Good to have you this morning. This morning president elect starts a busy weekend of filling his cabinet after cleerg away some legal trouble. Donald trump is agreeing to pay 25 million to settle three laults against his now defunct for Profit Business SchoolTrump University. More on that in a moment. Also today, donald trump is set to meet with a full roster of prospective cabinet appointees including mitt romney, a man who earlier this year called him a phony and a fraud. The two are expected to talk about cabinet positions, including secretary of state. Lets begin with the latest on the trump transition with cnn jessica schneider. She is in bridgewater, new jersey. That is where president elect trump is holding those meetings today. Good morning. A lot of activity out here. Donald trump will be in nonstop meetings today. The biggest name he is meeting with today, mitt romney. Its a highly anticipated facetoface that will happen nearby at the Trump National golf club at bed minister. A lot of uncertainty as to how this will play out. Mitt romney a fierce and harsh critic against donald trump throughout the primary season. Youll remember back in march he gave that 20minute speech where he called donald trump a fraud and a phony. So uncertain how things will unfold today, but we do understand that one item on this list of topics that theyll be talking about the secretary of state position whether or not mitt romney might be interested or might eventually be offered that position. Donald trump will be meeting with a slew of people today. They also include michelle reed. She is considered under consideration for the education of secretary position. Also donald trump will meet with retired general james maddis the former head of central command. Hell also meet with todd rickets. So a lot of these people just meeting with donald trump to talk about the transition and his eventually presidency come january, but some of these, of course, being essential job interviews. Mitt romney potentially being one of those who could join donald trump. A lot to be seen as these two rivals meet facetoface today. Cant wait to hear what comes out of these meetings, if anything. Thanks very much. Now i want to bring in rachel crane for more on the Trump University lawsuits. 25 million to put these cases to bed. What do you think . What does this mean as trump moves forward and tries to focus on transitioning into the white house . Reporter well, alisyn, a big distraction has just been taken off the table for president elect donald trump, allowing him to focus on his political ageneral ad getting his cabinet together. He also will no longer have to appear on the witness stand in san diego on november 28th in front of judge kuriel. That judge was the one that trump vehemently attacked on the campaign trail because of his mexican heritage. But the fact that he settled these cases, thats something that donald trump said many times on the campaign trail that he would never ever do. His attorney putting out a statement saying while we have no doubt that Trump University would have prevailed at trial based on the merits of this case, resolution of these matters allows president elect donald trump to devote his full attention to the important issues facing our great nation. Now, while these cases have been settled, donald trump is not accepting publicly any wrong doing. Now 25 million is a big chunk of change here. 25 million, 21 million will go towards the civil suits in california, more than 7,000 students will now get at least 50 of their money reimbursed. 4 million going to settle the case here in new york state that general attorney of new york state put forth. But of course, you know, Trump University had around 10,000 students that had enrolled between 2005 and 2010 and they had taken in an estimated 40 million during that time. Certainly a surprising outcome to a series of cases that we definitely didnt think would end this way after everything donald trump said on the campaign trail. Now that he cleared that legal trouble out of the way, donald trump has his hands full trying to appoint his cabinet members and staff as some are calling on the president elect to reconsider the appointments hes already made. Calling into question first their lack of diversity. Lets talk about this with ron brownstein. Good morning to you. Good morning. Hey, first, ron, i want to get to this tweet that we noticed from former governor and former competitor opponent here in the race for president arkansas governor mike huckabee. He tweeted out this, big story of the election is that state and local elections were repudiation of Big Government liblism record gains for gop now gopdont blow it. He also said that last night he said that he was offered a cabinet position and advisory position as new administration. Doesnt know if theyre the right fit and tamped down the rumor that he would be the new ambassador for israel. What are you seeing from governor huckabee . The israel rumor was the most prominent. I dont know what the cabinet offer might have been. I think the argument there is interesting because essentially what hes saying to gop dont blow it almost as if its a kind of different entity than the trump entity. Donald trump in many ways was an independent candidate who ran under the republican banner about half or two thirds of his agenda overlaps with Congressional Republicans long wanted to do cut taxes on individual and businesses, roll back obamacare, but theres a whole other big chunk of agenda on a variety of issues, trade, entitlements infrastructure that goes in a different direction, theres a note of distance in that tweet that reflects the fact that parts of what donald trump says he wants to do are as much a collision with traditional republican thinking as they would be in what democrats see. Steve bannon talked about this trillion dollar plan he has pushing through also during the campaign. Donald trump made a lot of promises that will cost a lot of money. Well see if Congress Gives him the money to do it. Lets talk about Rudy Giuliani who we havent talked a lot about in the last 48 hours or so. Hes been not so subtle about his desire to be secretary of state. With mitt romney coming in potentially, where does that leave Rudy Giuliani . Maybe at homeland security, what is his role now moving forward . Well see what happens with mitt romney. I wonder if mitt romney before he got on the plane to see donald trump kind of noted that another former adversary ted cruz came up to meet him presumably to talk about cabinet positions, but certainly the attorney general and supreme court. The next day president elect trump gave the job to one of his loyalists Jeff Sessions. I wonder if mitt romney is wondering if hell face the same situation as secretary of state. This would be an extraordinary step for each of them. I mean, mitt romney was as critical of donald trump as i think a former nominee has ever been of a prospective nominee of his own party, really kind of denouncing his character, his experience, his judgment. So their ability to Work Together would be very important for donald trump. I mean, with the appointment of Michael Flynn as National Security adviser, a figure who is deeply controversial even in republican Foreign Policy circles, he faces the risks that most of the existing brain trust of the gop Foreign Policy infrastructure will not come to work for him. Mitt romney would be a huge bridge in that to that community. Well see if trump actually builds that particular bridge. Lets quickly talk about the trump u settlement, the three civil lawsuits. Lets listen to what trump said during this campaign about the potential for a settlement. I will win the Trump University case. I already am, as far as im concerned. I will win the case in the end. I just didnt want to be forced to settle. This is a case i could have settled very easily. But i dont settle very easily when im right. I could settle the case now if i want to settle the case. I dont settle cases. We have a situation where we will win in court. And ill win the Trump University case. I could settle that case. So he is now settled the case, these three cases. He faces scores of additional civil lawsuits. I mean, this is a very expensive proposition hell settle all these cases. Well, its also just a reminder of the extraordinary situation were in. Weve never we havent had a president with this extensive business dealings and we dont know the full extent of them because he refused to release his tax returns. And you have all of these interrelated questions with with whether his children will in fact be continuing to run his Business Enterprises and are sitting in on meetings with world leaders, besides kind of diplomatic propriority questions, already the whole series of ethical questions. And i do think this is really going to challenge the ethics infrastructure of washington to deal with all of the many possible conflicts that are arising because of the unique nature of mr. Trumps background. Ron brownstein, always good to have you. Thank you. The hot Broadway Musical hamilton with a vip in the audience. Vice president elect pence we welcome you and truly thank you for joining us here at hamilton. We really do. We, sir yes, that was mike pence in the audience. After the show, the cast stopped pretending and gets real with a message for the Vice President elect. At jared. We turn feelings. Into jewelry. Jewelry that tells her shes the best thing thats ever happened to you. In a way. That goes beyond words. It could be a piece jewelry designers created just for jared. Or a piece we custom made. Just for you. Because were more than a store that sells beautiful jewelry. We are jewelers. The one, unique gift. That tells her exactly how you feel. Thats why he went to jared. Whfight back fastts, with tums smoothies. It starts dissolving the instant it touches your tongue. And neutralizes stomach acid at the source. Tum tum tum tum smoothies only from tums this could be one of the perks being the Vice President elect, getting a precious ticket to the hot broadway ticket hamilton, theyre going from 500 to 1,200 a piece. Mike pence was in the audience last night and his presence wasnt lost on the cast. Yeah, they addressed pence directly during the curtain call. The actor who plays aaron bird delivered a short speech on behalf of the shows creators and cast. Here is part of it. You know, we have a guest in the audience this evening. And Vice President elect pence, i see you walking out, but i hope you will hear us just a few more months. Nothing to boo here, ladies and gentlemen. Were all hear sharing a story of love. We have a message for you, sir, we hope you will hear us out. And i encourage everyone to pause your phones and tweet and post. This message neerds to be spread far and wide. We welcome you and truly thank you for joining us here at hamilton. We really do. We, sir, we are are of a diverse america who are alarmed and anxious at your new administration will not protect us. Our planet our schirn, our parents or defend us. But we truly hope this show has inspired you to uphold our American Values and to work on behalf of all of us, all of us. We truly thank you for sharing this show. This wonderful american story told by a Diverse Group of men and women of different colors, creeds. All right. A spokesman for the show said pence was in the hallway but he heard the whole statement. The lead producer of hamilton says president elect trump has not seen the show yet but he would be welcome to come. Lets bring in now cnn political commentator and republican strategist kevin madden and trump supporter jack kingston. Good morning to both of you. Good morning, victor. Jack, what do you think of what you saw at new york at the hamilton show . I think its part of our Great American culture people can speak their minds even to the Vice President as if someone got elected to the u. S. Congress and then got elected to the whole state of indiana to be governor and did not have diversity and the highest standards of ethics and social interaction and social justice already just part of his own culture. I mean, these i think were well meaning but somewhat naive actors and actresses speaking up, no problem with that at all, but to think that somebody has come as far as mike pence has and needs to be lectured is a little absurd. Kevin, let me come with you about this meeting we know is happening today between donald trump and mitt romney. Right. You were Senior Adviser to mitt romney back in the 2012 campaign. I want you to listen to part of an exchange between wolf blitzer and mitt romney earlier this year about his feelings about the then nominee donald trump. Lets watch. What would he have to do to win your support . Well, i dont think theres anything im looking for from mr. Trump to give him my support. Hes demonstrated who he is and ive decided that a person of that nature should not be the one who, if you will, becomes the example for coming generations or the example of america to the world. Look, i dont want to see trickle down racism. I dont want to see a president of the United States saying things which change the character of the generations of americans that are following. President s have the impact of the nation. Trickle down misogamy, all these things are extraordinarily dangerous to the heart and character of america. So im not looking for mr. Trump to change a policy that more aligns with my own. This is not a matter of just policy, its more a matter of character and integrity. This is not a matter of policy, its more about character and integrity. Even mitt romneys political opponents say that hes a principled man. After what we heard there, is it possible that mitt romney could work for donald trump . Well, i think that there would have to be some sort of understanding about some of the big issue differences that they have before that could happen. I think governor romney expressed those concerns because they were deeply held concerns. Remember they were also in the context of litigating a campaign and the campaign is over and the American People have wielded what Walter Mondale once referred to their staggering power. Now we have a president elect who many republicans want to see succeed and some democrats will accept that they would want to see some better judgment and the advancement of better policies. And i think that is what i think that is what mitt romney has in mind as he meets with president elect trump today which is what can he do to offer insight. What can he do to offer advice about how president elect can make the right decisions to lead the country. Jack, to you, we heard from donald trump and we played some of it earlier that he called him a choke artist. Mitt romney wanted Donald Trumps endorsement so badly he could have said get on your knees and mitt romney would have gotten on his knees. Why would he want to potentially come and have this man work for him and be the spokesman to the world . Well, i think part of it is the incredible capacity of politics to forgive and forget. But i think the other part is that he can learn something from mitt romney and vice versa. I think mitt romney was speaking with a little bit too much hyperbole. I think at the same time theres great value in mitt romney as a successful businessman, as a governor, as a leader of the man who actually saved the olympics one year. I think he is the kind of guy that donald trump is not intimidated by but rather respects and says, okay, what can you contribute . What do you have to offer for the American People for our vision of making America Great again . And were seeing that a lot with some of the other people who have been to trump tower this week. He is not afraid to listen. As i think as the weeks go on, youll see more diversity of opinion. Speaking of diversity of opinion, donald trump in the primary in the general talked about education and it was one topic that was i guess the premium there and it was common core, these standards, these common standards for education. I want you to listen to what donald trump said and then what the former chancellor of washington, d. C. Schools who is meeting with him today Michelle Rhee said about common core. Common core has to be ended. Its a disaster. Its a way of its a way of taking care of people in washington that frankly i dont even think they give a damn about education. In terms of the common core, i think its incredibly important. I think its absolutely a step in the right direction that this country has made. If shes being considered for secretary of education, is this a sign that donald trump is backtracking on common core . You know, one of the interesting things that i found out about common core is if you talk to individuals about the curriculum itself and the standar standards, people say, yeah, this is a good idea but the state would have veto power over local School Boards and over local curriculum and they in turn see that to the federal government, thats what people are really mad about. Its not so much the substance but the loss of their own Decision Making power to washington bureaucrats. I think theres a way to save part of this just like saving part of obamacare . Well, there were things in obamacare that werent unique to obamacare. They werent that controversial. So, you know, you can always salvage bits and pieces of the other sides ideas and its not a bad thing. Its a way democracy works. Quickly here, kevin r the people who voted for donald trump getting what they think they were going to get now that potentially this secretary of education who loves common core is coming in to meet with the presiden