once. we will see if it plays out this way. i would also say jake, it raises the question, he is the front runner, what if donald trump is not the nominee, would biden reconsider the reelection effort if that's the key rationale? because it's the kind of admission a candidate should be making? >> it will provide donald trump an opportunity here to talk about joe biden being more focused about him than anything else but if joe biden's critical mission of this time is starting to piece back his coalition of voters, some of which he has seen a diminishing support, reminding them of the contrast with donald trump and that donald trump is the target, could help rally the troops if you will. >> interesting, stick around, would be in kristin and michael, the former special assistant, you worked for president biden, you've heard him say this before behind closed doors, have you heard him say that, and i surprised he admitted this to people outside of the white house? >> we always heard him say, everybody, the way everybody always spoke about a second term was never in doubt, it was always nobody runs for president for four years, and i kind of believe that, the guys been trying to run for president his entire life, i don't think he would willingly be giving of the presidency on his own if it were not donald trump, however, i would like to see him start being more candid in public. i think these new make -- newsmaking events are getting a little bit week. needs to start being candid with everybody and 1st of all, as david mentioned, in person, they once told me fail to plan, plan to fail, what is the contrast is him and nikki haley, i don't know if any democrat, including the white house, once that contrast. in my lifetime we have not seen a primary turnout the weight started, john kerry had to remortgage his house because everyone thought he was dead, no we thought bernie sanders would be taking hilary clinton to the convention, and larimer 2007 when charlie cook said hilary was a freight train and obama should get out of her way. of the primaries and of the way they start. and i would caution, you know. >> what if it is nikki haley, all polls indicate nikki haley would demolish joe biden, but that's a pole, not a national election -- election result. how do you think donald trump will react quick >> i believe the trump campaign is likely to piece this together and serve it is redmeat to the base. we are likely to hear from him, he's going to have a town hall with fox news instead of the debate tomorrow night, but this really is part of his argument overall, that biden is out to get him, and democrats, and quote unquote targeting him with indictments, that is going to be part of this, they are saying essentially, what i heard from one republican operative, an opportunity for trump's campaign to say look, they really are actually after him. doesn't even want to run to be president of the country, it is all specific to donald trump. >> these comments, as you know, biden believes he's the only democrat that can beat donald trump. and thought, harris, witmer or newsom, bashar, if any of them, could do it, maybe doesn't have as good a chance, theoretically at least according to what they said, he might bow out.>> and four years ago, that's what he got in the race, that was his calling, and democrats that were running are planning to run at the time, we thought he was the only one that can see through, and prevent a second term, and in the thinking in the last couple of years. >> do you think any democrat could beat donald trump, do you think joe biden is the strongest democrat to take on donald trump?>> beat the guy by 8 million votes, in the grand scheme of things in the macro sense, the seventh closest in american history, i understand why he says that, and trump again, and the talent on the democratic side, and to be honest, usually isn't with the incumbent, pretty standard operating procedure, he's been one of the better performing first-term presidents we've ever had.>> comes as he's trying to flip the switch, and even though donald trump is the first president history that refused to leave office peacefully, the first one to not allow the transfer of power and the insurrection.>> questioning the democratic processes, the biggest key to democracy.>> and this is the strategy always, and he likes to flip the script. part of this again, is the same argument he's been saying for months, that joe biden is against democracy because he is quote unquote coming after him, joe biden using the justice department against donald trump, his political opponent. the irony is the fact that trump himself has said if he was reelected he would use the justice department to go after his political enemies, including joe biden. this is just his argument. i want to be very clear, when i talk to supporters at his rallies they believe it, when he made the speech, they were cheering. this is something he was communicating and they are eating it up, needs to be made clear, despite the evidence, that is true.>> they believe his lies and we've seen in 2020 with the election lies. mark warner, chairman of the senate select committee on intelligence, and telling donors today, running for reelection, if they were also running, what you think of that? >> and know if he got into the race because of donald trump, a strong race, and the litany you've been through with all the threats that donald trump poses to democracy, a critical time right now, more attention, and willingness to defend against another autocrat. >> the back and forth, and with the comments. >> classified briefing, and the countries, they dug in and insist board policy changes and take a listen to the colleagues. >> democrats need to understand that the issue itself isn't negotiable. >> you're not to pick up 10 or 12 republicans for some half deal of the border, i want to help ukraine but we're going to help ourselves. >> is there anything that zelenskyy could say as part of the briefing that would change your mind about requiring the border be part of this? >> no. >> he didn't end up briefing lawmakers but why not just add order funding? there is a problem of the border, there does need to be funding, i don't really understand it. republicans control the house, democrats control the senate, ukraine funding in israel funding, border funding and problem solved. >> amen, that is what schumer is going to put on the floor, $14 billion the second biggest number in the hundred billion dollars supplemental, it is border funding, although none border funding, what i think also happens, i agree that is the policy changes, folks coming across the border the last couple of days, that is not something that is sustainable, a three-week negotiation and efforts on asylum, and parole, count me in as yes on those changes. my understanding is that the goalposts keep changing, in that they are trying to say the full house bill, hr two, take or leave it, i think all 51 democrats are for ukraine in the senate, about half the republican caucus is never going to vote for ukraine under any circumstance. should we do something, count me in, but the idea is that they are going to pound their feet if they don't get 100% of what they ask, in the meantime, basically played into vladimir putin's hands, the expectation is, the west and america will get tired of ukraine. not only if he prevails, but what it will do in terms of the president of china, this would be a mistake of historic proportions. bring the temperature down a little bit, let's find a place that makes sense, what the democrats will offer is here, you have not come up with a border proposal in writing yet, other than hr two, let's get on the bill of the first vote that you get would be a border vote, write your own amendment, i would be open to that as long as it didn't completely go as far as that, and the house and senate. >> republican senator tommy tuberville said he is releasing the bulk of his holds on military promotions, including for a three star general nominee and below. the senate already took action including hundreds of promotions by voice vote this evening, continue to block the most senior promotions over the disagreement with the policies and axes for servicemembers for travel, he is still doing some of this though, and high- ranking holds comes to military readiness.>> it is crazy, insulting to the members of the military, they had their lives put on hold and they earned the additional rake -- rank, kids could not start school because they were put on hold, and the individual senators given a lot of power, but usually those senators use it responsibly. if you have people going out on limbs like this, and frankly treating the military with disrespect and other senators with disrespect, because the vast majority of republicans that he was crazy to hold it all up, then it is time, probably not before the election. we can't have this, it's not fair to the military, also frankly embarrassing in terms of how our legislative branch is being viewed by most americans. most of the turmoil in drama has been in the house and feels like it has been wacky, no matter which team is in charge, but when the senate takes on those characteristics, it's not a good look, i don't care which political go party you're talking about. >> things so much for your time. >> global conflicts, and he told is taken after a year and a half, stay with us. in our world lead, as u.s. military aid ukraine rapidly dries up, it is shaping up to be a bitter winter, russia continues to target apartment buildings where civilians live, the air force says russia launched drones and 6 guided missiles overnight, in ukraine, we spent time with a courageous group that is a lifeline for communities under constant russian bombardment. >> at a warehouse stocked with humanitarian aid, 23-year-old police officer dimitri picks up supplies. >> food and water and hygiene products and a generator are on the list. they are heading to his hometown in the donetsk region on the eastern front. one of the most fierce and bloody battles being waged in the war in ukraine. >> i was born in this town he tells me, neighbors were there, relatives and friends, it is my duty to help them. we are there hope. >> but getting there is a death trap. short -- shortly after leaving us with the go pro rolling, he shows russian shelling through the windshield. >> the bomb has landed, there's another when he tells us. russian artillery and drones target the road and yet he remains calm, the perilous journey has become routine despite multiple close calls. driving past the sign that probably states it is ukraine, the town of one's 30,000 residents is now deserted, devoid of the living, almost every single building has been shelved. surprisingly some people still live here, including the head of the local hospital. diagnosed with terminal cancer, he has decided he's not going anywhere.>> a job and we do it he explains. the white angels evacuating a man who just been injured from shrapnel, as they load him into the van, the idle chatter is interrupted. >> in coming. explains the doctor, sometimes it rustles and then baying, that would be a tank. is the explosions get louder. >> the road, there is one way in and one way out. not allowed to travel to the town, 17 kilometers away, they are saying it's just too dangerous. danger, traveling on the world, risking their lives, supporting less than 1300 people still living in the town. >> dmytro reflects. >> it is very sad what's happening to my town but one day we will rebuild and i will live there with my grandchildren, we just need to believe. >> a belief that keeps the community among the ruins alive. >> jake, incredibly courageous, as we know this war is approaching the end of its second year, and u.s. aid is absolutely vital, it cannot be underestimated, we know it's under threat. u.s. congress is due to vote of the $61 billion aid package tomorrow, the republicans, as we know, or wavering, that would be absolutely devastating if it was not to get through. president zelenskyy, who was supposed to make a last-ditch appeal to the house and the senate via video link tonight, that was ditched at the very last minute. we don't know why. however, what we can tell you is we return from the eastern front, spending time with soldiers who were fighting that battle, and they say it was difficult, sacrifices being made, blood and treasure spent, they will fight but they just need the weapons. >> thank you so much. of course the war in israel and gaza, on two occasions, former hostages describing what the terrorists did in captivity, including drugging them before printing them before the cameraras, before e their relel some of those acaccounts arere . first time i connected with kim, she told me that her husband had passed. and that he took care of all of the internet connected devices in the home. i told her, “i'm here to take care of you.” connecting with kim... made me reconnect with my mom. it's very important to keep loved ones close. we know that creating memories with loved ones brings so much joy to your life. a family trip to the team usa training facility. i don't know how to thank you. i'm here to thank you. today we are learning some terrifying new details about israelis who were held hostage by hamas, some drugs to make them seem happier and less anxious and less frightens in the middle of a terrifying environment. according to these really health minister office, a private meeting with israel, former hostages testified about their horrifying experiences in the custody after being kidnapped by hamas, some quotes released by the hostage and missing families forum which says it was present for the meeting, cnn cannot corroborate the testimony of the individuals themselves but one hostage until the cabinet day, meaning hamas, touched girls and everyone knows it, i will recount details but the procedure that no one moves without guarding them, i must of course committed acts of sexual violence against fema hostages and this of course on other counts of rape. another hostage to the cabinet i was dehydrated for 51 days, they didn't give us water, they were inhumane, the prizing -- depriving of basic necessities, they said i thought i was going to die and i wanted to be shot. making them wish for death, another hostage said, it was there is no israel, they made us believe there is no israel anymore, they use psychological warfare against the hostages, they testified. president biden spoke about the hostages at a fundraiser with donors reset in part, over the past few weeks survivors and witnesses of the attacks, and unimaginable cruelty, and repeatedly raped in their bodies being mutilated while still alive, women corpses being desecrated, hamas terrorist inflicting is much suffering is possible than murdering them, it is appalling, unquote. the president went on to say the world can't just look away it was going on, it is on all of those, government, international organizations and civil society and businesses, to forcefully condemn the sexual violence of hamas terrorists, without equivocation. last night a spokesman for the israel defense forces told cnn that killing 2 palestinian civilians for every hamas terrorist during the campaign and gaza is a good ratio, and veggies it is tremendously positive, take a listen. >> i can say if that is true, i think our numbers will be corroborated, if you compare that ratio to any other conflict in urban terrain between a military and a terrorist organization using civilians as their human shields and embedded the civilian population, you will find that ratio is tremendously positive and perhaps unique in the world. >> those numbers and that ratio 2 to 1, and military officials, the spokesman for that idea, and seeing the report, and confirm the numbers for the himself, and let us discover the numbers. generous words, is that ratio. to civilians in gaza killed for everyone in hamas, for each terrorist, for urban combat, would that be tremendously positive? >> jake, good afternoon, good be with you. the statement is irresponsible and a concern, particularly if that is what is being used inside of the general staff in the ministry of defense, and measuring the performance of airstrikes and ground combat. so no, it is not, and the goal, obviously the objective is you know, is violent as ground combat in urban combat is, is to mitigate to every extent possible the loss. >> and without the civilian population, it is first and foremost, the reason why there is such a high civilian death rate, and number 1, number 2 obviously, he was once the idea of to do a lot more to protect civilian life, and we can get to that in the second. but let's focus on the first thing for now. how do hamas' tactics compared to other terrorist groups that we have seen in other urban combat situations? such as mosul or falluja or in afghanistan? do other terrorist groups embed themselves within civilian populations to the degree that hamas does? >> i would say yes, certainly from my experience in afghanistan, far greater than iraq and even my initial experience in iraq, they certainly did, and not wear uniforms, despite the theater that hamas tried to put on with the release of the hostages of looking like this formal military organization, make no mistake, they are a terrorist or position. definitely more difficult and the the challenge of course approximately one 20 million people all consolidated in the southern part of the gaza strip, that compounds the problem and reinforces the importance of when they are conducting room clearing, the idf and what not, clearly delineating between what is truly an imminent threat versus civilians, truly been used as shields by hamas terrorists. >> way comes to humanitarian international laws of war, as i understand it, there is actually no specific ratio, three civilians for everyone terrorist or militant they are targeting, it is not that simple. it is fungible,like every military gets to make it up for themselves as long as they are thinking about it. and it also is the situation, how high-ranking the individual is. so it is not clear at all that what israel is doing in general terms violates any sort of international law. it has been made clear by the by the administration that they think israel is taking risks with civilian populations, that the u.s. would not. on the other hand, i look at all of the civilian casualties that did take place in iraq and afghanistan, while i am quite sure that our troops and servicemembers were doing everything they could to avoid that, there were a lot of civilians killed in iraq and afghanistan as well? >> that is a sobering reality of combat. unfortunately, innocent civilians get caught up and killed as a result of lethal operations. you are right that there is no international standard per se, and it is not the military that makes the decision, certainly not the united states, it is civil authorities and terms of the proportionality and criticality of the target, as you mentioned, potentially hamas senior leadership, others certainly discussions, inside of it themselves that they are running in support of the campaign, looking at if they have leadership, proportionality and criticality, relative to the potential loss of civilian life were seriously wounded. >> when you hear the idea of say -- in the fog of war i don't know what numbers are actually accurate, when you hear them say they think the ratio, of to civilians killed for everyone hamas fighter, they think will compare favorably with other urban fighting situations, you know what they are talking about? some sort of measure of that out there for the last 25 years? >> to my knowledge there absolutely is not. certainly i never saw in my 33 years of the military, and over the last 20 after 911. really surpri