this is actually about an abuse of power. the president wanted to show that he had power against a political opponent or a dissent and he used political power against that person and it's not really about john brennan and that's why so many of them came together. >> another way to look at it, though, and eli, i read your piece, to the point that listening to the president earlier saying this is getting a tremendous response. doesn't this -- isn't this what the president wants? does this fuel him? you know, he wants to have enemies? >> well, i think the president would not like it if his -- the face of his -- the resistance against him was someone like admiral mccraven, but someone like john brennan is an ideal foil for president trump. not only does john brennan have a long history and he's divisive among democrats particularly with progressives because of the black side program and the drone strikes, you know, john brennan has been probably the shrillest