR WHICH THERE HE SAID THINGS FOR WHICH THERE IS NO EASY EXPLANATION. IS NO EASY EXPLANATION. HE SAID HIS FATHER WASN’T BORN HE SAID HIS FATHER WASN’T BORN IN THE UNITED STATES. IN THE UNITED STATES. HIS FATHER WAS BORN IN NEW YORK. HIS FATHER WAS BORN IN NEW YORK. USUALLY WITH A TRUMP LIE YOU CAN USUALLY WITH A TRUMP LIE YOU CAN EASILY FIGURE OUT WHAT HE’S EASILY FIGURE OUT WHAT HE’S TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH WITH THE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH WITH THE LIE, BUT NOT TODAY. LIE, BUT NOT TODAY. THE PRESIDENT STRUGGLED TO THE PRESIDENT STRUGGLED TO PRONOUNCE A VERY SIMPLE WORD AND PRONOUNCE A VERY SIMPLE WORD AND HE REPEATEDLY COULD NOT DO IT. HE REPEATEDLY COULD NOT DO IT. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? WE HAVE GROWN ACCUSTOMED TO THE WE HAVE GROWN ACCUSTOMED TO THE VAGARIES AND STRANGENESS OF VAGARIES AND STRANGENESS OF DONALD TRUMP’S PUBLIC BEHAVIOR, DONALD TRUMP’S PUBLIC BEHAVIOR, BUT THIS WAS A DAY WHERE THE BUT THIS WAS A DAY WHERE THE STRANGEST STRANGENESS DOMINATED STRANGEST STRANGENESS DOMINATED BOTH THE STRANGENESS OF THE BOTH THE STRANGENESS OF THE POLICY POSITIONS AND THE POLICY POSITIONS AND THE STRANGENESS OF THE PRESIDENT’S STRANGENESS OF THE PRESIDENT’S PUBLIC BEHAVIOR AND PUBLIC PUBLIC BEHAVIOR AND PUBLIC WORDS. WORDS. AND IN HIS FINAL COMMENTS, AND IN HIS FINAL COMMENTS, PUBLIC COMMENTS OF THE DAY, HE PUBLIC COMMENTS OF THE DAY, HE SAID THIS TONIGHT AT A SAID THIS TONIGHT AT A REPUBLICAN FUND-RAISER IN REPUBLICAN FUND-RAISER IN WASHINGTON. WASHINGTON. >> IF YOU HAD A NORMAL >> IF YOU HAD A NORMAL PRESIDENT, I DON’T WANT TO SAY PRESIDENT, I DON’T WANT TO SAY THAT NEGATIVELY. THAT NEGATIVELY. I THINK I’M VERY NORMAL. I THINK I’M VERY NORMAL. BUT IF YOU HAD A NORMAL -- YOU BUT IF YOU HAD A NORMAL -- YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN. KNOW WHAT I MEAN. IN OTHER WORDS, IF YOU HAD A IN OTHER WORDS, IF YOU HAD A STIFF AS PRESIDENT, WHICH MOST STIFF AS PRESIDENT, WHICH MOST OF THEM ARE, I HATE TO SAY -- OF THEM ARE, I HATE TO SAY -- >> HOW OFTEN DO YOU HEAR A >> HOW OFTEN DO YOU HEAR A NORMAL PERSON SAY, I THINK I’M NORMAL PERSON SAY, I THINK I’M VERY NORMAL? VERY NORMAL? HAVE YOU EVER HEARD A PRESIDENT HAVE YOU EVER HEARD A PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES FEEL OF THE UNITED STATES FEEL COMPELLED TO PUBLICLY ANNOUNCE COMPELLED TO PUBLICLY ANNOUNCE "I THINK I’M VERY NORMAL?" "I THINK I’M VERY NORMAL?" DOES THAT MEAN HE KNOWS HE’S NOT DOES THAT MEAN HE KNOWS HE’S NOT NORMAL? NORMAL? THERE ARE A BUNCH OF IMPORTANT THERE ARE A BUNCH OF IMPORTANT QUESTIONS, URGENT QUESTIONS QUESTIONS, URGENT QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PRESIDENT TODAY THAT ABOUT THE PRESIDENT TODAY THAT POLITICAL ANALYSIS CANNOT POLITICAL ANALYSIS CANNOT ANSWER. ANSWER. POLITICAL EXPERTISE CANNOT POLITICAL EXPERTISE CANNOT ANSWER SOME OF THESE QUESTIONS, ANSWER SOME OF THESE QUESTIONS, AND THAT’S WHY ALONG WITH OUR AND THAT’S WHY ALONG WITH OUR POLITICAL ANALYSTS TONIGHT WE’RE POLITICAL ANALYSTS TONIGHT WE’RE GOING TO BE JOINED BY A GOING TO BE JOINED BY A PSYCHIATRIST IN OUR LEADOFF PSYCHIATRIST IN OUR LEADOFF DISCUSSION OF WHAT THE PRESIDENT DISCUSSION OF WHAT THE PRESIDENT DID AND SAID TODAY. DID AND SAID TODAY. DONALD TRUMP IS A 72-YEAR-OLD DONALD TRUMP IS A 72-YEAR-OLD MAN WHOSE FATHER HAD ALZHEIMER’S MAN WHOSE FATHER HAD ALZHEIMER’S AND DIED IN NEW YORK 93 YEARS AND DIED IN NEW YORK 93 YEARS AFTER HE WAS BORN IN NEW YORK, AFTER HE WAS BORN IN NEW YORK, AND TODAY DONALD TRUMP SAID THIS AND TODAY DONALD TRUMP SAID THIS ABOUT HIS FATHER, FRED TRUMP, ABOUT HIS FATHER, FRED TRUMP, WHOSE PICTURE THE PRESIDENT WHOSE PICTURE THE PRESIDENT KEEPS RIGHT BEHIND HIS DESK IN KEEPS RIGHT BEHIND HIS DESK IN THE OVAL OFFICE. THE OVAL OFFICE. >> MY FATHER IS GERMAN, RIGHT? >> MY FATHER IS GERMAN, RIGHT? WAS GERMAN. WAS GERMAN. AND BORN IN A VERY WONDERFUL AND BORN IN A VERY WONDERFUL PLACE IN GERMANY. PLACE IN GERMANY. SO I HAVE A GREAT FEELING FOR SO I HAVE A GREAT FEELING FOR GERMANY. GERMANY. >> A WONDERFUL PLACE IN GERMANY. >> A WONDERFUL PLACE IN GERMANY. WHAT PLACE? WHAT PLACE? HIS FATHER WAS BORN IN NEW YORK. HIS FATHER WAS BORN IN NEW YORK. JUST LIKE DONALD TRUMP. JUST LIKE DONALD TRUMP. DONALD TRUMP’S GRANDFATHER WAS DONALD TRUMP’S GRANDFATHER WAS BORN IN GERMANY. BORN IN GERMANY. WHAT DOES IT MEAN WHEN YOU WHAT DOES IT MEAN WHEN YOU CONFUSE WHERE YOUR FATHER WAS CONFUSE WHERE YOUR FATHER WAS BORN WITH WHERE YOUR GRANDFATHER BORN WITH WHERE YOUR GRANDFATHER WAS BORN? WAS BORN? MY FATHER WAS BORN IN BOSTON. MY FATHER WAS BORN IN BOSTON. MY GRANDFATHER WAS BORN IN MY GRANDFATHER WAS BORN IN IRELAND AND I HAVE NEVER ONCE IRELAND AND I HAVE NEVER ONCE CONFUSED THAT, BUT THEN I’M NOT CONFUSED THAT, BUT THEN I’M NOT 72 YEARS OLD, I DON’T HAVE 72 YEARS OLD, I DON’T HAVE ALZHEIMER’S IN MY FAMILY HISTORY ALZHEIMER’S IN MY FAMILY HISTORY AND I’M NOT THE PRESIDENT OF THE AND I’M NOT THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES TRYING TO CONVINCE UNITED STATES TRYING TO CONVINCE NATO THAT I’M NOT JUST BEING NATO THAT I’M NOT JUST BEING MEAN WHEN I ASK NATO COUNTRIES MEAN WHEN I ASK NATO COUNTRIES TO SPEND MORE MONEY ON THEIR TO SPEND MORE MONEY ON THEIR MILITARY. MILITARY. THAT’S WHAT DONALD TRUMP WAS THAT’S WHAT DONALD TRUMP WAS ACTUALLY TALKING ABOUT TODAY ACTUALLY TALKING ABOUT TODAY WHEN HE SAID THAT HIS FATHER WAS WHEN HE SAID THAT HIS FATHER WAS BORN IN GERMANY. BORN IN GERMANY. HE REPEATEDLY SAID THAT THE HE REPEATEDLY SAID THAT THE UNITED STATES SPENDS MUCH MORE UNITED STATES SPENDS MUCH MORE ON DEFENSE THAN WE ACTUALLY DO, ON DEFENSE THAN WE ACTUALLY DO, AND THAT IS THE KIND OF TRUMP AND THAT IS THE KIND OF TRUMP FALSEHOOD THAT WE PROBABLY FALSEHOOD THAT WE PROBABLY WOULDN’T EVEN MENTION TONIGHT, WOULDN’T EVEN MENTION TONIGHT, BUT IN ANY OTHER PRESIDENCY THAT BUT IN ANY OTHER PRESIDENCY THAT WOULD ACTUALLY BE THE HOT NEWS WOULD ACTUALLY BE THE HOT NEWS OF THE DAY. OF THE DAY. THE PRESIDENT DOESN’T EVEN KNOW THE PRESIDENT DOESN’T EVEN KNOW HOW MUCH MONEY WE SPEND ON HOW MUCH MONEY WE SPEND ON DEFENSE. DEFENSE. THAT WOULD BE BIG NEWS. THAT WOULD BE BIG NEWS. IN ANY OTHER PRESIDENCY. IN ANY OTHER PRESIDENCY. WATCHING THE PRESIDENT TODAY, WATCHING THE PRESIDENT TODAY, YOU HAD A RIGHT TO WONDER YOU HAD A RIGHT TO WONDER WHETHER THE PRESIDENT SIMPLY WHETHER THE PRESIDENT SIMPLY LIKES TO EXAGGERATE HOW MUCH WE LIKES TO EXAGGERATE HOW MUCH WE SPEND ON DEFENSE OR ACTUALLY SPEND ON DEFENSE OR ACTUALLY CANNOT LEARN THE REAL NUMBER OF CANNOT LEARN THE REAL NUMBER OF WHAT WE SPEND ON DEFENSE. WHAT WE SPEND ON DEFENSE. YOU HAD A RIGHT TO WONDER TODAY YOU HAD A RIGHT TO WONDER TODAY IF THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH IF THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE WORKINGS OF THE PRESIDENT’S THE WORKINGS OF THE PRESIDENT’S MIND, ESPECIALLY IF YOU WATCHED MIND, ESPECIALLY IF YOU WATCHED HIM REPEATEDLY STRUGGLE TO SAY HIM REPEATEDLY STRUGGLE TO SAY THE WORD ORIGIN. THE WORD ORIGIN. WHAT KEPT COMING OUT WAS WHAT KEPT COMING OUT WAS SOMETHING THAT SOUNDED LIKE SOMETHING THAT SOUNDED LIKE ORANGES. ORANGES. >> AND I HOPE THAT THIS >> AND I HOPE THAT THIS INVESTIGATION NOW, WHICH IS INVESTIGATION NOW, WHICH IS FINISHED, IT’S TOTALLY FINISHED. FINISHED, IT’S TOTALLY FINISHED. NO COLLUSION. NO COLLUSION. NO OBSTRUCTION. NO OBSTRUCTION. I HOPE THEY NOW GO AND TAKE A I HOPE THEY NOW GO AND TAKE A LOOK AT THE ORANGES. LOOK AT THE ORANGES. THE ORANGES OF THE THE ORANGES OF THE INVESTIGATION. INVESTIGATION. THE BEGINNINGS OF THAT THE BEGINNINGS OF THAT INVESTIGATION. INVESTIGATION. YOU LOOK AT THE ORIGIN OF THE YOU LOOK AT THE ORIGIN OF THE INVESTIGATION, WHERE IT STARTED, INVESTIGATION, WHERE IT STARTED, HOW IT STARTED, WHO STARTED IT, HOW IT STARTED, WHO STARTED IT, WHETHER IT’S McCABE OR COMEY OR WHETHER IT’S McCABE OR COMEY OR A LOT OF THEM. A LOT OF THEM. WHERE DOES IT GO? WHERE DOES IT GO? HOW HIGH UP IN THE WHITE HOUSE HOW HIGH UP IN THE WHITE HOUSE DID IT GO? DID IT GO? YOU WILL ALL GET PULITZER YOU WILL ALL GET PULITZER PRIZES, OKAY? PRIZES, OKAY? YOU’RE ALL GOING TO GET PULITZER YOU’RE ALL GOING TO GET PULITZER PRIZES. PRIZES. YOU SHOULD HAVE LOOKED AT IT A YOU SHOULD HAVE LOOKED AT IT A LONG TIME AGO, AND THAT’S THE LONG TIME AGO, AND THAT’S THE ONLY THING THAT’S DISAPPOINTING ONLY THING THAT’S DISAPPOINTING TO ME ABOUT THE MUELLER REPORT. TO ME ABOUT THE MUELLER REPORT. THE MUELLER REPORT I WISH THE MUELLER REPORT I WISH COVERED THE ORANGES -- HOW IT COVERED THE ORANGES -- HOW IT STARTED. STARTED. THE BEGINNINGS OF THE THE BEGINNINGS OF THE INVESTIGATION. INVESTIGATION. HOW IT STARTED. HOW IT STARTED. >> HE SAID ORANGES TWICE. >> HE SAID ORANGES TWICE. THEN HE SUCCESSFULLY SAID THE THEN HE SUCCESSFULLY SAID THE WORD ORIGIN, WHICH APPARENTLY WORD ORIGIN, WHICH APPARENTLY GAVE HIM THE CONFIDENCE TO TRY GAVE HIM THE CONFIDENCE TO TRY TO SAY IT ONE MORE TIME, AND TO SAY IT ONE MORE TIME, AND WHEN HE TRIED TO SAY IT ONE MORE WHEN HE TRIED TO SAY IT ONE MORE TIME, HE SAID ORANGES AGAIN. TIME, HE SAID ORANGES AGAIN. I DON’T KNOW WHAT THAT IS. I DON’T KNOW WHAT THAT IS. I HAVE MY OWN STRUGGLE WITH I HAVE MY OWN STRUGGLE WITH WORDS. WORDS. YOU SEE THAT HERE. YOU SEE THAT HERE. BUT IT’S SIMPLY A STRUGGLE TO BUT IT’S SIMPLY A STRUGGLE TO SUPPRESS MY NATIVE BOSTON ACCENT SUPPRESS MY NATIVE BOSTON ACCENT IN FAVOR OF SPEAKING AMERICAN. IN FAVOR OF SPEAKING AMERICAN. IT’S NOT THAT I TRY TO SAY A IT’S NOT THAT I TRY TO SAY A VERY SIMPLE WORD AND I CAN ONLY VERY SIMPLE WORD AND I CAN ONLY GET OUT THE FIRST TWO LETTERS GET OUT THE FIRST TWO LETTERS BEFORE I CHANGE THAT SIMPLE WORD BEFORE I CHANGE THAT SIMPLE WORD INTO A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT INTO A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT WORD. WORD. REPEATEDLY. REPEATEDLY. WHAT IS THAT? WHAT IS THAT? WHAT WAS HAPPENING TO THE WHAT WAS HAPPENING TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES TODAY? TODAY? THE PRESIDENT RECENTLY DECIDED THE PRESIDENT RECENTLY DECIDED TO ORDER HIS JUSTICE DEPARTMENT TO ORDER HIS JUSTICE DEPARTMENT TO SWITCH SIDES IN A LEGAL CASE TO SWITCH SIDES IN A LEGAL CASE FROM DEFENDING THE AFFORDABLE FROM DEFENDING THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT IN COURT AS THE JUSTICE CARE ACT IN COURT AS THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT IS SUPPOSED TO DO DEPARTMENT IS SUPPOSED TO DO WITH ALL FEDERAL LAWS TO WITH ALL FEDERAL LAWS TO OPPOSING THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT OPPOSING THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT IN COURT, WHICH IS AN IN COURT, WHICH IS AN UNPRECEDENTED POSITION TAKEN BY UNPRECEDENTED POSITION TAKEN BY THE TRUMP JUSTICE DEPARTMENT. THE TRUMP JUSTICE DEPARTMENT. THE PRESIDENT DID THAT AGAINST THE PRESIDENT DID THAT AGAINST THE WISHES OF THE TOP REPUBLICAN THE WISHES OF THE TOP REPUBLICAN IN CONGRESS, SENATE MAJORITY IN CONGRESS, SENATE MAJORITY LEADER MITCH McCONNELL. LEADER MITCH McCONNELL. IT IS A POLITICALLY DISASTROUS IT IS A POLITICALLY DISASTROUS POSITION FOR THE PRESIDENT TO POSITION FOR THE PRESIDENT TO TAKE, AS MITCH McCONNELL KNOWS, TAKE, AS MITCH McCONNELL KNOWS, AND AS EVERY REPUBLICAN IN AND AS EVERY REPUBLICAN IN CONGRESS KNOWS, BUT THE CONGRESS KNOWS, BUT THE PRESIDENT DID IT ANYWAY. PRESIDENT DID IT ANYWAY. IN ANY OTHER POLITICIAN, IF ANY IN ANY OTHER POLITICIAN, IF ANY OTHER POLITICIAN DID THAT, WE OTHER POLITICIAN DID THAT, WE WOULD BE QUESTIONING HIS OR HER WOULD BE QUESTIONING HIS OR HER NEUROLOGICAL HEALTH TONIGHT. NEUROLOGICAL HEALTH TONIGHT. THAT’S HOW POLITICALLY CRAZY THAT’S HOW POLITICALLY CRAZY THAT IS, BUT WE’VE GROWN THAT IS, BUT WE’VE GROWN ACCUSTOMED TO THAT WITH DONALD ACCUSTOMED TO THAT WITH DONALD TRUMP. TRUMP. THE PRESIDENT HAS BEEN THE PRESIDENT HAS BEEN PRETENDING THAT HE HAS A HEALTH PRETENDING THAT HE HAS A HEALTH CARE PLAN READY TO PASS AND BE CARE PLAN READY TO PASS AND BE SIGNED INTO LAW AS SOON AS THE SIGNED INTO LAW AS SOON AS THE SUPREME COURT STRIKES DOWN SUPREME COURT STRIKES DOWN OBAMACARE, BUT NO ONE BELIEVES OBAMACARE, BUT NO ONE BELIEVES THAT. THAT. AND TODAY MITCH McCONNELL SAID AND TODAY MITCH McCONNELL SAID HE FINALLY GOT THE PRESIDENT TO HE FINALLY GOT THE PRESIDENT TO STOP SAYING THAT. STOP SAYING THAT. >> IS THERE A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN >> IS THERE A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN YOU AND THE PRESIDENT ON WHAT HE YOU AND THE PRESIDENT ON WHAT HE WANTS TO DO ON HEALTH CARE AND WANTS TO DO ON HEALTH CARE AND WHERE YOU SEE THE HEALTH CARE WHERE YOU SEE THE HEALTH CARE DEBATE STANDING RIGHT NOW? DEBATE STANDING RIGHT NOW? >> NOT ANY LONGER. >> NOT ANY LONGER. WE HAD A GOOD CONVERSATION WE HAD A GOOD CONVERSATION YESTERDAY AFTERNOON, AND I YESTERDAY AFTERNOON, AND I POINTED OUT TO HIM THE SENATE POINTED OUT TO HIM THE SENATE REPUBLICANS’ VIEW ON DEALING REPUBLICANS’ VIEW ON DEALING WITH COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH CARE WITH COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH CARE REFORM WITH A DEMOCRATIC HOUSE REFORM WITH A DEMOCRATIC HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. OF REPRESENTATIVES. SO I MADE IT CLEAR TO HIM WE SO I MADE IT CLEAR TO HIM WE WERE NOT GOING TO BE DOING THAT WERE NOT GOING TO BE DOING THAT IN THE SENATE. IN THE SENATE. SO WE DON’T HAVE A SO WE DON’T HAVE A MISUNDERSTANDING ABOUT THAT. MISUNDERSTANDING ABOUT THAT. WE’LL NOT BE DOING COMPREHENSIVE WE’LL NOT BE DOING COMPREHENSIVE IN THE SENATE. IN THE SENATE. >> AND MINUTES AFTER MITCH >> AND MINUTES AFTER MITCH McCONNELL SAID THAT, DONALD McCONNELL SAID THAT, DONALD TRUMP SAID THIS -- TRUMP SAID THIS -- >> DID MITCH McCONNELL ASK YOU >> DID MITCH McCONNELL ASK YOU TO DELAY THIS? TO DELAY THIS? >> NO, I WANTED TO DELAY IT >> NO, I WANTED TO DELAY IT MYSELF. MYSELF. I WANT TO PUT IT AFTER THE I WANT TO PUT IT AFTER THE ELECTION BECAUSE WE DON’T HAVE ELECTION BECAUSE WE DON’T HAVE THE HOUSE, SO EVEN THOUGH THE THE HOUSE, SO EVEN THOUGH THE HEALTH CARE IS GOOD, REALLY HEALTH CARE IS GOOD, REALLY GOOD, IT’S MUCH BETTER THAN -- GOOD, IT’S MUCH BETTER THAN -- WHEN THE PLAN COMES OUT, WHICH WHEN THE PLAN COMES OUT, WHICH WE’LL BE SHOWING YOU AT THE WE’LL BE SHOWING YOU AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME, IT’S MUCH APPROPRIATE TIME, IT’S MUCH BETTER THAN OBAMACARE. BETTER THAN OBAMACARE. SO WHEN THE PLAN COMES OUT, SO WHEN THE PLAN COMES OUT, YOU’LL SEE IT. YOU’LL SEE IT. >> IT’S MUCH BETTER THAN >> IT’S MUCH BETTER THAN OBAMACARE. OBAMACARE. IT DOESN’T EXIST BUT IT’S MUCH IT DOESN’T EXIST BUT IT’S MUCH BETTER THAN OBAMACARE. BETTER THAN OBAMACARE. NOT A WORD OF THE TRUMP HEALTH NOT A WORD OF THE TRUMP HEALTH CARE PLAN EXISTS ANYWHERE. CARE PLAN EXISTS ANYWHERE. NOT ON A NOTE PAD. NOT ON A NOTE PAD. NOWHERE. NOWHERE. BUT IT’S MUCH BETTER THAN BUT IT’S MUCH BETTER THAN OBAMACARE. OBAMACARE. WHAT DO YOU CALL THAT? WHAT DO YOU CALL THAT? THERE IS A POLITICAL DISCUSSION THERE IS A POLITICAL DISCUSSION TO BE HAD ABOUT THIS AND THERE TO BE HAD ABOUT THIS AND THERE IS A PSYCHIATRIC DISCUSSION TO IS A PSYCHIATRIC DISCUSSION TO BE HAD ABOUT THIS. BE HAD ABOUT THIS. AND THAT IS WHY WE ARE LEADING AND THAT IS WHY WE ARE LEADING OFF OUR DISCUSSION TONIGHT WITH OFF OUR DISCUSSION TONIGHT WITH DR. PRUDENCE, A PSYCHOLOGIST AND DR. PRUDENCE, A PSYCHOLOGIST AND PSYCHO ANALYST AND PAST PSYCHO ANALYST AND PAST PRESIDENT OF THE PSYCHO ANALYTIC PRESIDENT OF THE PSYCHO ANALYTIC ASSOCIATION. ASSOCIATION. ALSO WITH US RON KLAIN, HE KNOWS ALSO WITH US RON KLAIN, HE KNOWS THE WORKINGS OF THE WHITE HOUSE THE WORKINGS OF THE WHITE HOUSE AND THE SENATE. AND THE SENATE. AND KNOWS THE KIND OF DINE MIX AND KNOWS THE KIND OF DINE MIX THAT GO ON BETWEEN MITCH THAT GO ON BETWEEN MITCH McCONNELL AND PRESIDENT TRUMP IN McCONNELL AND PRESIDENT TRUMP IN A SITUATION LIKE THIS. A SITUATION LIKE THIS. AND ADAM GENERALSON IS WITH US. AND ADAM GENERALSON IS WITH US. HE’S THE FORMER DEPUTY CHIEF OF HE’S THE FORMER DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF TO FORMER SMETENATE MAJORI STAFF TO FORMER SMETENATE MAJORI LEADER HARRY REID. LEADER HARRY REID. HE KNOWS THE WORKINGS ON MITCH HE KNOWS THE WORKINGS ON MITCH McCONNELL’S MIND ON THESE McCONNELL’S MIND ON THESE MATTERS VERY WELL. MATTERS VERY WELL. HE’S JOINED US BEFORE ON THIS HE’S JOINED US BEFORE ON THIS SUBJECT. SUBJECT. DOCTOR, I WANT TO START WITH DOCTOR, I WANT TO START WITH YOU. YOU. THIS IS THE DAY WHERE IT JUST THIS IS THE DAY WHERE IT JUST BECAME OVERWHELMING. BECAME OVERWHELMING. WHERE IN WATCHING THE PRESIDENT WHERE IN WATCHING THE PRESIDENT IT BECAME IMPERATIVE THAT WE IT BECAME IMPERATIVE THAT WE ONCE AGAIN CHECK IN ON A ONCE AGAIN CHECK IN ON A PSYCHIATRIC VIEW OF WHAT IT IS PSYCHIATRIC VIEW OF WHAT IT IS WE’RE WATCHING WHEN WE’RE WE’RE WATCHING WHEN WE’RE WATCHING DONALD TRUMP IN THESE WATCHING DONALD TRUMP IN THESE SITUATIONS. SITUATIONS. >> WELL, I FEEL LIKE YOU ASKED >> WELL, I FEEL LIKE YOU ASKED ME HERE KIND OF ON A HOUSE CALL ME HERE KIND OF ON A HOUSE CALL TONIGHT. TONIGHT. IT WAS A VERY STRANGE DAY, EVEN IT WAS A VERY STRANGE DAY, EVEN FOR DONALD TRUMP. FOR DONALD TRUMP. I THINK WHAT HE’LL SEE TOMORROW, I THINK WHAT HE’LL SEE TOMORROW, I PREDICT, IS THAT HE MEANT TO I PREDICT, IS THAT HE MEANT TO SAY HIS GRANDFATHER WAS BORN IN SAY HIS GRANDFATHER WAS BORN IN GERMANY. GERMANY. HE WAS CLEARLY STRUGGLING TO HE WAS CLEARLY STRUGGLING TO FIND -- TO KIND OF LOCATE HIS FIND -- TO KIND OF LOCATE HIS THOUGHTS AND HIS MEMORIES. THOUGHTS AND HIS MEMORIES. AND HE’LL GET IT -- HE’LL -- AND HE’LL GET IT -- HE’LL -- HE’LL JUST SEGUE OUT OF THAT BY HE’LL JUST SEGUE OUT OF THAT BY SAYING HE MEANT HIS GRANDFATHER. SAYING HE MEANT HIS GRANDFATHER. THE WORD FINDING PROBLEM, I THE WORD FINDING PROBLEM, I DIDN’T HEAR HIM SAYING ORANGES. DIDN’T HEAR HIM SAYING ORANGES. TO ME HE HAD THE FIRST TWO TO ME HE HAD THE FIRST TWO SYLLABLES OF THE WORLD AND HE SYLLABLES OF THE WORLD AND HE COULDN’T REMEMBER THE END OF IT. COULDN’T REMEMBER THE END OF IT. THAT’S WHAT IT SOUNDED LIKE TO THAT’S WHAT IT SOUNDED LIKE TO ME AND HE SUBSTITUTED THE ME AND HE SUBSTITUTED THE BEGINNING AND START OF AND HE BEGINNING AND START OF AND HE WANTED TO GO BACK TO IT. WANTED TO GO BACK TO IT. SO, YEAH, IS THERE -- I CAN’T DO SO, YEAH, IS THERE -- I CAN’T DO A NUEROLOGIC EXAM JUST WATCHING A NUEROLOGIC EXAM JUST WATCHING THE TAPE TODAY. THE TAPE TODAY. IF HE WERE A NORMAL LEADER, TO IF HE WERE A NORMAL LEADER, TO USE HIS WORDS, HE WOULD SEEK AN USE HIS WORDS, HE WOULD SEEK AN EVALUATION. EVALUATION. IF HE WERE THE CEO OF A BIG IF HE WERE THE CEO OF A BIG COMPANY AND FORGETTING WORDS OR COMPANY AND FORGETTING WORDS OR MAKING A MAKING A MAKING A MISTAKE LIKE MAKING A MISTAKE LIKE GRANDFATHER AND FATHER, HE WOULD GRANDFATHER AND FATHER, HE WOULD SEEK A PSYCHIATRIC EVALUATION SEEK A PSYCHIATRIC EVALUATION WILLINGLY TO SEE IF HE WAS WILLINGLY TO SEE IF HE WAS HAVING COGNITIVE DIFFICULTIES. HAVING COGNITIVE DIFFICULTIES. BUT I DON’T THINK HE’LL DO THAT. BUT I DON’T THINK HE’LL DO THAT. >> AND DOCTOR, WHEN YOU SEE HIM >> AND DOCTOR, WHEN YOU SEE HIM TONIGHT STANDING UP THERE IN TONIGHT STANDING UP THERE IN FRONT OF AN AUDIENCE AFTER A DAY FRONT OF AN AUDIENCE AFTER A DAY LIKE TODAY OR ANY DAY, SAYING LIKE TODAY OR ANY DAY, SAYING THINGS LIKE I’M PERFECTLY THINGS LIKE I’M PERFECTLY NORMAL. NORMAL. I THINK I’M PERFECTLY NORMAL. I THINK I’M PERFECTLY NORMAL. IN YOUR EXPERIENCE, AND I’M NOT IN YOUR EXPERIENCE, AND I’M NOT SAYING -- I DON’T MEAN DONALD SAYING -- I DON’T MEAN DONALD TRUMP PARTICULARLY, SINCE YOU TRUMP PARTICULARLY, SINCE YOU HAVE NO EXPERIENCE WITH HIM. HAVE NO EXPERIENCE WITH HIM. BUT IN YOUR CLINICAL EXPERIENCE BUT IN YOUR CLINICAL EXPERIENCE IN DEALING WITH PEOPLE AND THE IN DEALING WITH PEOPLE AND THE WAY THEY TALK ABOUT THEMSELVES, WAY THEY TALK ABOUT THEMSELVES, DOES THAT KIND OF COMMENT ABOUT DOES THAT KIND OF COMMENT ABOUT ONE’S SELF TELL US ANYTHING ONE’S SELF TELL US ANYTHING ABOUT THAT PERSON? ABOUT THAT PERSON? >> WE HAVE A CONCEPT CALLED THE >> WE HAVE A CONCEPT CALLED THE UNPROVOKED DENIAL. UNPROVOKED DENIAL. IF YOU SAY I AM NOT A LIAR AND IF YOU SAY I AM NOT A LIAR AND NOBODY ASKED YOU IF YOU WERE, NOBODY ASKED YOU IF YOU WERE, YOU WONDER WHY THE PERSON IS YOU WONDER WHY THE PERSON IS BRINGING IT UP. BRINGING IT UP. SO IT COMES UNDER THE HEADING OF SO IT COMES UNDER THE HEADING OF UNPROVOKED DENIAL, AND, YOU UNPROVOKED DENIAL, AND, YOU KNOW, IT’S KIND OF LIKE, OKAY, KNOW, IT’S KIND OF LIKE, OKAY, WELL, I DIDN’T ASK YOU IF YOU WELL, I DIDN’T ASK YOU IF YOU WERE NORMAL, SO WHY IS IT ON WERE NORMAL, SO WHY IS IT ON YOUR MIND? YOUR MIND? IT CLEARLY SOUNDED VERY, VERY IT CLEARLY SOUNDED VERY, VERY STRESSED AND ANXIOUS TODAY. STRESSED AND ANXIOUS TODAY. AND ANYBODY WITH -- IS GOING TO AND ANYBODY WITH -- IS GOING TO HAVE MORE -- WITH THE SLIGHTEST HAVE MORE -- WITH THE SLIGHTEST BIT OF DIFFICULTY COGNITIVELY BIT OF DIFFICULTY COGNITIVELY JUST IN GENERAL IF THEY’RE UNDER JUST IN GENERAL IF THEY’RE UNDER A LOT OF STRESS, IT’S GOING TO A LOT OF STRESS, IT’S GOING TO SHOW ITSELF. SHOW ITSELF. IF THERE IS A TINY BIT, A MILD IF THERE IS A TINY BIT, A MILD COGNITIVE DIFFICULTY, YOU’RE COGNITIVE DIFFICULTY, YOU’RE GOING TO SEE A LOT MORE OF IT IN GOING TO SEE A LOT MORE OF IT IN A STRESSFUL SITUATION. A STRESSFUL SITUATION. >> THE UNPROVOKED DENIAL. >> THE UNPROVOKED DENIAL. I’VE JUST WRITTEN IT DOWN. I’VE JUST WRITTEN IT DOWN. AND RON KLAIN, I THINK THAT’S AND RON KLAIN, I THINK THAT’S GOING TO BE A GRAPHIC THAT YOU GOING TO BE A GRAPHIC THAT YOU WILL BE SEEING DESCRIBING OTHER WILL BE SEEING DESCRIBING OTHER SEGMENTS WE WILL BE DOING ON SEGMENTS WE WILL BE DOING ON THIS SHOW IN THE FUTURE. THIS SHOW IN THE FUTURE. THE UNPROVOKED DENIAL. THE UNPROVOKED DENIAL. YOUR REACTION TO WHAT -- RON YOUR REACTION TO WHAT -- RON KLAIN, TO WHAT YOU SAW THE KLAIN, TO WHAT YOU SAW THE PRESIDENT DOING TODAY. PRESIDENT DOING TODAY. >> LOOK, OBVIOUSLY I’M NOT A >> LOOK, OBVIOUSLY I’M NOT A DOCTOR AND I CAN’T DIAGNOSIS DOCTOR AND I CAN’T DIAGNOSIS HIM. HIM. WHAT I CAN SAY IS AS SOMEONE WHO WHAT I CAN SAY IS AS SOMEONE WHO HAS WATCHED THIS FOR THE LAST GO HAS WATCHED THIS FOR THE LAST GO YEARS AND SEEN A LOT OF YEARS AND SEEN A LOT OF CRAZINESS COME OUT OF THE OVAL CRAZINESS COME OUT OF THE OVAL OFFICE, TODAY WAS LAKEAN ENDLESS OFFICE, TODAY WAS LAKEAN ENDLESS ARRAY OF RIDICULOUS. ARRAY OF RIDICULOUS. THE PRESIDENT ANNOUNCED WE COULD THE PRESIDENT ANNOUNCED WE COULD SOLVE THE BORDER PROBLEM IF WE SOLVE THE BORDER PROBLEM IF WE JUST GOT RID OF JUDGES. JUST GOT RID OF JUDGES. HE ANNOUNCED BASICALLY HE’D SET HE ANNOUNCED BASICALLY HE’D SET UP A TASK FORCE TO DEAL WITH THE UP A TASK FORCE TO DEAL WITH THE PROBLEM THAT HIS TASK FORCE IS PROBLEM THAT HIS TASK FORCE IS GOING TO SHUT THE BORDER IS GOING TO SHUT THE BORDER IS GOING TO CREATE. GOING TO CREATE. HE ANNOUNCED THAT HE HAS A HE ANNOUNCED THAT HE HAS A HEALTH CARE PLAN, EXCEPT THAT HE HEALTH CARE PLAN, EXCEPT THAT HE DOESN’T, EXCEPT THAT HE WOULD DOESN’T, EXCEPT THAT HE WOULD HAVE ONE, EXCEPT THAT MITCH HAVE ONE, EXCEPT THAT MITCH McCONNELL ASKED HIM NOT TO, McCONNELL ASKED HIM NOT TO, EXCEPT HE’S GOING TO HAVE ONE EXCEPT HE’S GOING TO HAVE ONE AFTER THE ELECTION. AFTER THE ELECTION. IT REALLY WAS, YOU KNOW, IN AN IT REALLY WAS, YOU KNOW, IN AN ADMINISTRATION WHERE EVERY ADMINISTRATION WHERE EVERY SINGLE DAY LOOKS LIKE THIS, THIS SINGLE DAY LOOKS LIKE THIS, THIS IS REALLY ONE OF THE MOST IS REALLY ONE OF THE MOST NOTABLE DAYS OF EXCEPTIONAL NOTABLE DAYS OF EXCEPTIONAL NUTTINESS COMING FROM THE WHITE NUTTINESS COMING FROM THE WHITE HOUSE. HOUSE. >> ADAM GENERALSON, I THINK YOU >> ADAM GENERALSON, I THINK YOU AND I ARE RON CERTAINLY, WE AND I ARE RON CERTAINLY, WE FIRST LOOK AT ALL OF THESE FIRST LOOK AT ALL OF THESE THINGS POLITICALLY. THINGS POLITICALLY. WE LOOK AT THEM IN TERMS OF WE LOOK AT THEM IN TERMS OF GOVERNING ANALYSIS AND POLITICAL GOVERNING ANALYSIS AND POLITICAL ANALYSIS, BUT TODAY WAS A DAY ANALYSIS, BUT TODAY WAS A DAY WHERE I HAD TO SURRENDER THE WHERE I HAD TO SURRENDER THE POLITICAL ANALYSIS. POLITICAL ANALYSIS. THAT’S WHY I WANTED THE DOCTOR THAT’S WHY I WANTED THE DOCTOR ON. ON. BUT TO STICK WITH THE POLITICAL BUT TO STICK WITH THE POLITICAL ANALYSIS. ANALYSIS. THE PRESIDENT STARTS -- TURNS THE PRESIDENT STARTS -- TURNS THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT AROUND THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT AROUND AND SAYS, I WANT YOU TO ATTACK AND SAYS, I WANT YOU TO ATTACK THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT IN THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT IN COURT. COURT. MITCH McCONNELL THINKS THAT’S A MITCH McCONNELL THINKS THAT’S A DISASTROUS THING FOR THE DISASTROUS THING FOR THE PRESIDENT TO DO. PRESIDENT TO DO. AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IF AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IF ANY -- JUST THAT ALONE, IF ANY ANY -- JUST THAT ALONE, IF ANY OTHER WHITE HOUSE WAS DOING OTHER WHITE HOUSE WAS DOING THAT, EVERYONE IN WASHINGTON THAT, EVERYONE IN WASHINGTON WOULD BE USING THE WORD "CRAZY" WOULD BE USING THE WORD "CRAZY" ABOUT THAT WHITE HOUSE. ABOUT THAT WHITE HOUSE. >> YEAH, THAT’S RIGHT. >> YEAH, THAT’S RIGHT. YOU WON’T HEAR ME SAY THIS VERY YOU WON’T HEAR ME SAY THIS VERY OFTEN, BUT I AGREE WITH MITCH OFTEN, BUT I AGREE WITH MITCH McCONNELL. McCONNELL. IT’S AN INSANE THING TO DO. IT’S AN INSANE THING TO DO. >> YES. >> YES. >> YOU KNOW, THE PRESIDENT WAS >> YOU KNOW, THE PRESIDENT WAS HAVING A DECENT RUN OF POSITIVE HAVING A DECENT RUN OF POSITIVE NEWS AND THEN BY ORDERING THE NEWS AND THEN BY ORDERING THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT TO DO THIS, JUSTICE DEPARTMENT TO DO THIS, HE PUT THE NEWS SQUARELY IN HE PUT THE NEWS SQUARELY IN DEMOCRATS’ TURF. DEMOCRATS’ TURF. I MEAN, HEALTH CARE IS THE I MEAN, HEALTH CARE IS THE SINGLE MOST MOTIVATING ISSUE TO SINGLE MOST MOTIVATING ISSUE TO DEMOCRATS. DEMOCRATS. IT’S AN ISSUE WE USED VERY IT’S AN ISSUE WE USED VERY STRONGLY TO TAKE BACK THE HOUSE STRONGLY TO TAKE BACK THE HOUSE IN 2018. IN 2018. IT’S JUST INEXPLICABLE FOR THE IT’S JUST INEXPLICABLE FOR THE PRESIDENT TO PUT IT BACK IN PRESIDENT TO PUT IT BACK IN ENEMY TERRITORY LIKE THIS. ENEMY TERRITORY LIKE THIS. IT JUST DOESN’T MAKE ANY SENSE IT JUST DOESN’T MAKE ANY SENSE AT ALL. AT ALL. >> DOCTOR, I WANTED TO ASK YOU >> DOCTOR, I WANTED TO ASK YOU ONE MORE THING ABOUT THE ONE MORE THING ABOUT THE PRESIDENT. PRESIDENT. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT REPUBLICAN SENATOR LAMAR REPUBLICAN SENATOR LAMAR ALEXANDER SAID ABOUT THE ALEXANDER SAID ABOUT THE PRESIDENT THINKING -- HE WAS PRESIDENT THINKING -- HE WAS INTENDING TO COMPLIMENT HIM. INTENDING TO COMPLIMENT HIM. HE SAID EVEN PEOPLE WHO DON’T HE SAID EVEN PEOPLE WHO DON’T LIKE WHEN, WHEN THEY ARE WITH LIKE WHEN, WHEN THEY ARE WITH HIM, ARE IMPRESSED WITH HOW HIM, ARE IMPRESSED WITH HOW EASILY HE WORKS A ROOM. EASILY HE WORKS A ROOM. I THINK HE LIKES PEOPLE. I THINK HE LIKES PEOPLE. HE LIVES IN THE MOMENT. HE LIVES IN THE MOMENT. HE’S NOT THINKING OF THE NEXT HE’S NOT THINKING OF THE NEXT DAY OR EVEN THE NEXT HOUR OR THE DAY OR EVEN THE NEXT HOUR OR THE NEXT PERSON. NEXT PERSON. HE’S THAT KIND OF PERSONALITY. HE’S THAT KIND OF PERSONALITY. DOCTOR, WHAT KIND OF PERSONALITY DOCTOR, WHAT KIND OF PERSONALITY IS THAT? IS THAT? >> WELL, I’M NOT SURE I’D >> WELL, I’M NOT SURE I’D TOTALLY AGREE WITH THAT. TOTALLY AGREE WITH THAT. I’D THROW THE SITUATION BACK TO I’D THROW THE SITUATION BACK TO THE POLITICAL SIDE BECAUSE, THE POLITICAL SIDE BECAUSE, AGAIN, AS I SAID EARLIER, HE AGAIN, AS I SAID EARLIER, HE SEEMS EXTREMELY STRESSED. SEEMS EXTREMELY STRESSED. NONE OF HIS FUNCTIONS -- NONE OF HIS FUNCTIONS -- WHATEVER OUR FUNCTIONAL LEVEL WHATEVER OUR FUNCTIONAL LEVEL IS, WHATEVER OUR BEST FUNCTIONAL IS, WHATEVER OUR BEST FUNCTIONAL LEVEL IS, FUN OF US IS THERE ALL LEVEL IS, FUN OF US IS THERE ALL THE TIME. THE TIME. SO IF YOU SEE SOMEBODY SLIPPING SO IF YOU SEE SOMEBODY SLIPPING FROM THEIR USUAL LEVEL, THAT FROM THEIR USUAL LEVEL, THAT INDICATES THEY’RE UNDER A LOT OF INDICATES THEY’RE UNDER A LOT OF STRESS AND TENSION. STRESS AND TENSION. AND I WONDER IF THERE IS SOME AND I WONDER IF THERE IS SOME POLITICAL TENSION GOING ON THAT POLITICAL TENSION GOING ON THAT MAKES HIM LOOK PARTICULARLY MAKES HIM LOOK PARTICULARLY VULNERABLE AND SCATTERED TODAY. VULNERABLE AND SCATTERED TODAY. DOES HE LIVE IN THE MOMENT? DOES HE LIVE IN THE MOMENT? I THINK HE’S CONSTANTLY I THINK HE’S CONSTANTLY STRATEGIZING TO FIGURE OUT HOW STRATEGIZING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO -- TO MAKE HIMSELF LOOK GOOD. TO -- TO MAKE HIMSELF LOOK GOOD. AND SO I DON’T KNOW IF I’D AGREE AND SO I DON’T KNOW IF I’D AGREE WITH SENATOR ALEXANDER. WITH SENATOR ALEXANDER. >> ALL RIGHT. >> ALL RIGHT. WE’RE GOING TO HAVE TO LEAVE IT WE’RE GOING TO HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE. THERE. WE HAVE A COMMERCIAL BREAK
