[Berman:] Two Democratic senators are calling on colleagues to block any bills that are not related to reopening the government. The Democratic-led House has already passed bills that would end the shutdown but not fund the president's border wall. The Senate has not taken up any of those measures. Joining us now is Democratic Congressman Tom Malinowski, a new member from New Jersey. Thanks so much for being with us. Congratulations on your first week in office.
[Rep. Tom Malinowski , New Jersey:] Thank you.
[Berman:] So, the president now says that he is willing to have this barrier be made of steel, not concrete. How much do the building materials matter to you?
[Malinowski:] It's not about building materials. It's not even really about border security. As you know, we provided billions of dollars in border security to this administration that they haven't spent. This is about what happens when the president doesn't get his way. The president, obviously, is entitled to fight for his wall or for any other policies that he may want, but if he cannot persuade the United States Congress, which he hasn't
[Berman:] Yes.
[Malinowski:] If he can't persuade the American people, which he hasn't, is he entitled to shut down the government? To take the entire United States government hostage. I believe he's not and that's why I think it's really important that we not acquiesce to this.
[Berman:] In the past, Democrats have voted for fencing barriers as part of larger deals. The president wants 234 miles of new barrier. Do you think that any new barrier, whether it be fencing or walling or slats or anything that any new barrier is merited?
[Malinowski:] I think that's a debate that we can have when we consider the appropriations bill for DHS, the Department of Homeland Security, in February. It's not a debate that we should have with the entire United States government held hostage, with TSA employees not going to work, with millions of Americans facing the loss of nutritional assistance, with Coast Guard employees not getting paid.
[Berman:] Once the government does open could you support some new barrier?
[Malinowski:] Once the government is open I would support looking at a broader compromise on immigration. And it's not just going to be a debate about a barrier. It's going to be a debate about comprehensive immigration reform, about child separation, about the Muslim ban, which is still in place. About all of these policies that the president has put into place that I and many Democrats think are un-American and frankly, unlawful.
[Berman:] You are a member of this freshman class in Congress and some of your classmates have received a lot of attention. I'm not going to ask you to respond to Rep. Rashida Tlaib. What I do want to ask and Cortez was on "60 MINUTES" freshman member of Congress just four days into it and getting the "60 MINUTES" treatment. What I am going to ask you is why do you think they are getting so much attention? What's captivating people so much about the fact that Rashida Tlaib said impeach the mother-blanker?
[Malinowski:] Well I our freshman class is getting attention because we're the largest, most diverse freshman class in well, in generations. And I think some of us are have a lot to say that's of interest to the American people. But I think look, it's very important that we maintain a distinction between what's trivial and what's important in America right now. What's important is that we had a presidential campaign in 2016 that was inviting the help of a foreign power while the presidential candidate was doing real estate deals in that country. Whether the [audio gap] uses a bad word, that's trivial. The government shutdown is important. What we're going to do to reopen the government is important. The debate about border security is important and about health care. And I think that's where the attention of the media should be.
[Berman:] You brought up the Russia investigation. I just want to point out one of the things we did learn last week is that the grand jury who has been sitting in the case of the Russia investigation has been extended up to six months, so this thing is not going away anytime soon. You spent a good deal of your career in foreign policy. And I want to ask you about recent developments in Syria where the national security adviser John Bolton seemed to reverse course or walk back the president's demand to withdraw all U.S. troops from Syria. Initially, the president wanted to do it now or in 30 days. That was extended to four months. But this new policy appears to be somewhat indefinite. Listen to the national security adviser.
[John Bolton, National Security Adviser:] We're going to be discussing the president's decision to withdraw, but to do so from northeast Syria in a way that makes sure that ISIS is not able to revive itself and become a threat again. And to make sure that the defense of Israel and our other friends in the region is absolutely assured.
[Berman:] John Bolton listed conditions. He has conditions for the U.S. withdrawal. The president, when he made the announcement, did not have conditions. Do you, Congressman, know what the U.S. policy is this morning?
[Malinowski:] No, nobody does. Under normal circumstances, I would say that's great. The national security adviser speaks for the president and he's reassured us that this will be a more responsible policy. But we all know this is not a normal circumstance. That the president, tomorrow, could completely contradict what John Bolton said. Look, every single person, years ago, who we thought might constrain [audio gap] his impulses is on. The only constraint the only check right now on a completely irresponsible foreign policy comes from the United States Congress. And I look forward over the next two years to being part of an part of an effort in the Congress to provide that track.
[Berman:] Congressman Tom Malinowski, welcome to NEW DAY. Please come back. And again, congratulations on your first week in office.
[Malinowski:] Thank you so much.
[Berman:] Alisyn
[Camerota:] TSA workers are among the 800,000 federal workers furloughed or not getting paid, and CNN has learned some are calling out sick. So, what travelers are seeing now at some of the busiest airports.