You're listening to a podcast from the BBC World Service. This is Hard Talk with me, Stephen Sacker.

Thanks for downloading this edition of the program. I do hope you enjoy it.

Welcome to Hard Talk on the BBC World Service with me, Stephen Sacker. My guest today is a

political networker par excellence, who has been a Republican Party fundraiser, strategist,

and campaigner for much of her adult life. Mika Mossbacher's network included family. Her late

husband, Robert, was an influential Republican who served as George H.W. Bush's Commerce Secretary.

Mika forged her own career, acting as a consultant and advisor on a host of Republican campaigns

before, in recent years, becoming a vocal and loyal advocate for and defender of Donald Trump.

Right now, President Trump needs all the support he can muster.

There is a sense of semi-permanent crisis hanging over the White House.

Mr. Trump is locked in a trial of strength with congressional Democrats

over his long-touted wall along the Mexican border.

The federal government has been partially shut down for more than three weeks.

At the same time, the swirl of suspicion

about his relationship with Vladimir Putin's Russia grows ever more intense. At home and abroad,

Donald Trump's credibility and competence is being questioned. Do he and his most loyal backers

have a convincing response.

Well, Mika Mosbacher joins me now from Washington, D.C.

Welcome to Hard Talk.

Good morning.

You have been a long time and a loyal supporter of President Trump,

but would you accept that his presidency has now entered a very dangerous phase, given that the Democrats now control the House of Representatives and are using their new power?

...