[Harlow:] This morning the government is open. That is a good thing. The future of so-called Dreamers, though, hangs in the balance. It is very much up in the air this morning.
[Berman:] Yes. This is what the president wrote. He wrote, "Nobody knows for sure that the Republicans and Democrats will be able to reach a deal on DACA," that's the Dreamers, "by February 8th but everyone will be trying." Joining us now, CNN's Ryan Nobles for the very latest on Capitol Hill. Where do things stand, Ryan?
[Ryan Nobles, Cnn Washington Correspondent:] Well, John and Poppy, you're right, the government is back open. Lawmakers here were able to get past that impasse, but the fundamentals of the divisions between both sides as it relates to these big issues that need to be hashed out remain. And take a look at the calendar that lawmakers have in front of them now. Yes, the government is back open. But now they have a three- week sprint to try and come up with a deal that will keep the government open even longer, and deal with some of these big issues primarily DACA and immigration reform. And as I said before, there isn't a whole lot of difference between where most of these senators stood before the government shutdown and where they stand now as it relates to DACA. The only big difference now is that Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell has made a promise. And that's a promise to bring a DACA bill in some form to the floor. Take a look at what Mitch McConnell is promising. He's saying that, yes, they will take up legislation to address DACA. There should be a level playing field on the immigration debate. And he is promising a fair amendment process. 2Now that may result in some sort of a piece of legislation leaving the Senate with bipartisan support. But there are no promises once that bill leaves here and heads over to the other side of the capitol and the House takes it up. And already some of the hard-liners as it relates to immigration are warning House Speaker Paul Ryan that they are not going to budge. They want to see full funding for a wall. They're concerned about things like chain migration and the visa lottery. And they also want a DACA bill that is perhaps not as friendly as some Democrats are looking for. So, John and Poppy, the government is back open, but the problems continue to exist and they've only got three weeks to figure it out.
[Harlow:] And you wonder if anything is much different than it was, you know, before. We'll see if these three weeks change things. Ryan Nobles, thank you. Joining us now, Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland. It's nice to have you here and we want to get to all of that in a moment, but I'm sure you heard by now and read that Attorney General Jeff Sessions sat down last week for hours on end with Bob Mueller's team, the special counsel leading the Russia probe. What is your reaction to that news and are you encouraged that, look, this is the highest level person around the president, the only Cabinet member to be interviewed by Mueller's team, that he was willing to do so?
[Sen. Chris Van Hollen , Appropriations Committee:] Poppy, this is a sign that the Mueller investigation is continuing, it is vigorous, it's getting to the bottom of everything and working to get the facts. So I think it's good news for the public because I think we all deserve accountability. We need to know what happened. So it's one more sign that the Mueller investigation is continuing at a brisk pace.
[Berman:] All right, Senator. The government is open today. And a lot of people including a lot of Democrats, progressives especially, are asking, what did you gain in the Senate, Democrats in the Senate gain by shutting the government down by three days, but then agreeing to open it for what they consider to be not much? What did you gain?
[Van Hollen:] Well, first of all, John, let's be clear. It was the total incompetence of President Trump and the dysfunction of this White House that led to the shutdown in the first place. As Senator Lindsey Graham said, there are unreliable negotiating partners so they got us into this mess and then did nothing, nothing to get us out. But what got us out was bipartisan group of senators working to get a commitment from Mitch McConnell to take up a bipartisan DACA bill, a commitment that they've refused to give in the past. We know there are 57 senators right now, Republicans and Democrats, who support the Graham-Durbin bill and now is an opportunity to build on that and get a vote.
[Berman:] Well, hang on one second, Senator, because he gave that guarantee to Jeff Flake to get his vote on the tax bill back in December.
[Harlow:] And Susan Collins on health care.
[Berman:] And Susan Collins on health care. I mean, he's made promises before, particularly on DACA, and the vote didn't happen in January at least as he promised to Jeff Flake.
[Van Hollen:] So, look, a couple of differences. One is this is a commitment he made in public as opposed to behind closed doors to Jeff Flake. Second, it's a commitment he made to over 15 Republican senators, in addition to the American people. And finally, there are lots more levers in this process. I mean, going three weeks on a continuing resolution, still leaves all the budget issues. It leaves all the issues relating to an omnibus appropriations. So there are tools that we have to make sure that Mitch McConnell keeps his commitment, in addition
[Harlow:] Right.
[Van Hollen:] to the fact that he made it out in public and people are going to be holding him to his word.
[Harlow:] Look, and all of you hope he does keep his commitment because you ultimately have to answer to your constituents. Let me read you what Frank Sherry, the executive director of America's Voice. This is an immigrants rights group. Here's what he said. "I'm moved to tears of disappointment and anger that the Democrats blinked before hoping that Paul Ryan is going to have the courage and House Republicans are going to be fair and decent or smoking something." You know, even if you can get this through Gang of Six legislation or something similar through the Senate, you're going to have a much tougher road in the House, and with the White House unless you give a lot. Hearing things like that, concerning to you?
[Van Hollen:] Well, look, this is a moment where everybody has got to come together and focus on getting the bill out of the Senate, bipartisan DACA bill, and then putting pressure in the House. I understand the disappointment. We did not get everything we wanted. But there was absolutely no guarantee that two, three weeks of government shutdown would have left this in a better place. In fact, it could have very well left us in a worse place. At least right now we have this commitment, this public commitment, from Mitch McConnell, to move forward. Something they had refused to do in the past. So at least we have a path forward now. And if we get it out of the Senate, and I think there is strong bipartisan support, the whole country will have to pile on the House. Here's what we know about the House. We know that there are a majority of House members in favor of a bipartisan DACA compromise. The key is getting them to act on it. And there are some tools like discharge petitions and other things you can use in the House, but first step is to get everybody to come together, focus on getting this out of the United States Senate, and over to the House.
[Berman:] Do you promise the 800,000 Dreamers if you look a Dreamer in the eye and say, I will not agree three weeks from now to open the government or to keep the government going unless there is a deal for your future?
[Van Hollen:] What I can say is we will use every tool that we've got, and we've got lots, to keep Mitch McConnell at his word which is to have that vote on a bipartisan DACA bill. I think we will get that vote. And then the key is to make sure that we work the House as you just indicated. And, look, March 5th is the date that President Trump set. I mean, we had Dreamers who are here illegally and it's Trump that sort of set the clock in March 5th. As we get closer to that date, there will be more and more pressure on the House, if we get our bill out, to get this done. And we will use every tool we've got to make sure that happens. I am confident that we are in a better spot today than we were before Friday, before we saw everything happen because at least we have a path forward now. Not everything we wanted. I understand that. But certainly in a better situation than we were before this whole process started. And I must say, you know, Donald Trump's tweet today, I take no confidence in that. He has been a totally feckless leader. Totally incompetent. This is a moment where Republicans and Democrats and the Senate got to get this done, get it over to the House and then get the public fully engaged.
[Berman:] Three weeks. Senator, thank you so much for being with us. Appreciate it.
[Harlow:] Thank you.
[Van Hollen:] Thank you.
[Berman:] We've got a lot of breaking news today, including news on the Russia investigation. Stay with us.