demeanor this institution to that degree. >> that's why lott and then minority leader daschle forged a pact and conducted three witness interviews all in private instead of calling them to testify publicly. it's unclear if they can afford such in president trump's trial in a toxic environment. >> if they have witnesses on the floor, it takes on a context that could be -- could be harmful. it's bad enough and if this turns into an absolute, you know, mud slinging process, it will make things worse. >> lott and daschle didn't reach their agreement until just days before president clinton's trial. and if there's no deal, president trump could find himself in a familiar spot, the star of a senate trial, perhaps the biggest tv political reality show of all tiechlt time? bret? >> bret: ignoring a request to