We just spent quite a bit of time inside with the Senate Majority Leader, Mitch McConnell,

who has been a friend of mine for a long time, long before my world of politics,

early into his world of politics, I think. But we've been friends for a long time.

We are probably now, despite what we read,

we're probably now, I think, at least as far as I'm concerned,

closer than ever before.

That was back when Donald Trump and Mitch McConnell

were at least pretending to like each other.

Now, their feud is out in the open.

After the former president hit back at McConnell's blistering speech, The question is, what does the split mean for the Republican Party? Plus, House Speaker

Nancy Pelosi calls for a wide-ranging 9-11-style commission to investigate the Capitol riot. The question

is, is Republican leader Kevin McCarthy already trying to limit the scope? And dozens dead and millions without power as an Arctic blast paralyzes much of the nation,

with more snow set to fall again today.

The question is, how much longer will these folks be able to hold on? Good morning and welcome to way too early, the show that has never been accused of being

dour, sullen, and unsmiling. I'm Jonathan Lemire on this Wednesday, February 17th. Casey Hunt

has the day off. We'll start, of course, with the news. Donald Trump

has hit back at Mitch McConnell after McConnell blamed him for provoking the riot at the Capitol

last month. Trump hurled personal insults to the minority leader while blaming him for the party's

problems, including the loss of Georgia's two Senate seats and the Senate majority. In a more than 600-word statement, just think how many tweets that would have been, Trump wrote, quote, McConnell's dedication to business as usual, status quo policies, together with his lack of political insight, wisdom, skill, and personality has rapidly driven him from majority leader to minority leader.

He also wrote, Mitch is a dour, sullen, an unsmiling political hack.

And if Republican senators are going to stay with him, they will not win again.

He will never do what needs to be done or what is right for our country.

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