expectations about how quickly things happen. in the democratic process. >> reporter: what's striking about this is that our sarah murray reports, the president and mitch mcconnell had a telephone call just yesterday. that conversation was described as animated over some of these very same issues. but what seems clear right now, at least, is that the president and the man the president needs to push his agenda through the senate haven't buried the hatchet yet. chris nelson, back to you. >> let's bring in the panel. john avlon, associate editor and columnist for real clear politics, and john kirby. and we need to have an operating assumption here. do we go after the president's words and try to figure out what he's saying on a regular basis? yes. and is this situation like every other one? no. and why? because, john, we're talking about an unstable mad man who is running north korea.