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CNN TONIGHT

Donald Trump Takes Aim at Hillary Clinton; Clinton Fires Back in Response Speech; House Democrats Go Head to Head with Speaker Ryan in Unprecedented Sit-In; Interview with Rep. Steve Israel. Aired 10- 11p ET

Aired June 22, 2016 - 22:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


[22:16:03] DON LEMON, CNN HOST: All right. Thank you, Chris Cuomo for a look at the libertarians.

Now, we want to get to the breaking news. Democrats and republicans in the midst of the most toxic campaign ever and it's spilling on the Capitol Hill tonight.

You're looking at live pictures now.

This is CNN TONIGHT. I'm Don Lemon.

Donald Trump takes aim at Hillary Clinton in his promised big speech today. Clinton firing back. That on the day of an extraordinary sit-in by house democrats demanding action on guns and going head-to-head with Speaker Paul Ryan.

My political dream team is here with me to cover all of this breaking news. Mr. Mark Preston is here, Gloria Borger is here as well, Dana Bash and David Chalian is also here.

But now I want to get to Capitol Hill. An extraordinary drama unfolding just moments ago at today's sit-in by democrats on the House floor. I want you to listen to this confrontation as chanting democrats shout down Speaker Paul Ryan.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

(CROWD CHANTING)

REP. PAUL RYAN (R-WI), SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE: Pursuant to the order of the House of June 8, 2016, the unfinished business is further consideration of the veto message of the President on House Joint Resolution 88. The clerk will record the title of the joint resolution.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: You can you see there are contentious moments happening. CNN's Manu Raju is there. High drama on the house floor all day. What's the latest, Manu?

MANU RAJU, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL REPORTER: Yes, it's a real moment. What republicans are trying to do is really to regain control of the House floor after democrats have taken over, up ended business and republicans say hijacked the House floor after a full day's protest.

Something that I really have never seen happen on -- in the House covering Congress for a number of years. What happened just now was an extraordinary moment where Paul Ryan tried to move forward as if business was, you know, it's just a regular's day business to have a vote on overturning a presidential veto followed by a vote to adjourn the House.

And democrats shouting down the House Speaker. So, you couldn't even hear the House Speaker when we were sitting in the House gallery trying to hear what he was saying. A really, really remarkable moment.

Now what's going to happen is after this vote, they're going to vote to adjourn. At that point, the question is what do democrats do? Do they stay all night and protest as they plan to do?

Republicans are saying that they're going to leave. And maybe the lights will go off. Maybe the air conditioner will go off and the cameras will go off again. And then what do the democrats do? Because republicans are not going to give them a vote.

In fact, they are digging in. They're saying because of the democratic antics they're not going to give them a vote. They don't think that they should reward as they call bad behavior, Don.

LEMON: Manu Raju there on Capitol Hill for us. Very interesting evening happening at the Capital democrats shouting the House Speaker down moments ago as they tried to vote on overturning a presidential veto and also adjourning the house.

And again, shouting, we don't know exactly what's going to happen at this moment. You can see it live pictures of the House floor right now. And I was discussing with my panel we'll get to them in a moment.

But as they were listening to this they were saying, hey, listen. This is more like parliament. Let's listen to the house floor just a little bit.

(CROWD SINGING)

LEMON: So, what they're doing is singing "We shall overcome" on the House floor and changing some of the words. I can't pick out exactly what they're saying from my earpiece. Maybe the folks at home can. But again, singing "We shall overcome" which was sang many times during the Civil Rights movement and it's also sang during Black History month at celebrations and the churches.

And of course, this is all being led by Civil Rights icon John Lewis who started all of this.

I want to bring in now Congressman Adam Schiff who participated in that sit-down.

[22:20:01] Congressman, thank you so much. And by the way, happy birthday. What a way to spend your birthday.

REP. ADAM SCHIFF (D), CALIFORNIA: Thank you.

LEMON: Did you ever imagine that you would be celebrating it this way?

SCHIFF: Well, it will be unforgettable that's for sure. No, I certainly didn't. But I'm glad to spend my birthday this way with a leader like John Lewis and with all of my House colleagues to demand a vote on this most important of issues.

And this is essentially a House version of the filibuster. There is no provision for that in the House rules. But we cannot get the House leadership to schedule a vote. They don't want the members held accountable on these issues. So, we've had to use these extreme measures.

LEMON: So, you have been part of this protest underway now for more than 10 hours. Why are you there? And what do democrats want?

SCHIFF: Democrats simply want a vote. We want a vote on several bills but predominantly we're interested in a vote on the no-fly, no-buy issue. If someone is so dangerous that they're on the terrorist watch list that we can't allow them to fly.

They shouldn't be able to go and buy an assault weapon with an extended ammunition clip. We'd like to see a vote on universal background checks. And frankly, we'd like to see a lot more.

But we demand to have some level of accountability so voters can say we're going to hold our representatives responsible.

The House leadership has not been willing to give us a vote. They have really shirked their responsibility. They're attempting to hide the accountability from voters. And we are here to demand that we get a vote after this most recent and terrible gun tragedy.

LEMON: All right. Representative, stand by because I have more questions for you. But I would just want to alert our viewers. If you're just tuning in, we're watching pictures from the House floor. And you can hear there is chaos. To some extent.

Democrats have taken over the floor. And they're not allowing business to go on as usual. Let's listen in just for a moment. Don't go anywhere, Congressman.

(CROWD CHANTING)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: On this vote, the ayes are 229. The nays are 175 with two members voting present. Previous question is ordered. Question is will the House on reconsideration pass the joint resolution the objections of the President to the contrary notwithstanding?

Under the Constitution, the vote must be by the ayes and nays. Members will record their votes by electronic device. This will be a five- minute vote.

LEMON: So, you can see the acting chair there trying to get the vote on overturning a presidential veto and democrats on the floor. They've been there all day for 10 hours now. And they're saying "give us a vote, give us a vote, give us a vote."

We're speaking to Representative Adam Schiff from California, he is also part of this sit-in. How long do democrats plan to stay there?

SCHIFF: It's a good question. I don't know. In a moment I'm going to have to leave to cast my vote again. We're going to take the leadership cues from Representative John Lewis. He has led this day- long protest, this day-long sit-in in order to demand accountability and demand a vote.

It would be and my hope that after they gavel us down again that we will remain on the House floor. But we will listen to what our leadership has to say on that and follow the good council of Representative John Lewis.

He is widely respected on both sides of the aisle as the conscience of the House. And I can't imagine anyone better to lead us in this struggle for a vote on gun violence than John Lewis.

LEMON: Representative, I heard you loud and clear. But with all due respect, if you can give me one more question because this is not the first protest on the House floor. Republicans did the same thing in August of 2008. The democrats ended up turning out the lights on them. Is that -- you know, where the democrats, was that a good idea then?

SCHIFF: I don't recall what happened there, I understand that that's what took place. But the long and the short of it is I think this issue surpasses importance in terms of what was before the House at that time.

LEMON: Yes.

SCHIFF: We have had yet another mass tragedy and we're seeing this now on a monthly sometimes weekly, sometimes daily basis. And they have denied us a vote on this for years now. So, I think the time is here for accountability.

LEMON: Representative Adam Schiff, thank you very much. I know you have important business to get to and we will let you go. We appreciate your time coming on CNN tonight.

SCHIFF: Thank you.

LEMON: I want to bring in now my political dream team to weigh in on this. Boy, do I have exact right people to do it? What do you guys make of this?

DANA BASH, CNN CHIEF POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: It's remarkable. Look, I think Adam Schiff said it really well that when we -- when sort of the country stops and watches Congress because somebody is sort of has a moment of political theater, it's usually in the Senate with the filibuster because the rules allow for.

That allow for the minority, sometimes member of the majority, but for a single senator to make a statement through a filibuster. The rules are so tight and the majority rules with such a tight grip in the House, which is the rules no matter who is in charge. It's very hard for the minority to make a statement.

[22:25:00] DAVID CHALIAN, CNN POLITICAL DIRECTOR: In fact, you heard the acting chair just say we're proceeding in spite of the objections that we hear on the floor and just kept rolling through it.

BASH: Exactly.

CHALIAN: This is the kind of control they have.

BASH: Precisely. And this is -- this is kind of a very unique and creative way to get the massive attention that they're getting, not just with us but on social media and they're kind of fighting the fight.

LEMON: What will happen? Will the lights go out?

GLORIA BORGER, CNN CHIEF POLITICAL ANALYST: You know what? Well, they could. You know, I kind of wonder what the genesis of this was. You know, did they all sit around and say, wait, we don't have to do what they want us to do. Maybe we can stage a sit-in.

This is a crazy political year. Anything can happen. There are no rules. And I think it's finally trickling down to the greatest lagging indicator in the world which is Congress.

LEMON: Yes.

BORGER: And they're understanding, wait a minute. We don't have to follow the rules.

LEMON: Yes.

BORGER: And we can do this. And so, the passion you see there, actually on both sides. Because, you know, Paul Ryan dismissed it as a stunt today to Wolf Blitzer. And you see the passion of Schiff and Lewis and others and Nancy Pelosi, we're used to seeing a scripted House of Representatives more or less. And this is actually real.

LEMON: Yes. I think many Americans might like it, Mark Preston.

BORGER: Yes.

MARK PRESTON, CNN POLITICS EXECUTIVE EDITOR: Exactly. So, let's talk about this function, right. I mean, at its core right now we're seeing Washington, D.C. absolutely gridlocked, absolutely dysfunctioned. Why the Congress as a whole has an approval rating somewhere in the low teens at this point.

Whether the issue -- whether the issue right now -- and I'm probably being kind, right? In the low teens. I mean, it may even be the high single digits.

But with the bottom line is, whether you think these measures should go through or whether you don't think they should go through, because the government -- excuse me, the country is very much divided on this issue, there should be some kind of progress right now.

LEMON: Yes.

PRESTON: And what we're seeing in Washington is really indicative on what we're hearing on the presidential campaign trail and what we will hear on the congressional campaign trail about how to change Washington. But yet, Washington never changes.

LEMON: Yes. I don't think there's anything as a high as a single digit when it comes to -- I mean, if you're at -- if you're at nine...

(CROSSTALK)

BORGER: Yes.

PRESTON: That's not -- that's better than a two.

LEMON: That's better than a two. Yes.

CHALIAN: So, Gloria was saying Congress is always that lagging indicator, right. And I think on this particular issue for the democrats who are staging this sit-in, their core supporters, their base has been since Orlando extraordinarily active on this issue on social media, calling congressional offices.

If you talk to any democratic members of Congress, they've been flooded in a way, this issues is bubbled up in a way that it haven't been for quite some time despite mass shooting after mass shooting.

LEMON: And it strikes a chord...

(CROSSTALK)

CHALIAN: And I think they felt the need to tap a release valve in some way because they are core supporters.

BASH: Yes.

LEMON: Well, to your point I want to make a point that what you're saying. I mean, and many Americans are animated by this and touched by it. Because did you, guys, see the congressman's keep the elephants a note from his mom?

BORGER: Yes.

LEMON: Saying your mom called and she wants you to get on the House floor to be a part of this-- of this sit-in.

BORGER: Right.

BASH: Yes. LEMON: This is important to a lot of people.

BORGER: And the year since Charleston, I mean...

LEMON: Yes.

BASH: Yes.

BORGER: ... you know, it's been bottled up for quite some time. And I do think it's the environment in which -- in which we're living and the politics that is driving this is this is different this year.

BASH: Yes, exactly.

LEMON: And as we -- I got to take a break. But there you go. There is your lawmakers at work live.

(CROSSTALK)

BASH: Can I say something also very quickly?

LEMON: Yes.

BASH: It's that we all at various points have covered Capitol Hill. We were covered...

(CROSSTALK)-

LEMON: You were the congressional correspondent.

BASH: We were -- we were to cover reporters and senators just a few years ago. But there was such a premium on decorum, even though like, you know, in ancient times. Those speak somebody got caned on the Senate floor. But in more modern time, there is a premium on decorum. And to your point, in this day and age and in this election year...

BORGER: It doesn't matter.

BASH: No.

LEMON: Yes. All right. Stick around, everyone. When we come right back, Donald Trump hammers Hillary Clinton on foreign policy, but is his own record as consistent as he says it is?

[22:30:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: OK. So, we're back now with breaking news and the extraordinary scene happening on the House floor now.

Democrats holding a sit-in over guns. And they're going head-to-head with Speaker Paul Ryan, the acting chair as well.

Back with me now, my political dream team. Mark Preston, Gloria Borger, Dana Bash, and also David Chalian. And Dana is actually on set now talking and texting.

BASH: Sorry.

LEMON: No, keep going. Her sources to try to get us more information. Just moments ago, the acting chair came, gave the gavel.

BORGER: Right.

LEMON: And said, you know, we're adjourned. The picture went down. But do we still have the periscope on what's happening on the House floor? OK. So, that is down as well.

So, there were some contentious moments just moments ago. They were singing "We shall overcome" and then changing the words to fit with what was going on what they want there.

I wasn't sure exactly what they were saying. Just because I have a very small earpiece. But if you have a stereo at home and a big TV, you probably could understand that. But, go ahead.

BORGER: I understand what the republicans are doing here. They disagree with the legislation. Paul Ryan thinks it's a stunt. But to sort of close the curtain like that and to shut down the House when there is a large group of people who represent a large group of people in this country, some of whom are democrats and some of whom are republicans...

LEMON: Are republicans. Correct.

BORGER: ... who are calling for some changes.

LEMON: And at least two libertarians are on our air tonight.

BORGER: To just kind of shut it down seems not like a good political move to me.

PRESTON: It will play well with the base. But for the general public, it will not play well.

(CROSSTALK)

LEMON: But also, don't they realize the networks are carrying this and people are watching and they feel like, you know, you're kind of...

BORGER: You shut it down.

LEMON: ... the optics are bad.

BORGER: You shut it down of our Congress.

LEMON: Yes.

PRESTON: But to your point, though, I mean, let's acknowledge what it is. It is a stunt, right?

BORGER: Yes. PRESTON: This is a political stunt. There are rules that govern things, however. As Gloria said just a short time ago, there are different rules that govern the House and the Senate. You can do this. It's called the filibuster. Rand Paul did it. Ted Cruz did it. They basically launch their campaigns...

BASH: Exactly.

PRESTON: ... from filibustering on the Senate floor.

BORGER: Yes.

PRESZTON: The House knows a lot to do it and that's why we're seeing.

CHALIAN: But is there any reason to believe that if the vote that is being asked for by the democrats went on the House floor that it would pass?

LEMON: No.

BASH: You're right. But, look, at least what they're saying and I think the theater of this and I think the reason why it's resonating so much is that they're not even getting the chance to have that vote.

BORGER: Right. You put people on the record.

BASH: You put them on the record and...

PRESTON: And use it against them in the fall.

BASH: Yes. Now as much as we are talking about a galvanizing event this is on social media for democrat, we know the reality of the politics of the House.

CHALIAN: Yes.

BASH: And because of gerrymandering and a whole bunch of other issues most of the -- most of the republicans come from ruby red districts that are for the most part very pro-gun and they're looking at this saying right on, turn the lights off. Shut it down.

CHALIAN: And they're saying, Speaker Ryan, don't let the democrats dictate the agenda on this floor. We are the majority.

[22:34:59] BORGER: If Congress were working like a working institution, you might be able to find some kind of a compromise where people who were on terror watch, you know, watch lists might not be able to get a gun without taking away their due process. OK?

There might be a way to do that. Susan Collins trying to do that in the Senate. But if Congress were working, they might actually be able to work it out. But as Dana points out, that's not the way it's constituted right now.

PRESTON: But the argument is always about that and we hear this actually in the abortion debate, right? And as they try to protect, you know, the right to have an abortion is that you can't let it get chipped away, right?

So, once you start chipping away this is what you'll hear from the National Rifle Association and gun rights advocates, if we give a little, we're going to end up giving a lot. So, that's why you see people digging in very hard on this issue on what would seem to be an issue that you could come together on. Right? That there would be some kind of common ground.

LEMON: But is this slippery slope argument really applicable when it comes to this particular issue, when it comes to...

(CROSSTALK)

PRESTON: If you're a guns right advocate, it is. And there are a lot of gun rights advocates.

BASH: Yes, there are a lot. But there are -- just looking at the Senate, the people who are coming onboard with Senator Collins kind of compromised legislation, which is just to narrow the list to the no- fly list and the select t-list which is 100,000 people.

BORGER: Right.

BASH: Not a million people as the original democratic legislation was. But the fact that you have Lindsey Graham who was, you know, from South Carolina, a very pro-gun state. And he has a pro-gun record and even on the democratic side, Heidi Heitkamp from North Dakota has been -- has been interested in this legislation. And you even have republicans who are up...

(CROSSTALK)

CHALIAN: But the NRA has come out against it, right?

BASH: They have.

CHALIAN: And so that will complicate things.

BORGER: But, Dana, don't you kind of flourish.

BASH: Yes.

BORGER: We don't know yet.

CHALIAN: I do think though, one thing that we should step back and look at here is how different the politics of guns is today than just a few years ago. This is not something that democrats, even if this was their policy position would have felt that they could have the optic upper hand on a night like this on this issue.

This is something we've seen democrats run away from. Because a fear at the ballot box over this. That is not the case anymore. That's not been the case for Hillary Clinton at a national level in the presidential race.

She's been running with this issue all the way through the nomination season and clearly already doing so in the general election season. And these democrats on the House floor, I just think they're campaigning on this issue. They see this as more resident and beneficial for their voters than they have in recent years.

LEMON: The acting republican chair just moments ago, shutting it down, so to speak. Gaveling and saying that the House is in recess. And then they shut the camera down.

But democrats are holding a sit-in singing "We shall overcome" on the House floor. A very well-known protest song used during the Civil Rights movement. Of course, all of this started with John Lewis, a legendary Civil Rights activist and now congressman, long time congressman holding this sit-in.

There are also been saying "shame, shame, shame," chanting and those signs that they were holding were wondering what it, signs with the victims' names from Orlando.

We'll continue, we'll have our congressional correspondent on the other side of the break and bring you live information, live details of what's happening on Capitol Hill right now. And there are some live pictures right now. Periscope. You could -- let's listen.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A fortress and our guards that checking comes in and even then 11 people lost their lives in a matter of minutes from an individual who was hearing voices, told police weeks and months before that electoral forces were talking to him.

He had been arrested numerous times for violent behavior. And, yet, he was able to get a firearm to go inside a military installation 10 minutes from here.

[22:40:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: All right. Welcome back, everyone. This is our breaking news. Look, these are live pictures. This is from Periscope. Unprecedented events happening on the House floor.

Democrats holding a day-long sit-in to demand action on guns going head to head with the House Speaker. But first I want to -- let's listen into this for a moment and then we're going to bring in our senior political reporter, Manu Raju. But let's listen in for a moment.

RYAN: For information, the gentleman from Kentucky, Mr. Rogers seek recognition.

(CROWD CHANTING)

LEMON: So, that was in defiance of Paul Ryan, the House Speaker trying to move on earlier with the voting as usual and then to adjourn. And now these are the live pictures that we want to look into.

REP. GREG MEEKS (D), NEW YORK: Do you have a point in this House! And tonight, we hear this voice. And so as I listen to some, looking at social media and talking to some, they ask why do we do it? Some say you shouldn't do it. And they ask, hey, they said why?

They say you can't win if you don't have the votes. They said you must be crazy. They said you're wasting your time. Well, I come back and I say, well, look at John Lewis in 1963 when he was almost beat to death they said he couldn't do it either. But he didn't waste his time. That's why Americans are better today.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Right.

MEEKS: We're going to look at what took place in this country.

LEMON: Congressman Greg Meeks on the floor of the House. Now again, these are live pictures coming from Periscope. Manu Raju is our senior political reporter. What's going on, Manu?

RAJU: Well, Don, the House floor has turned into bedlam. All rules of decorum, all rules of regular order out the window as democrats continue to hold the House floor. It was a remarkable scene just a moment ago, when House Speaker Paul Ryan tried to move forward with the business of the House.

[22:45:01] And actually have just a vote on something unrelated to guns. But he was shouted down. Democrats were chanting. They were singing "We shall overcome." They were chanting "no bill, to break" over and over and over again. They were waving signs.

It didn't seem like a legislative body. It seems like a rock concert. And they were trying to make their point. They were trying to push for a vote on some sort of gun control measure.

But I can tell you, Don, that republicans are not giving in. I talked to Peter King of New York. Congressman who actually supports one of the bills that democrats are pushing for to deny terror suspects on the no-fly list the ability to buy a gun.

But he said that Paul Ryan should not give in to these tactics, these bullying tactics. He said they should -- this is not something that he would agree with. So clearly, while democrats may want to push for a vote, it may be having the opposite effect and we're almost seeing more parts and gridlock here.

LEMON: OK. Manu, I want you to stand by. We're going to need you throughout the hours here on CNN. I want to get now to Congressman Steve Israel on the phone part of this.

Congressman Israel, thank you so much for joining us tonight. I need to tell that my political panel is here with me. Mark Preston, Gloria Borger, Dana Bash, and David Chalian, they will be chiming in and ask you questions as well.

But take us there, what's going on, what's the point here?

REP. STEVE ISRAEL (D), NEW YORK: Yes, the point is to get a vote on a no-fly no-buy bill before Congress goes on vacation on Friday. Don, we said at the very beginning of this week that we would use every tool in our toolbox just to get a vote. That some of those tools will be blunt. Some will be sharp.

But we would -- and sometimes use blunt and sharp tools. That's what we're doing. Republicans like Peter King have the ability to vote against the bill. They have ability to vote for the bill. But just give us a vote before going on vacation on Friday. That's all we're asking.

LEMON: Gloria.

BORGER: Congressman, if you were to have this vote, don't you think you would lose?

ISRAEL: You know, it's unclear whether we would lose. And the point is that we have a responsibility to make our opinions in our own and cast our votes.

The fact of the matter is that 85 percent of the American people support legislation that says if you're on the terrorist watch list you shouldn't be able to buy a weapon of war. All right, 75 percent of NRA members support that notion.

If republicans want to oppose against that kind of public sentiment, that's fine. They have the ability to do so. But at least we're owed the opportunity to cast that vote. And so far, the Senate has four votes this week.

Paul Ryan's plan is to have us in session a little bit longer tonight. Have us in session perhaps tomorrow and then send us home on Friday. And I think that's unconscionable.

LEMON: So, what is the disconnect then, Representative, because you says, you know, even members of the NRA want it. Republics want some sort of restrictions, background checks, or what you have.

So, then what's the disconnect between what's actually happening in Congress and what the American people actually want?

ISRAEL: Well, there is very perplexing to many of us. We simply cannot understand why when you have a bill that has such consensus that Peter King, a conservative republican has introduced that has over 100 co-sponsors that has over 180 members of Congress who signed a petition demanding a vote on that bill, we still don't understand why the Speaker Ryan is so dug in on this issue.

And we have said that he's not willing to give us a vote, we're going to use every tool that we have to try and compel that. We're prepared to stay here all night long.

LEMON: Mark Preston.

ISRAEL: Some people have said, well, you know, that's tough. You are going to be up all night. At least we get to tomorrow morning. There are too many Americans who don't get to the next morning and that's what this is about.

LEMON: Mark Preston has a question for you. PRESTON: So, Congressman, you know, to that point, assuming do you stay up overnight, it is a week night. That will get you into Thursday and potentially into Friday. But what is the end game if you don't have the ability to have a vote?

At some point, there has to be a decision made whether you stay on the House floor and try to keep business closed down or what would the next step be assuming that Paul Ryan doesn't, you know, cede to your demands?

ISRAEL: Well, we have stated pretty explicitly, Mark, that we are prepared to stay for as long as it takes. And if Paul Ryan who is the Speaker of the House and is in the majority, if he brings down the gavel on Friday without giving us a vote, then republicans will be going back to their districts. They're going to have to explain why they went on vacation without even casting a vote.

And we intend to try this message into next week. The House is likely to be in pro-forma session for at least a couple days next week. We intend to be back. And we're going to do our jobs and earn our salary and demand that vote for as long as they keep the lights on. And if they keep the lights off, if they turn them off, we'll do it in the dark.

LEMON: OK. David Chalian?

CHALIAN: Congressman, two quick questions for you about sort of the day and how this is unfolding. Take us behind the scenes a little bit, one. House democrats you went met with Hillary Clinton this morning before this started.

[22:50:02] Did this come up inside that meeting? Did you, guys, make her aware that you were going to be doing this on the House floor?

ISRAEL: We did not. And I have to be honest and tell that you this is a rather spontaneous and organic action by House democrats. Over the weekend, leader Pelosi and I spoke several times about a range of option that we've had to force the republican majority to at least give us a vote.

And the options ranged from minimal to maximum. So, the groundwork was laid. This morning, we had a democratic caucus where Congressman Mike Thompson from California and I asked the caucus to be patient. Indicated that there were things that we thought we would need to be doing.

What you saw today, however, it wasn't really part of that. What you saw today is just an eruption of frustration by House democrats that would being denied a vote.

And so, this took place in a very organic and spontaneous way. And you know what? Sometimes spontaneity is best. What you're seeing is a really authentic action by House democrats and there is very little appetite by my colleagues right now to leave the floor and go home and go to bed.

CHALIAN: And Congressman...

ISRAEL: They want to stay and they want to fight this fight.

CHALIAN: Congressman, let me just ask you a technical question here. Have you heard -- because we're seeing these live images from Periscope on social media right now. Have you heard of any repercussions from the Speaker's Office or elsewhere for you guys for using these mobile streaming devices on the House floor right now to get these images out?

ISRAEL: Well, this is very interesting. Early on, this started at 11.15 this morning. In the first hour, a representative sergeant-at- arms were coming to the floor and admonishing members who were using their cameras.

As you know, we're not allowed to engage in any kind of photography on the floor of the House. They gave up on that after by about an hour because there were just too many members who were wanting to express what was happening on the floor to their constituents.

And the reason for that is that the republicans turned the cameras off and turned the microphones off. There was no public access to what representatives were doing. As a result of that we chose to use our own cameras and our own devices and the representatives and the sergeant of arms simply conceded to that after an hour or so.

LEMON: Dana Bash?

BASH: Congressman, you know, you should just go on the floor and face time with us at this point. I mean, all bets are off.

LEMON: You stole my question, Dana.

BASH: I'm sorry. But I just actually want to ask you a question about the reality of the politics of the House with, you know, as well or better than anybody since you ran the democratic committee to get democrats elected to the House for several cycles. And that is people out there looking at this saying, you know, what is happening, why is it so polarized.

Actually, let's just stop for one second. Can you see what's happening out there or you're in the post and it's hard to see it.

(CROSSTALK)

LEMON: Let's listen in. Stand by, representative. Hold on.

ISRAEL: All right. I got to direct view of the floor.

LEMON: Hold on. Let's listen.

REP. LOUIE GOHMERT (R), TEXAS: His fear is well founded.

(APPLAUSE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I say it's time for a real debate on this issue. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: With equal time.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're talking about radical Islam. Radical Islam killed these poor people.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No fly, no guns! No fly, no guns! No fly, no guns!

BASH: That is Louie Gohmert. He is a republican Congressman from Texas getting into it.

LEMON: And Representative Brad Sherman, right?

BASH: Getting into with Congressman Brad Sherman from California.

REP. BRAD SHERMAN (D), CALIFORNIA: Why do you want to let terrorists to buy the guns?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, yes.

SHERMAN: Why do you want let terrorists from buying a gun?

LEMON: And that sounds like -- we used to see it...

SHERMAN: Why are you protecting terrorists? Hey.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No bill. No right.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hey!

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Stop the selling the shedding.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Take the mic.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Radical Islam killed these people.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Don't let terrorists have a gun. Don't let terrorists to have a gun. Don't let terrorists to have a gun.

ISRAEL: Dana? Dana?

LEMON: Is Congressman Israel still there?

ISRAEL: I'm here. I'm here.

LEMON: Congressman, can you walk out there? And if want a face time with us we'll take you if you want to go out there and tell us what's going on.

ISRAEL: I would do that if you give me a minute. I will do that.

LEMON: Go for it. We got it. We can handle it. But please call us back.

ISRAEL: Will do.

LEMON: OK. All right. So, we're watching these pictures and Dana pointing out exactly, you know, what's going on. You said that was Congressman Sherman.

[22:55:03] BASH: It was -- it was democratic Congressman Brad Sherman from California...

LEMON: Who was speaking.

BACH: ... who was in the well getting into a screaming match with Louie Gohmert, the republican from Texas. And you could -- little hard to make out. But he was clearly arguing it's not guns who killed people, it's terrorist who killed people.

BORGER: And there are why are you let terror -- why are you letting terrorists to have a gun? I mean, talk about decorum. There isn't any.

(CROSSTALK)

CHALIAN: Well, this is in recess.

BORGER: There are no rules.

CHALIAN: The House is in recess so there are no rules, right?

PRESTON: There are no rules.

CHALIAN: There is nothing that can govern how they are conducting themselves in the floor right now.

BORGER: No. So, this is like the schoolyard right now. OK? Because there are no rules here. And there are no teachers standing on the side anymore because they've kind of given up, right? About enforcing the rules.

PRESTON: Yes. The principals have walked away.

BORGER: The principals are...

(CROSSTALK)

LEMON: I've to get to a break. Because we need to reset for the top of the hour. But we're going to get to a break and listen in to the House floor. This is unprecedented.

CHALIAN: This is amazing.

LEMON: Of what's happening right now. We're going to continue with our live coverage. Do not go anywhere.

[23:00:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: Yes, and it is breaking news. This is unprecedented of what's happening on the House floor. You're looking at live pictures now. This is from Periscope because the republicans have the cameras off. The majority have turned the cameras off.