Lawrence: Donny 2 Dolls Trump's cruelty ignores little girl who asked him to 'make Barbies cheaper'

Summary

Podcast Episode Summary: "Donny 2 Dolls: Trump's Cruelty Ignores Little Girl Who Asked Him to 'Make Barbies Cheaper'"

Release Date: May 2, 2025
Host: Lawrence O'Donnell, MSNBC

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Introduction

In this compelling episode of "The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell," host Lawrence O'Donnell delves deep into the multifaceted repercussions of former President Donald Trump's latest policies and statements. Drawing from his extensive background in political operations and media production, O'Donnell provides a comprehensive analysis of Trump's actions, their impact on American society, and the broader implications for the nation's future.

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Trump's "Donny 2 Dolls" Statement and Its Ramifications

At the heart of today's discussion is President Trump's recent and widely criticized comment regarding the affordability of Barbie dolls. O'Donnell narrates how Trump's remarks, intended to justify his tariff policies, instead highlighted the administration's disconnect from everyday American citizens, especially children.

Notable Quote:

“Donnie2Dolls used the furor created by the stupidest thing ever said about Christmas by a president of any country to mask the first firing in the second Trump White House.”
[03:01] Lawrence O'Donnell

Trump's assertion that "maybe the two dolls will cost a couple of bucks more than they would normally" was not only perceived as callous but also became a symbol of his administration's failure to grasp the economic distress caused by his tariffs. O'Donnell emphasizes that this statement resonated deeply with the public, particularly young girls and their families, illustrating the tangible effects of Trump's policies on ordinary lives.

Impact on Media and Public Perception: O'Donnell points out that even Trump’s favored New York Post couldn't ignore the backlash, labeling Trump's comment as the "COVID of today's New York Post." This metaphor underscores the severity and widespread negativity generated by Trump's statement, signaling a significant shift in public and media sentiment.

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The Fallout of Trump's Tariff Policies

Expanding beyond the "Donny 2 Dolls" incident, O'Donnell examines the broader economic implications of Trump's tariff strategy. The tariffs, aimed ostensibly at protecting American industries, have inadvertently strained small businesses, increased consumer prices, and disrupted international trade relations.

Business Challenges: Rick Waldenberg, CEO of Learning Resources, underscores the devastating impact of these tariffs on his company. As tariffs inflate costs, Waldenberg reveals the unsustainable financial burden placed on businesses, leading to inevitable price hikes and potential relocations of manufacturing operations.

Notable Quote:

“I was turned into a tax collector. The tax that we are expected to pay is many times our annual profit.”
[40:23] Rick Waldenberg

The episode highlights alarming statistics from the toy industry, where a significant percentage of manufacturers are canceling orders or facing bankruptcy due to increased costs and supply chain disruptions. This trend not only threatens the viability of small businesses but also jeopardizes the accessibility of affordable goods for consumers.

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Incompetence in Trump's National Security Apparatus

A pivotal moment in the episode is O'Donnell's critique of Trump's handling of national security, particularly focusing on the recent dismissal of Mike Walz as National Security Advisor. Drawing parallels to President George W. Bush's handling of Hurricane Katrina, O'Donnell paints a bleak picture of administrative incompetence and its dire consequences.

Notable Quote:

“Donald Trump enjoys sounding cruel. Donald Trump enjoys sounding threatening.”
[24:30] Lawrence O'Donnell

O'Donnell details how Walz's involvement in a compromised group chat led to his ousting, emphasizing the lack of preparedness and foresight within Trump's national security team. The discussion underscores the broader theme of systemic failures and the chaotic decision-making processes that undermine national security.

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Senator Adam Schiff on the Judiciary Nomination Crisis

The episode features an in-depth conversation with Senator Adam Schiff of California, shedding light on the stalled confirmation of Trump's nominee for U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, Ed Martin. Schiff articulates the grave concerns surrounding Martin's associations and professional conduct, particularly his ties to individuals with extremist views.

Notable Quote:

“If you place a vote for this nominee, it would attach those Hitler worship comments to [Senators Cruz and Hawley], throughout their political careers.”
[35:34] Adam Schiff

Schiff criticizes the Republican-controlled Senate Judiciary Committee for delaying the nomination, citing Martin's anti-Semitic remarks and lack of prosecutorial experience as primary reasons. This segment highlights the internal conflicts within the Republican Party and the broader implications for Trump's political legacy.

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Interview with Rick Waldenberg: Business on the Brink

Rick Waldenberg joins O'Donnell to provide a firsthand account of the distressing effects of Trump's tariffs on his business. As CEO of a leading educational toy company, Waldenberg discusses the financial strain caused by inflated costs and the uncertainty surrounding future operations.

Notable Quote:

“Pretty obvious I've been turned into a tax collector. The tax that we are expected to pay is many times our annual profit.”
[40:23] Rick Waldenberg

Waldenberg articulates the precarious situation facing businesses nationwide, where exorbitant tariffs force companies to either absorb unsustainable costs or pass them onto consumers, thereby exacerbating economic inequality and stifling entrepreneurship.

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Federal Judge's Ruling Against Trump's Use of the Alien Enemies Act

In a significant legal development, O'Donnell reports on a federal judge's decision to permanently bar the Trump administration from invoking the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 for deportations. This ruling marks a critical setback for Trump's immigration policies and underscores the judiciary's role in checking executive overreach.

Notable Quote from Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr.:

“Thus, the Proclamation's language cannot be read as describing conduct that falls within the meaning of invasion for purposes of the Alien Enemies Act.”
[43:05] Lawrence O'Donnell

The judge's comprehensive analysis highlights the unconstitutional application of the act, emphasizing that Trump's proclamations lacked any legitimate basis for classifying Venezuelans as "enemy aliens." This legal victory serves as a testament to the resilience of democratic institutions against authoritarian impulses.

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Conclusion: The Sinking Presidency and Future Implications

Lawrence O'Donnell wraps up the episode by painting a dire picture of Trump's presidency, characterized by cruelty, economic mismanagement, and administrative incompetence. He underscores the growing public awareness and understanding of the detrimental effects of Trump's policies, even among the youngest Americans.

Final Thoughts: O'Donnell posits that Trump's inability to empathize with ordinary citizens, combined with his aggressive policy stances, has led to widespread disenchantment and opposition. As the administration grapples with internal turmoil and external pressures, the episode underscores the urgent need for accountability and strategic leadership to steer the nation towards stability and prosperity.

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Key Takeaways:

• "Donny 2 Dolls" symbolizes the disconnect between Trump's policies and their real-world impacts, particularly on vulnerable populations.
• Tariffs have inflicted significant harm on small businesses and consumers, leading to economic instability and increased prices.
• Administrative Incompetence within Trump's national security team has raised serious concerns about national safety and governance.
• Judiciary Oversight continues to play a crucial role in restraining executive overreach, as evidenced by the ruling against the Alien Enemies Act invocation.
• Political Fallout within the Republican Party highlights internal divisions and potential long-term ramifications for Trump's political allies.

This episode serves as a sobering analysis of the current state of American politics under Trump's influence, offering listeners a thorough and nuanced understanding of the challenges facing the nation today.

Transcript

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[Lawrence O'Donnell]

I'm Lawrence O'Donnell and welcome to the Next hundred days. It was a very bad day in the presidency of Donald. Donald Trump had to get rid of the first big player in this White House that he has had to get rid of. That was today. And today a federal judge appointed by Donald Trump ruled against Donald Trump. It's a turning point. We are at a turning point. Heck of a job, Brownie. That was a turning point for George W. Bush. When President Bush said that to his FEMA director in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans. Everyone knew that Brownie wasn't doing a heck of a job. And the Bush administration's response to that disaster was in itself a disaster. And that was a turning point in the perception of the competence of the Bush administration. Donnie two Dolls arrived at what might be the most memorable turning point in his presidency when he himself expressed the damage his tariffs are doing in terms that any child in America could understand, especially a girl hoping for a Barbie for Christmas. What Donald Trump said about that yesterday became the lead story on this program last night and went viral today and today. Donnie two Dolls used the furor created by the stupidest thing ever said about Christmas by a president of any country to mask the first firing in the second Trump White House. Last night on this program, with the generous approval of David Chase, the brilliant creator of the Emmy winning HBO series the Sopranos, I suggested the possible nickname Donald Trump would have if he were a character on the Sopranos, and I suggested that that nickname should be donny2dolls after he said this yesterday, somebody said.

[Donald Trump]

Oh, the shelves are going to be open. Well, maybe the children will have two dolls instead of 30 dolls, you know, and maybe the two dolls will cost a couple of bucks more than they would normally.

[Lawrence O'Donnell]

After I made the Donald Trump's Two Dolls Theory of Christmas, the lead story on this program last night called them Donnie two Dolls to both prove the intellectual rot of the Trump tariff scheme and how Donald Trump is now pushing voters away from him, pushing supporters away from him with scrooge like comments. Donald Trump's favorite hometown newspaper, the New York Post, the newspaper owned by Donald Trump's billionaire friend Rupert Murdoch, the newspaper that has always treated Donald Trump favorably as a gossip item before he got into politics, agreed with me that the two dolls was the most important thing Donald Trump said yesterday. And Donnie two Dolls woke up to find this as the COVID of today's New York Post. Skimp on the Barbie. Trump admits tariffs will raise prices, cause shortages. It's that simple. And it's on the front page, the COVID of a pro Trump newspaper. Anyone can understand that. Any child who might have seen that cover of the New York Post today could understand that that is a right wing Republican newspaper and even that Trump supporting newspaper knows how stupid and politically disastrous it was. Donald Trump to turn himself into Donnie two Dolls. Yesterday, that phrase went out there in the world Today, protesters were using it on their placards. I think we have some shots of this that we can show you. There's one from Manhattan today. Protesters out there against Donald Trump. Others from other places in the country today dumped Donnie two Dolls. It really moved because it is so easy to understand. It is just so simple. And so Donald Trump chose today to make the biggest change in the White House staff since Inauguration Day, hoping that the disaster at the core of that story about Donnie 2 dolls could be muted. Could be he might be able to mute the story that he was creating for himself today. Today, Mike Walz set a record for Donald Trump's first choice for national security adviser. Mike Walls made it all the way to the 101st day of the Trump presidency before being removed from that position. The man who says he always chooses the right people, the best people, got rid of his national Security advisor, Mike WALZ, on the 101st day of service, which means that Mike Wallace served four times as long as Donald Trump's first choice of national security adviser in the first Trump White House. Michael Flynn served 22 days as national security adviser in Donald Trump's first White House before Donald Trump fired Him and before Michael Flynn then went on to become a convicted criminal who Donald Trump then pardoned. So if Donald Trump chooses you for National Security Advisor and your first name is Michael, you are going to be the first person he fires in a Trump White House. He has a perfect record on that. The removal of Mike Waltz was like most Trumpian moves, not carefully planned. The carefully planned version of such a move includes the immediate announcement of an impressive choice to be the next National Security adviser, preferably someone who is seen more favorably than the one who's getting kicked out. But Donald Trump had no one. That's a turning point too. Donald Trump had no one today to put into that job the most important job in the White House after President and Vice President today. Donald Trump needed a new National Security Advisor and he couldn't find one. So he made Secretary of State Marco Rubio the acting National Security Advisor. Mike Walz was removed from that job after organizing a group chat that included the CIA Director, the Director of National Intelligence, the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Defense and others to make sure that everyone was informed and in some cases over informed about an air attack that the United States was about to launch in Yemen. One of the people Mike Wallace included in that group chat, not on secure technology was the Editor in Chief of the Atlantic, Jeffrey Goldberg, who wrote all about it, exposing the single biggest security breach by National Security Advisor in history. Every participant in that group chat had a professional responsibility to check the list of everyone else they saw on that group chat to make sure that it was safe. But the CIA Director didn't do that. The incompetent Director of National Intelligence didn't do that. The incompetent Secretary of State didn't do that. The incompetent Secretary of Defense didn't do that. And shared battle plans. None of them, none of them fulfilled their security and responsibility in that group chat on an unsecure platform. So they all exhibited rank incompetence in their jobs just by participating in a group chat over that non secure forum. But it was Mike Walz's phone that specifically linked Jeffrey Goldberg into the conversation. And in any sane White House, Mike Walz would have been fired as soon as that was discovered. Donald Trump decided to give Mike Waltz an exit parachute Today that might not be easy to operate because it includes Senate confirmation. Donald Trump intends to nominate Mike Wallace to be Ambassador to the United nations, which requires Senate confirmation. Donald Trump already dropped his first choice for Ambassador to the United Nations, Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, after the speaker of the House panicked about losing another Republican member of the House of Representatives to the Trump administration. So Donald Trump's first choice for national security advisor has become his second choice for UN Ambassador and will be answering questions under oath in a Senate confirmation hearing about the not secure group chat that he set up to discuss specific times and targets of a battle plan, the kind of information that has always been classified since the invention of classified information. Mike Waltz's defense under oath in his confirmation hearing will probably be what they've been saying up to now, which is that the battle plan wasn't classified, which is the single worst defense anyone could possibly suggest in a case like this, acceptable only in Trump world. Which means Republican senators will likely be shaming themselves once again and accepting this unique definition of classified. And in this case accepting the dangerous incompetence of Donald Trump's so called best people. Mike Waltz's Senate confirmation hearing will give Democrats an opportunity once again to highlight the startling and dangerous incompetence of Donald Trump and his National Security adviser and his Director of the CIA, his Director of National Intelligence, his Secretary of State, who is also now the acting National Security Advisor, and his spectacularly incompetent Secretary of Defense, who shared the actual specifics of the battle plan on that crazy group chat that they had. The childish incompetence of that Trump national security team will be on display in Mike Waltz's confirmation hearing and American voters will have no problem understanding it because it is so simple. High school kids will have no problem understanding how stupid and incompetent you have to be to have your group chat leak publicly. The Trump presidency is sinking. The cruelty will continue. He will continue to try to deport children who are American citizens. He will continue to try to imprison in El Salvador people who have committed no crimes. He will publicly revel in his cruelty to people for whom Trump voters have shown very little sympathy. That will continue. But so much of the rest of what Donald Trump is trying to do is sinking. The Trump voters who have showed up at rallies, which is a very tiny percentage of Trump voters, have always shown sympathy for themselves. They have always shared in Donald Trump's self pity when Donald Trump would stand at his rallies and whine and complain about how badly he has been treated after he arrived at that rally on his private plane whose fuel and maintenance was paid for by their campaign contributions. Donald Trump knows how to feel sorry for himself. He's very good at that. And the people at Trump rallies who spoke to reporters seem to be very good at that too. But remember about 99% of Trump voters have never been to a Trump rally. Donald Trump does enjoy sounding cruel. Donald Trump enjoys sounding threatening. Donald Trump wants to scare his opponents, and he wants to scare any of his political allies in the Republican Party who might ever think of disagreeing with him. But cruelty is not an act. It is one of Donald Trump's genuine, deeply held qualities. It takes unspeakable cruelty for a president of the United States to take the food away from starving children in Africa in the middle of a famine, as Donald Trump and Elon Musk have done. Donald Trump took food away from starving mothers and famine in Sudan, from grandmothers, from grandfathers, hungry children watching their siblings starve to death because of Donald Trump. And Donald Trump decided they don't need any more food from us, even though the United States of America, for the entirety of Donald Trump's life and before that, has produced much more food than we can consume in this country. The farmers who produced that food that the United States Agency for International Development was using to feed starving children in Africa were all paid in full for that food. The federal government paid American farmers for that food that the American government then delivered to starving children. And it was as tiny a budget item as exists in the federal government. And only the cold cruelty of Donald Trump could take that food away. No other president ever contemplated such a thing, no matter how negatively someone might think of the overall record of Republican President George W. Bush. He was as caring and kind and, yes, Christian as any president has ever been when trying to help save lives of the poorest people in the world. President George W. Bush did more to save the lives of people dying of AIDS in Africa than any other president. And in doing so, George W. Bush was following not just good governing policy, not just smart international relations, and not just principled altruism. He was following the Christian teachings that he actually believed about loving thy neighbor, about how we treat, as the Bible put it, the least among us, the most behaviorally and philosophically unchristian president in history. Today at the White House, after becoming Donnie Two Dolls yesterday, participated in a national day of prayer without ever having been able to publicly recite a prayer in is life from memory. Donald Trump embodies cruelty, not Christianity. Donald Trump cannot hide the cruelty and cannot control the cruelty. And that is why, when he was asked about the fact that 80% of the toys sold in this country come from China and 90% of all Christmas products come from China, Donald Trump couldn't find words that it would express any sympathy for anyone, for any child who might not get that toy that they were dreaming about on Christmas Day because of Donald Trump. So Donnie two dolls said, well, maybe the children will have two dolls instead of 30 dolls. You know, that's the sound of a cruel billionaire. That's the sound of someone rich enough to think that 30 dolls under the tree is a common experience for children in America. And that's a billion enough to think that everyone should just calm down and follow his advice at how many dolls should be under a Christmas tree. But Donnie 2 doll's breathtakingly cold statement about the children of America is the clearest thing he has said to Americans and to Trump supporters about how lost he is, about how incapable he is of serving the needs of anyone in America, including children who can now understand how stupid and incompetent their president is, including children who came out to support Donald Trump during the presidential campaign. Campaign reporters sometimes have to do some gimmicky things. Sometimes their producers want them to do things like interview the kids at the campaign rally. NBC's Shaq Brewster is as good as it gets on the campaign trail, and he has conducted many important interviews during campaigns and during important breaking news events in this country. He has appeared on this program repeatedly during some of those breaking news events. And last September, at a Trump rally, Shaq Brewster conducted an interview that was fun. You can tell how much fun Shaq Brewster had. You can tell how he's enjoying talking to these two Trump supporters. One thing you're not expecting in an interview with children at a campaign rally is anything substantive. But Shaq Brewster's interview with two young girls in Michigan in September stands tonight as possibly the most important campaign rally interview conducted by anyone in that campaign, because it shows precisely what Trump supporters expected of Donald Trump, and it shows precisely how clear it is and how clear it can be to Trump supporters now. What a total failure Donald Trump has become to them. Two wonderful young girls at a Trump rally named Stella and Maeve, with the full support and approval of their father, asked to be interviewed by Shaq Brewster. They asked for that moment in front of a TV camera. And we are so lucky tonight that they did ask to be interviewed and that Jack Brewster had the good grace to do it. And importantly, as you'll see, the skill to recognize that there was actually some real substance to be gained in this interview of children at a campaign rally. What you're about to see is the full range of the age of Americans who can understand exactly how Donald Trump's tariffs work against them. Here is the campaign interview that deserves to be seen by every American of every age. What do you want him to do? What do you want him to say today? I want him. I want him to lower prices and lower the taxes and make Barbies cheaper. Make Barbies cheaper? Yeah.

[Thumbtack Representative]

Tell me more about that.

[Lawrence O'Donnell]

Have they gotten expensive? Yeah. And Polly Pockets, all my favorite toys are so expensive. Make Barbies cheaper. It just doesn't get simpler than that. It doesn't get easier to understand than that. That is a simple request. And Donnie Tudall said yesterday he is sure that the parents of young girls hoping for a Barbie won't mind paying, as he put it, a couple of bucks more. Barbie has made billions upon billions of dollars for Americans over the course of the life of that barbarian remarkable doll. And recently, Barbie made even more billions of dollars for Americans by becoming a movie character. And not a single Barbie in history that most American of dolls has ever been made in the United States of America. Not one. But Barbie has managed to make Americans richer in many ways. And the vast fortunes made on Barbie are American fortunes. And because Donald Trump doesn't understand economics and because Donald Trump doesn't understand the huge value of international trade and because Donald Trump doesn't understand little girls, Donald Trump thinks Barbie is an enemy of America because Barbie is not made here. That's how much Donald Trump doesn't understand about America. That's how much Donald Trump doesn't understand about what a real enemy is. He thinks Barbie is an enemy. That's how much Donald Trump doesn't understand about his youngest supporters and the fathers and the mothers of those youngest supporters who were really hoping and believing that he would make Barbies cheaper. It doesn't get simpler. The obvious failure of Donald Trump does not get simpler. The New York Times picked up today on Donnie Tudall's cold comments about the two doll limit he wants to see under Christmas trees. The Times reports this grinchy pronouncement by the President had the value of being truthful. Many American toy makers and retailers have started to pause their orders as the effects of Mr. Trump's tariffs ripple out, threatening to snarl supply chains. It could all have a big impact on this year's holiday season since it takes months to manufacture, package and ship many products to the United States. The Independent reports, quote, in a Toy association survey of 410 small and medium sized toy manufacturers taken this month, 64% of small toy companies and 80% of mid sized toy companies said they have canceled orders. Meanwhile, roughly half said they would go out of business. Within weeks or months, if US Tariffs on China remained in place. Jennifer Bergman, the owner of Westside Kids in New York City, told the New York Times, quote, that she would try to buy as much as she could now, but that the shortages were already starting. If the tariffs remain crisp will be like something we've never experienced before, Ms. Bergman said. People will be standing in line to buy things that cost twice or three times as much as before. She said her business is already under pressure from competition by Amazon, but she fears that the tariffs will deliver a final blow. I don't think I will be in business for Christmas, said Ms. Bergman, who added that she was consulting a bankruptcy lawyer. The most expensive product the United States of America has ever exported in history is a Boeing commercial airliner. That's the most expensive object in the world. And international orders for Boeing commercial airliners now face the possibility of being canceled, which could ultimately drive Boeing out of business thanks to Donald Trump's tariffs. We used to have several manufacturers of commercial airliners in the United States. Then we got down to three, then we get down to two, and we have been at one for a long time now. And Donald Trump could be the president who loses that one. And then we become the country that manufactures zero commercial airliners. The Trump tariffs could do that. But if you're a little girl who doesn't know anything about the cost of that airplane that you're flying on to on Christmas vacation, you understand the price of Barbies. General Motors announced today that the Trump tariffs will wipe out about a fourth of the profit of America's biggest car company, what they were hoping for this year. And if you're a little girl who doesn't understand what General Motors is, doesn't understand that your car, your family car is a General Motors car, you understand the price of Barbies. And that's a big problem for Donald Trump, that everyone at every age now is learning the hard way about what Donald Trump is doing to prices. Children can learn this now. A barbie that cost $20 last Christmas could cost will cost $50 this Christmas at least, unless Donald Trump surrenders in his trade war with China. And that price rise is not, as Donald Trump put it, a couple of bucks. It's 150%. That's his tariff. 145% on Barbies from China cost $50 this month. If you can get a Barbie, if you'll be able to get one, if the shortages don't hit in the toy store on the day you're going in there, that's Not a couple of bucks more. No. Donnie2Dulls doesn't understand what he's doing. He has no idea what he's doing. He has never understood tariffs. And now little girls in America know that Donald Trump doesn't know what he's doing. Even they know. Everyone knows. This is a turning point. Last night, Kamala Harris said this courage is contagious.

[Kamala Harris]

The courage of Americans who are banding together in the face of the greatest man made economic crisis in modern presidential history. Americans across the political spectrum who are declaring that the President's reckless tariffs hurt workers and families by raising the cost of everyday essentials, devastate the retirement accounts that people spent a lifetime paying into, and paralyzed American businesses large and small, forcing them to lay off people, to stop hiring or pause investment decisions. I understand why. And it's certainly true of those tariffs, tariffs that, as I predicted, are clearly inviting a recession.

[Lawrence O'Donnell]

Leading off our discussion tonight is Democratic Senator Adam Schiff of California. He's a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, the Agriculture Committee and the Small Business Committee. And Senator, Small business is of course, understandably in a panic about what Donald Trump's tariffs are doing to them. And it is so clear and easy for them to understand. It's now easy for children to understand what he's doing to the price of Barbies. And it seems to me that the incompetence demonstrated there is of a piece with the incompetence demonstrated in the Mike Wall story that has finally ended with him being removed as the national security adviser.

[Adam Schiff]

I think that's true. And what really stands out to me about Mike Wall's firing is, first of all, how long it took. It's been over a month since the whole Signal gate story broke. No one was held accountable for the longest time. And the reason no one was held accountable is Donald Trump didn't want the embarrassment of acknowledging that something really wrong took place that endangered our national security, didn't want to reward, in his view, journalists who brought this to light, including Jeffrey Goldberg. None of the calculation involved national security. None of the calculation involved any real accountability for him. It was delaying to avoid embarrassment. And similarly, the decision to exile Walls to be the secretary at the U.N. our ambassador of the U.N. says a couple things about the President as well. One is, hey, this was another way of kind of changing the storyline. We're not getting rid of him, he's not being punished. We're just giving him this new responsibility. But it also says how little the President respects the office of Ambassador of the United nations, how little. He values our diplomacy or that body. Basically, this is a way to get him out of the President's sight and do so in a way that minimizes the President's embarrassment. Again, our diplomatic needs could care less. The national security imperative and risks not really the issue here. It's all about avoiding embarrassment for the President.

[Lawrence O'Donnell]

Senator Schiff, please stay with us. When we come back, I want to talk to you about this stalled confirmation in the Senate because of a Nazi sympathizer and an admirer of Adolf Hitler that's involved in all of this. We're going to be right back with Senator Schiff. Thank you.

[Ford Representative]

Introducing the new 2025 Ford Maverick truck with in bed power, up to £4,000 of towing capability and elevated off roading capability. The new 2025 Ford Maverick truck with a standard hybrid engine and available all wheel drive. Ford make it with Maverick Max towing on all wheel drive models with available Max trailer tow package. Excludes Maverick, Lobo and Drummer models when properly equipped. Max towing varies based on cargo vehicle configuration, accessories and number of passengers. Always consult the owner's manual before off roading. Know your terrain and trail difficulty and use appropriate safety gear.

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[Lawrence O'Donnell]

All the stories that we're covering are live and happening as we speak.

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[Lawrence O'Donnell]

What's happening right now is a hostile takeover of the US Government.

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[Xfinity Representative]

We each upgraded to Xfinity in our homes, the WI fi has been booming. It's fair to say our town has officially become a boom town.

[Lawrence O'Donnell]

Mayor, will I be able to drop into multiplayer gaming battles with low lag?

[Xfinity Representative]

The lag won't be an issue, but your questionable skills may be.

[Lawrence O'Donnell]

And what if I have hundreds of devices on the WI fi? Purely hypothetical.

[Xfinity Representative]

Seems like a lot, but sure, hundreds of devices all booming together with the Xfinity gateway. Yes, friends and neighbors, with Xfinity, the WI fi is booming.

[Lawrence O'Donnell]

Restrictions apply once again. Today the Republican controlled Senate Judiciary Committee delayed the confirmation hearing of Donald Trump's nominee for U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia. Senator Adam Schiff knows exactly why.

[Adam Schiff]

This is Ed Martin here. He is doing an introduction of his friend Timothy Hale Cucinelli.

[Lawrence O'Donnell]

He's an extraordinary man, extraordinary leader now of those who have survived January 6th and I think he's resisted this, but I don't care because I have the. I bought this microphone and I want.

[Adam Schiff]

Him to come up, you might ask. So what's the problem with that introduction? The problem with that introduction is Timothy Hale Cuccinelli. Here's a photo of Timothy Hale Cuccinelli portraying one of his apparent heroes. Timothy Cucinelli is a avowed anti Semite admirer of the furor, someone who has talked about wanting to eat Jews for lunch and dinner. This is the guy that Ed Martin is saying is an extraordinary person that we want to hear more for. It's a leader the country needs to hear more from. Really? Does the country need to hear more anti Semitic bio from this guy? I don't think so, but this is just one of the many reasons why I'm trying to kill this nomination.

[Lawrence O'Donnell]

And Senator Schiff is back with us. Senator, what would a confirmation hearing of Ed Martin look and sound like? Presumably, we'd hear everything that this Hitler worshiper has said that Ed Martin must have known about.

[Adam Schiff]

Yes, and more than that, Lawrence, in the questions that we posed to him in writing, he really tried to deny the closeness of his relationship with Cucinelli. In other interviews, and very much after the fact, he has tried to distance himself and say that, I wasn't aware of that photograph, I wasn't aware of the things that he had said. But we have these podcasts now that he did with Cuccinelli where he talks about the closeness of his relationship, where he acknowledges the photo and that he's aware of the photo. So we would be able to question him about all of these contradictions, which are statements he has made now under oath. But more than that, the fondness for this Hitler admirer is only one of the indictments against Ed Martin. You also have the fact that he has no prosecutorial experience. His only real relevant experience is being a Stop the Steal lawyer. He has said in connection with January 6th that we should go easier on people who beat cops. He has called for reparations to be paid not to the victims, but to the perpetrators, that the people that were convicted of January 6th crimes deserve not just restitution, but reparations. He has moved to dismiss cases against January 6th defendants as the Acting US Attorney who remained his client. So he was on both sides of that prosecution. The list goes on and on and on. It includes his failure to disclose hundreds of appearances on Russian propaganda, RT and Sputnik. So that's what a hearing would look like. It would confront him with all of his false answers under oath. It would walk through all of the outrageous statements he's made about law enforcement January 6th. And it would hold him accountable for propping up, lifting up this avowed anti Semite.

[Lawrence O'Donnell]

There are members of that Judiciary Committee like Senator Cruz, Senator Hawley, who dream of running for president in Cruz's case again someday or being on the vice presidential slot on the ticket. A vote for this nominee would attach those Hitler worship comments to them throughout the future of their political careers.

[Adam Schiff]

It would. And I guess it really depends on what is the state of the Republican Party when they run for president or run for president again. If it still resembles this MAGA party that has people like Elon Musk doing Hitler's salutes and Steve Bannon doing Hitler salutes, then maybe that's not a disqualification from being the nominee of the Republican Party. But I think for others on the Judiciary Committee who have expressed reservations, they have deep concerns about associating themselves or their votes with this guy. He has attacked Senator Cornyn and he's attacked Senator Collins and he's made disparaging remarks about Senator Curtis. Senator Tillis has expressed his own concerns about Martin's denigration of police officers and law enforcement on January 6th. So a lot of the Republicans have serious reservations about this guy, which is why I think his nomination is in such limbo.

[Lawrence O'Donnell]

Senator Adam Schiff, thank you very much for joining us tonight.

[Adam Schiff]

Thank you.

[Donald Trump]

Thank you.

[Lawrence O'Donnell]

Coming up, a small business owner who employs 500 people fears the Trump tariffs will destroy his business and put those people out of work. He's suing Donald Trump over the Trump tariffs and will join us next.

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[Lawrence O'Donnell]

All the stories that we're covering are live and happening as we speak.

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Watch your favorite shows live.

[Lawrence O'Donnell]

What's happening right now is a hostile takeover of the US Government.

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Read live blogs and in depth essays and listen to coverage as it unfolds. Go beyond the what to understand the why. Download the app [e-mail] app Sir David Frost gave us a front row seat to history.

[Rick Waldenberg]

What I'm interested in is conversation, not an interrogation.

[Lawrence O'Donnell]

He was the person to be interviewed by. There's a great wave of revolution and David Frost was right at the front.

[Ford Representative]

Of all of that.

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MSNBC Films presents a six part documentary series David Frost versus On the next episode, Muhammad Ali.

[Lawrence O'Donnell]

You think I'm gonna get on this TV show and deny what I believe?

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Sunday at 9pm Eastern on MSNBC.

[Lawrence O'Donnell]

I saw our next guest in an interview about tariffs, Trump tariffs yesterday and I immediately asked if he could join us on this program because he speaks so knowledgeably and wisely about what the Trump tariffs are doing to American businesses like his own. And he is suing over the Trump tariffs, accusing the Trump administration of, quote, an extraordinary executive branch power grab. The lawsuit says the president has asserted the authority to impose tariffs, essentially taxes on imports from any country on any schedule, in any amount and for any policy reason couched as an emergency. Neither the Constitution nor the International Emergency Economic Powers act grants the president tariff levying authority at all, let alone of the limitless type asserted here. And joining us now is Rick Waldenberg, CEO of Learning Resources, which has been making award winning educational toys for over 40 years. Mr. Waldenberg, thank you for educational toys. They're my favorite kind. And I know this is day to day for you. And every day there's a new notion of what you're a new endurance at this point. What would you say about where we are today after the day after Donald Trump said, you know, two dolls under the Christmas tree should be the most anybody ever wants?

[Rick Waldenberg]

Well, the let them eat cake remarks that they make demean our business. They insult our people and they dismiss our customers. But what's really revealing when they say kids can have $2 rather than 30 is they're really suggesting that this is beneath them. The thing that's really frustrating about that is I believe that that just reveals it's a regressive tax. It's a tax that falls on the weaker people economically. They pay the tax. Donald Trump, Scott Besant, Howard Ludnick, don't pay it. And as a result, it's going to depress our economy because those are all my customers.

[Lawrence O'Donnell]

And as you go forward, what do you think your customers and voters and people out there need to know about what can happen to a company like yours if these tariffs stay in place?

[Rick Waldenberg]

Well, pretty obvious I've been turned into a tax collector. The tax that we are expected to pay is many times our annual profit. So there's no place to get it except through a price increase. Now, you know, our average price increase last two years was about one and a half percent. We kept it under the rate of inflation because what we feel is that we should show more productivity every year so we take some risk on our side. But this year we're going to have to have a mid year price increase. And once we figure out what our costs are, but it's impossible to do that, of course, we're going to have to figure out how much to raise our prices to recapture the tax, plain and simple.

[Lawrence O'Donnell]

We're hearing from people in your position that you don't know what to order, when you can order it. If you placed an order for something now, by the time it gets to you, it could cost 150% more than it costs today.

[Rick Waldenberg]

I have no idea what it's going to cost. So the products from China we can't get from China. By the way, the products that we make in China are our products. We own the intellectual property we design in the United States. We outsource manufacturing to China, but we can't make our products in China because I can't pay the 145% period. The end. So I have to move like a refugee to higher ground somewhere else. And I don't really know what's going to be there. I don't have costs there. And they haven't told me what the tariff is. So I could spend millions of dollars and not a small amount of effort relocating from China to someplace else only to find I have to move again. The consumer's going to pay for that.

[Lawrence O'Donnell]

Mm. Rick Waldenberg, thank you very much for joining us tonight. And I have been waiting for this lawsuit. I have been waiting for a victim of the tariffs, which is to say a business that actually pays them, because your legal reading of these tariffs is exactly what my legal reading of them has always been. Thank you very much for joining us tonight.

[Rick Waldenberg]

Thank you for having me.

[Lawrence O'Donnell]

Thank you. And coming up, a federal judge appointed by Donald Trump ruled today that Donald Trump cannot use a 1798 law for his deportations. That's next. On his first day at office this year, Donald Trump said this.

[Donald Trump]

By invoking the Alien enemies Act of 1798, I will direct our government to use the full and immense power of federal and state, state law enforcement to eliminate the presence of all foreign gangs.

[Lawrence O'Donnell]

And now a federal judge appointed by Donald Trump says that's illegal. The New York Times reports today a federal judge on Thursday permanently barred the Trump administration from invoking the Alien enemies Act, an 18th century wartime law to deport Venezuelans it has deemed to be criminals from the Southern District of Texas, saying that the White House use of the statute was illegal. The decision by the judge, Fernando Rodriguez Jr. Was the most expansive ruling yet by any of the numerous jurists who are currently hearing challenges to the White House's efforts to employ the powerful but rarely invoked law as part of its wide ranging deportation plans. Judge Fernando Rodriguez, Jr. Who was appointed by Donald Trump, wrote this about Donald Trump's proclamation invoking the alien enemies act of 1798. The proclamation makes no reference to, and in no manner suggests that a threat exists of an organized armed group of individuals entering the United States at the direction of Venezuela to conquer the country or assume control over a portion of the nation. Thus, the Proclamation's language cannot be read as describing conduct that falls within the meaning of invasion for purposes of the Alien Enemies Act. The Court concludes that the President's invocation of the Alien Enemies act through the Proclamation exceeds the scope of the statute and as a result, is unlawful. Respondents do not possess the lawful authority under the Alien Enemies act and, based on the Proclamation, to detain Venezuelan aliens, transfer them within the United States or remove them from the country. That is tonight's last word.

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