WILLIE GEIST (GUEST HOST): It wasn't just the usual Republicans who are willing to be critical of President Trump; [Sen.] John McCain [(R-AZ)], [Sen.] Jeff Flake [(R-AZ)], [Sen.] Bob Corker [(R-TN)] and those. It was the leadership, which has been reluctant to criticize the president. The question is, was it a one-day criticism to get him to do what he did yesterday, and they can wash their hands of it and say, “See, we were openly critical of the president on this,” or will they follow on and make sure that Russia and the president are held to account when it comes to this story?
EDDIE GLAUDE JR. (PRINCETON UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR): Well, if our previous experience is any indication of what they're going to do, this is a one-off. They're not going to do anything much after this, right? So I think it's important to understand that Republicans -- after Charlottesville, they didn't want to be marked with racism, didn't want to be seen as racist. And in this instance, they don't want to be seen as unpatriotic. So it makes sense that in both those two instances that a number of Republicans would come out and be strong and have a visceral reaction to Trump's comments. But what will follow from that is very different because as soon as Senate Majority Leader [Mitch] McConnell [(R-KY)], in the first press conference, said something about Russia, he immediately pivoted to the judges. Right? [Sen.] Lindsey Graham [(R-SC)] just said missed opportunity, he didn't appreciate it. And then [Sen.] Marco Rubio [(R-FL)], “He clarified matters, but now we need to get to X, Y, and Z." They're already pivoting. So I think this is going to be business as usual.
