We expect nancy pelosi at the podium gearing up to defend the health care law. A fight they are eager to have after the Trump Administration renewed it this week. The gop will never stop trying to destroy the Affordable Health care of americas families. That comes as were hearing more about the battle inside the administration over this. With two key cabinet secretaries reportedly opposing the move to ask courts to invalidate obamacare. We have new reaction from one of those agencies and for a little perspective here, a new poll shows 55 of americans, more than half of americans support improving, not replacing the countrys health care system. Nbcs Geoff Bennett has the latest developments in capitol hill. Kelly odonnell is at the white house, and geoff, let me start with you. I understand that Susan Collins has come out and talked with reporters about her take on this. Thats right, hallie. She called this a huge mistake. Shes referring to this effort by the Trump Justice Department to now back the full repeal, the full takedown of the Affordable Care act. Youre hearing that sort of thing from republicans who arent as closely politically aligned with President Trump. But for democrats, in talking with the democrats here on the hill for the past couple days its like the Mueller Report is last weeks news. They are making a hard pivot to health care. Seizing on the political opportunity afforded to them by the Trump Administration. Democrats see this as a political winner since they campaigned on health care and theyll lead up to the midterms and effectively flipped the house. They are new rolling out legislation that would beef up the aca in two ways. One, theyre going to extend more people to more families. Help with paying the insurance premiums and theyre going to try to reverse the damage done to the law both by the Republican Congress and by the Trump Administration over these last several years. Nancy pelosi referred to the damage as sabotage. To give you a sense of the mood here on the hill what democrats are saying, take a listen to chris coons and congresswoman sherry bustose. Stripping away that Key Protection by the Trump Administration will proov unpopular. We dont need to pivot. We have been having these hearings and talking about health care. Reporter for republicans while the repeal and replace rally cry has been around for law, for those who worry the consequences could be colossal. President trump was on the hill and said republicans are going to be the party of health care, but i had a republican on the show yesterday who said listen, theres no clear plan for republicans when it comes to the idea of protecting things like preexisting conditions. The preplacement piece has always been the trouble spot for republicans in this era. They have been largely united about wanting to strip away obamacare in the earlier phase, but the longer a program of this magnitude is in place, the harder it is so sell it to the public who has adjusted to what the law provides and doesnt provi provide. So when the president says the republicans will be the party of health care, that may be a bu Bumper Sticker he wants for his reelection, but there isnt anything to back it up. They might have enjoying a longer victory laugh after the findings that appear they did not have to take sweeping action to try to knock down the health care law, especially without policy prescriptions. Remember, when both chambers were in the hands of republicans, they couldnt come up with a replacement. Theres Division Within the Republican Party about what health care should look like in a Public Policy sense. So this is a curious topic for the president to take on at a time when it has been one of the strongest issues for democrats. Thats right. Kelly odonnell, Geoff Bennett, thank you. Kelly, ill see you at the white house in a moment. Let me bring in Elissa Slotkin of michigan. Congresswoman, you got into politics, ran your race because of the Affordable Care and your position on it. I want to ask you what is your confidence that this law will survive the Court Challenge by the Trump Administration . I dont know. Were going to do everything in our power to make sure it doesnt pass. Politics aside, theres 20 Million People who are at risk of losing their health care. I think were going to do everything in our power. We just had a meeting on it as a bunch of freshman members. Were going to fight it. It just continues these attacks on our health care. And its not hearing what people are telling washington which is we Want Health Care particularly for people with preexisting conditions. Can you tell me more about the meeting with your fellow freshman . What did you talk about . Whats your strategy moving forward . Well, i think we got together and wanted to make sure we understood the history on the lawsuit. Since some of us most of us as freshman came in on january 3rd, there are a bunch of Senior Member who is wanted to make sure we understand the history and how we got to where we are and some of the undermining of the aca thats gone on for a long time. We introduced a series of bills to shore up the aca, and i think just with everything going on, people wanted to understand the history. I had a chance to talk with republican whip Steve Scalise at the white house yesterday. I asked him about this idea that politically this may be an uphill battle for republicans. I want to play you his response. Watch. Sure. Democrats see this as a winning issue. They point to the midterms as proof of that. Democrats under pelosi want for government control can. Its freedom versus washington control over things in their lives. Let families choose. Congressman scalise, his line is essentially democrats want too much government control. New polling shows more americans support are you worried your party risks going too far on this issue . Well, i think the most important thing that came out of the aca, separate from the governments role was we decided as a nation if you had a preexisting condition, you deserved health care and not to be penalized for something you were born with. I think we as a country have gotten over that hump. Thats an important part of the aca. Im not worried about the party going too far. There are lots of ideas out there. We believe that people deserve access to health care they can afford. I feel ferirmly about that. There are lots of ways to do that. The most important thing is to get the principle right. All people deserve access to care. Two quick questions. On the Mueller Report, you have cautioned that any action before the full Mueller Report is released could be a problem. Are you worried other members of your party are moving too fast on this . Im thinking of Rashida Talib . Thats lots of people calling for impeachment before the Mueller Report came out. I was more judicious about that. I want to see the spire reporar. I have a lot of respect for Robert Mueller. We have to see the whole thing. We voted, democrats and republicans to see it. Weve got to see it. Im not going to make a judgment before i get to read it for myself. Last one, quickly here on patrick shanahan, you were at the hearing he was on on the hill defense one has a new interview in which shanahan is really making a case to be the next defense secretary. Should he be in your view . I was a the the Defense Department for many years. Weve gone 86 days without a nomination. We need a Permanent Defense secretary. Thats the responsibility of the administration is to nominate someone. If its mr. Shanahan, lets have the conversation. If its not, lets move. Its not right to keep it in an acting status. Thank you very much for joining us. I appreciate it. Let me bring in shana thomas and betty woodruff. Wtf is wrong with them. Republicans horrified as trump goes after obamacare again. The quote is the gop officials would not help but marvel at the trumps inability to enjoy a rare grace period. How about a few more victory laps on mueller while you can get away with it. Wtf is wrong with them . The issue is they say they just got shellacked in the mid terms. They believe a big part of the reason that they lost so many seats is because of the health care issue. Do they see that in Steve Scalise refused to acknowledge that with me yesterday. Sometimes people say things publicly that dont match what they think. What . They all know look, this is an issue that they could have won on and they won on for multiple election cycles after the Affordable Care act passed. After republicans controlled both chambers of congress and the white house for two years, they couldnt get anything significant done on health care. And the polling shows where americans are on this. The polling shows and as everyone pointed out 2018 shows. Also you have things like states like idaho and nebraska expanded medicaid in the last election cycle. Now, their state governments are trying to change some of that stuff around a little bit, but thats a conservative states and people going to the polls voting for republicans at the top. Fine. And still wanting to expand medicaid. This is not necessarily a winning issue. You know, i had a democratic operative chat me last night basically gleeful about the fact that the president has made this an issue as well. And one thing he said is like, you know, we talk about preexisting conditions. Very popular with people. But you know what else is popular . The fact that kids can stay on their Health Insurance until theyre 26. Theres an entire generation of kids who has that experience now. Were going to have more on the topic. Were going to have more with both of you. We want to get to developing stories happening right now including this one. Lawyers for Jussie Smollett back in court after that kind of wild plot twist decision to drop all the charges against the actor. Let me bring in Miguel Almaguer who has been following this story from the beginning. Theres supposed to be a court hearing. We dont expect to see smollett, but we expect to see his lawyers happening this hour. Whats going on . We know the case is going to be expunged. His lawyers want the information sealed. The Police Department is looking to get the information to the public. As you know yesterday they said they have an incredibly strong case. They were outraged that the Prosecutors Office did not consultant with them before dropping and dismissing this case. All 16 felony counts. Including those who were outraged was the mayor. Heres a listen to what he had to say earlier this morning. How did all the sudden this reverse out of nowhere like a bolt on lightning. This looks like because hes a person of influence, an actor, he got treated drchtly than anybody else. Theyd better get their stories straight. This is making a fool of all of us. The mayor and the Police Department just furious with prosecutors after deciding to drop all these cases. All these charges. They dont know what to do now. They are dismayed by what has happened here. Whats the time line . I think theres people going what in the world happened here . Why did this happen . How could this have happened . Do you get of sense of when there might be answers to that . Could this hearing thats about to go on, could that help . The prosecutor has already tried to lay out why he made this decision. Its just not going over well. Essentially what hes saying is that the charges here didnt werent serious criminal charges. The Prosecutors Office handles murder cases and violent crimes. Hes saying for what was perpetrated here, that this actor should not face serious jail time. He says hes not exonerated, but he shouldnt face any jail time. Miguel almaguer, thank you. The showdown that got really personal really fast as a top trump official tried to defend defunding the Special Olympics. We have new reaction just in from the department of education. Were going to share it with you. Plus barbara bush unfiltered. A book explains how the former first lady really felt about the president , including new details like what she had on her bedside table until the day she died. Now is the perfect time for a toothpaste like the new pronamel repair. This toothpaste takes it to the next level. It takes minerals and it drives it deep into the tooth surface so that we can actively help repair weakened enamel. I do think dentists are going to want to recommend the new pronamel repair toothpaste. Its such an easy answer and it will do exactly what their patients need. Make ice. D be mad at tech thats unnecessarily complicated. But youre not, because you have e trade, which isnt complicated. Their tools make trading quicker and simpler so you can take on the markets with confidence. Dont get mad. Get e trade. Whooo want to take your next vacation to new heights . Tripadvisor now lets you book over a hundred thousand tours, attractions, and experiences in destinations around the world like new york from bus tours, to breathtaking adventures, tripadvisor makes it easy to find and book Amazing Things to do. And you can cancel most bookings up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. So you can make your next trip. Monumental read reviews check hotel prices book things to do tripadvisor its our confident forever plan. Welcome to our complete freedom plan. Its all possible with a cfp professional. Find your certified financial planner™ professional at letsmakeaplan. Org. We are back with a busy day on capitol hill watching all of it. Including two top Trump Officials testifying. We have house and Senate Democrats also Holding Events on Climate Change and a sweeping anticorruption bill. Were monitoring it and will bring you any news. Were also talking about the stunning new biography of barbara bush that reveals just how much she did not like donald trump. So much so that she kept a counterdown clock ticking down the days, hours, minutes, and seconds until the end of his term on her bedside table until the day she died. Thats in the upcoming book from susan page. Barbara bush, thats just one of the many surprising and very candid details revealed in a new excerpt. So fierce, mrs. Bush suffering from congestive Heart Disease blamed trump for what she called a heart attack after comments like this about her son, jeb. Bush is 1 of nevada. Why doesnt he just go home . Go home. Go home to mom. And candidate trump famously mocking jeb bush and belittling him during the primary. Hes like low energy. She said she was hesitant for jeb to enter the race. A feeling she shared on today. There are other people out there that are very qualified and weve had enough bushes. She said she was so alarmed by trump, she eventually agreed jeb should run and campaigned for him in New Hampshire. Hes decent and honest. Hes everything we need in a president. According to the book, her dislike for trump went back decades. In her diaries from the 90s which she made available for the book, bush describes trump as greedy, sell fish and ugly. She was, quote, dismayed by the nations divisions and by the direction of the party she had worked for so long. Telling page in one interview, i dont understand why people are for him. And in another, she expressed astonishment that women could support him. Mrs. Bush con vifiding she no longer considered herself a republican. That was Andrea Mitchel who is joining us onset. Shawna and betsy are back with us as well. A lot of details you laid out that susan writes about. You covered the former first lady during your days at the white house. He was a big defender of the bush family and brand. Are you surprised by some of the details being revealed here . It was during her last six months of life she was already ill, congestive heart failure. She just opened up. She trusted susan page having known her for many decades and opened up her diariediaries. Who would have thought that donald trump offered himself up to George Herbert walker bush in 1988 to be his running mate as Vice President . You know, there was this whole issue and he said no. Yes. Here this guy, this real estate guy from new york is saying ill be your running mate . Not surprisingly, he said no. Its interesting that she in her declining years no longer considered herself a republican. Thats interesting. And i think that was a stunning acknowledgment. Thats why this matters. Because of how stunning it was. Barbara bush was one of the most recognizable faces of the Republican Party through two presidencies. She was the matriarch of one of the leading gop families. Now shes saying i no longer consider myself part of that party. Consider this has the first mother of one president , wife of another since the adams family. So thats how far back you have to go back in american history. There would not be a more republican woman than her, descended from another pr