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>> happy dyngus day. >> the outgoing v.a. secretary david shulkin says he was fired last week. the white house says he resigned. well explain why that matters next. as a control enthusiast, im all-business when i travel... even when i travel... for leisure. so i go national, where i can choose any available upgrade in the aisle - without starting any conversations- -or paying any upcharges. what can i say? control suits me. go national. go like a pro.

Still in the news, the reason has to do with how he became the former v.a. secretary and why it might matter to the white house. here he is on cnns "new day." >> i came to washington with the commitment to make our system work better for veterans. thats the commitment that i went to work every day. i continue to feel strongly about that. there was no reason why i would resign. >> so why dont you just say you were fired? >> well, i -- i think thats the alternative to resignation. i received a pho...

>> now, for its part, the white house says that shulkin resigned, was not fired, which brings us to why this might matter. im joined by mike shields and kirsten powers. mike, does it strike you strange that the highest office of the land and they cant seem to delineate whether someone was fired or resigned, and does it in fact matter? >> well, the reason it matters is a legal matter in terms of what the acting v.a. secretary can do. but in terms of what the american public cares about, it doesnt...

Could have easily produced that? of course this comes against the backdrop of, we know, a president who is famous for saying, youre fired, actually does not like to be the person who fires anyone, which is obviously somewhat ironic. >> right. i mean if he resigned, then there would be a resignation letter, so they should just produce the resignation letter. the implication, i guess, is that there is this federal vacancies act, and if the person resigns or dies, then you can temporarily fill the ...

>> i want michael to respond. >> then i dont know what is. >> the presidents -- for immigration and border security dont just balance on a border wall. he also was talking about chain migration. he was talking about diversity visas and other reforms that are necessary to make our immigration system more effective and to protect our nation. but if you think you can just lay out some kind of an expenditure for a border wall and not get the rest of the reform, thats not the president youre dealing ...

Now more businesses in more places can afford to dream gig. comcast, building americas largest gig-speed network. well the former veterans affairs secretary david shulkin is out of a job. still in the news, the reason has to do with how he became the former v.a. secretary and why it might matter to the white house. here he is on cnns "new day." >> i came to washington with the commitment to make our system work better for veterans. thats the commitment that i went to work every day. i continue...

That was bypassing thomas bowman, deputy secretary at the department. donald trump has nominated the next v.a. secretary. this raises an important legal question. now federal law says a president has broad authority to temporarily fill a job at a federal agency if the person in the job dies, resigns or is otherwise unable to perform the functions and duties of the office. there is no explicit mention in the legislation of a president having the authority if the person is fired. as we just heard ...

Attacks on amazon have nothing to do with the washington post coverage. i think it is all about taking petty vendettas about people who do things he doesnt like and rewarding the ones who do things he does like. thats called being a despot. not american values of freedom of the press. >> anna navarro and ben ferguson, thank you. >> thanks, brooke. coming up next, was he fired or did he resign? the former veterans affairs secretary disputing the account on why he is no longer a cabinet secretar...

Thats the commitment i went to work every day. i continue to feel strongly about that. there was no reason why you would resign. >> so why didnt you just say you were fired? >> well, i think thats the alternative to resignation. i received a phone call saying the president wants to make a change. thats his prerogative and thats what happened. >> you received a phone call from chief of staff john kelly who fired you? >> general kelly gave me a heads-up that the president would most likely be twee...

What are some of the problems ronnie jackson can expect if hes confirmed? >> critics say the v.a. is heavily unionized and doesnt need cash or personnel. shulkin third the head of d.c.s v.a. medical center, he was forced later to rehire him. as you mentioned, critics say jackson doesnt have nearly enough qualifications. president trumps doctor can take on the massive bureaucracy and lead the federal govms second largest department. the largest war department organization says dr. jacksons biodoe...