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Don Lemon Tonight

Senate Planning To Vote Tonight On January 6th Commission; Awaiting Key Senate Vote On Capitol Riot Commission; Don Interviews Rep. Joe Neguse (D-CO); Mother Of Fallen Capitol Officer Asks GOP Senators To Support January 6th Commission; DHS is Warning of Possible Violence at Events Marking the 100th Anniversary of Tulsa Race Massacre; Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene Likens Democrats to Nazis. Aired 11p-12a ET

Aired May 27, 2021 - 23:00   ET

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

[23:00:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

DON LEMON, CNN HOST: We are keeping an eye on Washington D.C. tonight, where the Senate is still in session. The vote on creating a bipartisan commission, to investigate the deadly January 6th Capitol insurrection being pushed well into the night right now. GOP leader, Mitch McConnell, doing everything he can to kill the bill, asking Republicans to block it as a personal favor to him.

A new warning tonight from the Department of Homeland Security that white supremacists may try to target events commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Tulsa, Oklahoma, race massacre. President Joe Biden, set to visit Tulsa to honor the victims.

And QAnon Congresswoman, Marjorie Taylor Greene, off the rails tonight, at a rally, hitting a brand new low. Comparing Democrats to Nazis.

Let's get right to Capitol Hill. CNN's Ryan Nobles, joins us now. Ryan, good evening to you. So, we are waiting on the vote, what's going on? What is the hold-up? What's happening?

RYAN NOBLES, CNN WASHINGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, the holdup has nothing to do with the 1/6 commission, Don. This is actually the bill that came before on the legislative calendar, which is a bill, they've called the endless frontiers act. Which is actually a bipartisan piece of legislation, designed to make the United States more competitive with China.

But it's a massive bill, you know, hundreds of millions of dollars, and as a result, there have been amendments that have been added to it through the course of the night that had held the process up. And the reason that we are stalled, right now, is because Senator Ron Johnson, of Wisconsin, would like to see something added to this bill, related to border security.

So, he is basically, you know, put his thumb on the pause button here, preventing the bill from moving forward. And what we're watching right now, play on the floor of the United States Senate, as if there was such a prolonged period of waiting for something to happen that they called a quorum call, and put a vote out that forced the sergeant of arms to request every absent Senator to come down to the floor, so that they could hash out these differences with this endless frontier act.

Hopefully, get it passed, and then eventually move on to the January 6th commission bill. So, just kind of a legislative, this is how the sausages is made here on Capitol Hill. And that's what taking this process so long.

LEMON: But what is Johnson's endgame here? You said, this endless frontier bill? Is that what you -- what's his endgame?

NOBLES: So, what he would like is some form, and yet he is expected to go to the Senate floor here in the next few minutes and actually, specifically say what he is looking for. But he hinted to reporters that he wants something related to border security, added to this package.

Even more specifically something about the border wall. He hasn't told us exactly what he wants it to be, but our Ted Barret saw him walking through the halls of congress with big poster boards in which he is going to use to try and build hi case. This is something that's already been rejected, he actually put it ahead of an amendment on the floor earlier today that was turned down.

He then asked for some different proposals to be put into, what they call, the manager's package, which is kind of a group of all of these amendments that are put together to kind of push through at the last minute. They decided not do that, so that's kind of what has him angry here, and why he's held up this process. And Don, he could hold up the process for quite a while. You know there's a certain amount of time, you know, hours, we are talking up to 30 hours that they have to debate this bill, where h could just kind of keep everything held up, until they get through that process, until he gets what he wants.

So, and he told reporters that we are going to be here for a long time tonight, until there is some sort of resolution. So, does that mean that lawmakers decide they are just going to try to abandon plans for tonight? Come back tomorrow with a fresh set of eyes? And try to get everything done? Or did they plowed through into tonight to try and get it done? That is what we are waiting to find out right now.

LEMON: Well? There you go, Ryan. Hope you a (inaudible), you and got some coffee on hand. Thank you, sir. I appreciate you joining us.

NOBLES: Alright, thanks, Don.

LEMON: So, let's bring in now CNN senior political analyst, Kirsten Powers and Brendan Buck, a former top aide to Republican house speakers, Paul Ryan and John Boehner. I got a lot to ask you Brendan about Paul Ryan, but -- before it, good evening to both of you.

[23:05:06]

I mean, here we go again. Kirsten, what is Ron Johnson doing? You are lost for words?

KIRSTEN POWERS, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: There's another person's whose head I cannot get inside of. But it really is -- this whole thing is just completely horrifying and depressing really. Earlier when I was watching the replay, you know, as we have seen it so many times on what happened on January 6th and really just sitting back and thinking wow, the Republican Party really thinks that this does not need to be investigate? It is just incredible to try to get your mind around that. That they're actually willing to not only get to the bottom of it in terms of holding people accountable, but don't even seem to want to prevent it from happening again.

LEMON: Yes.

POWERS: Despite the fact that you have the mother of somebody who is killed, going around and meeting with them. And they are not moved by it, because it is all political and for some reason this can't be tolerated by the Republican base.

LEMON: Well, Brendan, think about that, you know, that was some of the questions I was going to ask you. You had the mom of Brian Sicknick's mother, lost her son. I mean, there's' no good reason why the Senate GOP would block a bipartisan commission to investigate something that they believe that they were right on it or even if they believe it didn't happen, or if they believe it was Antifa or whatever they believe, would they want to get to the bottom of it?

BRENDAN BUCK, FMR, CHIEF COMMUNICATION ADVISER TO FMR. SPEAKER PAUL RYAN: Yes, and Republican Senators have shown, Ron Johnson, in particular, that they have no problem investigating things whether it is Benghazi or Hunter Biden or the origins of the Russian investigation. But they're actually being quite up front. You are here plenty of interviews with Senators who are telling me very clearly.

They are making a political calculations. Forget about everything else's. They are making a decision that they think that having a commission will remind voters next year about what happens and that is bad for their chances to take back the majority. And it is really as simple as that.

All the other arguments are for window dressing. I guess credit to them for being honest about that in some way. But I actually really question whether that is actually a helpful viewpoint. There is still going to be investigation in Congress. Now there is just going to be entirely led by the Democratic majority instead of having a sure independent outside commission. So, they still are going to have to confront this issue. I think it is a little short sided that you can just sort of push it off.

LEMON: Look. Kirsten, I know that Republicans are embarrassed by this. And who would be? Look, I mean, look at the pictures. They should be embarrassed. I mean, it's just embarrassing. There's no other way to put it or say it. Look, every time I look at this video and keep thinking, wow, if I ever have to go on a tourist, you know, visit like that, then I don't think I would ever want to be a tourist again. I mean, you know, you can lose your right being a tourist. POWERS: Right.

LEMON: To think that Mitch McConnell went as far as asking wavering Senators to kill it as a personal favor to him. I mean, what are they so afraid of?

POWERS: Well, Mitch McConnell cares about one thing and that's about winning elections. And it is clear that he does not care about anything else. And so that's what they are afraid of. They're afraid of not winning elections and you know, he's afraid of losing the majority. I am sorry, my dog is having a fit, because she's been locked in my office. I am sorry that people can hear that.

LEMON: That's OK. I deal with it all the time.

POWERS: I have a diva dog.

So, yes, I think that's the bottom line. Look, like I always say, I am not surprised when there's politics in Washington but there are times that people have to rise above it and this is certainly one of them. And it is such a momentous, historic, horrific event and act that occurred and that could occur again.

And that's the main thing I think is getting to the bottom of this and try to understand how we can prevent something like this from happening again. And frankly the Republicans just don't seem concerned about that in the slightest. You know, they are perfectly willing I guess to put people in danger and not get to the bottom of how a police officer was killed and many people were injured.

LEMON: Brendan, tonight, this is what I've been -- when I say at the beginning, I want to talk to you about this. Talk about your old boss, old speaker, house speaker Paul Ryan, only now speaking out against the former president on his grip on the party. But also tonight, you have Matt Gaetz holding a Trump's style America's first rally. Watch this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. MATT GAETZ, (R-FL): It was horrifying to see a presidency, Congress in such a dishonorable and disgraceful. So, once again, we conservatives find ourselves at a crossroads.

[23:10:02]

And here is the reality that we have to face. If the conservative cause depends on the populous appeal of one personality or a second rate imitations then we are not going anywhere.

Taking advice on Party building from Paul Ryan would be like taking advice on how to interact with your in-laws from Meghan Markle.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: These made for TV soundbites. Oh, that got you. It is so childish and idiotic, but listen, it's (inaudible) to see two Republican parties here, that is what's going on. Paul Ryan though is not the future of the GOP. It's people like Gaetz and Marjorie Taylor Greene. So, what gives here, I mean, Paul Ryan speaking out I'm sure people -- I'm sure your glad that he's doing it but that could have happened a long time ago but Gaetz and Marjorie Taylor Greene, that's where the party is.

BUCK: Yes, I don't think he's trying to be the future of the Party, I think he is -- had two years out of office and is able to see from a distance and, you know, outside of the pressure being in speaker's office, you know, direction we are heading. It has (inaudible) on it. And it's cheering them.

And look, Matt Gaetz and Marjorie Taylor Greene are certainly, are the superstars of the moment, in some quarters. But this is a path to being a party in the wilderness forever. If those are the people that we are highlighting in our Party. I think the message from the former speaker, tonight, was, look, we can have these cultural skirmishes, and we can get hits and clicks if we want, but you need to have some grounding principles in what you believe.

And we are so far from that right now. And I know there's probably a lot of people on the far-right who rolled their eyes at that. But look, the Party needs to be built on some belief set. And we are still far from a believes right now that is so easy to get characterized, you know look, we are in a minority in the House, the Senate, lost the White House, because most people think we're crazy right now. Because most people think we believe in QAnon and support violent insurrections. We just need to get back to having, you know, a clear world view and I think that's really all he is trying to say right now. He know that one speech isn't going to change anything, but I think we need to start having that conversation.

LEMON: Brendan, having worked for the two former speakers, you know some good speech writers, you probably should give it to Matt Gaetz, and those dad jokes, just aren't good. Thank you very much, I appreciate both of you. Go get your dog, Kirsten.

I want to bring in now presidential historian, Jon Meacham, the host of the podcast faith of fact? He occasionally advises President Biden as well. John, thank you, good to see you. Let's talk about the Senate GOP. They are choosing Trump and insurrectionists, over finding the truth. You know, that is what your podcast is about. That is what you are doing, right now. What does this mean for our democracy, Jon? As we watch live pictures of the Senate floor?

JON MEACHAM, MSNBC CONTRIBUTOR, PRESIDENTIAL HISTORIAN, AUTHOR: It's potentially fatal, which is not something I would have said five years ago. I think the conversation about what Speaker Ryan has said, an occasional voices is a lot too little a lot too late. This is no longer about a French having a disproportionate influence. This is about the French dominate. And now organically taking over the mainstream of one of our two major parties.

To the point where it's no longer a mainstream. It is in fact a Trump party. And the problem for the rest is that because of the way the constitution is set up, because of the Electoral College, because of the organic constitutional development since the 1790s. We made to, functioning, rational, major parties to have a politics that is about the mediation of differences, and the struggle for a temporary dominion, in the arena, and you propose your solution, you fight for it, you implemented it, you see if it works and then you take it back to the people.

That is the way this is supposed to work. Right now, we have lost half of that universe. And I'm not being alarmist, again, five years ago, I was quoting Richard Hofstadter, and the paranoid style in American politics. And there's always been a populist element, and Joe McCarthy, and George Wallace and (inaudible) and Ross (inaudible) and Pat (inaudible). You know, we could spend the rest of the week with my boring you with a historical prologues to this moment.

The difference is, all of those moments were difference of degree from a consensus and rational governing strategy, as opposed to kind. And, right now, this is a difference of kind. Having Mitch McConnell, who has given his life.

[23:15:07]

But it was Republican and it was Republican in the sense of power Eisenhower and Nixon and Ford, and Reagan, and Bush's. He's now using all of his formidable skills. Whatever you think about what he does with. There's never been a more powerful senate majority leader including Lyndon Johnson than Mitch McConnell. He single handedly shifted the American jurisprudence for the next half of the century. And what he's doing tonight, is he is standing in the way of truth of finding out how we had the most of perilous hour for our democracy since Fort (inaudible). And by the way, (inaudible) they didn't get in. they got in this time.

LEMON: they did this time. Let me ask you this since you mentioned that. Investigating an attack on our democracy that threaten their very lives should be an easy path to bipartisanship, Jon.

With tonight votes though, it seems like that we are going to know exactly how many Republicans are willing to work with President Biden. Does he need to recalculate how he deals with Republicans or is he sort of locked in or blocked in here? Boxed in is a better way of putting in.

MEACHAM: I think he's doing it organically. I think he's reaching out where he can and if they want to be part of solving problems and be part of the arena, they are welcome. But I think the people ultimately, we don't really count in this because of our obsession with these things. But most people want to know what have you done for me and my interest.

And so, as long as the president keeps delivering for them. I don't think people particularly care how he gets there. And so, I don't think there is a reason for any kind of course correction. I think he learned a lesson and I don't know this for a fact. But my sense is that you learned a lesson from the Obama years when Obama thought he had a rational actor on the other side and then folks like Speaker Boehner and others ultimately could not deliver the caucus. And I think that he's learned from that and because of the voters in

Georgia he's able to get some stuff done in his two-year period and then we'll see what happens in 2022.

LEMON: President Biden ran on uniting the country, reaching across the aisle, appealing to country over party. He has been trying. But is he losing that narrative now?

MEACHAM: I don't think he's losing the narrative, I think he's trying and they're not playing, and that's not his fault. I think the thread of the argument of the Biden campaign and the administration seems pretty clear to me, which is he believe we are in a fundamental struggle for the future of democracy verses autocracy. He says this all the time. Autocracy means the rule of the one in Greek. And that could be one party, one idea. Or one person, who happens who have taken over a party.

And so I think at least from what I can tell from the polling data, the country thinks he's working hard for them. They are incredibly relieved, they don't have to wake up every morning and wonder what the hell in the night before in the White House. That's a big thing.

(LAUGHTER)

And so I think, you know, he's my friend and I try to help him when he asks. So, take it for what it is worth. But this has been a really good -- I'll put it this way, given the way presidencies tend to get in trouble pretty fast. He hasn't and this one hasn't. History will happen and trouble will come, it always does. But steady as she goes.

LEMON: Trouble won't last as always though. That's an old saying, trouble won't last always.

MEACHAM: Hitting all biblical.

LEMON: John Meacham, it is always a pleasure having you on. Enjoy your weekend. Thank you, sir.

MEACHAM: Thank you.

LEMON: We've got more on everything happening on the Senate floor tonight. There it is live. So, we are going to continue to follow this for you. That's where Republicans are all but certain to kill the January 6th commission before it's even begun. All but certain but maybe there is a chance -- I don't know.

Will any of them do the right thing and stand up for the truth? We'll talk about it.

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[23:20:00]

LEMON: We are watching for the Senate vote on the January 6 commission. Republicans are poised to block it. Joining me now to discuss is Democratic Congresswoman Joe Neguse -- Congressman -- excuse me, congressman.

Joe Neguse, he is a member of the House Judiciary Committee. Thank you for joining and I appreciate it. Again, I know you guys have a lot of work. You've been working hard, so I'm glad that you're here. Senate Republican expected to block the January 6 commission tonight. It's both shocking but it is not surprising quite frankly as Mrs. Sicknick said today, how can they not do the right thing, Congressman?

REP. JOE NEGUSE (D-CO): Well, it's good to be with you, Don. I agree with her. I mean, I think the way you framed the question tonight is the right way which is will any of the Republican Senators stand up and do the right thing? And I suspect that we are soon going to find out the answer to that question. But you know, I like so many other Americans in aghast at the way in which senate Republican as well as the majority, the vast majority of House Republicans have handled this particular issue -- obviously as you know January 6, was one of the darkest days in our country's history.

[23:25:00]

And our temple of democracy was attacked by insurrectionists. Multiple people died. Over 140 members of law enforcement were physically harmed including lives lost as you mentioned. The life of Officer Sicknick and to think that the Senate Republicans would respond by ignoring it. The truth of what happened that day and reject an attempt to create a non-partisan independent commission to ultimately investigate the events of January 6th.

It is beyond frustrating, Don. I am hopeful that a few more Republicans tonight, that we can, you know, have 10 Republican ultimately will stand up for the truth and choose country over Party and do the right thing, but time will tell.

LEMON: Look. You know, as a lawmaker, usually when people asked for favors, they'll say this is really important to my district and my constituents. And I need something on a local level, or you know? But do you think it's proper? Should the minority leader, Mitch McConnell, should he be asking for personal favors when it comes to something so critical to our democracy? How would you interpret that?

NEGUSE: I think it's ludicrous. I mean, again, to think of -- I mean, the peaceful transfer of power is (inaudible) in our country. And to think that the minority leader would be engaging in that kind of conduct as it relates to this particular vote and this commission I think is just beyond troubling.

Look, I also think, Don, it's reflective of the fact that there really is no cogent reason for them to oppose this commission. It is purely political. It is a political calculus that the minority leader has made, and he is not even attempting to create a veneer of responsibility at this point. Instead, just being very blunt that it is a political calculation on his part and I don't think the American people should tolerate it.

LEMON: Senator Joe Manchin, furious, he's furious that Republicans voting on the commission, but again today, defending his position on the filibuster saying that he's not ready to destroy our democracy. Is the country headed for gridlock if the filibuster stays?

NEGUSE: I think so, Don. I think that eventually the Senate Democratic caucus will have to step forward and reform the filibuster and for those who claim that the filibuster somehow protects bipartisanship in this esoteric way I would just point them to this particular episode and the reality of reflecting on what the filibuster is attempting to prevent in this instance.

It's preventing consideration, potentially of a bipartisan, nonpartisan rather commission approved by the way in the House with the votes of 35 Republicans and ultimately it sounds like they will be at least four or five Republican Senators who will do the right thing and vote for this commission as well.

So, the notion of the filibuster is protecting, or somehow encouraging bipartisanship could not be further from the truth. It is time to end the filibuster in my view and in the view of many of my colleagues in the house. And I suspect the Senate Democratic caucus, if Mitch McConnell ultimately proceeds with the filibuster on the January 6th commission, I suspect that the position that has been a case in the Senate of not moving forward with any kind of reform, the filibuster will simply be untenable.

LEMON: A lot of legislation is being held captive to the filibuster including gun safety. Especially glaring in a week, when we are seeing another mass shooting, this time in San Jose. Can this afford to wait, Congressman?

NEGUSE: No. It can't, Don. And of course, I mean, the last time I was with you on your program was in the days after a tragic mass shooting in my community of Boulder, Colorado where we tragically lost 10 lives. Another senseless mass shooting and ensuing eight weeks we've had a tragic incidents of mass shootings across our country, including of course today, as you mentioned, in San Jose. Another community ravaged by the epidemic of gun violence.

And it's yet another example of why the filibuster has to be eliminated. So that we could ultimately make progress on these consequential challenges that face us as a country and as a society. Certainly, my constituents are tired of inaction. They are tired of excuses. They want the Congress to protect communities and ultimately take action to save lives and we know that we could do so if the Senate would simply take up the legislation at the House which has passed repeatedly.

LEMON: Congressman, always a pleasure. Thank you so much.

NEGUSE: Thank you, Don.

LEMON: A new DHS warning. What they are saying could be a big target for white supremacy. Plus, Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene is bringing up the holocaust again, but her supporters don't seem to mind.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNKNOWN: You don't need me to tell you, a lot of people don't like Greene.

UNKNOWN: That's OK, because you know what, a lot of people did not like Jesus Christ.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

[23:30:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

DON LEMON, CNN HOST: A warning tonight from the Department of Homeland Security about Monday's 100th anniversary of the Tulsa, Oklahoma race massacre. A DHS bulletin cautions that events commemorating the anniversary are potential targets for racial violence by white supremacists.

That as President Joe Biden is travelling to Tulsa on Monday to honor Black residents of the city's Greenwood District who were attacked and killed by a white mob on Memorial Day in 1921.

So, let's talk more about this with CNN senior law enforcement analyst Andrew McCabe, a former FBI deputy director, the author of "The Threat: How the FBI Protects America in the Age of Terror and Trump." Andrew, good evening.

ANDREW MCCABE, CNN SENIOR LAW ENFORCEMENT ANALYST, FORMER DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF FBI: Good evening.

LEMON: How seriously is the Department of Homeland Security treating these threats and what will they be looking for?

MCCABE: Well, Don, I think what we are seeing here is the Department of Homeland Security is now thinking about and treating threats from domestic extremists in the same way that we have thought about and handled threats from foreign terrorists and foreign extremists over the last decade or so.

[23:35:10]

MCCABE: And that is, I think, a very positive development. We know that the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI both believe that the threat from domestic, right-wing, right supremacists, extremists is the most serious terrorist threat that we face in this country today. So, they are thinking about it along in the same lines.

We also know that terrorists and extremists sometimes are motivated by dates that they believe are symbolic to their cause, right? So, Timothy McVeigh, the worst act of domestic terrorism, extremism, Timothy McVeigh plotted his attack on the federal building in Oklahoma City to coincide with the anniversary of the siege on WACO several years before. You know, the Benghazi attack took place on September 11th, 2012.

So, these symbolic dates sometimes had significance in those extremist communities. So I think what DHS is doing right now is, you know, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. They're trying to be careful. They're trying to keep everybody thinking the right direction.

LEMON: The homeland security secretary just yesterday, Alejandro Mayorkas, said that the most urgent threat in the U.S. is domestic violent extremism, and also, he has also highlighted the danger of white supremacy extremists. What do you see as the reason for that, Andrew?

MCCABE: Well, I think the reasons are all around us, Don. So, all of those things really come to life on January 6th. You know, we have -- we are unfortunately living in a time when our right-wing, white supremacist, anti-immigration extremists have been really mobilized and inspired by the acceptance and the failure to confront them, that they received from the former president and from, to some extent, the conservative political movement in this country.

So, there is absolutely a rise in violence from groups like the Boogaloo Boys and the Oath Keepers and Proud Boys. There is reason we are talking about all these folks right now. It is because they've been on the move. We are seeing increased incidents of violence. That really came to head on January 6th.

So, I think there are law enforcement and homeland security folks who are doing the right thing by getting people to think about the threats that we might be facing.

LEMON: OK. So, you think that they have -- following the January 6th insurrection, law enforcement officials, you think they've been able to improve their online operations to get better intelligence when it comes to these kinds of threats?

MCCABE: You know, I hope so. I think that -- you know, my bigger concern, Don, is that we went into January 6th not thinking about the threats from these groups in the way that we should have been thinking about them.

I think that there was -- you know, I would love to see a commission investigate this in a real and, you know, penetrating way. But my biggest concern is that there was information, there was intelligence that just wasn't taken seriously enough.

So, I see things like the bulletin that DHS is talking about in terms of the anniversary of the Tulsa massacre as a sign that they are trying to be more proactive, trying to be more sensitive about the threats that they think are out there. It's a good thing for us.

LEMON: It's interesting you say that it wasn't taken seriously by the experts or the people who are in charge of security, because a layperson, the average layperson -- we have been sitting and saying this is dangerous, this is dangerous, something is bound to happen, we hope it doesn't.

But if you look at what is happening online, the attacks that people are facing, it is just surprising that our intelligence officials or law enforcement didn't see it coming when the average person could absolutely see that it was a powder keg. MCCABE: Yeah. It is absolutely surprising. It's really concerning. And that is why we need a legitimate inquiry into what is happening here. We need some group to go in and say, what information did our law enforcement folks have before the riot? What did they think about? What did they do about it? How did they communicate that information to their colleagues and other agencies? To really peel back whether or not there were biases involved in the way they thought about that intelligence.

We know they thought very seriously about the Black Lives Matter protests the summer before. There was a massive show of force to try and make sure we had, you know, there weren't more instances of civil discord. Well, where was that response on January 6th? How did we think about the information we had prior to January 6th?

We are not going to know the answers to those questions until somebody goes inside those agencies and takes a look at the intelligence they have leading up to the event.

[23:40:06]

LEMON: Andrew McCabe, thank you so much. I appreciate your time. Thank you.

MCCABE: Thanks, Don.

LEMON: CNN is taking a closer look at what happened during the Tulsa race massacre. Make sure you watch the new CNN film, "Dreamland: The Burning of Black Wall Street," Monday, 9 p.m. I've seen it. It's excellent.

Next, Marjorie Taylor Greene likening Democrats to Nazis at a rally tonight.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. MARJORIE TAYLOR GREENE (R-GA): Nazis. That's a mean, nasty, dirty word.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[23:45:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: So, the big lie front and center tonight as the Matt Gaetz and Marjorie Taylor Greene road show rolled into Dalton, Georgia. Rally goers showing up to hear two of the former president's biggest supporters. Greene made it clear that she has learned nothing from blowback over her comments about holocaust, hitting a new low with this comparison.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GREENE: You know, Nazis were the national socialist party just like the Democrats are now a national socialist party.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: OK. Let's bring in CNN correspondent Donie O'Sullivan, who was there tonight. So, more on the embarrassment hit list for the Republicans and Marjorie Taylor Greene. She clearly feels there are no consequences for her using holocaust and Nazis comparison.

DONIE O'SULLIVAN, CNN REPORTER: Yeah, that's right, Don. I will just say from -- from being to Trump rallies, from watching a lot of Trump rallies over the years, you know, Trump normally sort of wraps up the hays and he has punch lines and tries to do jokes and bits, essentially skits.

What I found to be striking being there tonight was just the real unbridled haste. There was no really masking of it. And even before Greene came onstage, in her constituency tonight, Gaetz was out there. He didn't shy away from this issue, the common sense that Greene had made. He direct -- he spoke about them directly. Have a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. MATT GAETZ (R-FL): They call Marjorie an anti-Semite. If Marjorie is an anti-Semite, she is terrible at it, because she is one of the most pro-Israel members of Congress to have ever served. And it is so offensive that the establishment in Washington, D.C. think they know better than you. They think they know better than the people of North Georgia.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

O'SULLIVAN: So you can clearly see there that Gaetz and Greene are two peas in a pod on this issue. He's out there vigorously defending her.

LEMON: OK.

(LAUGHTER)

LEMON: So, Donie, rally goers are eating it up, too, right?

O'SULLIVAN: Absolutely. Take a listen to one woman we spoke to who was on her way into the event tonight.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

O'SULLIVAN: You don't need me to tell me, a lot of people don't like Greene.

UNKNOWN: That's OK, because you know what? A lot of people didn't like Jesus Christ.

O'SULLIVAN: Greene got into a lot of trouble this week for comments about the holocaust.

UNKNOWN: You know what? We're all imperfect, aren't we? We all --

O'SULLIVAN: Do you think she should apologize?

UNKNOWN: Actually, I don't know exactly what was said about the holocaust, as to what she is saying --

O'SULLIVAN: Yeah. She compared COVID restrictions to the holocaust.

UNKNOWN: Well, I can understand that (INAUDIBLE), the Nazi, and how he used children and people to experiment with experimental drugs.

O'SULLIVAN: So, you're talking about the vaccine?

UNKNOWN: Yes.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

O'SULLIVAN: And Don, just the point that I was trying to make to that lady there is, obviously, this comparison is ridiculous, but it is so historically inaccurate. I mean, the vaccines, the leaders, even Trump himself has taken the vaccine. The Nazis weren't doing experimental drugs on themselves. But it just falls on deaf ears.

LEMON: But doesn't Trump like to take credit for the vaccine? And so therefore, if anybody would be experimenting, it would be Trump, if you believe -- OK. I am not even going to try on this one. Donie, I want everyone to watch this moment. This is from Greene.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GREENE: The cartels love the Democrats.

Yeah, they're down there. They're like this. They're, like, we are making a lot of money off of Biden -- Joe Biden. That's my really bad Mexican accent. Oh, they love him.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: So, how did the crowd respond to this ignorant?

O'SULLIVAN: They ate it all up. They loved it. Crowd (INAUDIBLE) just to that sort of totally unnecessary, you know, display of ignorance and insultation there.

LEMON: Donie, thank you.

(LAUGHTER)

LEMON: I appreciate it. You did one heck of a job. Thank you very much. We will be right back, everyone.

[23:50:00]

O'SULLIVAN: Thanks.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: OK, so, the Senate is still on session tonight. Republicans are all but certain to block the bill to create the January 6th commission to get to the truth of what happened on one of the darkest days in American history. The vote is likely to come deep into the night. We will keep an eye on it. So, make sure you stay close, stay tuned to CNN.

I want to wish you all a great Memorial Day weekend. Stay safe, have fun, enjoy your friends and family.

[23:55:00]

LEMON: Thank you for watching, everyone. Our coverage continues.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANDERSON COOPER, CNN HOST: Good evening. We begin tonight with what we've learned as Republican senators get ready to block the creation of a bipartisan commission to investigate the January 6th attack on the Capitol and democracy.

The vote could come in this hour, but we know how this will end. It will be blocked by Republicans, which may sound like a political statement by me, but it is not. It is a political statement by those Republicans. It's a statement of fealty to the man who inspired the insurrection and praised the attackers, the former president.

The inability to form a bipartisan commission to look into an attack on all of us is a betrayal of all of us. As The Wall Street Journal's Gerald Seib puts it, quoting from a recent column, the political system will have shown that it remains incapable of reversing the very problems.