impeached? it's "way too early" for this. good morning! and welcome to "way too early," the show that sends big props to all the tech folks behind the scenes here who had a very busy start to their day at 30 rock. thank you, guys, for getting us on the air this morning. i am kasie hunt on this thursday, march 11th. we will start with the news. in a major legislative win for president biden, the house passed the massive $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief bill. the final vote was 220-211, mostly along party lines. one democrat, congressman jared golden of maine, joined all republicans in voting against the bill. democrats erupted in applause after the roll call. >> on this vote, the yeas are 220, the nays are 211. the motion is adopted. >> the white house also posted this video of president biden and vice president kamala harris applauding as the bill was passed. president biden said he'll sign it tomorrow. >> this bill represents an historic, historic victory for the american people. everything in the american rescue plan addresses a real need. together we're going to get through this pandemic and usher in a healthier and more hopeful future, so there is real reason for hope, folks. there is real reason for hope, i promise you. >> and later today, president biden will give his first prime time address to mark one year since the world health organization declared covid-19 a pandemic. it has been a long and devastating year. and even though the covid relief bill passed without a single republican voting in support of the measure, democrats warned yesterday that the gop would try to take credit for any positive results. here's what house budget committee chairman, congressman john yarmuth said yesterday on the floor. >> what we're concerned about on our side is that republicans are all going to vote against this, then they're going to show up at every ribbon-cutting, every project that's funded out of this bill, and they're going to puff up their chest and take credit for all of these great benefits that are coming to their citizens. >> that, it's already happening. despite voting no on the covid relief package, republican senator roger wicker yesterday touted funding in the bill that would help independent restaurants. hours, literally hours after the bill passed, he tweeted, quote, independent restaurant operators have won $28.6 billion worth of targeted relief. senator wicker was later pressed about why he voted no. >> one good provision in a $1.9 trillion bill doesn't mean i have to vote for the whole thing. >> but -- >> it goes without saying. i issued a statement, but i think it's a stupid question. >> stupid question? >> absolutely! i'm not going to vote for $1.9 trillion just because it has a couple of good provisions in it. >> oh, boy. okay. president biden, meanwhile, announced plans to purchase an additional 100 million doses of the johnson & johnson vaccine. the additional doses will give the u.s. more than enough to supply vaccines to the entire u.s. population. and while it was previously announced that the u.s. had purchased enough for every single american adult, this additional purchase will serve as a reserve. biden had this to say about the need for additional doses during a meeting with pharmaceutical executives yesterday. >> and today, i'm directing jeff and my hhs team to produce another 100 million doses and purchase another 100 million doses of the johnson & johnson vaccine. i'm doing this because in this wartime efforts, we need maximum flexibility. there is always a chance that we will encounter unexpected challenges, or there will be a new need for a vaccine effort or vaccination effort. a lot can happen. a lot can change. and we need to be prepared. and of course, we need to match the miracle of science and the skill of manufacturing with the massive logistical undertaking of vaccinating over 300 million americans. >> president biden also said that, if the country ends up not needing the surplus vaccine, he would, quote, share it with the rest of the world. joining us now, white house correspondent for politico and co-author of "the playbook," eugene daniels. eugene, great to see you. thank you for getting up early with us. this is a big win for president biden, getting this bill across the finish line. there is a lot in it, including versions of -- temporary versions, i should say, of programs that a lot of democrats have been focused on over the long term, including child care help, the extension of unemployment insurance, et cetera. what does this mean in terms of setting a precedent going forward for how we're dealing with these things? i think democrats are betting that republicans aren't going to want to yank that, for example, child credit away from people once the temporary program expires. >> exactly. something about people that live in this country, and americans, once you give us something, we get used to it and we don't want you to take it away from us, right? and so, you have kind of this expansion of benefits in a way that a lot of democrats, people on the left have been wanting for years, right? they were able to use this covid relief bill in order to do it. and it's been hit by republicans as that, right? like, you're just expanding the social safety net, and democrats will tell you, yeah, that's exactly what we're doing. i think one of the things that's most interesting is, you have this, another stimulus check coming. i covered andrew yang during the 2020 primary for democrats, and that is something that he talked about. and so, it is kind of wild to see that now being a part of all of this. and moving forward, are americans just used to government doing more, right? when democrats are in charge, that's always going to be the case. but now republicans love getting these checks, independents love getting these checks. so, that and the child tax credit, like you said. how can republicans, after people have gotten this money, it's helped them during a time of need, how do you then go and say, you don't get to have it anymore? it's going to be difficult for them to do that, especially with the midterm coming right up. >> yeah, you know, it's funny. i spent a lot of time thinking about this, because you know, i covered the 2009 stimulus as well, and that, obviously, back fired on president obama and other democrats. but it was also in the context of a recession that required a lot of help to very powerful institutions, and a lot of americans looked around and saw their government helping big banks, big corporations, and didn't like it very much. but in this particular case, the money is going to help them. and while you're starting to hear people talk about the debt and the deficit, the classic kind of republican approach to that, i'm wondering, what's your take on -- i just -- i feel like americans are going to view this differently because they know it's directed at them. they've gotten a check in the mail. >> no, i think you're right. you know, there are a lot of comparisons to be made to that stimulus bill that president obama signed. but this idea of people getting money in their pockets, right? this $1,400 if you, you know, meet the right requirements and a little bit down up until 80, the administration says that's 85% of americans. that's a huge swath of people. and so, that's going to be a little bit different than when you see a bank getting bailed out or you see the auto industries getting bailed out in this country. and the other difference is that president biden is going on a kind of victory lap, a victory tour, him and vice president kamala harris are going to take to the road. she's going to denver. she's going to las vegas on tuesday, monday and tuesday, excuse me. and they're going to sell this to the american people. that's something that president biden said that his old boss should have done and did not do. and another aspect of this is president obama faced a pretty cohesive republican party, right? the opposition to what he was doing was very clear. republicans don't have that right now, right? there's no civil war. it's very clear what side they've chosen, the side of president trump. but they don't have a message that's really working against this bill, right? they're focusing on things like dr. seuss and mr. potato head, and they haven't found a way to attack this, other than saying it is a wish list for democrats. >> yeah, i mean, it's pretty tough to attack it when your republican president was in there just months ago and wanted to put his name on the checks because he was so supportive, and you were willing to go along with that. you turn around, you say no. it's a very, very difficult place to be cognitively, i think. politico's eugene daniels, thank you so much for getting up early with us. appreciate your reporting and insights. and still ahead here, with governor greg abbott lifting coronavirus restrictions, the texas rangers are going to become the first team in major league baseball to gear up for a full stadium of fans. plus, the senate confirms merrick garland as attorney general. we'll have that update and a look at where the rest of president biden's cabinet stands. those stories and a check on your weather when we come right back. your weather when we come right back it all starts with an invitation... ...to experience lexus. the invitation to lexus sales event. lease the 2021 is 300 for $359 a month for 36 month's, and we'll make you're first month's payment. experience amazing. to be a thriver with metastatic breast cancer means asking for what we want, and need... and we need more time. so, we want kisqali. living longer is possible and proven with kisqali when taken with a nonsteroidal aromatase inhibitor in premenopausal women with hr+, her2- metastatic breast cancer. kisqali is a pill that's significantly more effective at delaying disease progression versus a nonsteroidal aromatase inhibitor alone. kisqali can cause lung problems or an abnormal heartbeat, which can lead to death. it can cause serious skin reactions, liver problems, and low white blood cell counts that may result in severe infections. tell your doctor right away if you have new or worsening symptoms, including breathing problems, cough, chest pain, a change in your heartbeat, dizziness, yellowing of the skin or eyes, dark urine, tiredness, loss of appetite, abdomen pain, bleeding, bruising, fever, chills, or other symptoms of an infection, a severe or worsening rash, are or plan to become pregnant, or breastfeeding. avoid grapefruit during treatment. kisqali is not approved for use with tamoxifen. ask your doctor about living longer with kisqali. - oh. - what's going on? - oh, darn! - let me help. kisqali is not approved for use with tamoxifen. lift and push and push! there... it's up there. hey joshie... wrinkles send the wrong message. help prevent them before they start with downy wrinkleguard. welcome back! time for sports. the mlb's texas rangers are set to become the first major u.s. sports franchise to make full, unrestricted seating available to fans since the pandemic began, altering the sport's landscape one year ago. coming off the heels of texas governor greg abbott's order to fully reopen the state, the rangers' plan for globe life field -- it seats more than 40,000 people -- to operate at full capacity for their final two exhibition games at the end of the month and the team's home opener against the blue jays on april 5th. some mitigation protocols like cashless transactions and social distancing for fans entering and exiting the ballpark will still take effect. fans will also be required to wear masks, unless eating or drinking at their seats, as was the case for limited capacity postseason games played at the arlington stadium in october. there's no official word yet on whether the houston astros will follow suit. the team announced in january that it will allow fans to attend games at 25% capacity this season. meanwhile, dallas cowboys owner jerry jones told reporters yesterday that his nfl team will return to california for training camp this year and expects it to play in front of a full house at at&t stadium when the regular season kicks off. i have a question, would you feel safe going to a stadium that was full? i'm not sure. all right, the ncaa selection committee has begun meeting to hash out a 68-team bracket for the march madness tournament kicking off next week. while the usually reveal takes place on selection sunday, it could remain influx until games begin on tuesday, and teams who make the field can no longer be replaced if they get sick. the rule was part of the ncaa's gradual rollout of coronavirus protocols for the tournament, which will see all teams play all games in and around just the city of indianapolis. and in the latest from the committee, teams will now only need a minimum of five healthy players to suit up for a tournament game. it's unclear whether teams will also need a coach. tough times. all right, on the nba court, the brooklyn nets are going to start the second half of the season without a lot of its star power. kevin durant, who hasn't played in about a month, is going to remain sidelined indefinitely as he undergoes further imaging on a strained left hamstring. brooklyn's newly acquired blake griffin also is ruled out against the celtics as he manages a left knee injury. but on the pro tennis court, second-seeded roger federer made his return to the atp tour after more than a year of recovery from a pair of knee surgeries. the 20-time grand slam champ recorded 13 aces in yesterday's second-round victory at the qatar open. the 39-year-old told reporters after nearly 2 1/2-hour match that his return to the court has been, quote, a huge challenge, saying, quote, to come back at my age, not something very simple. indeed. it's great for him. congrats. i'm going to have a lot of fun watching him continue to play. all right, time now for the weather. let's go to meteorologist bill karins for a check on the forecast. bill, good morning! >> reporter: hey, good morning, kasie. yeah, roger so easy to root for. then, you know, that first five-setter's going to be tough on those, you know, repaired knees. we'll have to wait and see how that plays out. so, let's get into this forecast, head into the weekend. we have a huge storm in the west. it's been great news for areas that need the wet weather, but this is going to be an epic snowstorm in areas of colorado. on monday, i'm going to show you pictures from, like, the denver area and the foothills that are going to be just eye-opening. so, here's how it plays out. saturday is when the snow should be really flying. it starts friday night. but saturday it will snow all day long. and then this is such a slow-moving storm system that all day sunday, that snow is going to set up over the front range areas of wyoming will get nailed, too, even a portion of nebraska and south dakota. ahead of it, we will deal with severe weather. how much snow are we talking? right now the forecast for denver is up to 24 inches of snow. it's very -- they get snowstorms, but it's rare for them to get a 2-foot snowstorm. there will be isolated spots in the mountains that could get up to 5 feet of snow this upcoming weekend. out ahead of this storm system, we will have some severe weather, we'll have a lot of rain, some flooding. so we have to watch out for our friends in kansas and also missouri, especially in areas of northern, especially -- well, northern oklahoma and as we go into areas of arkansas through the ozarks. so, the forecast for today. how about the warmth in the northeast? just enjoy it, soak it up. 77 in d.c. today, 71 in new york, and 69 in boston. that's as warm as it's going to be for a while. it will cool off a little bit this weekend. but friday's still pretty nice. and there's that big storm just, you know, it just jumps off the map in the middle of the country. we get a break on the west coast saturday. the east coast is nice on saturday. and still pretty good on the east coast on sunday. all of the nasty weather, kasie, will be in the heartland with our major march winter storm. >> all right, well, our thoughts with all those who are going to be grappling with that snow, but i love it when you've got "nice day" written atop of right where i live! so, that sounds great to me. bill karins, thank you very much, my friend. we'll see you tomorrow. still ahead here, the biden administration is preparing for a high-level meeting with chinese officials next week. nbc's janis mackey frayer joins us with her reporting. s janis mn us with her reporting. tired of clean clothes that just don't smell clean? 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email your reasons for being up and watching with us to waytooearly@msnbc.com or tweet @kasie, use #waytooearly, and we will read our favorite answers later in the show. l rea answers later in the show. i have the power to lower my a1c. because i can still make my own insulin. and trulicity activates my body to release it. once-weekly trulicity is for type 2 diabetes. most people taking it reached an a1c under 7%. trulicity may also help you lose up to 10 pounds and lower your risk of cardiovascular events, whether you know you're at risk or not. trulicity isn't for people with type 1 diabetes. it's not approved for use in children. don't take trulicity if you're allergic to it, you or your family have medullary thyroid cancer, or have multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2. stop trulicity and call your doctor right away if you have an allergic reaction, a lump or swelling in your neck, severe stomach pain, changes in vision, or diabetic retinopathy. serious side effects may include pancreatitis. taking trulicity with sulfonylurea or insulin raises low blood sugar risk. side effects include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, which can lead to dehydration and may worsen kidney problems. i have it within me to lower my a1c. ask your doctor about once-weekly trulicity. wealth is breaking ground on your biggest project yet. worth is giving the people who build it a solid foundation. wealth is shutting down the office for mike's retirement party. worth is giving the employee who spent half his life with you, the party of a lifetime. wealth is watching your business grow. worth is watching your employees grow with it. principal. for all it's worth. welcome back to "way too early." it is 5:30 here on the east coast, 2:30 out west. i'm kasie hunt. let's start with some of the big business and economic headlines out there this morning. new polling shows support for the covid relief package remains high. according to the latest cnn survey, 61% of those polled favor the plan. support's even higher for key components of the bill. 85% favor the expanded tax credits. 77% get favor funding to get students back inside the classroom. 76% support another round of stimulus checks, while 59% favor aid to state and local governments. the president's approval rating currently sits at 51%. the president and vice president also plan to hit the road to promote the bill. president biden's first stop is scheduled for next tuesday in pennsylvania, while vice president harris is set to visit las vegas and denver next week. the importance of promoting such major legislation is a lesson learned from the obama administration. the "ap's" jonathan lemire writes "many working in the west wing are veterans of the obama administration and they acknowledge that not enough was done to sell the 2009 recovery act." biden, who managed that stimulus package, addressed this issue last week. >> many of you remember that in 2009, we expended a lot of political capital, nancy and i and others, in the recovery act. it was an act that had less than 0.2% waste or fraud in it, according to the experts, and the economists told us we literally saved america from a depression, but we didn't adequately explain what we had done. barack was so modest, he didn't want to take, as he said, a victory lap. i kept saying, tell people what we did. said, we don't have time, i'm not going to take a victory lap. and we paid a price for it, ironically, for that humility. >> all right, joining us now, u.s. economy managing editor for bloomberg, peggy collins. peggy, good morning to you. great to see you. thanks for getting up early with us. let's talk about this, the bill, and the lessons learned. there's another lesson learned, in addition to the political sales that clearly, president biden feels needs to be made here and that wasn't made in 2009. but there's also this question of size, because democrats also say, you know what, that stimulus package wasn't big enough and we ended up in a recession that was longer than it needed to be because they had engaged in these political negotiations to try and get bipartisan support. obviously, they didn't do it here. what's your sense in your reporting on whether they got this right or there are concerns about whether it could be too big? >> well, as you say, there are starting to be some people in washington and in the markets who are asking about whether or not we're at risk of overheating the economy, right, in terms of people are watching very closely right now inflation statistics. we saw a lot of yields on the ten-year treasury move up significantly in the last few weeks, but we got inflation data yesterday, and it was softer than expected. so, some of those concerns have tamped down somewhat. but that's one of the concerns, that there's so much aid into the economy right now, and as we reopen and businesses get back online and the service sector in particular comes back, that we could see some inflation and prices rise to a degree that isn't healthy for the economy. the counter to that, of course, is that we still have about 10 million people out of work and that there's a lot of people who are still suffering, behind on bills for their rent or mortgage, and that they need help to get through the next coming months. >> yeah, i mean, to that very point, there obviously has been a lot of assistance extended to people in terms of just trying to live through this year, whether it's moratoriums on evictions, foreclosures, other measures. it's not as though those bills have gone away, though. so, what is the risk going forward over the next couple of years that, suddenly, people are going to be dealing with thousands of dollars in back rent, struggling to pay that back? that affects a chain of people -- landlords, business interests, and other things. >> that's right. that is certainly one of the huge overhangs or shadows in the economy right now, that people are in a holding pattern with a lot of these bills, particularly for housing, but they're backing up on people in terms of when they eventually may have to pay them back and over what period of time. a lot of the hopes is that the economy will be back on track, people will be back in their jobs and then they'll be able to pay those off. but that is a risk, and it is a risk as well for banks, in terms of defaults down the road. we saw small businesses across the country be very resilient through this crisis but also get hit incredibly hard, and a lot of them not be able to survive. so, that is certainly a wider risk in the economy. >> so, considering what you mentioned about inflation and the concerns that have been tamped down a little bit there, how are the markets reacting to the passage of this bill? i mean, is it something that wall street is seeing as a positive? obviously, there are a lot of regular americans who are really looking forward to getting their checks in the mail. >> so, stock futures are rising today. and certainly, markets had expected the passage of it, given the political atmosphere in washington right now and the expectation that it could pass both the senate and the house. so, that is something that markets are baking in. but going forward, the question is around some of the health of the economy going forward and whether or not we'll start to see particularly tech stocks. they've taken a hit or been jittery in the last few weeks. nasdaq moving back up yesterday, but certainly, that's another question mark out there, is how long can this equity rise that we've seen, the incredible run on stocks since the fed stepped in about a year ago, this weekend, actually, and put a lot of liquidity and backstop into the markets and into the economy? >> all right, bloomberg's peggy collins, thank you very much for your reporting and insights this morning. we really appreciate it. and senate minority leader mitch mcconnell has fund-raising bragging rights against former president trump, and he's using them. "the new york times" reports mcconnell privately boasted to fellow republicans at the weekly party lunch that their fund-raising efforts have raised more money than the trump super pac, in what seems to be a response to the former president's recent attempts to steer donations away from the party and over to him, basically, personally. three people who spoke on condition of aminity said mcconnell not only said several times that the republican super pac outraised trump's super pac in 2020, he put it down on cards. mcconnell shared with the caucus small cards that read, in three cycles, nearly $1 billion. below that were the former president's statistics. trump -- $148 million, referring to america first, the outside group that was formed to support mr. trump in 2020. all right, still ahead here, why this awards season will have a totally different look from years past. we've got a preview of the oscar nominations when "way too early" comes right back. shingles? camera man: yeah, 1 out of 3 people get shingles in their lifetime. well that leaves 2 out of 3 people who don't. i don't know anybody who's had it. your uncle had shingles. you mean that nasty red rash? and donna next door had it for weeks. yeah, but there's nothing you can do about it. camera man: actually, shingles can be prevented. shingles can be whaaaat? camera man: prevented. you can get vaccinated. baby, call the doctor. camera man: hey! you can also get it from your pharmacist! 50 years or older? get vaccinated for shingles now. 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with bounce pet hair & lint guard, your clothes can repel pet hair. look how the shirt on the left attracts pet hair like a magnet! pet hair is no match for bounce. with bounce, you can love your pets, and lint roll less. antibacterial or moisturizing body wash? definitely moisturizer! antibacterial can i have both? new dove care & protect body wash eliminates 99% of bacteria and moisturizes for hours two for one! can i keep it? new dove care & protect, zero compromise! all right, time now for something totally different, and this is, in fact, totally different. the latest development in the "free britney" saga has britney spears' father defending her role as her conservator after congressional republicans called for a hearing on court-appointed guardians. a pair of gop lawmakers sent a letter to house judiciary committee jerry nadler requesting a hearing on conservatorships. the letter cited jamie spears and the pop star's case, which has been making national headlines since she filed to have her father removed as her conservator last year. in the letter, the congressman said in part, quote, in recent years, there's been growing public concern about the use of conservatorships to effectively deprive individuals of personal freedoms at the behest of others through the manipulation of the courts. the most striking example is perhaps the case of multiplatinum performing artist britney spears. in response, jamie spears said in a statement through his attorney, quote, any time britney wants to end her conservatorship, she can ask her lawyer to file a petition to terminate it. she has always had this right, but in 13 years has never exercised it. britney knows that her daddy loves her and that he will be there for her whenever and if she needs him, just as he has always been, conservatorship or not. hmm, that's a weird way to put it. and the academy is bringing in a hollywood power couple to kick off this year's oscars. actor-producer priyanka chopra jonas and her husband, singer nick jonas, will announce the 93rd academy award nominations next thursday. the presentation of the categories will be live-streamed on oscars.com and through the academy's facebook, twitter and youtube pages, starting at 5:19 a.m. pacific time. in a year that saw live productions shut down across the globe, streaming services dominated the industry and are likely to come away with nods in all categories. films like "nomad land," "the trial of the chicago seven" and "promising young woman" are expected to receive the bulk of the nominations. got to catch up on some of our possible oscar nom movies. all right, this story is difficult. jeffrey epstein's manhattan mansion has sold for nearly $50 million to an undisclosed buyer, and the money will go to some of the victims whom the convicted sex offender hurt so badly. the funds will replenish the epstein victims compensation fund program, allowing new claims to be issued. since his death, dozens of victims have come forward with sexual assault claims against the multimillionaire. last month, the victims fund had to cease payouts because it was too low on cash. the estate also intends to sell his palm beach property and contribute those proceeds to the program. there's a lot of justice that needs to be done here that hasn't been. all right, still ahead, nbc's janis mackey frayer joins us live from beijing as the biden administration prepares to set the tone for renewed u.s./china relationship. and as we go it break, a look at this date in history. ten years ago, a magnitude 9.0 earthquake and resulting tsunami struck japan's northeastern coast, killing nearly 20,000 people and severely damaging a nuclear power station, causing the world's worst nuclear disaster since chernobyl. >> add to it all a nuclear accident. an explosion shortly after the quake at this power plant damaged a building housing a reactor, causing a radioactive leak and the reaction of a 12-mile radius. reaction of a 12-mile radius (vo) businesses are always making choices. here's a choice you don't have to make: the largest 5g network... award-winning customer satisfaction... or insanely great value. now, with t-mobile for business, there's no compromise. network. support. value. choose. all. three. t-mobile for business. ready when you are. hey, you have to wash jason alexander hoodie. that looks clean to me. is it though? 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i mean, we're already hearing a lot of interest on capitol hill. senator schumer suggesting they may try to put together a china-related package as the next big bill. but what are the things you think we should be zeroing in on here? >> reporter: well, the timing of these meetings next week is quite significant. antony blinken will be going to alaska on his way back from his first trip to tokyo and to seoul to go to visit america's closest allies in the region and then meeting with what's seen as america's biggest competitor. these meetings are important because they will try to find some common ground where there just hasn't been any. i mean, pick an issue and there is going to be some competition with it, whether it's military posturing in the region, covid, trade, human rights. there is just very little common ground. the challenge that's facing these diplomats as they get together for the first time is what is the way forward? how do they go about managing all of these issues where there is going to be competition, issues that china sees as nonnegotiable, but how do they put in the guardrails, so to speak, so they can have some form of cooperation on things that require it, like climate change? will this be the magic reset for u.s./china relations? probably not in the first go, but on the chinese side, they were very emphatic today in pointing out that it was the u.s. that asked for this meeting. >> very interesting. all right, nbc's janis mackey frayer, thank you so much for being with us thank you so much for being with us today. we really appreciate it. early in the show we asked all of you, why are you awake? joyce is awake because she's fully vaccinated and will get to see her one week old granddaughter. >> i'm awake because i'm -- well, snoring. been there. and shelly shared this photo up "way too early" thanks to these two. now they are back to sleep and mommy is wide awake. my husband and i are going to get our first pfizer shot today. it could be back to normal life. beautiful kids. so glad your family is getting back to normal. i got this note. up early trying to adjust for daylight saving time. can we end this already and follow arizona's lead? there's a bill in congress to change it. i probably am not supposed to give my opinion on it. i think mothers everywhere, why do we still do this to ourselves? coming up next, a look at the "axios" 1 big thing. and house majority whip jim clyburn and passing the massic coronavirus relief bill. don't go anywhere. "morning joe" moments away. 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tonight, try pure zzzs all night. ask your doctor about once-daily trelegy. unlike other sleep aids, our extended release melatonin helps you sleep longer. and longer. zzzquil pure zzzs all night. fall asleep. stay asleep. plant-based surfactants like the ones in seventh generation detergent trap stains at the molecular level and flush them away. it's just science! just... science. seventh generation tackles stains. it only takes a second for an everyday item to become dangerous. tide pods child-guard pack helps keep your laundry pacs in a safe place and your child safer. to close, twist until it clicks. tide pods child-guard packaging. ♪♪ >> welcome back. the co founder and ceo jim vndeheih. >> this bill being signed into law is a fascinating piece of legislation, right? we have now spend$5 trillion in one year. they were the authors of the $2.2 trillion plan two years ago. one, how much it is targeted strategically at going after poverty, especially among children. and how many things liberals have wanted for a long time are imbedded in this bill and will be tested the next year. and the other thing is the unintended consequences of big legislation. two of them. if you look at the border right now, this crisis at the border that the biden administration is very worried about this surge of people coming up from central america. >> yeah. >> this is going to be a magnet for it. it wasn't the intent. you will have a lot more money in the u.s., a lot more jobs, people wanting to build, sort of like we're back to work, at a time when the economies south of the border are struggling and are supposed to, even for the remainder of the year. so it is probably going to intensify that problem. the other to watch is we are putting a lot of money into the economy and the pockets of people. and the question you hear a lot of democrats talk about privately is at what point is this much too much, meaning does it lead to inflation. we have not just this much money being pumped into the system but you have inflation taking place because supply chains have been backed up for so long. it is more expensive because so many things were shut done during the pandemic. it will be fascinating to much what. we have never had this much spending in this compressed period obviously amid a pandemic. it will take months, maybe years did it work, did it not work, was it too big, too small. there is no other way to say that this is a fascinating experiment. . >> did it patch the hole or do something entire different and more expansive. i want to follow-up on what you said at the border. the biden administration said we inherited something from the trump administration that had to be basically rebuilt from the ground up. at the same time, you point out they seem to have been somewhat unprepared and are having to reopen some of these facilities in ways that seem to show that -- it is confusing how they are breaking from the trump policies. clearly the perception exists. do you think they could have been more ready to grapple with this problem? >> listen, this is to me a problem that has bedevilled every administration. it was a big deal for president obama, president trump, and now for joe biden. you have really bad situations in a lot of these countries with a lot of incentive to come to america. everyone totally gets it. when you have that and you have this surge of people coming, what do you do? where they could have been probably better prepared, maybe we need open borders or a lighter touch at the border. theres no doubt that is sending a signal to people that, okay, now that joe biden is president, it might be easier to get n. now you have a surge of people coming in, you try to deal with it in a humane way but in a way that protects the american people. there's still a lot of coronavirus, joblessness here. and balancing those is always tricky. it is way why immigration is such a polarized topic. it is really difficult. you have a lot of people who are here who came here illegally. a lot of people who want to come here. you have a lot of people who came here and are great citizens. trying to figure out how you deal with that is so complex. it's why washington has gone little done on this. when you look at the polling and you look at the debates you followed, no topic is more polarized and more difficult and bedevilling than this one. but it's one that the administration, even though they might not talk much about it, it is one that is consuming several agencies. they see this problem is getting worse, not better. in the next couple of months, projections show you will have more people coming and you will have to deal with it. >> jim, to that point, one of the things that the biden administration said out of the gate, and they learned this from the obama administration, they wanted to tell immigration advocates. does it make it harder if not impossible, to meet demands for legislation? . >> i think it makes it a lot harder and maybe don't even listen to republicans on this. listen to border state democrats, the ones who have to deal with it in their states and have to deal with it. they are talking about a lot of problems being too lax. i think it has to be done piece by piece. >> jim, thank you very much. i know you're sticking around for "morning joe", so don't go anywhere. we have been talking about domestic policy issues. i want to underscore what we were talking about with janis mackey frayer. it will be a priority with chuck schumer, one place where there might be bipartisan cooperation, which underscores the urgency which is what is happening with washington and beijing. thank you for getting up "way too early" with us on this thursday morning. don't go anywhere. "morning joe" starts now. >> 1,000 cases in 38 states and washington, d.c., the largest cluster in the company. . >> the national guard has been called in. . >> new states of emergency have been declared in colorado, massachusetts and michigan. >> we will see more cases