Maggie Haberman

Michael, thank you.

Michael, thank you.

Thank you, Michael.

Thank you, Michael.

I hope you all keep this in.

I hope you all keep this in.

Michael, thank you for having me.

Michael, thank you for having me.

Trump has been very focused and his aides have been very focused in the White House on trying to get through some kind of a bill through Congress that reflected what he campaigned on.

Trump has been very focused and his aides have been very focused in the White House on trying to get through some kind of a bill through Congress that reflected what he campaigned on.

Correct. Trump has taken a number of executive actions. He's very proud of it. But you can't do everything that way. Spending has to get passed through Congress, at least in this form. So this House bill was sort of a half man, half horse of Trump's campaign promises.

Correct. Trump has taken a number of executive actions. He's very proud of it. But you can't do everything that way. Spending has to get passed through Congress, at least in this form. So this House bill was sort of a half man, half horse of Trump's campaign promises.

This is where I come in. So one of the potential defectors, Victoria Spartz from Indiana, got a call from Trump or spoke to Trump. It's not clear to me who initiated the call. But he was really pressuring her, as we understand it, to vote for this bill. And at this moment, when the Republican Party is living in Congress, so fearful of Trump. So encroached upon.

This is where I come in. So one of the potential defectors, Victoria Spartz from Indiana, got a call from Trump or spoke to Trump. It's not clear to me who initiated the call. But he was really pressuring her, as we understand it, to vote for this bill. And at this moment, when the Republican Party is living in Congress, so fearful of Trump. So encroached upon.

And so afraid to go against him in any way. And he is making an example of anyone who does. This was a lot of pressure. Yeah.

And so afraid to go against him in any way. And he is making an example of anyone who does. This was a lot of pressure. Yeah.

debt so that it can cut taxes it's complicated michael and i i think look republicans have been complaining about debt and the deficit forever and under trump's term certainly it was added to uh you know so right and trump historically pushes things down the road he kicks the can down the road on what he's going to deal with and that creates a fraught situation especially for these members who are going to go back to their districts and have to explain all of this

debt so that it can cut taxes it's complicated michael and i i think look republicans have been complaining about debt and the deficit forever and under trump's term certainly it was added to uh you know so right and trump historically pushes things down the road he kicks the can down the road on what he's going to deal with and that creates a fraught situation especially for these members who are going to go back to their districts and have to explain all of this

I think you just answered your own question. I mean, essentially, Trump has separated out Russia and Ukraine from one another as he is saying that he is trying to negotiate a peace deal. He's got Russia at one table with the U.S. He's got Ukraine at another table with the U.S. A smaller table. Much smaller table. And with Ukraine, you know, Trump said it himself, and it's really true.

I think you just answered your own question. I mean, essentially, Trump has separated out Russia and Ukraine from one another as he is saying that he is trying to negotiate a peace deal. He's got Russia at one table with the U.S. He's got Ukraine at another table with the U.S. A smaller table. Much smaller table. And with Ukraine, you know, Trump said it himself, and it's really true.