Good morning again, nbc news headquarters here in new york. Day 315. We have breaking news at the top of the forecast on the matter o f the russia investigation. Late tonight, the New York Times posted this headline. Trump pressed Top Republicans to end russia inquiry and whether Trumps Campaign helped them in any way. Senator richard burr said in an interview that mr. Trump told him he was eager to see an investigation that has over shadowed much of the first year of his presidency come to an end. It was something along the lines of i hope you can conclude this as quickly as possible mr. Burr said. He replied to mr. Trump that when we have exhausted everybody we need to talk to, well finish. Senator roy blount, a member of the Intel Committee to end the investigation swiftly. Mr. Trump called other lawmakers over the summer with requests that they push mr. Burr, the inquiry, the senator who was alarmed of hearing words on the president s plead, they should urge mr. Burr to bring the r
We are making America Great again. Up on the house top reindeer paws out jumps good old santa claus. Down through the chimney with all kinds of toys. All filled with little ones christmas toys ho, ho. Ainsley thats rebas country version of up on the house top. Steve i like that. I have never heard it before. Steve we are on the second level of studio f. Welcome aboard. You know what today is . Ainsley thursday before christmas . Steve its the first day of winter. Brian oh, really. The weather roots are coming out in you, steve. Steve i saw the prompter its december 21st. Ainsley we are getting a warm front. Brian do you know what that means . Start Christmas Shopping before its too late. Ainsley you havent started Christmas Shopping. Brian no. Steve what are you doing Christmas Eve . Brian as long as 7 11 is open i have time to shop. Ainsley you get slurpees. Brian and auto repair stuff. Ainsley we got a present from dawn. Thank you, dawn. The only person you have to shop for is your w
And me. We have msnbc analyst susan del percio. Cohost and executive producer of show times the circus, John Heilemann, and Pulitzer Prize winning columnist and associate editor of the Washington Post and msnbc political analyst eugene robinson. Joe, set the stage for us today. Its been building up to this for a couple of tumultuous weeks. Talk about the circus. This has been the circus. A couple developments overnight that well be talking about. First of all, Brett Kavanaugh wrote an epioped for the wall street journal. Very surprising for a lot of people. Its not what Supreme Court justices or certainly not what people who were aiming to be Supreme Court justice usually do, just like they dont usually go on fox news or any cable news show to state their case which suggests that maybe the white house maybe kavanaugh doesnt feel like its over yet, though its moving in his direction. And also tonight, for the first time three decades the Washington Post actually editorialized against a
Appears to be very thorough. No word at this time from senator Lisa Murkowski. The Senate Judiciary committee saying there is nothing we didnt already know and no hint of misconduct. Ranking member Dianne Feinstein said the white house obstructed a full investigation. Democrats agreed that the investigation scope should be limited. We did not agree that the white house should tie the fbis hands. In my view from what i saw, the investigation was very limited and it will be interesting after all of the members have an opportunity to read the documents and we have an opportunity in public to discuss our conclusions, what the findings are. Outside on the streets of washington, d. C. , protesters are marching in opposition to the nomination of judge kavanaugh. We are going to go there live shortly. You can see lots of people have gathered in the Nations Capital to protest. Phil mattingly is joining us live from capitol hill. What are you hearing there, phil, especially from the three republ
This morning they voted 5159 on a key procedural vote setting the states on a final vote to confirm kavanaugh tomorrow evening. In true profile and courage, senator Lisa Murkowski of alaska voted against kavanaughs nomination to the floor. The lone republican to do so. Murkowski told reporters she had been wrestling with the decision. I did not come to a decision on this until walking into the floor this morning. I believe we are dealing with issues right now that are bigger than a nominee. I believe that Brett Kavanaugh is a good man. I believe he is a good man, it just may be that in my view hes not the right man for the court at this time. In a very different decision, jeff flake who had forced the oneweek delay to allow an fbi investigation into allegations of Sexual Misconduct by judge kavanaugh, voted to advance kavanaughs nomination. And you plan to vote yes tomorrow in. Unless Something Big changes, i dont see what would be in the process. Inaudible question ] no, i admire her