to president obama and the staff, thank you. in my last letter to president obama, i wrote that despite my five year tenure in captivity, i would not want to trade places with him and i certainly would not want to trade places with him on this glorious day. five years of isolation notwithstanding, i did not need daily briefings to become visit of what are undoubtedly incredible challenges facing our nation and the global community. i also feel compelled to share with you my utmost respect for and fondness of the people of cuba. in no way are they responsible for the ordeal to which my family and i have been subjected. , or at leasts most of them, are incredibly kind, generous, and talented. it pains me to see them treated so unjustly as a consequence of two governments mutually belligerent helices. 5.5 decades of history show us such belligerence inhibits better judgment. two wrongs never make a right. i truly hope we could now get beyond these mutually belligerent policies. and i was very happy to hear what the president had to

remains at a 17-year low in the obama economy. >> in the obama economy we're facing a looming fiscal crisis that some have called the most predictable in history. >> well republicans said dodd frank any kind of movement on wall street would tank the stock market. the record breaking numbers have shown the opposite effect. in 2012 republicans said repealing the bush tax cuts would be a big job killer. >> that was money they were going to invest in creating a job or spend in the economy. now the government's going to take it. >> you want to talk about a train wreck, you're talking about a big one. >> you can't be for jobs and against the very people who create the jobs. >> our friends on the other side are practicing what could best be described as they will ma and louise economics. >> let's extend where we are now as op poeszed to looking at the -- if . >> we have more tape. let's not forget obamacare. republicans said this life-saving law would also kill a bunch of jobs. >> when obamacare was debate the in congress we screamed that it just wouldn't work. it would be a job killer. >>

and president obama's caught in the middle of the controversy. tonight we will lay it all out for you in a no spin report. [ siren ] >>> the brutal truth is it's pakistan's only fault that 132 of its muslim children have been slaughtered by the taliban. we discuss that with james rosen as well as president obama formalizing relations with communist cuba.

they were really upset with her. >> i voted for obama but, you know -- >> this is not the barack obama i voted for, she could have done a lot with it. >> mitch mcconnell had 70 different ads. >> it was amazing. he tried to be hyper local. a lot of these were targeted to individual media markets. eastern kentucky on the coal issue, western kentucky on rural issues. helping workers involved with radiation -- this was a very, highly sophisticated effort. one of the reasons he did this -- the era of your marks are gone. -- earmarks are gone. mitch mcconnell used to run on pork barrel projects. now those are gone. >> those are really gone? >> they are gone on capitol hill. >> you can't claim credit for his spending your marks. >> republicans banned it. >> mcconnell was smart enough to look down the road and see -- this is how you win election. he helped deliver kentucky. now it was harder for him. >> he did a news conference the day after the election and he was standing in the mcconnell center. >> >> who paid for that? corporate donors -- >> there was some initial money but it was mainly i

than president obama. i'll ask the president to apologize but i ensure you now i expect nothing at all from president obama. to accuse americans of racism now clinton looks to echo the shocking remarks to raise the ante. raise the ante. next. ♪ oh what fun it is to ride. raise the ante. next. get the mercedes-benz on your wish list at the winter event going on now - but hurry, the offer ends december 31st. [ho, ho, ho!] lease the 2015 c300 4matic for $419 month at your local rcedes-benz dealer. [martha and mildred are good to. go. here's your invoice, ladies. a few stops later, and it looks like big ollie is on the mend. it might not seem that glamorous having an old pickup truck for an office... or filling your days looking down the south end of a heifer, but...i wouldn't have it any other way. look at that, i had my best month ever. and earned a shiny new office upgrade. i run on quickbooks. that's how i own it. ♪ ♪ lou: well, it turns out president bill clinton doesn't think much of americans eith

normalizar esto dar'a mÁs probabilidad de normalizar >>durante la Última conferencia del aÑo barack obama hablo de los logros del aÑo, incluyendo la creacion de cientos de nuevos trabajos >el presidente tratara de proteger lo logrado >>habra profundas diferencias el congreso aprobara leyes que barack obama no aprobara >ahora lo que mÁs anhela es disfrutar y descansar durante las proximas dos semanas junto su familia >el fbi no dio mucho detalle si revelo que los crim

hey, look, i'm against obama care. organized demonstrators in big department stores in new york for that reason. >> and the reason obama is standing with them is because he has a political agenda. and it is, it is standing with the protesters against the cops. that's unfortunate. because obama knows as well as anyone else, eric holder knows this, too. we don't have this body count in america. they know that as well as anyone else. they are willing to play along. >> do you think these demonstrations will continue or get worse? >> i think they will continue. i think they have legs. i think the media has been very sympathetic to the protesters and i think we could see them for some time. >> so far they have all been in the hundreds. this has not been tens of thousands of people. it's been in the hundreds and relatively small. >>> we need to take one more break. when we come back, your hits and misses of the week.as quest ns about money. you know, i think about money kind of a lot. -money's freedom. -money's always on my m

many are saying that obama did not do right by them. you can hear chants who are saying the obama administration has a conspiracy with castro as terrorists, and a lot of people saying they renounce him as president. i'm translating here, and they're saying the terrorists like allen gross. >> terrific stuff from little havana. morgan, thank you. americanfarmers in the united states have exported goods to cuba for years now cuba could be opened up to other american industries. we're joined with more on that. what does this announcement mean for american business and american commerce. >> you're looking at 11 million people close to the united states, and you're just salivating. the headlines that come out of this, cuban cigars that you're going to be able to buy. $400 worth of goods that you can buy on the cuban market that you could not do before. but if anyone is looking for the hilton or general motors to set up shop in havana, that's not going to happen yet. keep in mind this cuban economy is remuch run by the state. the army actually

republicans successfully tied the democrats to obama's policy. it was democrats who ran away from obama. >> well, that's good. i'm sorry i missed the midterms but i'm glad you brought me up to date. >> i'm always helpful. >> thanks so much, juan. we appreciate it. good to see you. juan williams. >>> whose side is this president and the democratic party really on? our military around the world is on high alert because of the feinstein cia report. we will be joined next by former u.s. ambassador to the united nations, john boldin, for the answer to that question. how can power consumption in china, impact wool exports from new zealand, textile production in spain, and the use of medical technology in the u.s.? at t. rowe price, we understand the connections of a complex, global economy. it's just one reason over 70% of r mutual funds beat their 10-year lipper average. t. rowe price. invest with confidence. request a prospectus or summary prospectus with investment information, risks, fees and expenses to read and consider carefully before investing

>> obama? >> you got along with president bush. >> i can't think of any at the moment. >> the last time you talked to the president, what did you say? >> i asked him for a light. >> but you and the first lady -- >> this is interesting because when i was at the white house and actually george bush, w. was president and i was with gavin, he was super nice to us, we were in a private room with him and he took pictures with us and this is whether gavin was doing gay marriage, he's like hey, take a picture, come over, let's take a picture together. very nice. said great things about san francisco. democratic national convention, first time i met senator obama, would not take a picture with gavin and i. he was planning on running. isn't that interesting? and i didn't work here yet. >> i ate the president's dessert. that was so weird. >> you did? >> you were at the correspondents dinner and the room is dark and you can't really see out there and i was waving to michelle obama and she was waving and sh

on the show tonight, has obama's economy hit its limits? the president's daughters are still off-limits, and pushing limits. but tis the season. congress is back. will the two parties get along? john, is deadlock in this lame duck all but guaranteed? my seuss is off. >> that is a good holiday thing. deadlock is all but guaranteed. after the election there was a little bit of getting along, but i do not think it is going to happen. and the immigration thing poison the well on the tax extenders deal. you could see the republicans were just there, and in the immigration thing, the deal blew up. that was a deal that was this close to getting done with bipartisan support. >> the logic and flow points to what you are saying. i think -- >> contrary to logic. >> there has to be a deal on the next couple of weeks. there has to be a deal on the budget. even though, as you said everybody is headed in another direction. i think the budget stuff will set a series of deals. i think republicans will let democrats confirm a bunch of people, which will show

today president obama announcing the historic policy shift. this as cuba released alan gross held in a cuban prison for five years, but also released three cuban spies. tonight you'll hear from two cuban lawmakers. you'll also hear from a congressman who was on board the plane that brought alan gross back to america. first the stunning news. able gonzalez joins us live from havana. what was the reaction of the people in havana upon learning we may normalize relations with cuba. >> reporter: the release of the three as we call them here, on the first one there's a lot of excitement. people are cheering in the streets. how happy the cuban people is about the release of those three guys that were in prison over there. people are excited. they don't know yet how far with this. but people are -- were tired already of this not having a relationship with america and now they will see an opportunity to increase business and things will come from america that will create jobs. people in cuba believe that we have so much in common with america. and with

i want to give you a reaction from someone who said obama got it right and someone who says obama got it wrong. >> another very bad deal. >> why? >> the same thing he did you remember when he released one american soldier for four high ranking taliban murders. today he released three convicted murders, here in miami's spies, cuban spies for what, for one person? >> you're wearing this obama tee shirt. do you think what happened today was a good move on the president's part? >> definitely. i think it will be historic. i cry when i see obama's speech it was so moving. he talked to the people in cuba, people o of cuba. about freedom of expression all these things we're seeing in cuba today. >> john it's interesting because the woman you saw speaking there came here when she was 12 years old, her mother sent her from cuba and her mother stayed behind. the interesting generational component, the people who came out are probably in their 50s or 60s they're part of the brain drain. when fidel castro had his revolution in the 50s he tried to redistribute things from the upper to the lower cla

race relations under president obama has gotten worse. in -- what has t to the surface is white peoples absolute hate for black people. carson should be ashamed of himself. people who ust ask are learned, educated, and articulated. a professor at harvard was mistreated by police. dr. carson should be ashamed of himself. they say these things in the front of their n faces to get friendship into the white world. now, america had hugo black -- a ku klux klan that was a supreme court member. seven presidents own slaved. several presidents were members the ku klux klan. fabric rica has -- as a of society -- sewn into its racism, anti-blackism. people, jews, ean other people that have been discriminated against. specifically, black people have been discriminated against. obama has received more death threats than any other president. racism is alive and well in america. host: robert from henderson, kentucky. times" this wyork morning -- mary landrieu was defeated in the runoff. report heck in with a later this program. the dems headline -- insu

>> well, it's the typical obama. >> well, it's the typical obama. you know during the big -- it goes back. early in his political career, there was a big fight in chicago in 2006. the city council voted to pass a big box minimum wage bill, $13 an hour. they said there's no factory work left, thanks to nafta and pntr, so if walmart wants to move into chicago, we're going to force them to pay a living wage. and they came up with $13 an hour, with benefits some kind of health benefits. mayor daley vetoed the bill because he didn't want to offend his friends in business in chicago. he was also, i think, personally offended that democracy had broken out in the city council. you know, it's like the soviet union in chicago, 49 democrats, 1 republican. and so they passed the law. he vetoes it. and there's a big fight to try to override his veto. what do you think obama does when he's a state senator and then a senate candidate, u.s. senate candidate, then senator? he kept absolutely mum on it. he didn't say a word. and nobody asked him to say anything becau

president obama's actions are unlawful. violate the separation of powers and in conclusion, even with sympathy to the cause of immigration reform, impatient presidents may not violate the constitution if they don't get their way. thank you, mr. chairman. >> thank you. mr. due pree, welcome. >> good afternoon. thank you for inviting me to testify and to share my thoughts on the constitutionality of the president's directive granting deferred action eligibility to approximately 5 million people who are currently here in the united states in violation of our immigration laws. i served as principle deptive attorney general under president bush. i litigated and advised the white house on moigs policy and reform. in my view, president obama's actions exceed his authority under the constitution. the president was correct on the many occasions where he stated that he did not have the power to do what he has now done. reasonable people can disagree over how best to fix our immigration system and while there can and should be a robus

said president obama it had long >> another bad deal, president obama, your president. >> reporter: why. >> the same thing he did when he released one american soldier for four high-ranking taliban murderers. today he released three convicted murderers here in miami, for what, one person. >> you are wearing this president obama t-shirt. so do you think what happened today was a good move on the president's part? >> definitely. i think it will be his legacy. i cried when i saw his speech. it was so moving. he talked to the people of cuba about having unions, things that the cuban government has not mentioned, about freedom of expression. all these things we are mentioned to you today. >> it's interesting, the woman you saw speaking there came here, her mother sent her from cuba, her mother stayed behind. if you look behind me, a lot of people that came out are older, probably in their 50s or '60s, and describe that they are part of the brain drain. remember when fidel castro tried to redistribute things to the lower classes. for example, 600 meals of roads were built in six months. what

they couldn't get obama care paid for unless they mandated obama care, he's the one that came up with that idea. >> that's the worst part of it. >> that's the part they should have pounded today on capitol hill, were you the one who came up what the mandate on obama care? >> the other thing is, i'll belt you going back to his class rooms, i bet you the lines to get into his classroom next year are long. >> all right, on the same day as gruber's testimony, senate democrats released a report on the cia's controversial interrogation techniques with the blessing of the white house, while admitting it's going to pose a danger to americans overseas. next on "the fiviviviviviv >>> today senate democrats released a controversial report on enhanced cia interrogations that even the white house admits could put americans overseas in danger and tell dianne feinstein defended the timing of the report's release. >> our commitment to a just society governed by law, and the willingness to face an ugly truth and say never again. there may never be the riling time to release this report. the instabilit

easy for obama to say. not easy for people who have families that had the snot beat out of them in cuba. lou: this man knows his own superiority. he's very self-aware, if not self-involved. he is so understanding of racial issues, that he is willing to look out upon the nation, and all of us lowly citizens and announce we're all racist. that our culture is racist. that it's engrained in us. what bothers me is not his garrison, his utter incensibility to his role as president, it's the fact that he doesn't expose an ounce, one iota of gratitude that he's the product of this very society that he's denigrating. it's astonishing. >> lou, i don't think you fully comprehend that this will get better because al sharpton, the official white house spokesperson. not josh earnest. he will take everything from cuba to sony to issues with the police forces across america. and the best thing for al, he doesn't to have pay his taxes. he feels like that he's off the hook because he's doing so much for the country, that we

reactions from supporter and critics of the surprising move by president obama. >>> the interview you won't see, the film pulled from theaters. sony holds release of the film amidst the threat of theaters as u.s. officials say north korea is behind the company's hack. >>> and watch out, rand paul. if you think you can run for the senate and president in 2016, well, there is one woman in kentucky who is trying to stop you. this is "way too early." >>> hey, everybody. good morning. i'm thomas roberts. it is thursday, december 18th. welcome to "way too early," the show that wishes north korea stopped the release of the adventures of pluto nash starring eddie murphy. remember that movie? alan remembers that movie. you think that was the worst movie ever? no. we'll get your -- who? joy sticks? we'll have my hearing checked after the show today. joey, thank you. >>> a lot to talk about this morning. first, thank you for being here. we want to begin with this stunning news coming out of sony, canceling the release of "the interview" on christmas day following a massive data breach and terror

three years later now speaking as president obama and to a very different audience in turkey, obama explained we do not consider ourselves a christian nation or a jewish nation or a muslim nation. his both embrace of pluralism has been reconfigured into a repudiation of particulars. most political and christian conservatives share their disapprove of obama. but they are anything but united on this matter of religious nationalism. it's not hate speech cried radio and television host glenn beck to defend the united states as a christian nation in 2010. in the 2000 book faith and politics senator john dan forth main tained, some people asked me whether america is a christian country. the answer must be called no. for to call that a christian country is that nonchristians are not full fledged citizens of one nation. these recent debates and disagreements are not knew. the problem of what it means to be or not to be a christian ation has been a touch stone of religion for more than two centuries. i want to turn our attention to a cast of forgotten founders, a group of men who harnessed the languag

to reverse obama's actions. cis director leon rodriguez said, quote -- and the president himself taking criticism from univision anchor jorge ramos, blasting the administration for not blasting the executive fiat sooner. >> deporter in chief. >> you called me deporter in chief. but let me say this. >> you cannot stop deportation. >> that is not true. those like you sometime, jorge who suggest there are simple, quick answers to the problems. >> i never said that. >> yes, you do, that's how you present it. >> when you present it in that way, it does a disservice because it makes the assumption that the political process is one that can easily be moved around depending on the will of one person, that's not how things work. lou: obviously, the two men having some trouble communicating. shortly after their exchange, president obama called on ramos to do, quote, a good job making sure people take advantage of his amnesty program. >>> the benghazi select committee held second hearing focusing on a new state department

to president obama and the staff, thank you. i'll close with a quote from one of nelson demill's characters. it's good to be home. >> also today, three cubans convicted in 2001 on charges including conspiracy were released from u.s. custody. in exchange for what administration officials are calling an intelligence asset. today's agreement took 18 months to hammer out. pushed along in part by pope francis. this afternoon the white house released this photo, showing president obama talking on the phone yesterday with cuban president raul castro. it was the first direct communication between a u.s. and cuban leader since 1961. today president obama addressed critics of the agreement. >> to those who oppose the steps i'm announcing today, let me say that i respect your passion and share your commitment to liberty and democracy. the question is, how we uphold that commitment. i do not believe we can keep doing the same thing for over five decades and expect a different result. today america chooses to cut loose the shackles of the pa

you know what obama did? he carved out an exemption which allows him to water board terrorists in a ticking time bomb situation. because after 9/11, there was a ticking time bomb situation every single day. >> i'm certain that's not the right thing to do. >> do what? pour water on their faces? which the navy s.e.a.l.s have done to themselves while they're in training. maybe that's what hillary meant when she said she wanted to empathize with the enemy. >> she doesn't like the three people that got water boarded. >> if you don't like my view, you don't like my view, that's what i'm saying. >> i love your view. >>> rolling stone may have issued an apology to its readers, but should the magazine be held accountable for it's uncorroborat uncorroborated account? that it's given me time to reflect on some of life's biggest questions. like, if you could save hundreds on car insurance by making one simple call, why wouldn't you make that call? see, the only thing i can think of is that you can't get any... bars. ah,

>>> los senadores cubano aamericanos se oponen a la decisiÓn de obama. hablamos con el joven que interrumpiÓ a malala durante la entrega del premio nobel. y mi conversaciÓn con el ex presidente norteamericano bill clinton. hablamos de tortura, de amÉrica latina y hasta de la casa blanca de mÉxico. comenzamos. ♪ ♪ >> vamos al punto con jorge ramos. >> vamos al punto. quienes fueron enemigos durante mÁs de 50 aÑos decidieron que era hora de un cambio. estados unidos y cuba anunciaron la reapertura de sus relaciones diplomÁticas. pero todo esto comenzÓ con un intercambio de prisioneros. deernuestra nueva corresponsal dice cÓmo que llegó a este histÓrico acuerdo. >> ¿quiÉn iba a decir que este controversial saludo entre el presidente barack obama y el gobernante cubano raÚl castro durante el funeral de nelson mandela iba a resultar en estos hechos? >> ponemos fin a un enfoque anticuado, y empezaremos a normalizar las relaciones entre nuestros dos paÍses. >> decidimos adoptar medidas mutuas para mejorar el clima bilateral y avanzar hacia la

that somehow the nsa during the obama administration and the cia during the obama administration have relaxed about this and they were better than this? >> i don't think there's any kind of evidence. i don't think that's a fair point to make. i think north korean problem has been a ongoing problem the last 20 years. spans from the clinton years to bush years to obama years. this is not a fair criticism, i would say. >> what do you suppose the reaction is tonight among the north korean regime? is this a victory for them at this point? >> yeah, unfortunately i think they're pretty happy. their objective was to get this movie pulled anticipate they were successful in doing that. they demonstrated a cyb cyber capability that was more sophisticated than previous attacks they used in south korea against businesses and against media companies. admittedly, it's pretty obvious, they had a soft target in sony gwynn the way that sony caved to these attacks. but, you know, i think if this was their objective, to try to show they have this capability and to take down this movie, i don't see how th

obama always played the part of a wise multilateralist, when then-senator barack obama was running for office he declared he would not abuse his power like president bush. >> these last few years, we've seen an unacceptable abuse of power at home. we face real threats, any president needs the latitude to confront them swiftly and surely. we paid a heavy price for having a president whose priority is expanding his own power. the constitution is treated like a nuisance. lou: he could have hardly better described himself, a narcissistic petullant president punished his policy is repudiated and vengeance unleashed, a president whose unilateralism is anything far beyond imagined by previous presidents. no one, no government able to keep him in check. amnesty for illegal immigrants and reverse posture by the united states toward communist cuba. all amount to blatant disregard for the constitution, the congress, the laws they've created, and our national traditions. he is now lashing out at the american people who elected and re-elected him, and whom he now accuses of harboring deeply rooted

president obama opening the door on cuba. we begin with breaking news and the sony hacks who threatened to commit an act of tear railroad to stop a movie about north korea's dictator. sony pictures pulled the movie, on dvd and on demand according to variety. federal authorities are ready to point for the finger all at the north korean regime. pamela brown? >> we are learning it could happen as early tomorrow. the u.s. is expected to point the finger at north korea in this. my sources tell me that an early december there was a growing sense of confidence within the government and within sony that north korea was responsible for this. sources say that the tactics, techniques, the procedures used as well as motivation behind this was right out of the north korean playbook. we know some of the coding used was written in korean. and part of the hack mimic of the same type of hack against south korean banks last year. there was a growing sense that north korea was responsible. as this investigation was continuing. there were these

president obama and other u.s. officials say there's no doubt it is north korea that's responsible for that act. >> united states transferring four more detainees sending them back home to afghanistan, the move is the latest in a series of transfers as president obama works towards his goal of closing gitmo. more than 130 prisoners still remain at the facility. >>> it is considered the latest terrorist attack against our country. north korea did not have to launch a missile or blow up a bomb or send an army of the goose stepping forces invading california. instead our government says they did it with a click of the mouse, a stunning cyber attack that some brand an act of war has president obama promising to answer back with what he calls a proportional response at a time and place of our choosing. what could that be? bill cowan is retired member of the united states marine corps and fox news military analyst. >> thanks for inviting me. >> this is a cyber attack against one corporation but an attack against our coun

when president obama went to iran. iran was -- -- >> i think we just lost that satellite connection with senator ted cruz, we apologize, but you guys got the point. he is fiercely opposed to what president obama announced today. we'll get other perspectives coming up. much more on this historic news. stay with us for that, but there is other breaking news we are following, as well. sony pictures, they have just decided to not release the controversial new comedy about north korea. is hollywood being prudent caving in to hackers and terror threats? we're following the story right after this. have a heart attack. but i did. i'm mike, and i'm very much alive. now my doctor recommends a bayer aspirin regimen to help prevent another heart attack. be sure to talk to your doctor before you begin an aspirin regimen. if yand you're talking toevere rheumyour rheumatologiste me, about a biologic... this is humira. this is humira helping to relieve my pain and protect my joints from further damage. this is humira giving me new per

president barack obama must be recognized. it is a gesture of carriage -- courage and it's necessary. it's a step forward, perhaps the most important one of his presidency. >> the policy change is seen above all, as an important recognition of the islands sovereignty. -- the island path sovereignty. >> mexico has consistently act cuba as the brother of the hemisphere so that it has the same right as the rest of the countries in the region. >> the obama presidency has been mostly notable in latin america for its absence. now it has opened a new chapter in the region's history. >> let's turn our attention to moscow, where it is a big day for russian president vladimir putin. he is in the midst of an annual verizon conference -- press conference -- annual marathon press conference, already three hours in. it comes as there is growing pressure over the dramatic collapse of the ruble. it has lost one and half of italia against the u.s. dollar since january. he has been fighting back, though, saying he is certain the situation will

today president obama announcing the historic policy shift. this as cuba released alan gross held in a cuban prison for five years, but also released

is it pelosi obama political honeymoon over? who would have guessed that the two democratic leaders so cozy over obamacare would have such public spat. liberal democrats lid by leader nancy pelosi openly outraged at president obama over that spending bill that passed the house it got so wicked last night that president obama was even making personal phone calls to it leader pelosi's democratic flock in the house. you can bet she didn't like that one. first guess says leader pelosi is now like a tiger in the corner. that's not all. before voting republican representative eric shock washington "on the record" and while watching he was tweeting. pelosi calls control -- kromnibus. we know what's in it.bl< and congressman aaron shocke joinsu]mj÷ us. good evening, sir. >> good evening, greta seems like there is a little problem within the democratic party last night. >> i guess we must be doing something right. we have a bill on the floor that my democraticçcíÑ friends on the other side of the aisle were coming up to me and sayin

obama: i don't think it was an act of war. i think it was an act of cyber vandalism that was costly. we'll respond proportionally. >> that contradicts a 2011 decision to label all computer cyber attacks from other nations an act of war. president obama also went on to say he's considering adding north korea to the list of sponsored terrorists sony says they'll eventually release "the interview," the movie, but it's not clear on what platform or when. we're coming right back. stay with us. >> while president obama follow i cafolics this country's true heroes have lost faith in their commander-in-chief. general jack kea ♪ they are a glowing example of what it means to be the best. and at this special time of year, they shine even brighter. come to the winter event and get the mercedes-benz you've always wished for, now for an exceptional price. [ho, ho, ho, ho] lease the 2014 cla 250 for $329 a month at your local mercedes-benz dealer. lou: president obama's approval rating plummeting among active duty members of our armed ser

president obama prove that today. it is a lesson this congress still hasn't learned. that does it for our show. "now" with alex wagner starts right now. >>> an achievement over half a century in the making. this is "now." >> today the united states is changing its relationship with the people of cuba. >> allen gross leading cuba after 65 years in prison. >> released on humanitarian grounds. >> it was crucial knowing i wasn't forgotten. >> there's going to be a lot of mixed feeling in the u.s.a. >> this policy shift is based on an illusion a lie. >> 50 years have shown that it hasn't workd. >> it pains me to hear congress insult the president. the president is doing what he's been elected to do. >> i'm as anti-castro as any of them. i think this is a good move. >> this is about freedom and openness. >> in president is the single worse negotiator that we've had in the white house in my lifetime. >> it's time for a new approach. >>> today after more than half century of economic them bargo and political obstacles, president obama announced the renewal of diplomatic relat

>> well, it's the typical obama. >> well, it's the typical obama. you know, during the big -- it goes back. early in his political career, there was a big fight in chicago in 2006. the city council voted to pass a big box minimum wage bill, $13 an hour. they said there's no factory work left, thanks to nafta and pntr, so if walmart wants to move into chicago, we're going to force them to pay a living wage. and they came up with $13 an hour, with benefits, some kind of health benefits. mayor daley vetoed the bill because he didn't want to offend his friends in business in chicago. he was also, i think, personally offended that democracy had broken out in the city council. you know, it's like the soviet union in chicago, 49 democrats, 1 republican. and so they passed the law. he vetoes it. and there's a big fight to try to override his veto. what do you think obama does when he's a state senator and then a senate candidate, u.s. senate candidate, then senator? he kept absolutely mum on it. he didn't say a word. and nobody asked him to say anything bec

obama in 2012 that they did in 2008. so you don't want those people to wander off, like you don't want the religious right to wander off from the party if you are john mccain. first of all, it doesn't look tod to be voted down 185 three. that is bad. but second, you got significant people in the democratic party who do not like what's going on in our policy toward cuba. then, you have business interests, particularly agribusiness. the agricultural business is the strongest lobby we have by far. agriculture will defeat anyone if they are unified, and they want to sell to cuba. riceconservative groups, farmers from arkansas, pork growers. have any of you been to cuba? cuba, every meal is rice and pork. they are importing their rice from thailand. can you imagine the shipping differential from thailand as opposed to mobile or new orleans? agribusiness wants that market back. so washington needs a good response to the center comes the second believe belief in the cuba ideology -- the firm conviction that we are responsible f

soil, hours before the obama announcement. >> thank you, president obama, for everything that you have done today and leading up to today. >>> question, president obama says the reason he's changing the policy of isolating cuba is that it has had, quote, unquote, little effect. is that true? >> it's not true. the isolation of cube -- break and bank the soviet union, but i will say this. ive think the president did a good deal on the prisoner exchange. he gave away too much on the details. russians don't buy their sugar anymore, don't get the oil, not going to get it is from venezuela. they are in desperate straits. raul's coming to us. i will say this. he's going to get investment, might get tourist dollars and the rest of it, but he is taking a tremendous risk, when you get tens of thousands of tourists, travelers, american visitors, cuban americans folks coming out of cuba, 'a real risk with the survival of his dictatorship and police state down the road. >> eleanor? >> yes, that's exactly the point. cuba cannot continue with the oppressive regime it's had once the country begins to

obama grateful if any apparent way? no. not that i can see he talks about being mistaken as a waiter at a black-tie dinner and the top adviser is she a racist? bowery jarrett was mistaken peter as a waiter and first lady michelle obama gave an example of racism she recalled the incognito trip where a woman asked the first lady for helping she obliged and joined in the campaign telling "people" magazine '' she did not see me as the first lady she saw me as someone who could helper. those things happen so it is nothing new. the courage and sacrifice that she made. aren't you impress? why is this an issue now? but it wasn't when she first described the incident to david letterman two years ago then it was very different. >> she said excuse me, i just have to ask you something and i thought the cover is blown. she said knu reached down to hand me the detergent. [laughter] i kid you not. the only thing she said she was short she said she didn't have to make it look so easy. that was my interaction. [laughter] lou: she should. he

this was vintage obama. he was energetic, he was incredibly optimistic about the future but also what i really liked about it, more aggressively talking about what we've accomplished. over the course of the next year, i think you'll continue to see significant action. we've got climate standards, first-ever climate standards to protect this country. we've got international climate negotiations taking place for the first time. china is submitting to standards. >> these are all executive actions, not congressional -- >> but he was very clear he really does want to work with congress. he wants to find common ground on some of the things we can agree to. >> yeah, kind of. he said trade, trade measurements. >> >> trade is important. >> he was issuing veto -- like, if you dry to come after the wall street reform bill, i will veto it and you cannot override my veto. he all but said he would veto keystone. >> not totally sure on that one. >> what he said today about keystone, about how this was not going to create v

they secured president obama skewered president obama today. respect paragraph first the "the washington post" editorial board gasping president obama caving in to raoul castro and then reports that cyber terrorists have struck and the world watches. the question is president obama getting weaker on the world stage by the minute in karl rove joins us. good evening, karl. >> good evening, greta. >> karl, i don't know when you saw that editorial in the "the washington post" today about president obama and cuba but it an absolutely skewered him had. he bought the horse that cuba sold to spain in the vatican four years ago there's there was a specific reference to the vatican that he would free all political prisoners and he didn't. now he has made a big deal that he is letting 53 political prisoners out of jail. there are thousands in custody under restraint by the cuba regime and president obama is turning a blind eye to raoul castro and a the castro brothers and their policies and assuming that by caving in, giving them what we want. what they w

can you respond to help president obama is dealing with this crisis in ferguson? >> i think it is interesting. i think people found this original responses to the crisis somewhat lacking and the pressure of the people, all of these organized, strategic instances of civic unrest, the die-ins, different marches and the different ways in which rings were organized across the nation, demand and really command a certain kind of response from the office of the president. responsehat was the you saw yesterday. obviously, there are couple of things are eager important. one, for him to hear the activists on the ground. the president is well aware of the challenges young people of color and poor people face in certain communities with police forces that are charged with serving them but are terrorizing them. this is important political theater for him. the pressure of the public create space for this administration a move on something like this. i think that is why city policy initiatives for community policing -- although, i think we have to dig deeper to see exactly what

obama is gone for seven days. we won't have to hear anymore more of this stuff. >> did he not look like the dourest figure? >> he did, but it was a disappointing press conference for this reason. here's a president who could have called sony but instead he said, why didn't they call me. we don't let tinfoil hat people in north korea tell us what movies we can watch for gosh sake. they did something wrong. i wish they would have talked to me first. >> and within it all, he rationalizes his own passivity and the appearance of indifference to the outcome of a important national security issue and then says his response will be to consider maybe putting them on a state sponsored terrorism list which they were taken off by president george w. bush. >> do whatever i want to do. that's what the world's dictators are doing. the complete un the loon as we might want to call him. >> this is the exact parallel. he sits there and criticizes and admonishes sony for not releasing the movie when it was his part in 2012 in which

republicans successfully tied the democrats to obama's policy. it was democrats who ran away from obama. >> well, that's good. i'm sorry i missed the midterms but i'm glad you brought me up to date. >> i'm always helpful. >> thanks so much, juan. we appreciate it. good to see you. juan williams. >>> whose side is this president and the democratic party really on? our military around the world is on high alert because of the feinstein cia report. we will be joined next by former u.s. ambassador to the united nations, john boldin, for the answer to that question. ♪ music ...the getaway vehicle! for all the confidence you need. td ameritrade. you got this. then boom... what happened? stress, fun, bad habits kids, now what? let's build a new, smarter bed using the dualair chambers to sense your movement, heartbeat, breathing. introducing the sleep number bed with sleepiq™ technology. it tracks your sleep and tells you how to adjust for a good, better and an awesome night. the difference? try adjusting up or down. you'll know cuz sleep iq™ tells

i wouldn't say the obama vags was necessarily disengaged. i think it set the right balance on most issues. in some ways, though, i think some of the values issues, and its reticence to talk about this, and this is where we may disagree, but having been in the middle east and europe last week while the torture report was released, you see that people still look to america in some ways, and you see that that is a form of power that has been damaged by some of our past mistakes, and you see that people look at our politics in many ways and look at it as an ideal, but unfortunately, you see, also, they see the same dysfunction that we all see, that we often make these unforced errors that hurt ourselves. so i'll close maybe with a little bit of optimism. i think looking at sort of where america is today, especially when i was in europe last week and in the middle east, it's less pessimistic coming back here, i think, when you look at sort of how people look to our country, still, as an economic engine, especially hin this yea and the fact that w

afraid of what obama care was going to do. networks were going to widen and all those things, the president said he didn't have the authority to do executive actions on multiple occasions. turns out he just went ahead and did it anyway. i don't know why all these republicans are surprised when the administration or representatives of the administration, exaggerate, why? why should they be surprised? i don't know why senator rubio would think just because you ask a question that you're going to get an answer that is gets cons happened a day earlier, he would not have been concerned, though he would have had a huge argument over what appears to be untruth of some sort about the consultation with congress. . but i think the major issue here, you mentioned became in 08. he said i will maintain the embargo, for precisely the reason we have cited here today. it provides us with leverage to provide the regime with a choice, if you take significant steps towards a democracy, we will take steps to begin normalizing relations. which is