two sources familiar telling nbc news that donald trump is sitting this debate out, opting instead to sit down with tucker carlson as a way of counter programming the debate hosted by fox news. meanwhile, his republican opponents are following all over themselves to make an impression on voters without attacking we try some beast, four-time indicted former president. one strategy? a quote unquote pro desantis super pac posted a memo online, highlighting some must do was for florida governor ron desantis that includes offend donald trump and show emotion. it ll fail that one miserably. joining me now is by saturday morning power political panel. i m calling it the capacity to corner, really. former congressman carlos curbelo, and fernando monte, both are msnbc political analysts. it is the cafecito quarter. i don t have any cafecito for you. gentlemen, we are on the cusp of the first republican primary debate. i ll start with. you the desantis campaign