But leading off tonight, mood shift in washington after another week of misdirections and back tracking by trump and his allies. The fate of trumps presidency has entered more unchartered territory with trumps stonewall strategy crumbling and some key figures in the state department spelling secrets against his wishes. As peggy noon of the wall street journal pointed out. President trump has chosen this moment to let his inner crazy flourish dramatically. The fights and meltdowns, the pelosi insults, the urgent letter, and in another sign of a shift, republican leader of the Senate Mitch Mcconnell snow indicating that the impeachment process may take longer than expected and feeling an impeachment trial is all but inevitable. So we ask tonight, will the probable and dramatic impeachment hearings move needle of Public Opinion even more against President Trump . If so, will Senate Members move in the same direction . Joining me now, republican strategist and msnbc political analyst susan del percio, and host of open mind on pbs, alexander hefner. Susan, will the shift that were seeing consistent shift now and Public Opinion on impeachment, will it continue to go against the president , and will that tide take some republican senators with them . It could. And heres why. We see that the president s numbers are in trouble because of syria, because of his actions there, not just with republican senators, but with the public. That is problem, leaving our allies on the ground. He in essence failed if commander in chief test in the last week. So his numbers are hurting him. So the fiveday ceasefire, were just imagining all these air raids . That happened, but at the end of the day we had 300 civilians killed, rev. You cant undo that. When this president said everyones happy, theres no one thats happy except for iran, russia, and turkey. Kurds arent happy, United States shouldnt be happy. We potentially have this affect us at home instead of overseas. We want to keep the terrorists over there, and thats what the kurds were helping us do, fight isis. When it comes to impeachment, it depends what the testimony is, and it also depends on how the democrats handle this. I think they should let a professional investigator or staffer do the questioning versus having members of the house do their own kind of questioning or rating. How have you seen people from the state department testifying against the wishes of this president . This president is used to people being loyal to him. Were seeing people that seem to be to be more loyal to the country than him, something he doesnt seem accustomed to. The native state is an orwellian reality tv show. I agree with susan. You need a professional, someone above the fray, nonpartisan to interrogate these witnesses. Moreover, lets go back to speaker pelosi. I think shes brilliant here. If we can keep this republic intact, as she quoted one of the founders in conceiving of this impeachment inquiry. I think its so important that she emphasize the restoration of constitutional and democratic norms. If that is the thrust of the hearings, and if that is focus of this investigation, then the American People already, over 50 of the American People say impeach him and eject him from the office. So this is a confirmation test. And so far i think the speaker is going back to the core documents that define us as a people. Trumps effort to host foreign leaders at his own resort smacks, again, of this but hes not going to make a dime off it. The fact that the average in that hotel in june in florida is 38 occupancy, hes guaranteed a sold out place because of people using the restaurants and the golf course. But hes not going to make a dime. It would be 60 something percent empty if he wasnt having it there. Hes not going to make a dime, right, just like the kurds are not in jeopardy. Again, its orwellian. What he is saying is projecting falsehoods, the truth we know. In this case of the trump impeachment inquiry, i think it is incumbent upon us as americans to see the seriousness of this mission. For speakers pelosi to focus on the ukrainian for their debacle, a treasonous Foreign Policy that puts russia first and not america first. And then for her also to focus equal attention on violations off emoluments. Whether you have tax returns or not, you can make a case, that will come down to the supreme court. If you dont, its clear hes benefiting professionally from this office. Its an opportunity for the American People to see that the democrats care about domestic security. Trump wants to say that his bravado is making us great again, but no. The constitution makes us great, and i think she has a mandate now to say no, its not you strict constructionists that are adhering to the autocracy. Where are republicans, susan . Mitt romney made a strong statement about syria, blood on your hands. Are we seeing some kind of mounting of some republicans that are beginning to find their backbone . Could we even see a mitt romney eventually decide to give him a primary . Well, i dont think that mitt romney will do that. I dont think hes going to primary President Trump. I dont think any real substantial republican is at the point where they would primary him. It just doesnt make sense because he does have the republican base. But the republicans did speak out on what happened in syria. Mitch mcconnell wrote a fact oped and said the house didnt go far enough in condemning the president s actions. But that was on policy. Thats whats so weird about this president. He has no core sense of values, so he doesnt care if you disagree with him on policy because he doesnt care what the policy is. But on impeachment that affects him and only him and he cares a lot and hell go after it. This is why the republicans have been very careful. If you remember just a couple weeks ago when the whistleblower came out and everyone left town for the break. Right. All house, senate, everyone was quiet, the republicans. They didnt want to say anything. They were happy to be away. Now that theyre back, theyre also trying to be quiet because they never know whats going to come out of this president s mouth or twitter. Or tax returns. This is where i kind of disagree with you a little bit on what to focus the impeachment on. Donald trump was meddling in and seeking aid from a foreign power to meddle in the 2020 elections. That is clear and cut. He said it himself. He asked for china and others to come in. Right. But just that one thing is enough that everyone gets, oh, you dont get to ask foreign powers to come into our elections. Its proactive. Its not 2016, its not people looking back, oh, did he, didnt he . No, he did, and lets go forward. Well, witness number one is donald trump. Witness number two is Mick Mulvaney that stood up there and said, yes, this is politics, get over it. I mean, you have never seen a chief of staff acting or not, stand up there and say, yes, we interfered with an investigation and we tried to hold money from a foreign government, military aid that was already approved by congress. Yes, we did that, and thats how politics is, get over it, even though he tried to moon walk it back later, he said it on tape. This is the acting chief of staff of the president of the United States, alexander. To susans point, yes, transparently you can say unlawful admissions should be an article of impeachment, something as clear as day a violation of the sacred trust of the oath of office that the United States president takes. I dont disagree with you. I think that you can have a second article focused on obstructive measures. You can have a third article that focuses on corruption broadly as its seeping into this administration. But you cant have it all wrapped up before the end of the year. Theres only so much time you have. If you have to make a case for each charge, that will take three times as long if we do it with those three charges versus having just one thing you can present and really try to have it done by the end of the year so that we dont have to deal with it in 2020. An expulsion from the office, the idea of removal from the office is going to come from secretary mathis, secretary tillerson. You think others are going to come forward . If were at a place where republicans are going to deny this presidency, its legitimacy, its not going to be because of the articles but because of what that triggers. I think that you see secretary mathis evolving himself. Very interesting statement the other night at alford smith dinner that i think forecast that he may be forthcoming, susan, with more because as careful and strategic and lets say his way of being the military man that doesnt give a lot, to make a crack like that saying i got my bone spurs on the field and donald trump got it from a doctor was quite a statement to come from general mathis. I also think it was a warning shot. Thats what it served as, i dont think general mathis wants to get into the political fray at all. He would have to say to see a clear and present danger for him to come in he doesnt want to be responsible for the election of 2020. You can see it. He doesnt feel like its his job to do it. I agree whats going to change it is all the testimony. Its going to be the sondland testimony. Its going to be former cabinet members testimony, rick perry. These people are going to have to get in front of the house at some point. Its going to come from the testimony and one more press conference from the acting chief of staff, mulvaney. Just one more might help us get there if thats what were trying to do. Thank you, susan, and alexander. Coming up, senator Bernie Sanders is officially back on the campaign trail following his heart attack last month. Today he was endorsed by congresswoman alexandria ocasiocortez, will that help with his poll numbers . But first, my colleague, richard lui, with other stories were watching this hour. Richard . Thanks, rev. Here are the stories that we are watching this hour for you. Let me start with this. It lost its Tropical Storm status, but nestor is still battering parts of the gulf coast, packing 45mileanhour sustained winds and bringing heavy rain. Nestor made landfall east of panama city, florida. Forecasters are saying that florida, georgia, and parts of the carolinas can expect search inches of rain over the weekend. Police officers near seattle say they prevented a massacre. They seized a gun arsenal from a suspected leader of a neonazi group, 24yearold caleb james hull was not charged with any crime, but under red flag laws, police are allowed to confiscate guns for people deemed to be a risk for themselves or others. More politicsnation with reverend al sharpton right after this. The way it works best for you, ill take that. Wait honey, no. When you want it. You get a delivery experience you can always count on. You get your perfect find at a price to match, on your own schedule. You get fast and Free Shipping on the things that make your home feel like you. Thats what you get when youve got wayfair. So shop now i thats the retirement plan. E, with my annuity, i know there is a guarantee. Its for my family, its for my self, its for my future. 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At xfinity, were here to make life simple. Easy. Awesome. So come ask, shop, discover at your xfinity store today. I am more ready than ever to help create a government based on the principles of justice, economic justice, racial justice, social justice, and environmental justice. [ cheers ] to put it bluntly, i am back. [ cheers ] senator Bernie Sanders marked his official return to the campaign trail earlier today at a rally appropriately called bernies back held in Long Island City in new york. The event was hosted by new york representative alexandria ocasiocortez who works endorsed sanders at the rally. Joining me now is former ohio state senator, nina turner, national cochair for the Bernie Sanders 2020 campaign. Nina, hes back, seems to have a lot of enthusiasm from the crowd and seemed passionate himself. He did, rev. He was back in his element and people were really feeling the vibe. We had almost 26,000 people attend that rally at last count. Seems as though to listen to him today he was never on pause. Their concern about his health, will that, in your opinion, despite the debate the other night in ohio, will that concern affect him, you think, with the polls and with some of the voters particularly in the early states . I dont think so, rev. I mean, the senator, if he could not do this, he would not do this. Hes continuing on the path for the people. When folks see him, as you mentioned how he was on the debate stage talking the same talk about standing up for the people and going up against a corrupt system, what he did on that stage really illustrates that hes back. Hes but an about an in some polls slipping and Elizabeth Warren gaining. How do you respond to the surge of Elizabeth Warren . Polls go up, polls go down. It happens for most, i wont say for all the candidates, but it happens. The truest poll is the poll on election day. Well keep our eyes on the prize. There are other measures that show the instruct hers strength. We have as a campaign 3. 3 million donations that have come into this campaign. Volunteers made 1. 3 million calls in the five early states. And the senator has a true revolution, 1 million adorns. Headrest surpassed any other candidate in fundraising in that mari manner, even President Trump. Thats where their heart is too. Ive known you a long time. Youve been one that has worked the Africanamerican Community and the broader community. Where Bernie Sanders has been slightly under water is in the black community. Even today, most of the crowd was white. Were seeing Elizabeth Warren starting to gain in the black community. How is he going to address that . Rev, there were rainbow mosaic if you will at that rally today. Her polling better with the Africanamerican Community, an essence poll recently came out that had the senator with 18 to 34 years old, he polled better than both Vice President biden and senator Elizabeth Warren. 18 to 34 . Even in 2016 he received 5 million more votes across the ethnic spectrum. We introduced the millennials and zs. Hes been the South Carolina about ten times, 55 events. Were working hard to earn the vote of the black community as well as other communities. Let me ask you this. Following Hillary Clintons comments surrounding russian interference in Tulsi Gabbards response. Im just catching up with the foolery thats going on. Keep your head up. Does that comply the bernie people will be supporting tulsi in this fight, and do you risk looking like the left is, again, going to be dissatisfied if they dont win the primaries and, therefore, some sit it out as people accuse the Sanders Campaign of in 16. Not at all, rev. More of senator Bernie Sanders supporters voted for secretary clinton than her supports, as you know, voted for thensenator obama in 2008. People are going to go out to vote. Your voice is your voice, so dont give it up for anything. Even though biden is the winner people have to go vote. Bernies supporters will enthusiastically vote . Rev, you said enthusiastically. No candidate can transfer their voters, first of all, we will not get to that, but youre going to hear senator Sarah Sanders say what he said in 2016. He was on the trail with secretary clinton and did more event for her than she did for obama. Obama won. I got it rev. Theres a lie thats being permeated and continues to be that senator sanders voters voted for the secretary than her voters voted for thensenator obama before he became president. So lets be clear about that. In terms of congresswoman tulsi gabbard, we went through a red scare in the 50s under mccarthyism. It is wrong for people to level that stuff at the congresswoman with no proof. We know what people do do malign somebodys reputation. Shes served this nation, still serving this nation in the military. Dont come at her like that or any candidate. But i do believe and i agree with brother van jones when he put it out there that some of this is revenge for her supporting the senator in 2016 and really calling out the dnc. Its wrong. So whoever we support, we must never go that far and start to red bait. Russia being a threat to this country is real in terms of what they did in 2016, but to lay it at the feet of congressman gabbard is sad. Thank you for being with us. This week we lost a man that Speaker Nancy Pelosi called Congress North star. Coming up next, we remember the life and career of the late, great, Elijah Cummings. Are we facing possibly two more years of him as chairman even though its against their own party rules . Reverend, i really dont know, but that