Overheard. The lead writer of the story standing by for us. Plus with the iran matter swirling, we meet trumps Fourth National security adviser, by all accounts appointed in the nick of time. And one of our guests tonight believes the democrats are headed for big trouble if they ever let what happened yesterday happen again. All of it as the 11th hour gets under way on a wednesday night. Well, good evening once again from our nbc news headquarters here in new york. Day 972 of this trump administration. And as we said, we have a big story in the Washington Post tonight. It involves a whistleblower complaint from inside the administration that the intelligence Inspector General considers credible and urgent. Tonight the post puts it this way, saying this whistleblower complaint involves president Trumps Communications with a foreign leader according to two former u. S. Officials familiar with the matter. They go on to write, trumps interaction with the foreign leader included a promise that was regarded as so troubling that it prompted an official in the u. S. Intelligence community to file a formal whistleblower complaint with the Inspector General for the Intelligence Community. This is obviously potentially explosive. Greg miller, Washington PostNational Security correspondent, is the first name in a threepart byline tonight. He has made himself available to us. Greg, what is the finite list of foreign leaders our president could have been talking to in this case . Well, this complaint, this whistleblower complaint, comes in the early part of august. And if you look through the white house records, trump had interactions with about four or five foreign leaders in the weeks leading up to this complaint. Perhaps the most relevant one is a late july, end of july conversation with Vladimir Putin in which the white house readout was very different from the russian readout afterward, in which the russian government indicated they saw some sort of progress toward restoring bilateral relations between the two countries. But there were others too. He was also interacting with the north korean leader, with the Prime Minister of pakistan, and a couple of others. But i think its safe to say that the speculation is going to center on putin and on kim jongun. Now, i do know that in the s modern era, there have been traditionally in the National Security shop in the west wing, there have been phone listeners, sometimes notetakers, sometimes analyst to recount what went on. That is a way of doing business, though, not all the time. Is there reason to believe there is a permanent record of the conversation because, absent that of course, opens the door to deniability. Right. So there almost undoubtedly is a record of this call. Calls made by president s out of the oval office to foreign leaders are always witnessed. There are always others who participate or witness or record the calls, take notes. In previous administrations, those notes would end up being distributed across the National Security community to keep other people and other Government Employees apprised of what was discussed and what was decided. This white house has curtailed that practice significantly in part because of a story i wrote early in trumps presidency in which he disclosed classified information to russian officials in the oval office. What is the short lesson on whistleblower laws . I know they are written for a reason, and that is the hope that no matter who the person and no matter how explosive the charge, it is supposed to, if its working correctly, bubble up and make its way to the appropriate audience. And in this case, in this rare case, a first in the memory of veterans on capitol hill, this case has been blocked from being heard, correct . Thats right. So far, the director of national intelligence, the nations top intelligence official, is refusing to disclose details about this whistleblower complaint, saying essentially that there are other equities here, that this involves the communications of somebody who is not who doesnt work for me basically. So that has led to some speculation that this might be trump. And we were able to confirm that today. I think its important. One other thing you just said, brian, is very important, which is that this is really, if not uncharted territory, then pretty close to it. Youre basically were sitting on a story where an official who works for the u. S. Intelligence community is troubled enough by what the president of the United States has said in a call with a foreign leader, that he went to the Intelligence Communitys Watchdog Agency to report it. We commend this article to the attention of our viewers. Look for this mans byline. The first of three, a big team working on this for the Washington Post. Greg miller, thank you so much for finding the time to talk to us about it tonight. As we continue, donald trump tonight has made his first move to punish iran after that weekend strike on saudi arabias oil industry. In what passes for official communications these days, he told secretary of the treasury to, quote, substantially increase sanctions on the country of iran. Trumps secretary of state, who is in saudi meeting with officials at the kingdom, came out with his provocative assessment while talking with reporters. This was an iranian attack. We were blessed that there were no americans killed in this attack, but any time you have an act of war of this nature, theres always risk that could happen. So he tossed out the phrase act of war. Today the saudi government revealed what they said were the remains of iranian cruise missiles and drones used in the attack while u. S. Intel reportedly indicates the strike originated from iran, they deny all responsibility. The possibility of military action against iran came up as the president continued his fundraising swing through california. He remembers the one who said the u. S. Is locked and loaded. And he took a different line from his secretary of state today. Are you looking at a military strike . Well see what happens. There are many options as you know, phil. There are many options. Theres the ultimate option, and there are options that are a lot less than that. And well see. Were in a very powerful position. Right now were in a very, very powerful position. When you say the ultimate option no, im saying the ultimate option meaning go in, war. Im not talking about that ultimate option, no. You saw the man standing with the president today. And as we mentioned, trump chose today to introduce his Fourth National security adviser, robert obrien, a californian, a lawyer by trade. He has been the state departments chief hostage negotiator. He will replace john bolton, who left the administration a week ago. He did a tremendous job on hostage negotiation, really tremendous, like unparalleled. I think we have a very Good Chemistry together, and i think were going to have a great relationship. Obrien worked with bolton. Hes been known to hold similar views, especially with regard to iran, russia, and china. New york times has an indepth look at obrien. They write together, quote, his friends all cite an affable, ingratiating personality that has earned him allies throughout the trump administration, notably including secretary of state mike pompeo and mr. Trumps soninlaw and adviser Jared Kushner, both of whom supported his appointment. Questions remain about whether mr. Obriens background has adequately prepared him for the myriad challenges of his new job. Around the same time trump was introducing obrien, john bolton was getting a little revenge. A report in politico now confirmed by nbc news said bolton slammed trumps willing in is to meet with the taliban as house guests at camp david saying it, quote, sent bolton was speaking at a closed door event in new york. He reportedly said any negotiations with north korea and iran were, quote, doomed to failure. Bolton did not mention his former boss by name, but late today, trump was asked about bolton. I was critical of john bolton for getting us involved with a lot of other people in the middle east. John was not able to work with anybody, and a lot of people disagreed with his ideas. Guys like bolton and others wanted to go into iraq, and that didnt work out too well, all right . That didnt work out too well. That was a horrible idea, and i put him in anyway. And frankly everybody knows, if you move wrong, he wants to you know, he doesnt realize that you get stuck. You get stuck. And they got stuck, and im unsticking it. There you have it. And we turn now to our leadoff discussion on a wednesday night. Michael crowley, White House Correspondent for the new york times, covering Foreign Policy. Anita kumar, White House Correspondent and associate editor for politico. And franco ordonez, White House Correspondent for npr, veterans all. Good evening to you all. Anita, id like to begin with you. The last thing we just heard was trump versus bolton. Just about everybody expected bolton to get a big advance and write a book and make his charges there. This is a rather quick turnaround, and it strikes me this could get ugly in a hurry. Oh, i think we saw it get ugly on the first day, on the day of the firing, right . Remember they were back and forth on who got fired, if he got fired, and i think that sort of signaled to us that he was that john bolton was not going to leave and be quiet about this. He is definitely going to be a thorn in the president s side as this goes forward. He is going to express his views. He is going to let everybody know what he thought was good and what was bad. You know, it will be an interesting thing because we see a lot of people who do leave. Some end up writing books. Some end of kind of going quietly, but its clear that yoebl is going to continue to talk. Michael crowley, if youre old enough to remember the top of our broadcast tonight, i want to read this reaction from neal katyal to this whistleblower story. This is going to be huge. Doj and administration are contorting themselves backwards to try to hide this. Truth will come out. There are probably tapes and transcripts documenting a gross abuse of power by trump. Going to be ugly. Enablers should all face consequences. Michael, whats your read on just how ugly this could get . Well, i think i think greg said that, you know, were looking at uncharted territory. How many times have we said that in this president . Were in uncharted territory. Or as we call it, wednesday. Its amazing how we and yet theres still these constantly, unique, new variations on the theme where you say, wow, this one really is we havent seen anything quite like this before. This feels like it do really be it. What can i say, brian . I want to know so much more. I want to know was it Vladimir Putin . What was the magnitude of this promise . But i think that the story what i can say with some confidence, its turned a corner now. Weve got a little more clarity on just what was going on. It was sort of bubbling beneath the surface. Its going to be topic a all day tomorrow. You know, if it really is something that implicates the president , were going to start hearing from him. I mean this president in the last few weeks does not stop talking. He talks to reporters multiple times a day. He will be addressing this tomorrow, and i will be fascinated to see how he handles it. Hey, michael, give me the 30second thumbnail of the new National Security adviser. Interestingly as people pour through his bio, californian, educated at good schools, grew up a catholic, became a mormon later in life. Yeah. And, look, people really love this guy. People who have worked closely with him, i mean i was just struck by how easy it is to find friends of his. In fact, in our reporting todays, i had colleagues who were working on other stories who were calling people about unrelated things, who were saying, i know this guy and i love him. Even National Security professionals didnt know who he was, but it turns out that he is just wired up particularly in republican circles and trump world circles, and people love his personality. And the question is, you know, is he prepared for the intensity of this job . I mean he is an accomplished lawyer. He has had this very challenging job as a hostage negotiator. Those are tense, difficult negotiations. But the interagency process, if hes going to run it the way its traditionally done and youre dealing with the Intelligence Community and the military, diplomats, foreign leaders, managing the president , managing big egos, that is an enormous challenge. I dont know that hes had that kind of managerial experience or that real depth of experience in government and Foreign Policy. But at the end of the day, it may be that getting along with President Trump better than john bolton and h. R. Mcmaster did and getting along with other people in the administration, notably including mike pompeo and Jared Kushner is sort of the key to success, at least by the relative standards internally of this administration. Franco, the fourth guy, same job, 28 months. What does it say about talent . Well, it says that its very hard for them to keep the talent. I mean President Trump has gone through these National Security advisers very quick and in historic fashion, and obrien is coming at a tough time. Not only is it a tough time in the world with issues with iran, north korea, and china, but also theres issues at home, at the National Security council. Were reporting today that theyve had a hard time with morale and trying to keep talent because more and more people fear that going to the nsc is going to kind of taint them as a political operative. This is the kind of thing obrien is going to have to confront and deal with and try and regain some support and kind of a rallying cry to get people because they provide so much positive and Important Information for the president. Franco, please assure us that there are career and military staff, that there is a machinery of the nsa within National Security within the west wing and that job one for him is going to be getting his arms around that. I mean certainly there is, you know, that machinery that its there. There are republicans and democrats in the office doing that work who still believe in supporting the president , in supporting the opinion, giving him all the information that he needs to make the right decisions. But theres no question that from the people that im talking to, theyre also having a harder time getting the best of the best talent. This is a position where it was one of the most prestigious in Foreign Policy circles. But now as i said earlier, people are afraid of being tainted as political operatives. Theyre worried that they may have to say no to an ambassador, and years later when they go back to, say, the state department or their other agency, that may come to haunt them. Anita, the comment by senator Lindsey Graham that iran would take this as a sign of weakness if we did not hit back and even perhaps on behalf of the kingdom, what an interesting kind of soft trolling of his good friend, the president , who was forced to react to that today. Yes. Senator Lindsey Graham knows how to get under President Trumps skin. He clearly knew what he was saying and felt like he wanted to break with the president. Obviously the two are very close. They talk frequently about a variety of issues. And hes an important ally to President Trump in the senate. The Senate Judiciary chairman on so many issues. But yes. You saw the president s response to that. He pushed back on senator graham, said it was not something that he he was mistaken and it was actually a sign of strength, not weakness. He felt like he needed to respond to that. And weve seen that over and over with President Trump. When he is criticized, he pushes back no matter who is doing the criticizing. So he felt like he needed to say that. He talked about the sanctions. And well see if theres anything else. You know, i talked to some people today who were saying, you know, this is what this Trump Presidency is like. Its possible he will go ahead with these sanctions as he mentioned, and then hell move on to something else, at least for the time being. So its unclear whether he plans on doing more. In that respect its only wednesday after all. Three of our returning veterans on this breaking news night. To michael crowley, anita kumar, franco ordonez, our thanks for coming along for the ride. And coming up for us, nancy pelosi has a message to her fellow democrats on impeachment, and she doesnt care who leaks it. And it did. And later, ken burns is here to talk about his new documentary on the past and the future of Country Music. The 11th hour just Getting Started on a wednesday night. Ss been omitted to avoid spoiling this is us for the few who havent seen it. Season 4 of this is us is almost here. To catch every past episode, just say this is us into your xfinity voice remote. Like the one where i. [ buzzer ] or the one where we show. [ buzzer ] when he was a. [ buzzer ] plus you can watch this is us anywhere with Xfinity Stream app. Espec