Thanks to our trio of cohosts today. Companies are opting out of Republican Convention. Its having an impact on the democrats as well. Thanks for watching. Well be back here next week. Coming up, hardball with Chris Matthews. Conscience of a conservative. Lets play hardball. Im Chris Matthews in washington. Donald trump ends the week down in the polls, out matched in fund raising and coming under intense criticism for comments hes made since the shooting in orlando. Speaker paul ryan told my colleague, chuck todd, republicans should vote their conscience and he called the 2016 matchup a very strange
situation. Still, the republican nominee to be isnt changing his tune. Today he tweeted people very unhappy with crooked hillary and obama on jobs and safety. Biggest trade deficit in many years. More attacks will follow orlando. Last night trump stuck by his controversy called to ban muslim immigration. Were allowing thousands and thousands of people to come into our country from countries that are terrorists countries. Whats happening is a percentage of the people coming in, i also said keep the oil. I said a lot of good things. Ive been pretty good at this stuff. For the past five days trump has made tough insinuations about the president. Were led by a man that
either is not tough, not smart or hes got Something Else in mind. People cant believe it. Muslims are the ones that see whats going on. The muslims are the ones that have to report them. If they dont report them, then there has be be consequences to them. Were taking in thousands of people into our country. We have no idea where they come from. We have no idea who the hell they are. Im getting thousands of letters and tweets that i was right about the whole situation. Ive been right about a lot of things, frankly. Trumps talk is alienated many republicans. The former governor of oklahoma told the new york times, frequently mr. Trumps tone is h hysterical and theres tho reason if that. Hallie jackson is covering the campaign. Youre out there again. Trump seems to be going back to what worked for him in the beginning to talk about the muslim ban. Its almost like going back to square one. Does that mean they dont have plan for a larger effort to win 65 million votes this november after winning the 13 million in the primaries. I think he never left square one. Hes always had this plan. The thinking is why change it now. The question is do they have plan to go after Hillary Clinton in a more focused way, the way a number of operatives would like them to see. They plan to make the turn to the general election but what you hear again and again is its Donald Trumps show. He is the one that will decide what to do. You are seeing him get more
comfortable reading from a teleprompter. The rallies, like the one here tonight, its a different story. Im thinking, trump came into this race with a good hunch. He knew the country was upset about all kinds of things, especially trade. He knew the average working family felt they were getting hurt by trade because everything is coming from china. He had a lot of good hunches. They did make sense politically. The Life Experience, he hasnt been having a Life Experience the last year. His experience is as a candidate. Hes living the Life Experience as a politician. Its isolated. You dont grasp onto those hunches, those Life Experiences that give you a reason for running in first place. He came in with a lot of gas in his tank. He hasnt been able to refuel because hes surrounded by us. Hes not learning things about life attitudes, about
immigration, about trade, about all kinds of things. He seemed to have hunches. Is he not getting any hin chs off the trail because hes in the nonreal world of politics . Hes literally in a bubble as well. Thats exactly what im talking about. Even when he comes to these rallies, hes not necessarily interacting with people the way you would during the primary season. He didnt get much of chance to do that because he got secret Service Protection so early. He does shake hands on the rope lines but thats a different experience from what hes living. You see him drawing on the Life Experiences from prior to his time in politics. Its interesting. Its a good thought experiment to have. Its a good way to think about it. Im trying to think about it. Hes in this bubble for the
last year. If trump is not living the life of a builder, sitting in the back room, bsing with other builders, his experience is talking about donald trump. Its not that interesting. I think hes in an echo chamber. He had 13, 14 Million People respond positively, but he cant get out of that echo chamber. Hes sticking to it. That echo chamber, theres one organizing principle about donald trump. Thats donald trump. Look what happened with orlando. Literally, first words out of his mouth were its about me. I was right. Look at me. Everybody sending me letters. Im great. I predicted terrorism. Its about me. I hate to be crass about this horrific tragedy, but here was a chance, an opportunity to demonstrate some degree of leadership that might go beyond his usual bullying and arrogance
and say its sad day for america and here is what i would do to prevent this. He attacked hillary and he said im great. If theres one thing, theres a wrinkle where he seems to be doing something a little inordinate. This week he seemed to break from Party Republican orthodox on the gun issue. He tweeted, ill be meeting with the nra, who has endorsed me, about now allowing people on the terrorist watch list or no fly list to buy guns. At some point you have to decide p priorities. This week people will be talking about orlando and more angry about terrorism than they are about gun rights. They may be more concerned about terrorism than usual prejudices about sexuality, in fact. I think thats smart politics. Trump seems to be glimmering here to know that people are more worried about terrorism than absolutism on the Second Amendment. Do you think hes showing signs of life there or not . I do. Keeping guns out of the hands of the terrorist is popular and probably smart for trump to talk about that. If he can kind of deal with the nra, i think thats smart politics for him to do that. When hes going into a convention, if he alienates the nra, he will be isolated and that could be dangerous. His biggest problem is hes isolated. He doesnt have any support amongst any of the republicans. If he gets out there and talks himself and has no support from any kind of an echo chamber, he has no support from the other Republican Leaders in the country, thats his fault. He kind of ad libs all the times. That can be tough for any kind of politician. An interview that will air this sunday on meet the press, paul ryan said republicans should feel free to vote their conscience when it comes to trump. Do you think that members in
the House Republican follow your conscience. The last thing i would do is tell anybody to do something thats contrary to their conscience. Of course, i wouldnt do that. I get this. This is a very strange situation. Its a very unique nominee. I feel, as a responsibility institutionally, i should not be leading some cascm. That will knock us out of white house. You dont lead it. Its like a big ravine up in new england. Whats he trying to do politically . Hes on a tight rope without a net. I think hes a flag pole sitter. Hes up there and has to sit this out. The highest Ranking Member of the Republican Party cant say in food faith, you should support this guy. I realize you might think hes crazy or a bigot, and im okay with that. I dont think youve had an occasion where leaders of the nominees own party calls him racist and a bigot. John, usually when they say its a conscience vote is like the leadership isnt going to nail you down and force you to vote with the party. Thats the strange thing to say about the president ial election. What kind of a statement is that . In many way, people have to vote their conscience. Its going to be a complete disaster. They unify with trump or find somebody else at the convention and stick them there. The problem for the party is if they dont unify, its going to be a blood bath for republicans all over the place. Just to see how bad things are, george w. Bush seeing himself as a king maker. He was so far declined, he had so far declined to endorse donald trump. Nbc news confirmed that the former president is getting involved in several senate races. Imagine being so bad off with voters that you need george w. To come in and help you. Quote, in the weeks since mr. Trump emerged as the partys presumptive nominee, mr. Bush has headlined fund raisers for two republican senators and made plans to help three more. The former president is bothered by mr. Trumps Campaign Message especially his remarks about muslims and immigrants. This is so strange. One of the reasons barack obama was elected president was george w. Bush. The people thought the iraq war was a disaster. We were led in by bad information, purposely bad fed to the American People by dick chaney. We have w who was sort of the guy, what would you call him, the dufus of the whole thing. They said he was dragged in my chaney. This guy is being seen as a lifesaver. Now, let me ask, ill get to john who knows more about this in a minute. Can you see w out on the campaign trail or is he only good in the back room with the fat cats . I think hes getting out in the back rooms. Im not sure how effective he will be on the campaign trail. You look at where he went out at the end of his presidency. You look at where his ratings are now. That amount of time is truly a political eternity and how much it illustrates how much has changed since then that you have george w. Bush out helping people like rob portman, helping people like kelly ayotte. His message to gop leaders is sit down and be quiet. I will do this alone. Hes not moderating his message. Youre responsible for him, arent you . Didnt you make this guy who he is today . Youre not laughing. Donald trump, yeah. You can write this book. You have had the deal with him in close range. We have not. We interview him. I take notes. Youre always with this guy. I think lately hes ran out of hunch. That is trouble. He is a brilliant stand up guy in terms of synapsis. Its old stuff. Thank you. Go ahead, your thought. Here is what breaks through. I think there is something that breaks through what youre calling that bubble. This chamber that he lives in. Thats when it reaches a critical mass. After the judge curiel comments, when you have people like newt
gingri gingrich. That is what gets through donald trump. Im not going to talk about it anymore. There is a point that things get through to him. He has to build and build. Yeah, to penetrate. Have a nice weekend. Coming up, nearly one week after the deadliest mass shooting in u. S. History, that was orlando, one year after the deadly massacre at a church in charleston, South Carolina, will lawmakers on capitol hill get tough or interested in gun safety laws . Democrats have forced votes but republicans are still not willing to act. With trump at record high unfav unfavorability, could 2016 be the year a Third Party Candidate makes a mark on the president ial election. Be hardball round table to tell me something i dont know. Finally, the incredible documentary series o. J. , made in america is shining a bright light on the simpson murder
case. The film maker is here with us tonight. This is hardball, the place for politics. Or small. First to go. Or best for last. Sweet. Or not so sweet. Whether s tossed. Or twirled. If its easy prey. Or plays hard to get. Every last crunch, sprinkle and drip. Should be as clean as it is delicious. Panera. Food as it should be. Trusnumber one doctor recommended dulcolax constipated . E dulcolax tablets for gentle overght relief suppositories for relief in minutes e dulcoand stool softenerstle for comfortable relief of hard stools. Dulcax, designed for dependable relief
it looks like the path is clearing for senator marco rubio to run for reelection. Today u. S. Congressman david jolly of florida dropped his bid for the Senate Opening space for rubio to get into the race. He wasnt planning to run for reelection but after getting bounced from the white house race after losing florida back in march, hes been reconsidering his political future. Well be right back. Speclly blended for your optimal nutrition. Thats right, i just changed a word in the english dictionary, forever. Planters. Nutrition starts with nut. Atp, we empower anyone to stop a job if setng doesnseemight, so everyone comes home safely. Because safetys never being satisfied. And always working to be better. The Presumptive Republican nominee says Hillary Clinton will abolish the Second Amendment. Her plan is to disarm lawabiding americans abolishing the Second Amendment and leaving
only the bad guys and terrorists with guns. She wants to take away americans guns and admit the very people who want to slaughter us. Let them come into the country. We dont have guns. Let them come in. Let them have all the fun they want. Senator bob casey of pennsylvania. Is this the time were going to get safety measure on guns, something that protects us from terrorists . Chris, i sure open so. Were going to have an opportunity to vote or four measures. It will be two issues. A bill that will finally close all the loopholes on the background check issue. I hope that would be the subject of consensus. I hope republicans will join us in that. The second one will be rather new approach which speaks more to the orlando problem where we had the fbi engaging with this
individual. They didnt have enough evidence that rose to the level that they could use for an arrest. It gives the Justice Department more authority than they do under law now to be able to prevent an individuals or suspected terrorist in and they believe or have a reasonable belief will use a firearm in connection with terrorism. If it meets that twopart test, you can deny them the firearm. I think thats the right thing to do. Not only to prevent an orlando type circumstance but others as well. We all understand that. Youve understood that. The question is, at one point does that right, that Second Amendment right help terrorists. In other words, people that most cases on the watch list, no fly list arent even americans. Why would a gun owner want to protect the rights its questionable whether they are rights as somebody not here as citizen and poised as perceived
as a threat to this country, why would you want to protect their rights to buy a gun . It makes no sense. Its as simple as can be. If youre too dangerous to get on an airplane, you should be too dangerous to have a firearm. I hope this is the week we can finally make progress on that issue as well. Chris, i think ultimately, we have to take a series of votes. We should be taking a series of votes. Certainly not all this coming week, but over the next weeks and months. To put people on record and show the American People we have a sense of urgency about this problem that leads to 33,000 people being killed every year and have the same sense of urgency after 9 11 where the country said were no longer going to allow a terrorist to get on an airplane and fly plane into a building and kill thousands of americans. We did that. We havent eliminated all terrorism but we have taken that problem off the table. We need the same sense of urgency on gun violence thats killing 33,000 americans. Thank you so much. Today marks the oneyear anniversary with a gunman opened fire at a Historic Black Church in charleston. Lets watch. I struggle to answer why. Why my loved ones and so many other people have been killed. Along with so Many Americans i was baffled at how the shooter was able to get his hands on a gun and how we lived in a country filled with so much hatred. Wow. President obama delivered the eulogy for the reverend, a
victim of the mass shooting last june. The president broke out and sang amazing grace. Here he is. Amazing grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me he hit the notes, didnt he. First of all, i have to start with joshua because i read your book every day. What is, its a great way to start the day. It gives you a spiritual reading every day. Theres so much going on. Hell is all over our country right now. Its about race, sexuality, islam, radical islam. Theres so much hatred flying around right now. There is, chris. Your thoughts. Weve got both policy problems but we also have heart problems in this country right now. We have become callous. We have forgotten what its like for our hearts to break for o other people who are mourning and we have to remember what it means to empathize. If we cant wrap our minds around the pain of a mother or father who lost their son or daughter in a nightclub in orlando or a black family who is still mourning a year later after what happened in
charleston, then were never going to fix this. We have to learn how to have our hearts break again and connect with the pain of other people. Thats got to be the first thing and no amount of tinkering around the edges of policy will fix this until we fix our human hearts. Thats a good point. What a gay club, a nightclub, where a lot of people from different cultures would have a negative attitude toward a place like that existing find themselves sympathizing with the people there as americans and human beings, fellow christians in most cases. They look at them and go thats us getting hit. Theres such a swirling question about what is us, what is they. Its Something Else. A black church gets hit and black men get shot by police. This is a very bad time in terms of trying to find the us. Your thoughts, sir. It is bad time. It seems to continue to get worse. In South Carolina and around the world as we watch the charlesto