H Eric Robert News Today : Breaking News, Live Updates & Top Stories | Vimarsana

Clashed with chuck headache gel the outgoing defense secretary, not just over policy but direct access to the president. i mean i've been told by people close to chuck headache gel that one of his great frustrations was that susan rice and others were blocking hagel from getting more direct one-on-one meeting with the president so he could speak his mine on strategy over isis in russia, some of the big national security challenges. one of the big questions moving forward is going to be whether or not ash carter will be able to get that direct access to the commander-in-chief and whether or not...

Unemployment down? you talk about the labor participation rate, that is one of highest levels it has ever been. >> that is 62% of the workforce is actually working. eric: what does that mean? >> of all the 100% people eligible to work, can work, want to work, only 62 out of that 100 are actually working. that is a generational low and that is a very bad number. but look, overall, this is improvement. you ask, can it keep going? can we keep on the uptrend? we've been here before, we thought with this hope, that we're going to get better in the future. we've been here before and those hopes have...

Later. if you look at polling, the public hates the idea of a government shutdown. even if that shutdown is precipitated by the president the public is predisposed to blame rub republicans regardless. this is tough dilemma for the gop. they can't just let this stand. they have to do something even if that involves political risk. eric: what if that boomerangs? if they pick it apart bit by bit will it stand? >> this is great myth nothing republicans can do. you heard the congressman talk about strategists. the answer is republican legislators. write laws. have hearings. ask witnesses to come up...

Eric: well it is almost the moment of truth. the louisiana senate race, it is the final day of campaigning for incumbent senator mary landrieu. he is in uphill battle against her republican challenger congressman bill cassidy. they didn't get more than 50% of the vote in last month's election so the special runoff is tomorrow. john roberts is live in new orleans with more on this. john, voting on saturday, how does it look for mary landrieu? >> reporter: not looking good at the moment. in fact if mary landrieu loses this race, polls suggest she will and badly won't be for lack of trying. barns...

They're feeling good at white house, even though it will be a republican senate very soon they will get him confirmed. interesting, he is a nuclear physicist, a policy wonk by training. he will have to become a war fighter pretty quickly. eric: interesting, considering his scholarly background and issues he has been dealing with. you're right, he will have to transition somewhat. >> reporter: confronting issues. >> we'll get back to president and mr. carter enters the room and everyone sits down and they make the announcement. we'll have it live of course. martha: everybody is gathering in the...