Or maybe republicans learned that its possible to get away with trying to subvert the will of the people which makes their apparent willingness to try it again this november all the more frightening. After all, as the saying goes, a failed coup is just practice. Joining me now democratic Congressman Conley of virginia is a member of the House Foreign Affairs committee and the house account ability committee. Welcome back. What does it mean to have a former president and Presumptive Republican nominee and his allies refused to commit to accept the 2024 president ial election . I think its a dagger at the heart of american democracy. This is truly a critical moment for americans who love their country. We have an absolute demigod will stop at nothing to try to get back in the white house with lots of enablers among republican ranks in congress and throughout the country. Americans have to understand the imminent threat he and that rhetoric represent. Do you have any worry about the possibility of another january 6th style insurrection on January 6th 2025 . Unfortunately, a number of republicans in the congress after january 6th characterized it asked tourists who just got excited minimizing and normalizing violence. Trump has never made any secret in his rallies and in his statements that there is a subtext of violence that is permissible, at least under his banner. So i think that is another part of the danger we face that he is clearly setting the ground for more violence, more insurrection and he gets to decide when and where and why. President biden has already said he expects or doesnt expect trump to accept the Election Results in november if he loses so what is congress doing to prepare for that possibility . I know youre technically in the minority as a democrat what kind of discussions our members having about this if any . We did pass one piece of legislation to clarify the role of the ceremonial event after the election and the role of the Vice President but that alone is not going to necessarily stop people from challenging the results. We have seen that when he says it has to be fair and his accolades say that, who gets to decide whats fair . For example they challenged Election Results in over 60 federal courts, they lost every single challenge. I would call that a pretty strong judgment that was rendered by the federal judiciary that the election was fair and that joe biden was clearly elected placement. They still do not accept it. I think its a real warning sign that No Matter What, unless he wins, they are not going to accept the results of the forthcoming election. Let me get you on one more thing. On thursday the fbi warned that china, russia and iran are among the foreign adversaries who are increasing their efforts to influence the november election with the use of artificial intelligence, are we as a nation ready for what could be unleashed on us on the american electorate . I hope so but i look back at the election of 2016 and there was clear russian influence got directly in the Trump Campaign and in social media. Theyve only gotten better at it. We have had prominent republicans in Congress Like the chairman of the Intelligence Committee in the House Foreign Affairs committee actually saying they have colleagues in the Republican Caucus who are russian thoughts and taking rushing russian material and mainstreaming in the United States through social media. That is a very troublesome development. One of the members of congress doing that is Marjorie Taylor greene of georgia but we dont have time to talk about her right now. Thank you very much. Thank you for coming to The Sunday Show. Joining me now to continue this conversation is a History Professor from New York University and author of strongman, mussolini to the present. Thank you very much. As is her way Hillary Clinton was blunt in her assessment during appearance on morning joe on thursday. Maybe this would be our last election because someone who will not accept the validity of an election is someone who does not believe in elections. He believes in his own power, his own right to power and his demand that he be installed regardless of whether he gets the votes are not. You wrote that if trump wends it will be worse than you can imagine and a National Security disaster. The aim is to destroy america to the benefit of autocrats around the world. Elaborate on why you and secretary clinton are rightfully alarmed . This is somebody who already tried to stay in office illegally with a violent coup attempt and is still running around which is very unusual in the international pantheon, usually people who do what trump did are in jail or forced into exile. The other thing that is notable is every time he and his enablers say they might not accept the election where they use this word Election Integrity which means how do i fix elections so i can stay in power get to power, thats what that means for them, they are habituating the American Public to accept the idea that he might have to do something extraordinary or even violence to deal with the situation. This has been going on a long time. One of his biggest enablers and loyalist, matt gates showed up at the Iowa State Fair last summer and he actually said, only through force will we bring change to a corrupt town like washington, d. C. They are playing not only with the idea that the election, we cant accept it because it might not be fair, probably wont be fair but also that we have to use violence to change history for the better and we are freedom and biden is a tyrant. That gets to what Congressman Conley said to our interview we talked about the subtext of violence that is permissible and that he donald trump decides what level of violence is permissible which makes this whole situation extremely dangerous as you well know. Why are some republicans falling in line with trump on the predenial of Election Results and his dangerous rhetoric. Im just wondering is it their own desire of power or are they afraid to denounce him . Its a combination of both. When you have a party thats enthralled to a cult leader and somebody who is very dangerous, that is coming out in evidence of his criminal trial, they all know exactly how dangerous he is. How he could, theres been repercussions for anybody who crosses them who doesnt fall in line, longago jeff sessions, a long line of these people. They have learned that its best to repeat talking points so now we have Election Integrity, you will hear about that and he also will test them in public. He humiliates them to see how much they will submit to him. He said to tim scott and Lindsey Graham. They are kind of conditioned by him now. This is been going on a long time to be the authoritarian puppet. Its a sad situation for our country. As frightening as all of this is, we as americans are powerless here. Are we . No, absolutely not. My mantras is never under estimate the american people. This comes from studying what people have done in the past when they have had their rights taken away and they found a way to get them back. We are in a situation, we can still stop this and mobilize and talk to people who are perhaps in the maga world and tell them what the outcomes will be because as i tweeted, its always worse than you think and more people will be affected than anybody can imagine. Talk to folks in the maga world and hopefully they will see the danger but the other thing folks can do is vote and vote as if democracy depends on it because it does. Ruth, thank you so much for coming to The Sunday Show. Coming up in less than 24 hours, Donald Trumps former fixer, Michael Cohen will take the stand and whats expected to be days of explosive testimony. He once said he would take a bullet for trump but now he is a main witness in a criminal case against him. The critical democratic primary and maryland on tuesday that could have an impact on the Balance Of Power in the United States senate. One of the candidates joined us next. You are watching The Sunday Show on msnbc. 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Upwork is half the cost of our old recruiter and they have toptier talent and everything from pr to Project Management because this is how we work now. And theyre all coming . Those who are still from pr with us, yes. Nagement grandpa whats this . Your wings. Light em up gentlemen, its a beautiful. Day to fly. Im concerned, im a little apprehensive. Tomorrow Michael Cohen is said to testify in the criminal trial it will be pivotal to the Prosecution Effort to tie his former boss to alleged Hush Money Election Interference crimes trump has denied the charges even slamming Michael Cohen as a convicted liar. Hes not wrong but Michael Cohen said he lied to congress on trumps behalf. The former fixer has already helped defeat the former president and another trial. He testified in the Civil Fraud Case that resulted in a 454 million judgment against judgment. The judge writing in his final ruling that the factfinder does not believe pleading guilty to perjury means you can never tell the truth. Michael cohen told the truth. Tomorrows testimony will be an even more crucial testimony for credibility. Reporting that he will be on the stand for at least a couple days and that the prosecution has been preparing him for this moment for a year. Former federal prosecutor joining me now, a Senior Writer for politico now. Welcome back to The Sunday Show. Michael cohen has downplayed his role calling himself a narrator rather than a star witness. He is a star witness, he is a central component have the governments case at this point lets just assume for purposes of our discussion that they are prepared to conclude that the records were falsified, the payment records were falsified, in order to convict trump you need to conclude that the falsification was intended to aid or conceal a crime. Thus far there has only been light circumstantial evidence that i think would satisfy that element. Cohen could provide potentially direct evidence about what trump was told about why the records were falsified in the manner they were and what the purpose was. We havent heard any of that in the course of the trial. That will be crucial to obtaining a conviction. The effective it may have been to conceal a crime, it has to be intent, beyond a reasonable doubt. But he has to put that in his head. Could we see new evidence come out from Michael Collins testimony . I think its likely we will hear him describe conversations between him and donald trump about the records, even in the indictments there are references to conversations that are very abbreviated. Expectation is we will hear about this conversations in more detail. Meaning red or there could be audio that is played in trial or recording . It is possible, i guess it will just be cohen testifying because Michael Cohen has no shame about sharing cordio. Recordings. Michael cohen keeps saying he lied on Donald Trumps behalf, that was only true with his lies to congress. He lies to the justice department, the irs, thanks, none of that was for trump, it was all for him. After the Court Decision you read, was favorable to cohen, a couple months later a federal judge concluded he perjured himself so the whole story of Michael Cohens credibility and history is more complicated than people have the ability to process. Given what you just said, if you are on the Prosecution Team call right now, how worried would you be about his testimony tomorrow . Or this coming week . Not so much worried about tomorrow because the first day or two, presumably will put him on and have had a plan worked out but the cross that will be the problem. I dont know, anybody who has seen Michael Cohen on television, this is not a man terribly composed or as cognitively fluent as he would like to believe he is. I dont have a nicer way to say it. He could easily be taken apart during crossexamination and if he blows up and starts railing against whoever and going off the cuff because he will be up there for hours. Potentially days on cross. Can he hold it together . I dont know. He does not seem to have a lot of selfcontrol. Most of the key witnesses have already dumped on him before this. I was going to ask about him doing prolific in the podcast. All terrible ideas for a witness. Spike im going to skip that. Lets get to the former Trump Organization cfo who allegedly is part of this whole scheme, the judge mentioned him as a potential witness, neither the prosecution nor the defense wants him to appear as a witness , im going to read this from the daily beast. Is a beautiful description because nobody knows what a pest off old man suffering in jail for the Second Time Around after once again taking the fall for his boss might say. He is a loaded gun and he can point in either direction. By with the judge want him to take the stand . I am equally confused by this. Im sure its happened before but ive personally never seen this happen or hurt this happen where neither side has asked for this witness to attend. I dont even know why he would think the government would want to call him. They just have him plead out to perjury so why would they believe anything he has to say or why would they sponsor him as a witness in front of the jury when they dont believe he is credible . Trumps lawyers dont want him there either so i dont know what this is about. Could the judge forced him, forced weisselberg to come testify . Its a good question. I dont think so, neither side has subpoenaed him. I think you would have to be there voluntarily in some sense. Its a very strange thing. Im very curious to see how it unfolds. We will see about weisselberg in the next few days but all eyes are on Michael Cohen for the next few days. You very much for coming back to The Sunday Show. Tight primary race were a senate seat in maryland on tuesday could be one of the most expensive primary contests ever. Democratic candidate angela joins me live to discuss what she thinks she can win next week and in november when control of the senate will be at stake. St. my name is jaxon, and i have spastic cerebral palsy. Its a mouthful. One of the harder things is the Little Things that i need help with getting dressed, brushing your teeth, being able to go out with your friends by yourself. Those are hard because you dont want help, but you need it. Children like jaxon need continued support for the rest of their lives. Whoa, whoa, whoa. And you can help. Please join easterseals right now, with your monthly gift. Im almost there. The kids that you are helping, their goal is to be as independent as they can. These therapies help my son to achieve that goal. Easterseals offers important disability and Community Services that can change a life forever. Please, go online, call or scan the qr code right now with your gift of just 19 a month. It really does make a difference. Strengthening with easterseals helped me realize i can get through hard things. Dont give up. Keep trying. Even better please visit helpeasterseals. Com, call or scan the qr code on your screen with your gift of 19 a month and well send you this tshirt as a thank you. Mother your help and your support, the need for it is endless. Jaxon thank you, cause theres a lot of people with disabilities out there. People like me. Please join easterseals with your monthly gift right now. with your monthly gift right now. Welcome to the roots of our legacy. Where excellence, comfort, and electricity. Are forever in bloom. Welcome to beyond. The mercedesmaybach eqs suv. With six months until election day super close president ial race isnt the only concern for democrats, control of the United States