Americans pull together, and we are one country. And can President Trump heal the divide within his own party . This is mtp daily, and it starts right now. Good evening. Im katy tur in new york, in for chuck todd. Willi welcome to homtp daily. Our country could use historical unity. Diving into the politics in a moment, but lets start with what is now Tropical Storm irma exiting florida after impacting the entire state from the keys to the panhandle, jacksonville and the northeast part of the state receiving recordsetting flooding in the wake of irma. Rain combined with a storm surge caused water to spill over the banks of the st. Johns river. Flood levels along the river surpassed the previous high recorded in 1864. The city ordered people to stay inside amid the surge today and to fly white flags outside their homes to signal for help. Floridas governor said river flooding is the greatest risk left to the state. Southern georgia and eastern alabama are currently experiencing the diminished force of irma with winds now in the neighborhood of about 60 miles per hour. High winds and rain impacting South Carolina as well. Over the weekend irma left a path of destruction in cuba, where government officials reported ten fatalities. The area around naples was among the hardesthit parts of florida this weekend with around six feet of storm surge which was still less than the 15 feet expected. The city of tampa was also bracing for a severe hit but emerged without the catastrophic damage residents feared. Youre looking at an aerial shot of key west here. More than 6. 5 million customers state wide lost power. Tom bossert said returning power to the state is a main priority and the restoration effort will be the largest of its kind in u. S. History. He also warned floridians about returning to their homes too quickly. Now, though, the message is not to rush reentry. There are still dangerous conditions downed, electric lines, flood conditions. Problems that would be compounded by your reentry. Listen to local officials not only about reentry. And praising efforts throughout the storm and sizz h says his is read to get things on track. Got to keep everybody safe. Get hospitals back open. Fuel back here. Got to get roads opened. Get everybody electricity back and i cant tell you anybody thats not workings my experience is, everybody is working their tail off, and unfortunately everybody has to be patient. Its going to be a lot of work to get it done. Morgan radford is in jacksonville, florida, where theyve been dealing with record flooding in the aftermath of irma. Morgan, we talked a few hours ago as the water was just starting to rise again. What are you seeing now . Reporter take a look at this, katy. We said the waters were expected to rise four to six feet and have already seen them rise just in the past few hours. Look behind me here. Thats actually the st. Johns river. This was a pier just yesterday. A pier. You could see a park bench behind me. No longer exists. Ly crested over. We spoke with somebody that lives on the lefthand corner. We didnt expect waves to enter the fourthfloor windows of peoples homes. This car completely ruined. Waters kwh actually pushed it from its parking space. Its like were at the beach. No divider, barrier, between the waters and this residential area. This is a lowlying area in jacksonville. This whole area from here to downtown has completely been flooded. Thousands of people are now without power. Earlier, katy, we were in gainesville, florida, where we started our morning. There about 50,000 people were out of power in that county and 21 shelters set up. Remember, thats the university of florida territory. When those students are in session theres about 160,000 residents, and the primary shelter there was at capacity. Students had been encouraged to bring their parents so that they, too, could receive safety. As we traveled from gainesville to get leer to jacksonville, stopped on the side of the road. I saw a woman whose house was completely flooded. Stranded standing on her front porch. We put our waders, does she need anything, water, food. We managed to get to her front door. She said im here with my two daughters. Something completely different about being responsible for yourself, when youre taking care of the life of your child and ensuring their safety is a different level of anxiety and spron responsibility. Those were the stories wed been hearing all through central florida. They took a mattress and create add safety zone inside her own people. People are trying to get power resto restored, some trying to get out of their own apartments. This water was swirling in front of homes earlier. People getting a firsthand look at the devastation after Hurricane Irma. Katy . Morgan radford in jacksonville. Stay safe. Turning now to tonights big political news. Weve gotten to the point where its a big story when the forces pulls us together seem to be greater than those pulling us apart. President trump typically feeds off division and relishes any opportunity to alienate critics, but two natural disasters and the anniversary of september 11th, today, seemed to have changed that calculus, at least temporarily. He cut a deal with the Opposition Party to Fund Disaster relief, gave them a potential bargaining chip to save daca in the process. Hes going to visit florida in the wake of irma and today he commemorated one of this nations most somber moments. When americans are in need, americans pull together. And we are one country, and when we face hardship, we emerge closer, stronger, and more determined than ever. So here at this memorial with hearts both sad and determined, we honor every hero who keeps us safe and free, and we pledge to Work Together to fight together and to overcome together every enemy and obstacle thats ever in our path. Somber moments. Yes, there is ample reason to be very, very cynical, given the president s track record, but there is also ample reason to believe that he is relishing this rare moment of unity and bipartisanship. The senates top Democrat Chuck schumer got a call from the president and was practically gushing about all the Favorable Press Coverage after announcing a deal to find hurricane disaster relief, but will it last . Because it rarely does. That deal came at the expense of mr. Trumps only Republican Leadership who got rolled during negotiations by they are own president. Those Republican Leaders are seemingly growing increasingly frustrated with mr. Trump, because he, and some of his allies, seem to be waging a Public Campaign against them. Like this the republican establishment is trying to nullify the 2016 election. Thats a brutal fact we have to face. Who . I think Mitch Mcconnell to a degree paul ryan. They do not want Donald Trumps populist economic nationalist agenda. To be implemented. At the same time, politico reports that bannon is plotting primaries against Senate Republicans who are up for reelection next year, including these three establishment republicans. Dean heller of nevada, jeff flake of arizona and bob corker of tennessee. That is music to democrats ears in those states who would love nothing more than a raging gop civil war. But that merely papers over the Democratic Partys broader problem. Struggling to figure how to deal with trump, and you have to wonder how much appetite either base is going to have when it comes to cutting deals with the other side. Im joined now by republican congressman tom reid of new york, who is the cochair of a Bipartisan Group of nearly 40 members called the Problem Solvers Caucus. Congressman, thanks so much for joining us, first off. Youre cochair of the Problem Solvers Caucus. Are you doing that because you dont necessarily believe that this congress can get things done with the current leadership that is in place . No. We started the Problem Solvers Caucus because i think theres a hunger here amongst members both on the democrat and republican side saying enough is enough. Time to govern for the American People. And thats what we committed ourselves to in january and i think what the president did here last week was brilliant. He is, reached out to the other side and i think theres going to be an appetite for many to say were willing to govern. Doesnt seem like theres an appetite among Republican Leadership. Mitch mcconnell doesnt seem pleased with the deal made with Chuck Schumer. Do you have full faith in Republican Leadership, paul ryan, Mitch Mcconnell right now or full faith in President Trump . Well, you know, i support our speaker and Mitch Mcconnell in their efforts. End of the day you have to govern. Right now the track record for us isnt that positive. Its fair criticism. On congress. To get things done. Thats what were about. Because were an alternative to a partisan path, that, to me, the best legislative path anyway for American People. Thats the center of the country from which we operate from. Does the president have full faith . Willing to work with anybody with an ability to govern and want to govern. Not necessarily republicans right now . Right now weve had difficulties getting our agenda pushed forward and represented by the Health Care Debate unfold in the senate the way it did. Now is not the time to look backward but forward. The American People, this president represents and the opportunity to govern for them. What do you make of Steve Bannons war on republicans, war on Republican Leadership right now . I think he, take him at his word what hes trying to engage in and trying to do in regards to that. Those who are in the obstruction mode who dont want to govern, cant deliver results for the American People will have to answer for constituents. Why i want to be a voice those willing, the rise of the governing members to say enough is enough of this partisan gridlock that gripped this city. What about this this idea that the republican establishment is trying to nullify the 2016 election as steve bannon alleges . I wouldnt leave it at the republican establishment. My seven years here demonstrated the status quo wants to keep the grip on the policies of yesterday. Theres a reason why. They are the establishment in the static quo on both sides of the aisle. What will happen, well see leaders rise up like us on the Problem Solvers Caucus saying enough it that. Its not working for people back hell, who we represent and need to govern for. Congressman, do you consider yourself a republican or more of a trumpicht for laest . Lack of a better word . I represent individual power. Lower burdens for people on their daytoday lives. The philosophy i bring to the table but willing to be pragmatic say 70 of a loaf is a victory, not a defeat. Thats the difference between governor members and those beholden to extremes. What about more moderate colleagues in congress that are talking about retiring. Jongman dent, wychered, ross litman. Those folks known to reach out to the other side, known to make bipartisan deals saying, enoughs enough and im not running for reelection . I respect each members individual decision, whether or not to run and represent folks here in washington, d. C. This is at times very frustrating. We share frustration with the American People. If e want to be part of the solution and stay here we need to demonstrate leadership and lead and govern for the American People and thats what well try to do forward doing 230erd. Find more hardline conservatives . Freedom caucus hasnt been apt to deal with the other side. Steve bannon doesnt seem to be going after the Freedom Caucus, more of the more moderate ring of the republican party. Are you concerned that the Freedom Caucus and folks like them are going to get more power here and thats going to make the gridlock in washington even more acute than it is at the moment . Katy, a fair point, but extremism on both sides of the equation, both on the left and right im concerned about. The more we go into screened camps the less is done for the american. I. Why well be a voice to govern and bring people together. Would you support a deal to save daca in exchange for Border Security . That is i think a natural deal thats come into be and discussions underway. A lot of energy to try to put together a position that we can take. So i think theres a natural deal when it comes to Immigration Reform that can find that solution, because Border Security is a 70 issue. Daca 70 issue and both fundamentally right for purposes upon when they stand. Putting that deal together takes leadership. What were all about. Sounds like thats a yes . I would be open to a conversation along those lines as long as we take care of our Agriculture Community same time. Additional issues to be addressed putting this together, too. Problem solvers have a plan for health care. Does the white house support it . Weve been talking with the white house most importantly seeing in the senate from our efforts as Problem Solvers Caucus comes to stabilizing the marketplace. Lam Lamar Alexander and the Health Department having meetings as we speak. Not taking on the big issue of health care, we need to continue the conversation and get Health Care Costs going in the right direction. A longer term conversation and a lot of effort and appetite for those types of reforms. Congressman, thank you for coming. Always good to have you on the show. Thanks for having us on, katy. More on the republican divide ahead. Meanwhile, continuing to monitor Tropical Storm irma. Bring you any new updates as we get them and you can say up to date on the storms track on our website, nbcnews. Com. More mtp daily, right after this. Weve heard damage all through the night. Come out this morning, let the dogs use the bathroom and seen all the damage. Thank god it didnt get grandmas car or the house. So far were safe. Out of power right now. So hopefully everything will be back up and running soon. With 33 individual vertebrae and 640 muscles in the human body no two of us are alike. Life made more effortless through adaptability. The perfect position seat in the lincoln continental. Its ok that everybody ignoits fine. N i drive. Because i get a safe driving bonus check every six months im accident free. And i dont share it with mom right, mom . righhht. Safe driving bonus checks. Only from allstate. Switching to allstate is worth it. Where back. Still learning extent of the destruction in the caribbean and florida from Hurricane Irma. Pictures out of the region, though, are tough to see. Some people lost everything, an entire region that will need years to rebuild. Many people want to know what they can do to help. Here are just a few organizations helping in the relief effort, and heres how to get involved. Volunteer florida is looking for individuals to work in the states shelters and donations to keep them stocked. You can sign up at volunteerflorida. Org. The crowd soliciting website global giving has a 2 million goal for funding relief to survivors and longterm recovery assistance to the residents of the region. Former nba allstar tim duncan set up a Fund Offering assistance in his native u. S. Virgin islands. Pledging 250,000 of his own money and matching, matching funds up to 1 million for all donations. You can join tim duncan at youcaring. Com 21usvirginisland relieffund. Your phone, text irma to 90999 to chip in 10 to the American Red Cross. Find an expanded list of Relief Organizations on nbcnews. Com. Remember, every little bit helps. Reminder, though, the center for International Disaster information says that in situations like these, monetary dontations to a trusted Relief Organization are much more helpful than donations of stuff. Be right back with more mtp daily after this. Is guy. Check it out selfappendectomy oh, thats really attached. Thats why i rent from national. 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