WEBVTT 00:02.000 --> 00:03.933 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% WILLIAM BRANGHAM: And it's the beginning of the week, and so we are joined now by our 00:03.933 --> 00:08.033 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% regular Politics Monday duo, Amy Walter of The Cook Political Report and Tamara Keith 00:08.033 --> 00:09.433 align:left position:40%,start line:89% size:50% of NPR. 00:09.433 --> 00:10.833 align:left position:20%,start line:89% size:70% Welcome to you both. 00:10.833 --> 00:12.066 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% AMY WALTER, The Cook Political Report: Thank you. 00:12.066 --> 00:14.100 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% TAMARA KEITH, National Public Radio: Thank you. 00:14.100 --> 00:15.600 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% WILLIAM BRANGHAM: Before we get to Alabama and policy and all that stuff, let's talk 00:15.600 --> 00:18.433 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% about Sean Spicer and his little cameo last night on the Emmys. 00:18.433 --> 00:22.133 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% For those who didn't see it, he comes out, and it seems like he's trying to poke fun 00:22.133 --> 00:25.933 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% at his first day of the job, President Trump's inauguration. 00:25.933 --> 00:30.933 align:left position:10%,start line:71% size:80% He comes out and, all evidence notwithstanding, he says that president had the biggest audience 00:32.033 --> 00:34.566 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% ever in the entire history of the universe. 00:34.566 --> 00:37.233 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% And then that was his declaration. 00:37.233 --> 00:40.266 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% And he pointed his finger at the journalists and told them, report this. 00:40.266 --> 00:45.033 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% Last night, during the Emmys, Stephen Colbert is wondering about the size of his audience. 00:45.033 --> 00:46.433 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% And out comes Sean Spicer. 00:46.433 --> 00:48.166 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% Let's take a look at that. 00:48.166 --> 00:49.266 align:left position:30%,start line:89% size:60% (LAUGHTER) 00:49.266 --> 00:52.566 align:left position:20%,start line:89% size:70% (CHEERING AND APPLAUSE) 00:52.566 --> 00:57.566 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% SEAN SPICER, Former White House Press Secretary: This will be the largest audience to witness 01:04.533 --> 01:08.466 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% an Emmys, period, both in person and around the world. 01:08.466 --> 01:10.466 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% WILLIAM BRANGHAM: What do you make of that? 01:10.466 --> 01:12.333 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% AMY WALTER, The Cook Political Report: You know, this is life imitating art. 01:12.333 --> 01:14.333 align:left position:40%,start line:89% size:50% Right? 01:14.333 --> 01:18.333 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% He was actually channeling Melissa McCarthy, who you see there, who was making fun of him 01:20.266 --> 01:22.533 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% in her "Saturday Night Live" skit. 01:22.533 --> 01:27.533 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% Look, this, to me, is a sign about where we are more broadly as a culture, which is, there 01:29.333 --> 01:33.033 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% is no such thing as having bad publicity or notoriety. 01:33.033 --> 01:34.566 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% You can always cash in on it. 01:34.566 --> 01:36.600 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% And it's very short-lived. 01:36.600 --> 01:41.600 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% So, the name Sean Spicer is one that most people know today. 01:43.266 --> 01:46.266 align:left position:20%,start line:77% size:70% It's hard to know that it's going to be the same a year from now. 01:46.266 --> 01:48.166 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% So, take it while you can get it. 01:48.166 --> 01:50.133 align:left position:20%,start line:89% size:70% Take it to the bank. 01:50.133 --> 01:53.300 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% A lot of other Trump supporters, his former campaign manager, for example, got fired, 01:53.300 --> 01:57.066 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% and then ended up as a CNN commentator, is a lobbyist now. 01:57.066 --> 02:01.733 align:left position:20%,start line:77% size:70% So, people trying to use their cache while they can here in Washington. 02:01.733 --> 02:03.000 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% WILLIAM BRANGHAM: Tam, what do you think about this? 02:03.000 --> 02:05.800 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% Is this us not being able to take a joke? 02:05.800 --> 02:10.800 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% Or is this us, as many people have argued, that we're being encouraged to chuckle at 02:12.833 --> 02:15.166 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% the idea that it's just fine for the press secretary to lie to the American people? 02:15.166 --> 02:19.600 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% TAMARA KEITH: Well, this is Sean Spicer's rehabilitation tour, his image rehabilitation 02:19.600 --> 02:21.600 align:left position:40%,start line:89% size:50% tour. 02:21.600 --> 02:24.966 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% He also went on the Jimmy Kimmel show, and then today, in an interview with The New York 02:24.966 --> 02:29.966 align:left position:10%,start line:71% size:80% Times, said that he regretted that press conference where he came out and told reporters, report 02:31.066 --> 02:32.166 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% the facts that were not the facts. 02:32.166 --> 02:34.233 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% They were alternate facts. 02:34.233 --> 02:38.266 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% And that was sort of the original sin of his entire time as press secretary. 02:39.733 --> 02:41.766 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% He came out and said something that was unverifiably untrue. 02:41.766 --> 02:46.366 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% And it led to further questions about whether what he said was true, whether what was said 02:49.200 --> 02:53.533 align:left position:10%,start line:71% size:80% from the podium in the White House press Briefing Room, which has typically had some connection 02:53.533 --> 02:58.533 align:left position:20%,start line:77% size:70% to reality, whether that could be trusted from this administration. 02:59.766 --> 03:00.533 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% WILLIAM BRANGHAM: Some connection to reality. 03:00.533 --> 03:02.466 align:left position:30%,start line:89% size:60% I love that. 03:02.466 --> 03:06.500 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% OK, let's talk about the runoff next Tuesday in Alabama, very big Senate runoff race. 03:07.233 --> 03:08.700 align:left position:20%,start line:89% size:70% AMY WALTER: Right. 03:08.700 --> 03:10.233 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% WILLIAM BRANGHAM: Roy Moore and Luther Strange. 03:10.233 --> 03:12.233 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% What is at stake in that particular race? 03:12.233 --> 03:14.866 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% AMY WALTER: Well, these are two Republicans that are challenging each other. 03:14.866 --> 03:19.866 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% And what's interesting here is, it is the choice between which Alabamans are going to 03:20.466 --> 03:22.933 align:left position:30%,start line:89% size:60% like more. 03:22.933 --> 03:26.433 align:left position:10%,start line:71% size:80% Or their choice is between loving Trump more or whether they dislike Mitch McConnell more. 03:29.766 --> 03:31.900 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% That is what they get a choice between. 03:31.900 --> 03:34.333 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% Roy Moore is the outsider. 03:34.333 --> 03:37.900 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% He is a former state Supreme Court judge. 03:37.900 --> 03:42.900 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% He has been kicked off the bench twice now, but he's running as the anti-establishment, 03:44.233 --> 03:46.633 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% anti-Washington firebrand. 03:46.633 --> 03:51.500 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% Luther Strange is in a Strange position, which is, he's been endorsed both by Donald Trump, 03:51.500 --> 03:54.933 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% and Donald Trump is coming down on Saturday to campaign for him. 03:54.933 --> 03:58.466 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% But he also has the support of Mitch McConnell and the leadership. 03:58.466 --> 04:03.033 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% So, really, what we're looking for here is, how strong is the Trump connection? 04:03.033 --> 04:08.033 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% Can support from Trump, the president, coming down, giving outward, in this case a rally, 04:09.966 --> 04:13.500 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% outward support, enough support to overcome what voters' reticence, especially in a place 04:15.433 --> 04:18.900 align:left position:20%,start line:71% size:70% like Alabama, for the establishment -- Roy Moore, polling has shown him ahead, some by 04:19.766 --> 04:21.266 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% bigger margins, some by smaller. 04:21.266 --> 04:23.866 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% So, Luther Strange, who is the incumbent right now -- he was... 04:23.866 --> 04:25.933 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% WILLIAM BRANGHAM: The interim. 04:25.933 --> 04:29.866 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% AMY WALTER: ... the interim here, replacing Jeff Sessions, starts off as the underdog. 04:31.500 --> 04:34.133 align:left position:20%,start line:77% size:70% The real question for Republicans, what really is at stake, two things. 04:34.133 --> 04:38.866 align:left position:10%,start line:71% size:80% One, if Roy Moore wins and comes to the United States Senate, the fear from Republican establishment 04:40.300 --> 04:42.933 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% people like Mitch McConnell is, he's another rogue agent. 04:42.933 --> 04:45.600 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% They have very few votes that they can lose. 04:45.600 --> 04:47.400 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% They only have a 52-seat majority. 04:47.400 --> 04:50.033 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% They can't afford somebody else who goes off on his own tangent. 04:50.033 --> 04:55.033 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% And the second is, it may encourage, if he succeeds, it may encourage other candidates 04:56.200 --> 04:58.300 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% to challenge sitting Republican incumbents. 04:58.300 --> 04:59.833 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% That's not something they want to deal with. 04:59.833 --> 05:02.033 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% WILLIAM BRANGHAM: So, Tam, the president can read the polls. 05:02.033 --> 05:06.766 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% He must know, even if he prefers Strange, that he might be backing the guy who ends 05:06.766 --> 05:08.800 align:left position:30%,start line:89% size:60% up losing. 05:08.800 --> 05:11.766 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% Like, why is the president -- why is he willing to risk capital on this? 05:11.766 --> 05:16.233 align:left position:20%,start line:77% size:70% TAMARA KEITH: I haven't quite figure that out, to be perfectly honest. 05:16.233 --> 05:18.266 align:left position:20%,start line:89% size:70% It's a big question. 05:18.266 --> 05:22.233 align:left position:20%,start line:71% size:70% And the other thing is, President Trump is doing what Mitch McConnell wanted him to do, 05:23.666 --> 05:25.833 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% which is endorsing Strange and working for Strange. 05:25.833 --> 05:30.833 align:left position:20%,start line:71% size:70% But the flame keepers of President Trump's, you know, agenda, the Steve Bannons, the Sean 05:33.966 --> 05:38.000 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% Hannitys, they have all endorsed Moore. 05:38.000 --> 05:43.000 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% And so it's this really bizarre fight for, you know, who is the really -- the true Trump 05:45.066 --> 05:49.833 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% candidate, the guy who Trump endorsed or the guy that all of Trump's allies endorsed? 05:51.800 --> 05:55.433 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% And I don't know how this is going to turn out and what it will mean for President Trump's 05:56.166 --> 05:58.300 align:left position:20%,start line:89% size:70% political capital. 05:58.300 --> 06:02.133 align:left position:20%,start line:71% size:70% The interesting thing is, in this case, he's for the incumbent, whereas, in some other 06:02.133 --> 06:05.666 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% states, he's talking about wanting to primary the incumbent Republican. 06:05.666 --> 06:06.666 align:left position:20%,start line:89% size:70% WILLIAM BRANGHAM: Right. 06:06.666 --> 06:07.666 align:left position:30%,start line:89% size:60% AMY WALTER: Yes. 06:07.666 --> 06:08.866 align:left position:20%,start line:89% size:70% WILLIAM BRANGHAM: Right. 06:08.866 --> 06:10.866 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% Let's talk about health care quickly. 06:10.866 --> 06:13.966 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% The GOP, it seems like, are taking one last stab at putting the dagger in the Affordable 06:13.966 --> 06:16.966 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% Care Act with the Graham-Cassidy bill. 06:16.966 --> 06:18.200 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% Why are they pushing for this? 06:18.200 --> 06:20.400 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% AMY WALTER: It's about a deadline. 06:20.400 --> 06:23.933 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% That's usually what gets people motivated in Washington, is, they look and they see, 06:23.933 --> 06:26.033 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% we only have a certain amount of time. 06:26.033 --> 06:30.000 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% In this case, September 30 is the last day that Republicans can pass a health care bill 06:30.000 --> 06:33.633 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% with just 50 votes under this reconciliation deal. 06:33.633 --> 06:35.733 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% After that, they have got to get 60 votes. 06:35.733 --> 06:39.233 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% So this is really the time to be able to do this. 06:39.233 --> 06:44.233 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% Talking to folks who cover this today, there is a great deal of skepticism that this is 06:45.066 --> 06:47.000 align:left position:30%,start line:89% size:60% going to happen. 06:47.000 --> 06:50.733 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% It's pretty clear that the folks that held out on the first version, John McCain, Lisa 06:50.733 --> 06:54.633 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% Murkowski, Susan Collins, Rand Paul, are not committed to this. 06:54.633 --> 06:59.633 align:left position:20%,start line:77% size:70% Rand Paul has already come out publicly and said he's not for it. 07:01.733 --> 07:05.566 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% So, still, I wouldn't say it is impossible, but it's -- the odds are longer. 07:06.766 --> 07:08.766 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% WILLIAM BRANGHAM: Last to you, Tam. 07:08.766 --> 07:11.900 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% On the Democratic side, you have seen Bernie Sanders has been pushing his Medicare-for-all 07:11.900 --> 07:14.366 align:left position:40%,start line:89% size:50% plan. 07:14.366 --> 07:17.600 align:left position:10%,start line:71% size:80% We just saw Hillary Clinton express some skepticism about that, sort of implying that it wasn't 07:17.600 --> 07:19.633 align:left position:30%,start line:89% size:60% that realistic. 07:19.633 --> 07:22.833 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% But yet a lot of Democrats, including many who are thought of as 2020 contenders for 07:22.833 --> 07:25.100 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% the presidency, are signing onto this. 07:25.100 --> 07:27.900 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% So, why are they risking capital on something that may never go anywhere? 07:27.900 --> 07:31.300 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% TAMARA KEITH: Well, and Bernie Sanders says this bill is not going anywhere. 07:31.300 --> 07:36.300 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% They, I think, see this as a way to send a signal, to say that they care about health 07:36.766 --> 07:38.266 align:left position:40%,start line:89% size:50% care. 07:38.266 --> 07:39.700 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% And they're not talking about what's practical and pragmatic. 07:39.700 --> 07:42.766 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% They aren't at that stage yet. 07:42.766 --> 07:45.333 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% It's -- 2020 is a long way off. 07:45.333 --> 07:48.833 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% WILLIAM BRANGHAM: Tamara Keith, Amy Walter, thank you very much. 07:48.833 --> 07:49.833 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% AMY WALTER: You're welcome. 07:49.833 --> 07:50.366 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% TAMARA KEITH: You're welcome.