Two members here seen. One in blackface and one dressed as the kkk member. Northam did not clarify which one he was in the photo. He plans to finish his term. He said that photo is racist and offensive and tweeted a video of his apology. That photo and the racist and offensive attitudes it represents does not reflect that person i am today or the way i have conducted myself as a soldier, a doctor and a public servant. I am deeply sorry. I cannot change the decisions i made, nor can i undo the harm my behavior caused then and today. I accept responsibility for my past actions and i am ready to do the hard work of regaining your trust. Calls for a swift resignation including the president of the naacp. 1984 feels like a long time ago. Africanamericans have been treated wrongly by individuals. To have blackface or klan uniform while in medical school is problematic. We should not allow that to take place in society considering the current sense of intolerance from the white house. And joining the chorus for the resignation, the Virginia House and black caucus and the Republican Party of virginia. Also calling for northam to resign. Five of the democrats running for president. Calling it unacceptable. The Richmond Times reports his judgment will impair his ability to act as effective governor. And Governor Phil Murphy believes northam is a good man, but this is clearly disqualifying. Unacceptable behavior in 2019 and just as unacceptable in 1984, number one. Number two, were the party of barack obama. We have a president who wants to divide us. Im a former member of the National Board of the naacp. The kkk was a and is a terrorist organization. I dont see the governor with any other choice. Step aside. Joining me now is the reporter for politico and bloomberg news. And we have joe watkins. Former white house aide to george h. W. Bush. Joe, there is a long list of politicians, including Many Democrats this morning. Democrats calling for northam to step down. What is the likelihood of that happening . He should step down. Democrats and republicans alike are calling for it. This is not about political party. It is about doing what is right. The photo is actually awful. A terrible photo. It sends a terrible message to americans and people of virginia and the governor should have disclosed it as a candidate and given the people of virginia a chance back then to decide whether or not they were willing to forgive him for what he did in 1984. I stand with the naacp. Im a life member of the naacp. From back in the mid80s. I stand with the naacp and their call for him to resign and the legislators from virginia. What do you think . Melanie . This hasnt been 24 hours, but this is blistering. It is a matter of if, not when. Im sorry. When, not if. I think a lot of democrats were waiting to see how he would respond and if he would own up to it or whether he would step aside on his own. After he did issue his statement, you know, he did not clarify which of those costumes he was in, not that it shows. Members of his own delegation in virginia and the naacp and i just think theres a lot of different politics under pinning all of this. Democrats scrutinized Brett Kavanaugh his yearbooks heavily. Number two, democrats are gearing up for 2020. His morals and his ethics. It is difficult to do that when you have a leader of your own party in the neighboring state of virginia who has these racist photos and questionable past. What is interesting, kevin. How did this not get picked up . Melanie makes a point of kavanaugh. Northam went through a democratic primary and general election. How did this come to light now . You know, ed gillespie is asking that question this morning and in the past 24 hours. Racist, racist, racist images. Theres no way this guy can survive. He lost the support. Forget about the politicians. Who cares . This has no realm in the political discourse. The people who is going how is he going to build a coalition when you have literally just, you know, lost the trust of so many people. The question for now becomes when. At this point, this governor is just it appears has lost touch with reality in terms of how he is absolutely trying to navigate. The only way this is ending the navigation is to get out. So, joe, the apology on video there. Does that do anything to allow him to keep his job or when kevin is shaking his head vigorously here. Joe, you think it is melanie saying, when, not if. Too little, too late. Apology did not go far enough. Melanie was right. He did not identify which one he was in the photograph. Do you have any idea which is more damning . They are both atrocious. Why not own it . This is me. Mea culpa. That may have helped more. This should have been disclosed in the campaign for governor. He should have said let me tell you about me. If it had come out then, the voters in the primary and the voters would have had a chance to decide if this is something they could forgive him for. Not now. You know, picking up on that. How does this fit, melanie, into who he is as a politician . He says the photo does not reflect who he is. In terms of what we have seen as a politician, how does it sync up . He called on President Trump to resign after charlottesville rally. He has stood up in the party. I cant speak to what he was like when he was younger. He has been someone highly respected in the party. Cory booker stumped for him. Now a 2020 candidate. He has a lot of support in the party. Obviously that is waning right now. I think at the end of the day, he has to make that decision. Can he be an effective voice Going Forward . Will he kult tcall out the pres and make the judgment calls . I dont think the answer is yes. I think the calls will grow. Especially today. This happened late last night that he finally came out. We will see more next week when freshman lawmakers get back to town. That is when these start to pick up. So as we look ahead, kevin, you have Lieutenant Governor justin fairfax. The lone africanamerican elected to statewide office there. What do we know about him . Would he fulfill the term . He would come in and try to salvage the Virginia Political spheres. I want to make one quick point. The racist act of taking that photo and being in that photo and participating in that photo in 1984. You know, the governor saying it doesnt say anything about who he is now as a person. His response in the past several hours says a lot about his leadership style and leadership ability or lack thereof. So, i think how he is choosing actively choosing to continue to divide folks in wake of this coming to light says a lot about his leadership style. Okay. All three of you, thank you so much. Melanie and kevin, ill talk to you in a few minutes. Joe, you get a coffee break. Ill see you later on. More from breaking news from moscow. Vladimir putin ordering the military to develop new previously banned weapons. This as reaction to the u. S. Announcing it will withdraw from the nuclear arms treaty. We have sara join us from london. What is the latest on this . Reporter alex, good morning. That is right. Just as you said, Vladimir Putin announcing this morning his country is pulling out of the inf treaty. The missile agreement. Moscow claiming this morning that the u. S. Has been violating this treaty since 1999. Now, putin himself described this as a titfortat response one day after the sudsunited st announced it would pull out. The russians have denied violations. Putin said russia will work on creating more missiles. Including hypersonic ones. He told ministers not to initiate disarmament talks with u. S. The inf treaty was signed this is the signed in 1987. This morning, it has collapsed. That is raising fears of a new arms race. Alex. Sarah, i want to clarify. He has, both sides have until augustf until this is null and void. Reporter that is right. A sixmonth period to withdrawal. Both sides announcing the process. If you are a hopeful person, you think they can work something out. Ill legal thave that to you, a thank you very much. Sarah harmon for that. A warning from majority leader to the president. Dont do it. Your mornings were made for better things, than psoriatic arthritis. As you and your rheumatologist consider treatments, ask if xeljanz xr is right for you. Xeljanz xr is a once daily pill for psoriatic arthritis. Taken with methotrexate or similar medicines, it can reduce joint pain. Swelling and significantly improve physical function. Xeljanz xr can lower your ability to fight infections, including tuberculosis. Serious, sometimes fatal infections and cancers, including lymphoma, have happened. 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The president signaling a wall or nothing approach while sitting the stage for the ultimate scenario. On the 15th, the committee will come back. If they dont have a wall, i dont want to waste my time reading what they have because its a waste of time. I would do that. Meanwhile, the Washington Post reporting that mcconneitch mcconnell has cautioned the president. Warning such a call would flight 9525 split the gop. Melanie and kevin are back. Is this a sign that they are willing to reach a compromise deal . Pelosi made it clear. They will give zero dollars to the wall. And if these vehicle barriers along the southern border, that is a different story. Pelosi and other leaders have left that open. That possibility open. Wait a minute. It sounds, melanie, this is a semantics game. The president talking about a wall. He has been somebody who had the 20 to 30 foot high concrete wall. Then slats. Now whatever. Now he is back to the wall. There was a long sense on capitol hill that it could be the key to unlocking the stale stalemate and walk away and trump saying i did get something. Pelosi and democrats saying we did not give him what he wants. The signs i have seen is trump is going back to the hard line position of it has to be a concrete wall. He no longer is open to the idea of fencing or the steel slat barriers. I think that is why at the end of the day, you will see negotiators come up with something that the president cannot support. I think despite the fierce opposition among conservatives, he will try to declare the Emergency Declaration. Oh, thats progress. I said that fetetiously. Why is this different this time around . Look, i was speaking with sources yesterday. Officials in the administration. I think we in the media have set up the false choice in terms of it will be a deal with congress or declare a National Emergency. You could have a situation where the white house gets a deal from congress and then still declares a National Emergency. There are a lot of lawyers in washington. They are looking at this every which way. I truthfully think you could have a twofer in many ways. The bottom line is the chant at the trump rallies is build the wall. It is not build the enhanced fencing or border or drones. It was build the wall. The president is in a political situation where he is virtually going against his base and Speaker Pelosi has proven herself to be effective at keeping the democrats completely aligned. Were at a stalemate. Do you think the president is deterred at all, melanie, by mcconneitch mcconnell that cong could pass this over the Emergency Declaration . One reason he hasnt gone down the path yet is because of the resistance. The close allies been cautioning against him. Their concern is future president s who could be democratic in the future, will use this option to declare emergencies for things like gun violence or Climate Change to get their priorities done. They are worried about the president. Whether he is worried about the Senate Standing up to him in a public resolution, President Trump has shown he is willing to go toetotoe with members of his party. He will issue a vet oo if they through Something Like that. Kevin, you have the 64,000 question. You have three options. Which is most likely to happen . Government shutdown . Trump declares a National Emergency or a deal is reached . I think there will be a deal. I think the president will try to declare a National Emergency even if there is a deal. The twofer you were talking about. Exactly. Mcconnell, leader mcconnell is a master of navigating washington. They advanced the amendment this week that was disapproving of how the white house withdrew troops from the middle east. I dont think the white house really cared. This is just New Territory just a couple of days away from the state of the union. It gives us something to talk about. Thank you. Good to see you, too. The president talks 2020 and who he thinks his toughest opponent will be. In honor of black history month, nbc. Com salutes lisa borders and how she is doubling down on efforts to reach gender parity and also jasmine crowe. You ccan read all about all of the women on nbcnews. Com s nbcnews. Com shethrives. [ doorbell rings ] janice, mom told me you bought a house. Okay. [ buttons clicking ] [ camera shutter clicks ] so, now that you have a house, you can use homequote explorer. Quiet. Im blasting my quads. Janice, look. Im in a meeting. Janice, look. [ chuckles ] look, look. Im looking. Its easy. You just answer some simple questions online, and you get Coverage Options to choose from. Youre ruining my workout. Cycling is my passion. Youre ruining my workout. 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Widespread condemnation and calls for Virginia GovernorRalph Northam to resign after a racist image from the 1984 medical School Yearbook surfaced yesterday. Lets go to White House Correspondent geoff bennett. Could we see him resign . I see you are not at the white house. At the bureau. Reporter alex, good morning. Ralph northam now says the photo in question is clearlies racist and offensive and calls for his resignation have been swift. They are coming from all corners. Including 2020 president ial hopef hopefuls. Northam is resisting the pressure to step down. Overnight, virginias democratic governor apologized for this yearbook photo taken over three decades ago. Saying this on twitter. That photo and the racist and offensive attitudes it represents does not reflect that person i am today or the way that i have conducted myself as a soldier, a doctor and a public servant. I am deeply sorry. Reporter the photo in question appearing on governor Ralph Northams medical School Yearbook page. A man in blackface and another in a kkk robe and hood. Northam did not specify which person he is, but did say he intends to finish his term as governor. The racist image surfaced friday afternoon on a far right web site that often promotes conspiracy theories. Backlash was swift from both sides. Calling for the resignation. The Republican Party and progressive groups and the naacp and democratic president ial candidates. The virginia democrat was already under fire from conservatives after voicing support for a state measure to significantly loosen lateterm abortion restrictions. In this particular example, if a mothe