Transcripts For MSNBCW Prime 20240704

That the United States Congress Passed the freedom to vote act, and the john lewis Voting Rights advancement act. [applause] the fight for freedom, today and states across our nation, extremists propose and passed laws that attack the freedom of a woman to make decisions about her own body. Laws that would make no exceptions for rape or incest. Here in alabama, they attack the freedom to use ivf treatments. Women and couples, denied the ability to fulfill their dream, of having a child. And consider the irony, on the one hand, these extremists tell women they do not have the freedom to and an unwanted pregnancy. Extremists tell women they do not have the freedom to start a family. Let us agree, one does not have to abandon their faith or deeply held beliefs, to agree the government should not be telling her what to do with her body. [applause] the fight for freedom, that every person in our nation has a right to be free from the horror of gun violence. [applause] and yet today, these extremists stand by and refused to pass reasonable gun safety laws, to keep our children and places of worship safe. Freedom, that every person in our nation has a right to be free, to love who they love openly, and with pride. And yet just this past year, extremists have passed or proposed hundreds of laws, targeting lgbtq people. Freedom, that every person in our nation has the freedom to learn and acknowledge our countrys true, and full history. [applause] and yet today, extremists past book bans, book bans, and this year of our lord, 2024. While they are also trying to erase all overlook, and rewrite the ugly parts of our past. Fundamental freedoms, under assault. The freedom to vote, the freedom from fear, violence, and harm. The freedom to learn, the freedom to control ones own body, and the freedom to just simply be. And understand the profound impact these attacks have on the next generation of our leaders. Just last fall, 15,000 Young Leaders join me during the fight for our freedoms college tour. And for them, these attacks on freedom or a lived experience. It is their lived experience, that Extremist Leaders have intentionally closed Polling Places near college campuses. And restricted the use of student i. D. S to vote. That it is black voters and Student Voters who are most targeted by anti voter laws. A lived experience that during the height of their reproductive years, the highest court in our land, the court of thurgood, and rbg, took a constitutional right that had been recognized from the people of america, from the women of america. So that now, this generation has fewer rights than their mothers and grandmothers. Their lived experience, that from kindergarten to 12th grade, they have consistently had to endure active shooter drills, while extremists refused to pass universal background checks, red flag laws, and in the salt weapons ban. Our Young Leaders, while, they are cleareyed about whats at stake. And in the spirit of a young john lewis, i know they too will not be deterred, they will not be defeated, and they will not be denied. So salma, i the challenges we currently face, are not unlike the challenges faced by those 600 great brave souls 69 years ago and in this moment, we too than are confronted by a fundamental question. What kind of country do we want to live in . Do we want to live in a country of freedom, liberty, and justice . Or a country of injustice, hate, and fear . Which we each have the power to answer that question. With our voice, with our feet, and with our votes. I i will close by sharing with, you in my west wing office in the white house. [applause] yeah, thats why thats where i work. A hollowed piece of this artwork, that is the first piece i see when i walk into my office in the morning. Its a large, framed photograph, taken on Bloody Sunday, depicting an injured emilia boynton, receiving care at the foot of this very bridge. And for me, it is a daily reminder, of the struggle, of the sacrifice, and of how much we owe to those who gave so much before us. History is a relay race. Generations before us carried the baton. And now, they have passed it to us. So let us continue to organize, let us continue to fight. And lets make some good trouble along the way. God bless you, and god bless the United States of america. Thank you all. Vice President Kamala Harris, there in selma alabama, having a real political, and civil rights moment there, at the edge of the independents bridge. Commemorating the 59th Anniversary of Bloody Sunday, and calling for in immediate ceasefire, to the israel gaza war. She honored the legacy of the civil rights movement, addressing the ongoing work to achieve justice for all. Encouraging americans to continue the fight for fundamental freedoms, under attack throughout this country, encouraging black americans, talking about the freedoms in which are under attack right, not when it comes to women and reproductive rights, along with lgbtq rights as well. And she talks about the palestinians. And she called this a humanitarian catastrophe, that we are all watching go down in gaza right now. She talked about the lack of food and the famine that is facing the palestinians, amidst this war. The day in which 100 or so palestinians in gaza lost their lives, as they asked for aid, as they approached a humanitarian aid trucks. She addressed the Israeli Government, asking for more border crossings, for allowing them, for them to allow for more humanitarian aid to be let in. And to Restore Basic Services Inside gaza. She reiterated both her and the administrations support for israels right to defend itself in this war. And that hamas is a brutal terrorist organization, and that they will not stop. And as they have said publicly, they would carry out october 7th again. However, she asked for in immediate ceasefire, at the edge of the bridge, on the 59th Anniversary of Bloody Sunday. For six weeks, of an immediate ceasefire, to allow hostages out, and humanitarian aid in. And to begin the process of establishing a palestinian state. Quite a moment for Vice President Kamala Harris today. A historic day in selma, alabama. That does it for me everybody on, this edition of im yasmin vossoughian, thanks for watching. Alex, well be back next saturday and sunday on olympian eastern. Msnbc prime weekend, is next. Eastern. Msnbc prime weekend, is next. Welcome to prime time weekend. I am Rachel Maddow. Lets get right to the weeks top stories. The rightwing dominated Supreme Court gave donald trump a gift. The biggest possible gift anyone could give him, the biggest possible gift they have given him yet. Remember, donald trump of course, participated in a violent coup to overthrow democracy. The first president to set himself squarely against the constitutional order, in history. And rallied his supporters to storm the capitol, and steal an election that he lost. And he was indicted by our justice department, representative of us, the people. On for federal felony accounts, by a grand jury, for his role in that insurrection. Well today, in a single page order released at 5 00, the court agreed to consider trumps manifestly weak claim, that he is immune from prosecution for the january 6th insurrection, that he was acting in some senses at his official capacity as president. But the order itself is not the story here. Its the timing. It all comes back to the timing. Lets remember, the court case, the trial of donald trump over his effort to subvert the constitutional republic, was originally set to begin days from now in march. All that is on hold, because the Supreme Court wants to hear Oral Arguments for trumps immunity claims. Ready for this . Seven weeks from now. April 22nd, 2024, making it a real possibility, a likelihood, in fact, that donald trump will not face a trial for the crime of attempting to overthrow the american republic, will not face a jury of his peers, until after the next election, in which he is the likely republican candidate. I want to be Crystal Clear here about the important significance of todays news. Because i think a lot of the reporting has missed this. What happened today, this one page order, it looks and a dime, right . It is an unmistakable sign, from the maga majority of the trump created court, that they are with him. That they are going to use their power to make sure he does not face trial in an election year, for attempting to end american democracy. Until today, it could have gone either way. It was genuinely unclear whether they were going to give him up, and whether they were going to put their shoulder to the wheel, on Donald Trumps behalf. Everyone has always understood, the substance of his legal claim here is meritless. It lost in the District Court level, it lost unanimously in the Appellate Court. Three judges, one of whom was a republican appointee. It is bad law, under the Supreme Courts own precedent and jurisprudence. The point was never to win on the merits. The point was to make a time consuming hail mary passed, to attempt to conceal escape a possibility. Trumps bet was that the 63 maga majority himself created on that court, would bail him out. That they would rob the Peoples Department of justice the opportunity to present all the evidence of his guilt. That the voters of this country, you and i, the hundreds of millions of us, might be robbed of the information we need to determine whether the man is guilty of the gravest crime any politician has been accused of since the civil war. Today, the court signaled they are in cahoots. That the plot is on, its a go off. Yes, they will take up the case. When they get to it. They have scheduled it, seven weeks. But keep in mind how this works. Trumps legal team, encouraging and anticipating precisely this kind of delay tactics. Lets go back. On december 1st, 89 days ago, federal judge Tanya Chutkan ruled on trumps bogus immunity claim, finding it, correctly, meritless. Days later, on december 11th, special prosecutor jack smith, anticipating that this claim was no more than an attempt to delay, and would fail on the merits, did something unusual, he did something audacious. He went straight to the Supreme Court, skipping an intermediate appellate level. He said look, lets be clear here, you know and i know whats going on. Trump is trying to delay, this is likely to land in your lap. If you are inclined to take it, lets do it now, lets get to the merits. The Public Interest in this case, coming to trial can be preserved. And the court said nope, just before christmas they said nope. Now people set at the time, well, maybe that makes sense, because maybe Supreme Court justices want to let the lower Appellate Court, they are colonies in the d. C. Circuit, way in, and not even take up the case, because it is so clear cut. And then what happened . The Appellate Court did take up the case, they heard Oral Arguments, they got briefed, they took a while, the clock was ticking the whole time, as we said on this show over and over. And then on february 6th, they came out with a unanimous decision against trump. He is citizen trump, he is not above the law. The decision seemed carefully tailored to give the Supreme Court and easy try to simply refuse to take up the case, to let the Lower Court Ruling stand. But if the Supreme Court wanted to take up the case, and wanted to do it in an expedited fashion, lets be clear when i say the Supreme Court, the conservative majority of the court that is what we are talking about here. They could have done the day after they got the petition this month. That day. What did they do . No, they burned two and a half weeks, for no reason. They werent producing anything, they werent writing any arguments. Its one page. There it is, they sat around for two weeks. And then they issue just a one page order today, saying they are going to take this up, theyre going to schedule arguments for seven weeks from now. That is considerably longer than the expedited review of the 14th Amendment Case against trump in colorado. The one where he is challenging his right to be on the ballot, right . Now in that case, where what loomed over everyone was donald trump not being on the ballot, the Supreme Court unwanted expedited quickly. Right . They wanted to get that one done. That ruling is going to come out before colorados primary next tuesday. They moved quickly there, but here, what the maga majority is telling us, with this audacious order today, is that the fix is in. In some ways, for what it represents about the court, i think it is 100 times worse than bush v. Gore. It doesnt matter what they all know that, we all know, that everyone knows the score here. No one should be under any illusions that any player in this drama is confused about what is happening, and has happened. Delay is all that matters. The pacing is all that matters. No one needs to wonder anymore whether this rightwing court will audaciously, fragrantly, in front of the whole nation, use their power to run the clock out. So that donald trump faces no legal accountability, so that his guilt or innocence, cannot be definitively proven to us, the of odors. Who i believe have a right to know whether the man is guilty or innocent. So that he can return to power, without us having that knowledge, and dismiss these cases from his position as, and i quote him here, i quote him here, dictator on day one. If you were hoping that Donald Trumps authoritarian disregard for the rule of law was going to be stopped by americans institutions and the court at the highest level, that hope is severely diminished today. The Mueller Investigation didnt stop him, two congressional impeachments didnt stop. For criminal prosecutions are not going to stop him. The Supreme Court he helped to stop will not stop him. Today, is the starkest proof yet that in the zerosum battle between maga and democracy, there was, and is only one thing that could ever truly stop donald trump, and that is we the people. Americans, voting against him, a majority, voting against what he stands for, and what he wants to do. With me tonight, my good friends Rachel Maddow and lawrence odonnell. Hosts of the rachel and the last word right here on msnbc. Rachel, i will say something. I am mad at myself for how surprised i was. I was mad at myself, as the time clique went by for two and a half weeks, i, and i think a lot of people thought, and this was with informed speculation with people i respect, people who have people who have been around the court, studied the court, know the court. There is no way they could take two and a half weeks, only then to say we are taking the case seven weeks from now. What was your reaction . I mean, i dont think you should be mad at yourself, i dont think you should be embarrassed. I think everybody sort of thought that was the only decent explanation for how long they were taking. That they were going to not take up the case, that maybe samuel ito or one of the other real maga judges was going to be really mad about was biding for as much time as he could, because it was his last turn which a course is what trump wants. I think that was, if you think about the court as the Supreme Court of the United States, any rational actor, any decent one, that was a reasonable supposition. Then it just turns out they are not that. And chris, i feel you. In terms of the emotion that you are bringing to this right now. And the sort of sense of urgency with which you are underscoring what this means. Its, its true, there isnt, i mean there just isnt any way around it. And i feel like for people who havent been following this, if you want to know why there is a hair on fire reaction to. This if you havent been following every every incremental bit of progress here, the important question here is not whether the Supreme Court is going to decide that donald trump and all president s are immune from prosecution, for things, crimes they committed while they were president. I mean, it would be fully insane for them to actually side with trump here. Remember, this is the case were trumps lawyers was asked by judge in the appeals court, are you telling me that this guy, that a president could order the assassination of his political rivals . And there could be no prosecution for that . That that would be okay, we would have to let that go . Not only for the duration of his presidency, but for the duration of his life, that would be okay . And trumps lawyers were basically like yeah. So, the idea that they are going to side with him on immunity, is unthinkable, and also beside the point. The conclusion that we can arrive at now, based on what they have done, without having to wait for the ruling, is that they are ensuring that trump will not face trial, and when they inevitably rule that president s arent immune from prosecution after they leave office, what that will tell donald trump, if by then he is president , is that he can never leave the office of the presidency. And if he is voted out in 2028, he cannot leave office, and he is willing, he is welcome to commit any crimes he wants to, as long as he is still president , in order to ignore the results of that election, and stay in power for life. Because otherwise, he is going to go to prison when he gets out. That is the way this is going to go, unless the country votes trump out, votes for biden, and against trump in november. Yeah, that point about the Incentive Structure produced by this is one that i hadnt even thought about. But its, its very clearly correct. There is also, lawrence, the point that rachael made there, which i think is interesting. I was talking to people today, or watching peoples reactions to the news. And just the, the courts hope that the kind of in and im procedural nature, means that what they are doing is illegible. That they can do this and like, oh and then the news alert is like the court will take up the immunity argument. Its like oh, that sounds reasonable. When are they going to do it, well april. Well thats part of the play here, that they are insulated from the backlash. Well, i hate to break the mood. Please, break the mood. So, my hair isnt even warmer. But heres why, here is why. And let me just work backwards, because i think the most important thing that you said in your opening remarks, is that this outcome should not be up to five members of the United States Supreme Court. It is really up to you, the voter. And that is a version of what rachel was just saying too. These votes, these four votes, because this piece of paper, all you need is for votes in the Supreme Court to turn on this piece of paper. These four votes can be proven less important by it in november. I personally believe, having seen how well joe biden did in michigan, seeing how badly donald trump did in michigan, in the other states, that joe biden is going to be reelected. And thats why i am not worried at all about the time table. Because we have to remind the viewers that the reason everyone is worried about the time travel, is that he becomes present on january 20th. And on kills both federal cases. But lets also remember, and i know this was just talking about the federal case so far. Donald trump is going to trial in New York City on march 25th, on an election interference case, for his first and that is also true. And the star witness is going to be a porn star, stormy daniels, whose testimony is going to be very well understood by every trump lawyer out there. In fact, way more clearly understood that maybe most of the testimony in jackson its case. So those things are going to happen. Lets talk about how each side wants something in this decision by the court. And by the way, these things are always on page, so im not going to be horrified by that. They are saying that the only question they are going to entertain, is whether, and to what extent does a former president , during president ial immunity from criminal prosecution for conduct alleged to have evolved official acts during his tenure in office. That is the only question you are allowed to talk about in the Supreme Court. You know what that means . They just threw out half of Donald Trumps appeal, which was the double jeopardy cart. They threw it out, and they threw it out right on that single piece of paper. So they are losing already. Jack smith won here too, because jack smith said i want to go straight to the Supreme Court. They werent asking to go to the Supreme Court. Trumps lawyers were asking to send this case back to the 11th circuit. Thats what they were actually asking for. The Supreme Court said no. Okay, but. So they could have delayed it more than an extra month, by sending back to the circuit. So, i dont disagree with you. On the is this do or die for the country, because he doesnt go to trial, he is going to win, i agree. I mean. I agree, thats the first day of the appeal. If you find him guilty on, this he is going to go out on the Courthouse Steps and say, im appealing. By the, way he will be standing on the Courthouse Steps, probably sometime in april. Doing the same thing. Doing the same thing, maybe even before the Supreme Court rules, he is going to be saying so for me i think. So for me i think. Not you. You your Business Bank account with Quickbooks Money now earns 5 apy. thats how you business differently. Intuit quickbooks. Oh what a good time we will have you. Can make it happen. 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Com realfood no excuses. Because the truth is, aid flowing to gaza is nowhere nearly enough. Now. Its nowhere nearly enough. Innocent lives are on the line. Weve allowed every stop we can. President biden earlier today announced that the United States will airdrop food and aid supplies into gaza as you and Officials Say that a quarter of the population, that is over 500,000 people, are one step away from famine. President bidens announcement comes one day after Israeli Forces are accused of opening fire on a crowd of palestinians waiting for aid in gaza city. The Israeli Military denies firing on people seeking aid, and says many of the dead were killed by stampeding crowds. At least 100 people were killed in that incident, according to the Palestinian Health ministry, although the Israeli Military disputes that number. The incident has nonetheless drawn International Condemnation against a backdrop of more than 30,000 People Killed in gaza since the war began, again, according to the Palestinian Health ministry. This war is a source of domestic concern as well. This week, during michigans president ial primary, young people and arab American Voters made clear their dissatisfaction with this White House Position on israel and gaza, as more than 100,000 voted uncommitted in the democratic primary. Joining me now is senator bernie sanders. Hes also the author of the New York Times bestselling book, it is okay to be angry about capitalism, which is out in paperback. Senator sanders, its great to have you in New York City. I know that youve been openly advocating for this white house to do something immediate to help the people of gaza. Food aid, they have apparently done that. Can you talk a little bit about how receptive the white house and the administration have been outside pressure . I think, first of all, this is something, alex, ive been thinking about for a while. Because what they see, what do you see, what i see, is an unprecedented humanitarian disaster. Were talking about hundreds of thousands of children facing starvation. Were talking about israeli bombs making it impossible for humanitarian aid to get to places where it is needed. That the borders are being blockaded. And ade is unable to get through. So i think what the president is doing is an important step forward. But we need to do. We need to tell netanyahu and his right wing government to open those waters. The United States of america, and i think the rest of the world, is not gonna allow hundreds of thousands of kids to starve to death. So we need a new approach to israel, for many, many years. Weve given them a lot of money recently. There was a vote, i voted against it, to give 14 billion dollars. My view, not another nickel for netanyahus government if hes gonna continue this wholesale slaughter of the palestinian people. Thats the thing i cant really reconcile. Where airdropping aid at the same time as the u. S. Is sending weapons of war over israel. I mean, how do you reconcile that . Its the right hand not talking to the left hand . You cant reconcile it. Its totally absurd. And on top of that, look, the air drops are very important. But thats not as important as opening up the borders. Because we need hundreds of hundreds of trucks every single day. And our message to netanyahu, you know what . Youre not gonna get another nickel unless you open those borders and prevent the starvation that is imminent. You say its your message to, but i wonder if its not also the message to president biden, right . I have to read this passage. Because i think we dont cover gaza every day its an ongoing, appalling situation. And this is whats happening, people who have tuned this out for domestic politics, which of course are important as well. But listen to this. It was hunger that drove ibrahim from his house in gaza at two in the morning on thursday. Its been months since we could find bread for his wife and daughters in war ravaged northern costa. Flower served for close to 100 a bag, and even the animal feed many had turned to was running out. Some people are eating grass, according to the united nations. It is an unprecedented disaster, alex. It makes my stomach turn to think about it. And by the, way there are children right now who are suffering from severe malnutrition, we will suffer permanent damage. If all the food in the world came in tomorrow, theyve already been permanently damaged. So the word has got to go out. That we must demand a total change in what netanyahu is doing. Weve got to put an end to this bloody war right now. 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Talk to your doctor about nurtec today. Trump is an awe of putin. When you see trump with putin, as i have on a few occasions, hes like the 12yearold boy that goes to high school and meets the captain of the football team. My hero. It is really creeping. Its really creepy. The scary thing is that, for countries like australia, and many european countries, we may find ourselves are we going to find ourselves not dealing just with two autocracies, in russia and china, but as what is trumps america going to look like . This is a guy leading a party that is no longer committed to democracy as we understand. A chilling statement, at this point, heard around the world. But perfectly put. Those are the stakes of a decision now left solely and squarely in the hands of the american voter. The fate of the world order as we know. Former australian Prime Minister giving voice to an acute anxiety shared by many Senior Leaders and government officials all over the world. The United States is now very, very, alarmingly, but very realistically, at the brink of a possible dark new era. One where it veers into autocracy. An american autocracy. Donald trump isnt even pretending otherwise, right . Hes not saying one thing Behind Closed Doors and another on the podium. The self described day one dictator, perhaps a inspired by his cataloged obsession of strongman on the world stage, people like vladimir putin, has been open in public about his desire to use American Government institutions to target his political enemies. As you heard, he idolizes, in a, quote, creepy way, his the west faces the prospect of nuclear war now. Should it continue to support or intervene more directly in ukraine. And the New York Times today reporting that donald trump plans to meet privately with hungarian Prime Minister, another man he has a creepy affection for, viktor orban. A rightwing nationalist, at his club in maralago next week. These developments taken together bring into even sharper focus this afternoon, that with u. S. Institutions petition in the back now to the american voter, its on us to choose the path forward for america. Democracy, or autocracy. Joining our conversation, its a privilege to get to speak to the informants and he served as Prime Minister of australia from 2015 to 2018. Thank you for being with us. Your comments were heard around the world. I woke up to them on morning joe, and i see them everywhere. Well, look, i think its a very important point to make. The trump fascination with putin is a very creepy one. And it was palpable. I mean, people who have been with trump and putin, and indeed, people who saw him with putin at the helsinki conference, will say the same thing. He has a fascination with putin. Hes an of putin. Probably admires him, probably wishes he could be as omnipotent in america as putin is in russia. But its very disconcerting when you see the leader of the free world being so interested in tyrants. And of course, its not just putin. Looking his bromance with kim jongun. How predictable was that . Effectively changing what i would describe as its among the classified things he took to maralago to hang on to them. And i understand he has framed pictures of himself with kim jongun. Its so bizarre. It sometimes falls off the radar of the things we talk about. But it should be top of mind. I want to ask you what the conversation was among World Leaders when you saw trump bond over putin and kim jongun. Look. This was particularly the case at the hamburg g20 in 2017. It was very disconcerting. You saw, on the one hand, trumps very, very apparent distaste for angela merkel. The Prime Minister of germany. On the other hand, his fascination with putin. And it was an extraordinary contrast. I mean, his instincts are not democratic. And again, he says the quiet part out loud, as you said in your introduction. You know, we dont have to speculate or psychoanalyze donald trump. He said all this stuff. He was not a conservative. People often talk about conservatives jump is not a conservative. Conservatives believe in the rule of law. They defend established institutions. You know, theyre not conservatives do not embrace radical change. They want change to be incremental and gradual. Trump is determined to use every leader he can get, and he says he will do that. To maximize his power, and of course, take action against his enemies. I mean, didnt he say it at a public speech . I will be our retribution . Well, you know, thats hardly the language of someone who wants to bring everybody together. You see, ive always believed in the role of a National Leader as being to unite their nation, the country, the community. To bring people together. Now, what trump does, and what and of course, viktor orban, who is also fascinated with, as you said, the same thing in hungary. What his goal is is to divide, take advantage of those institutions, and then use that to, you know, riled up his supporters. You know, so he can get enough support to win. And this is supported by the rightwing media in america, particularly fox news, or what i call, entertainment. And, you know, its doing unbelievable damage to your country. You live there. You know what its like. And for the rest of us we all have a stake in your election, but we dont have a say in it. In it. Good afternoon, im Jonathan Capehart here in washington. Youre looking at pictures of people from across the country are gathering to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of Bloody Sunday at the annual bridge crossing jubilee. Including, there you see, Vice President harris. She is marching alongside, on her right, is our very own the reverend al sharpton, and on his right is the chairman of the congressional black caucus, congressman Steve Horsford of nevada, and then on the right, Hugging Up On the median there, you see him in a distance, but hes there in the light tie. That is the second gentleman of the United States, dog am huff. It was back on march 7th, 1965, that civil rights activists who are attempting to march from selma to montgomery to demand the right to vote when they were brutally attacked by Alabama State troopers and police after crossing this bridge, the Edmund Pettus bridge. The horrific violence of that day galvanize the nation leading to the swift passage of the landmark Voting Rights act of 1965. Joining me now is former congresswoman Donna Edwards of maryland. Shes been irregular attendee of the commemorative march, and is here to let her insights into the days offense. Also with us, hes an msnbc legal analyst and civil rights attorney. Donna, as were looking at these pictures, as someone who has been on this bridge, share with everyone just how powerful it is to stand on that bridge in this moment. I do think you feel the weight of history when you stand on that bridge. Because first of all, you there with all these iconic civil rights leaders. But you feel the presence of, you know, the strength of the Movement Standing on that bridge. Its as if the bodies that were beaten, the sheriffs that were, were still there. Lets listen for a moment. [crowd chanting] as a, here there is singing come by here. This is one of the things that happens during this march. As that marching up, they sing freedom songs. Songs that was some during the civil rights movement. Come by here, whos side are you on, and of course, we shall overcome. And speaking of the people, you are just mentioning people who were there. I want you to take a look at the woman in pink on the left side of your screen. Shes about to disappear. But that woman in pink, that is shyann webb. On march 7th 1965, that woman you are looking at was eight years old. She was one of the youngest people to march on the Edmund Pettes Bridge on that day. Legend has it, and shes re told the story many times, but when the State Troopers chased everyone back over the bridge, back into salma, she was running, and a man picked her up to help her get across the bridge faster. And she famously said, put me down, i can run faster all by myself charles, let me bring you into this conversation as we see Vice President harris there in the center of the picture. Reverend al sharpton on the right. The importance of this moment. Jonathan, the importance of this moment cannot ever be overstated. In his much as, if you think about what were observing with regards to Bloody Sunday, the conversation about the preservation of democracy, the preservation of the Voting Rights that so many fought and died for, as exemplified by the actual much today, i think it is important cause to reflect, and to think about the ways in which our community, and when i say our community, im referring to black america, ive protected and participated in, and have promoted american democracy, continue to be a hallmark of our history, and to circle back to what you just talked about. The young woman who at the time was eight years old, and now stands on the bridge marching as an adult and an elder. This was not that long ago. It is important that america understands that this is not a page of ancient history. This is not even a whole life cycle that were talking about in terms of the fight for our democracy and our access to voting and the ballot that we have enjoyed already being eroded away with the attacks that weve seen across the country. The voter restriction laws, the things that are now intended to lupus backwards. So all of what were seeing right now, all of what were observing, is such a critical moment for our nation, and such an important moment as we think about what the next four, next eight, next 12 years will look like in terms of our democracy and where we will go. Some of the other people who are there in the crowd, you may have seen them. Congresswoman terri sewell, who is the congresswoman for selma. I mentioned the cbc chair, Steve Horsford. The tennessee three are there. The secretary of education, the secretary of the Attorney General of the United States, merrick garland, and the chief of the civil rights division, kristen clark, are also their. Donna, you are here sitting with me onset when we listen to the Vice President s speech before this march. A short time ago. Heres what she had to say at todays events. A promise of a future that was more equal, more unjust, and more free. And yes, they crossed this bridge, and in so doing, they also built a bridge. The brought together white americans, black americans, all sorts of americans, and ministers, and rabbis, and members of sclc, and folks of all ages and backgrounds. In less than six months later, the Voting Rights act of 1964 was signed into law. The story of salma, a story of our nation. And you know, when you and i were talking about the Vice President s speech, that was a galvanizing moment for the country. But you remember that moment, watching why is it such a searing moment for you . It was one of my earliest memories. I was a child, but i was watching the evening news with my parents, and saw those images. Sometimes, we think about these things this history, but this is not really history. This is peoples lived experience. I think i shared with you that my son and his generation are the first generation thats lived fully under the protection of a Voting Rights and civil rights. Lets this generation. So when i listen to Vice President harris, he was connecting the loss of freedom, the fight for Voting Rights and lgbtq rights, and womens reproductive rights. He was connecting those things as a fight for freedom. And you know, charles, it was, i think, with the Vice President did, was masterfully done. Weaving through under the banner of freedom from, you know, Reproductive Health care, freedom of fear from gun violence, the freedom to learn, the freedom to be with the person you live, and then she said, to simply just be. Thats exactly right, jonathan. And i think that she understands that the american people, particularly in an Election Cycle where her boss is up for reelection, those things are critical. And you have to make. Thats. She is there, obviously, to observe this very important, monumental event, she haan imperative. And that is to solve the case for both and president joe biden, they are the ones to lead our country into the next four years around the work that is still ongoing. So all those connections matter. It does connect the past and the very important president around Voting Rights, and what we are facing, to the other on the ballot in november. The other issues that matter. Making these connections are important, but i think the Vice President understand, thats why she made those connections. And it makes it real to voters. This is an opportunity, much like later this week, joe biden will have an opportunity as president to deliver the state of the union, and i expect that he will touch on the Voting Rights for voters, as well as making those connections as well. Because this is the opportunity that they will have to plead their case, and to draw in voters and let them know, we understand the severity of this moment, we understand the significance of this moment, and we are the ones who are up to the task to lead us into the next four years. All right. You know, donna, in the less than a minute that we have left, we were talking about the 59th Anniversary of Bloody Sunday, and a time when the brendan sunday has the Racial Disparity in terms of Voter Participation is yawning. It has been expanding since old of the Supreme Court case that gutted the Voting Rights act. That was 2013. So ten years from the getting of the Voting Rights act, and what that did is it really protected voters in states really shows that this widening gap in participation rates, and all this means is what the Vice President was saying today. We have to pass a john lewis Voting Rights advancement act in order to protect the right to vote, particularly for black voters. And especially in the south. Right. Especially in the south. And the other bill the freedom to vote act. Im Jonathan Capehart. My thanks to Donna Edwards and Charles Coleman junior. In my thanks to you for joining me for this live coverage. Politics nation with our friend al sharpton from selma is up next. Be sure to join me six pm eastern for the sunday show. White House Press Secretary Karine Jeanpierre will join. Help fuel today with boost high protein, complete nutrition you need. Without the stuff you dont. So, heres to now. Boost. Meet the jennifers. Jen x. Jen y. And jen z. 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