Before christmas. I immediately called and said lets get it ready. We thought you didnt watch the news because you were reading all the documents. With nothing less than the prospect of impeachment hanging in the balance, the white house has started to freak out behind the scenes about the 2018 midterm elections. While midterms are typically an uphill battle for any president s political party, the shellacking the republicans aligned with donald trump took in virginia and alabama have the president s motley crew of inside and outside political advisers sparring amongst themselves. As talk of more staff shakeups loom large. Three stories in three different publications today detail the commotion. From politico, speculation about additions to the cast of characters in season two of trumps west wing has ramped up as the administration braces itself for a bloodbath in 2018 and a wave of staff departures. From todays New York Times, dispute over political strategy erupts inside the white house. And from the Washington Post, within hours of celebrating President Trumps biggest legislative achievement at the south portico of the white house on wednesday, his aides and outside advisers had a spirited and at times tense discussion with him about the political outlook ahead of next years midterm election. The gathering saw tempers flare as aides vented their frustrations with their electoral defeats this year and concerns about the 2018 political map. Lets get to our reporters and guests. Kelly odonnell is with us from west palm beach, florida, where the president is spending the holiday at maralago. Phil ruker is also with us. And joining us at the table, the rev al sharpton, host of politics nation on msnbc and msnbcs joy reid, and evan mcmullin, former cia operative, former chief policy director for the house of representatives and a previous candidate for president as an independent is here. Phil rucker, let me start with you and that story in the Washington Post which was my favorite of the three that i mentioned at the top of the show. Detailing that the staff woke up today or i guess after the tax bill and said, houston, we have a problem. This tax bill is not going to erase all of the perceived sins of donald trump and trumpism ahead of the midterm elections. And my question for you phil rucker is, was the president aware of how dire midterms are for any president s party . Or did this sort of come to him as a revelation . I think its come to him very slowly but its come to him. His popularity has been in the tank really since he took office. Hes been an historically unpopular president throughout this entire year and weve seen it play out in a couple of these special elections or the regular election for governor in virginia where the democrat won. And then in alabama, where Democrat Doug Jones beat trumps candidate. Hes not been able to push his candidates over the finish line in those races. And thats been a rude awakening for him about his vulnerabilities as a politician, about a president and his ability to really carry the Republican Party through next year and keep these majorities which are very fragile, especially when you consider so many of these house races are in suburban districts where Republican Voters are really repulsed by this president. Kelly o. , let me read you something from the Washington Post about what have been his plans for to be a very active campaigner in the midterms. The Washington Post reporting earlier this week that after alabama lost, trump has ambitious plans to campaign in 2018 midterms to fill their top spot. Im sorry. Ive got the wrong excerpt here but reporting earlier this week that the president really excited about hitting the trail to trum up support and to pring his base of support to candidates who are all the house of representatives are up in 2018 and to the senators that are up. But you know from covering my old boss, george w. Bush, during the highs and lows of his presidency, that sometimes an unpopular president is the last thing that a candidate running in a tight race wants. And we certainly saw that in virginia where ed gillespie did not want to be aligned with donald trump but there will be republicans across the map who will want the ability of a president to help fundraise. Expect that there could be a calendar of political events for President Trump and Vice President pence thats more tilted toward filling the coffers to help support these candidates. And its just never too soon to worry about november. And certainly the house is a precarious situation for the reasons youve explained. On the senate side, prior to this year, just by looking at the map, it was advantage republicans because there is a third of the senate up every two years. Most of those are democrats defending their seats. Something like 25 or 26 of those meaning they start with republicans typically having an advantage. Will that change because of the broader climate . Will there be traditional republicans or republican candidates challenging democrats who do not want to be on the same stage with President Trump. That will vary according to geography, according to some of the specific issues. And its always the quality of the candidate, him or herself, thats up on the ballot that can ultimately make a big difference. We certainly saw that in alabama. Youve seen in a couple of places earlier in this year where, for example, karen handle in georgia, was able to defeat a wellfinanced and well thought of young democrat, john ossoff, for the house seat. Its been a mixed bag for the white house. And because of the president s standing, his ability to shake things up and do things differently is not necessarily what candidates are looking for as theyre trying to run more traditional campaigns or database campaigns in their own districts and states. For the white house, they will see this as a report card of how theyre being judged. Historically, its always tough in a first year for a president. This president may find it even tougher. Joy reid, i dont need to review these exit polls but im going to put them up for our viewers. In alabama and virginia, women helped deliver decisive victories for the democrats in the doug jones versus roy moore race. He won women, 57 , 41 . In virginia, northam won over gillespie. This has sort of been in these big statewide races a story of suburban women grabbing back. And in particular, women of color. One of the biggest they were never for trump. Thats true. These are swing voters swinging back in the other direction. The puzzle has been, can they attract white suburban women to start voting democratic when a majority of white women period are republicans. Can they get voters who are not typically active in midterms, voters of color and Younger Voters to come out in midterms. I think that what you saw in virginia, particularly in alabama, was the answer yes. If the energy is sufficient on the democratic side, a combination of being repulsed by donald trump, the moment, which is a lot about me, too, a lot of about womens issues and people of color ut, the sense of alarm such that you may see an unusual thing happen, which is that the reliable voters of the republican midterms who come out pretty consistent may get overwhelmed and swamped, particularly in these districts where Hillary Clinton either did really well, got within a point or won. And that is well over the 24 seats that democrats need. I think about california. I think about new york. States that are getting hosed by this tax bill, even people like darrell issa who voted against the tax bill strategically could get swamped because of the energy. Thats what elections are about. Who has the energy . Right now its people of color, women and young voters. The energy is antirepublican and antitrump. Rev, could there be anything more energizing to joys point, than the president of regaining control of a chamber that could vote to impeach donald trump if hes viewed by bob muellers investigation to have done something impeachable . I think the Mueller Investigation and the implications is certainly going to be energizing, along with the other issues like the tax bill and clearly those states that are going to be most impacted. But i think even nationally. And i think when you look at things like the Affordable Care act and the criminal justice area that he has totally ignored. But if i was a candidate, aside from the fact that i think you rightly state that traditionally unpopular president s are not desired, i would particularly not desire donald trump because its donald trump. You dont forget, this is the guy when he was running for president at Campaign Stops would say if you beat that guy up, ill pay your way out of jail. You dont know what hes going to do. You arent talking about a traditional guy. Youre talking about when you had president bush who was unpopular, but president bush always had good behavior. You talk about a guy that will do anything at your campaign stop. And why would you even risk having this guy just ad lib and just go off at your expense . And the reason some republicans have taken that risk, which i agree with you, is ultimately not worth it is because theyve been so its been from a defensive position. Theyve been so fearful of the trump base turning on them. But i think we now have proof in alabama and virginia that the trump base is nontransferrable. Right . So the trump base doesnt attach itself to he who attaches himself or she, although we havent tested many female candidates running as trumpers yet. So will that give them i think i know the answer already but will that give them any more courage to stand separate and apart as republicans who stand for more conservative things than trump and trumpism . Maybe in some cases, but, look, i think this is a president who has governed his base. Not republican the Republican Party but hes fed red meat to his base during his first year. Thats why his Approval Ratings are as low as they are, yet in the Republican Party, they remain high, although with a significant amount of republicans now not supporting the president , not intending to support him going forward. So i think thats part of it. I think joy is correct to say theres a lot within the democratic constituencies but also a lot of concern among a select group of republicans that will engage differently than they have in the past in Upcoming Elections as they did in virginia and alabama. So the president sensing this is now today talking about how hes going to rule more in a more bipartisan way. He spoke of that today. He just woke up and tweeted that. John sat in that chair yesterday and said being down eight points is republican lights out. The only open question as a lifelong conservative is whether they also lose the senate. What do you think . I think thats basically right. But what im really getting at here is the president says he wants to govern in a more bipartisan way, which is important, if hes going to if hes going to force, stall or prevent this problem, the transfer of the president says he doesnt watch tv and then he woke up and said i signed the bill because i watch so much tv. My point is that he they are right to identify that as the way forward. He is not going to be able to do it. And that is where youre going to end up with virginia and alabama in far greater places. The moderates and Republican Congress in the house are going to be gone, unfortunately. Many of them. And youre going to end up with a more Trumpian Party which represents another challenge. Go ahead. Think about if you are dean howard in nevada where they have a good party where harry reid was able to win. Where Hillary Clinton was able to cortes master who was polling behind Hillary Clinton. If you are in a place like nevada, you have the daca bill hanging in the balance that could finally be the thing that gets latino voters who typically underperform their population share energized enough to squeak you over the line. Heller is unpopular. He voted for the tax bill. All republicans have to do is add it up and say dean hellers net worth is x. Youre getting 18 a week. That ad writes itself. Even democrats can figure out how to do that. But therein lies the danger. If anybody can mess it up, it is the democrats. The problem is you guys have caught my selfloathing. Its contagious. They cannot look at these polls and say its a wash. And not really go to work and get on the ground and really organize because they in alabama, let us not forget what all would happen, including this man being charged, accused by several people of pedophilia. He got 48 of the vote. Democrats ought not go to sleep here. Its a great opportunity, but they have let me bring phil rucker back in. Your piece also details some of the names that are leaving and some of the names that are i dont want to say theyre incoming back into the white house because thats always the rumor, but can you tick through some of the names . Jeremy katz, the chief of staff to gary cohn. Hes got family. He never relocated his family. The tax bill is what he had as a todo. Hes senior and important to the economic shop and another one of those traditional Establishment Republicans who lent a lot of credibility to this white house especially among skeptsical folks, skeptical republicans on capitol hill. You are right. Its not my piece, by the way, but were expecting an exodus of departures. Several have been announced. Many more could be announced over the holidays. Dina powell, a critical figure on the National Security team, especially when it comes to meefts peace. Gary cohn, a big economic adviser. The economic adviser. Hes not announced hes departing but hes widely expected to be leaving some time early next year. His number two is a guy named jeremy katz, a name not many are familiar with but he was really integral in Economic Policy and in particular on the infrastructure plan which is an agenda item that President Trump wants to push with Congress Next year. Hes out the door. And were expecting other departures as well. There could be a shakeup in the political operation or change of some kind. A number of trump loyalists on the outside, including corey lun d lewandowski who has been saying he needs to add more firepower in order to get everything in gear, ready to go for the midterms next fall. Is that what the fight about . Three publications report this spilled over and became very, very intense and emotional. And that the president was present. Was this a fight about the president not having the right kind of strategist on the political front as you describe . Were outside advisers like Corey Lewandowski undermining the Current White House political operation . And lewandowski for a while has been complaining privately to his associates that he feels trump is not being well served by his Political Team in part because chief of staff john kelly is not a political operative. He comes from the military. Hes done a good job getting the white house more organized and structured but hes not a political thinker. Not particularly savvy when it comes to political chess moves and not a big karl rove figure, David Axelrod figure in the white house right now. I think somebody who could be ascendant is Kellyanne Conway who kept a low profile through much of this year but is very much a political strategist in the white house and could play a key role in helping shape the strategy for the midterms. And you could see the addition of some outside operatives who can come in and help the president map out a game plan. All right. Its going to be interesting. Kelly odonnell, thank you for starting us off and spending some time with us. When we come back, as republicans wage a hot war against americas premier Law Enforcement agency, the Deputy Director of the fbi testifies before republicanled committees for 16 hours. And corroborates a key piece of former director jim comeys testimony. Also ahead, a key witness in the hot seat. Longtime donald trump aide and associate rona graft to field questions from house investigators. And it was the best of times, the worst of times. Pop some popcorn and get ready for the tale of 2017 in the time of trump. David. Whats going on . Oh hey thats it . Yeah. Everybody two seconds dear sebastian, after careful consideration of your application, it is with great pleasure that we offer our congratulations on your acceptance. 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