Everyone is connected. I love you. And i so respect you even mor that you shared all of this with everyone else. And i encourage everyone watching to please read her opinion peace. We are great fwateful to your h and 6th deployment and everyone serving this great country. Thank you. Thank you. All right. We continue on watching cnn. Im brooke baldwin. President is en route to texas. But before he left the stopped the white house and wide ranging what turned into the News Conference with media making all kind of headlines. Biggest perhaps was his claim of great unity within the Republican Party, a party that is really now in civil war with president in there as well. Its a division that was put on unprecedented display after two republican senators condemned his leadership and called for others to rise in protest as well. But the president just dismissed the actions of arizona flake and senator bob corker saying he thinks theyll vote for his tax plan. Here is the president moments ago. [ inaudible question ] i dont think so. I think its fine the way it is. We have actually great unity in the Republican Party. Yesterday i was [ inaudible question ] thats okay. Look. They have to do their thing. We have great unity. If you look at what happened yesterday at the meeting, we had i guess virtually every senator, including john mccain, we had a great conversation yesterday. John mccain and myself, about the military. I think we had a tremendous i called it a love fest. It was almost a love fest. Maybe it was a love fest. But we had Standing Ovations. There is great unity. I mean if you look at the democrats with Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton, thats a mess. There is great unity in the Republican Party. Lets start with Caitlyn Collins our reporter covering the white house for us following the president ahead of him there in dallas. So tell me more about the president s reaction as he was speaking today about the two senators. As i recall correctly, he mentioned flake and thought he was a democrat. Yeah, brooke, message we got from the president there on the south lawn there is nothing to see here with the Republican Party and that everything is going just fine. He did not miss an opportunity to criticize senator flake though, of course, like he said he said senator flake didnt like him before he met him. Talked about low poll numbers in arizona and said the first time he saw him on television he thought he looked like a democrat. But back to that lunch on capitol hill yesterday, the president described it as a love fest. Said that he received several standing s Standing Ovations from Senate Republicans and said lunch went well and great unity in the Republican Party. But thats pretty much how no one else sees it right now. We have seen some stunning rebukes of the president by senator flake and 20 minute speech on the senator floor yesterday and bob corker prominent member of the Republican Party who says the republican president of the United States is debasing the nation. So those are two things you dont often hear and pair that with criticism from senator john mccain and speech from former george w. Bush a few days ago. So the president may think there is great unity in the Republican Party right now. But what we are really seeing is fight for the Republican Party between seasoned establishment conservatives and and tie establishment forces that we have on the other side. But, brooke, all this comes as the president is headed tonight right behind me going to be at a fundraiser with republican donors and Republican National committee. So we just see things get more hand more interesting with all of this. You said it so well. Its a fight for the soul of the Republican Party. Thank you. Well look for the president later on in texas with republican senator jeff blake out of the way here, arizona republicans are scrambling to try to Steve Bannon Kelly ward. Some are saying kelly ward can d lets talk about bob graham nice to see you. Nice to see you too. First is it your reaction. We are all sitting here together watching senator flake speech from the floor of this time 24 hours tag when you were watching it. What were you thinking . Well, i dont think people were surprised or shocked i should say. The timing maim were surprised with. But given his current numbers, and getting pummelled here by way of the numbers in arizona wasnt a big surprise sochlt when he came out and said what he said i think real activists within the base, i dont think anybody was really shocked he made this announcement. The president , a little while ago said senator flakes retirement actually helps the president in arizona. Would you agree with that kind of confidence . Yeah, i think so. I mean, look even before donald trump was the president of the United States during the general election, jeff flake was really an opposition against the president. And then when it crossed over into the presidency, i mean hes voted with him on a lot of personnel votes. But as far as policy, trade policy and a lot of other key issues in this country, including religious liberty, jeff flake was pushing back on it. So when you have an agenda as it relates to your vision for any kind of leadership you try to do the best you can. And when there is it ab scaliob you are going to do what you can to convince that individual or if you have to, oppose them in an election to make sure that you have somebody that can work with your vision or see the same opportunities that were promise ds during the campaign. All right. So what about you . I mean, with senator flake kind of out of the way, looking ahead, are you considering throwing your hat in the ring in this race . Yeah, i would say that now more than ever, i mean its one of these things i was the chairman of the arizona Republican Party for over four years, my mission was to get republicans elected and i know the states and know what they want. And bhaes happened consistently republicans but also the people tv arizona have felt somewhat let down, feel like not bringing much to the people. I hear tu and know you the Republican Party in arizona. But was the flake news that changed your mind . No, im a business guy, first and foremost. What it comes down to is duty. So when flake started ever since the president elected ive been encouraged to run for senate. So i think have 6 children a lot of moving parts. So trying to balance everything and give back, i sacrificed four years as noncompensated roles chairman so i have to refresh. End of january my term was up so i had to refresh and get rerooted. Now whats happened is the consideration has always been there, encouragement from back east, and even the president has said hey let us know what you want to end up doing. So now getting to this point, you look at it and say my gosh, and im not kfd that kelly ward c can , she blinded by ambition, and we have to have the title of the u. S. Senator. This could be pick up for democrats, depending how you look at it, some improvement, such as republicans such as yourself. Being a business man, commander in chief businessman, he was talking to reporters today and saying, listen, there was a whole standing ovation behind closed doors in capitol hill yesterday during this tax lunch. And that its a unified front here in the Republican Party. But, bob, look at just in the last week you have seen bush 43, senators flake, corker, mccain, criticize beyond the president s policies, criticizing his very core of being, his character. How is that party unity . Well, when you look at it, you are talking about a handful of individuals that have been very open about their disdain or dislike for the presidency. When you look at places like arizona we have over a 1300,000 republicans that most voted to support trump in the election, so goes deeper than d. C. What you are saying is political establishment in d. C. And this is more to it. When you talk about tax reform or tax relief for the people, thats when you see strong unity because it goes back to the people. But all those people, when you talk about bush, corker, flake, all this, you are saying their establishment. You are saying they are of the party . No, they are the swamp he is talking about draining. And whenever you challenge the establishment, then they are going to fight back. And right now they are trying to do if with words. And instead of digging in and fighting they are heading for the hills and not digging in to fight. And our president is a fighter. Robert graham in arizona saying heel likely run for senator flakes seat. Good luck. Thank you so much. All right. Thank you, brooke. Thank you. President trump speaking out just moments ago also about that deadly ambush of four u. S. Soldiers in niger. He confirmed that he did not specifically authorize that mission. Its a dangerous business. I have to say, its a dangerous business. So what . No, i didnt. Not specifically. But i have generals that are great generals. These are great fighters. These are warriors. I gave them authority thats the authority they have. And regarding fallen soldier la david johnson, president once again stressed he was very thoughtful when he made the condolence call to his widow. I respect her. I respect her family. I certainly respect la david. Who by the way i called la david right from the beginning. Just so you understand, they put a chart in front p la david, says la david johnson. So i called right from the beginning, no hesitation, one of the great memories of all time. Meantime, cnn is learning new details about that deadly ambush. Military says they were there to collect intelligence on high value target in the area and not that their mission was to kill or capture that individual. David mckenzie is live in niger. David, what are you learning on the investigation . So many hugs questiohuge questi unanswered. Thats right. Brooke. So many unanswered. One of the key questions is what level of intelligence came in that they were told that this mission was a routine one that didnt necessarily have any huge risks attached to it. But let me put it into perspective. Where im standing in the capitol, just a couple of hours is where the ambush happened, its a border region. And anyone you speak to here in the capitol hill of niger will tell you that is where the threat is, its close by. And several attacks have happened on Nigerian Forces just this year. So it is a dangerous place to operate. This is a place that special forces found themselves in within the nigerian counterparts when the intense fire fight happened that left those four american soldiers dead. So those questions are still out there. Why they went without a great deal of protection . The assumption is they didnt think that it would be such a dangerous mission. But these are routine missions that are happening throughout the theater. There are some 800 american solars operating within niger. Mostly on intelligence gathering. The base is close by to where im standing. And its paying a Critical Role in acting as an advisory and Capacity Building group to try and stop that islamic groups that Terror Threat from pushing into niger from neighboring borders. Brooke . Why was the body found a mile away . Did the villagers have any of tipping off . All kind of questions. David mckenzie piece live in niger. Thank you so much, david. Coming up next the art of digging up secrets, new revelations into the dossier that alleged ties between donald trump and russian officials and who helped pay for it . Sources today confirming Hillary Clinton and dnc were involved. We play you president s reaction in afternoon. Also a trial making it headlines. Five teenage boys facing the possibility of life in prison accused of throwing a cement rock off a bridge overpass killing a driver on amish began highway. Well have the latest in the courthouse. And why the naacp are warning africanamerican passengers to avoid a make tear American Airline. Im brooke baldwin. You are watching cnn. How much money do you think youll need in retirement . Then we found out how many years that money would last them. How long do you think well keep oooooohhh you stopped youre gonna leave me back here at year 9 . How did this happen . It turned out, a lot of people fell short, of even the average length of retirement. We have to think about not when we expect to live to, but when we could live to. Lets plan for income that lasts all our years in retirement. Prudential. Bring your challenges. Paim open to that. Medicare . Lower premiums . Extra benefits . Its open enrollment. Time to open the laptop. And compare Medicare Health plans. Why . Because plans change, so can your health needs. So, be openminded. Look at everythinglike Prescription Drug plans. And Medicare Advantage plans from private insurers. Use the tools at medicare. Gov. Or call 1800medicare. Open to Something Better . Start today. Hes brought us to the obstructed justice at the fbi. And in direct violation of the constitution, hes taken money from foreign governments and threatened to shut down news organizations that report the truth. If that isnt a case for impeaching and removing a dangerous president , then what has our government become . Im tom steyer and, like you, im a citizen who knows its up to us to do something. Its why im funding this effort to raise our voices together and demand that elected officials take a stand on impeachment. A Republican Congress once impeached a president for far less. Yet, today, people in congress and his own administration know this president is a clear and present danger who is mentally unstable and armed with nuclear weapons. And they do nothing. Join us and tell your member of congress that they have a moral responsibility to stop doing whats political and start doing whats right. Our country depends on it. You know win control . Be this guy. Check it out selfappendectomy oh, thats really attached. Thats why i rent from national. Where i get the control to choose any car in the aisle i want, not some car they choose for me. Which makes me one smooth operator. Ah still a little tender. vo go national. Go like a pro. Watching cnn. Im brooke baldwin. President trump lashing out with dossier. Now confirms Hillary Clinton campaign and dnc bank rolled part of the research. Here was the president reacting to this news. Well, i think its very sad what thooeyve done with this fe dossier. It was made up. And i understand they paid a tremendous amount of money. And Hillary Clinton always denied it. The democrats always denied it. And now only because its going to come out in la court case they said, yes, they did it. They admitted it. And they are embarrassed by it. But i think its a disgrace. Its just really a very sad commentary on politics in this country. We should add that the democrats did not bank roll this entire project. Research firm was initially hired by and tie trump republicans during the primaries. So lets talk about this with adrianal rod. Also with us cnn legal analyst. Goods to see both of you. Good to be here. We first met in iowa, full part of the kpcampaign mode. Did you know . I was part of the Communication Team but not in the research effort. You do Opposition Research on your opponents. Clearly unaware . Yes i was unaware. But i wouldnt be aware because that wasnt my role on the campaign. But this is part of a modern day president ial campaign do Opposition Research. Thats originated during the primary. So not unusual at all given that one of the opponents became one of the nominee for the gop that we then took that research and utilized it. So not a surprise at all. Not a surprise. You, sir i read some of your notes say kind of hypocritical. Very hypocritical. And when you step back and look at the whole picture, these politicians, Hillary Clinton and donald trump, choose to play in the mud, looking to for dirt on their opponents and they now get splashed by it. Trump had the high ground for a while saying i did none of these things. And you know what we find out it was funded by republicans originally. And when it became a parent that donald trump became a nominee, guess what, then the information was turned over essentially to the democrats who continued to fund it. So both parties are dirty in this. And there is no high ground here. Its all low ground and muddy ground. Just to push you a little bit, how is it is that democrats with cry foul at this new infamous don joirl meeting at trump power wanting dirt on Hillary Clinton. But you are saying this piece isnt okay . Whats the difference . The difference in the two is don junior took a meeting with somebody who clearly had ulterior motives. And compiling it in hawaii that does the facts in unified cohesive way. But foreign nationals, you can argue, but still. This is collecting and gathering information thats fact based part of Opposition Research part of what you do. The person that don trump junior met with was somebody who had ill in ill intentions two totally different. They are not different. They are similar. Because Christopher Steele who was the author of the stuff in the dossier we are talking about came from british intelligence, mi 6 so democrats were buying negative information about trump from essentially a foreign intelligence officer. Well, you can say they havent been an enemy. But weve never gone to war with russia. So i think when you try to argu