Today marks one month since the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School. And as the town of Newtown, Connecticut continues the process of healing, lawmakers across the nation are still searching for solutions. This morning, New York Senator Chuck Schumer and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel will attend a discussion at the Center for American Progress on legislation and policies to prevent gun violence. CAP’s President and CEO Neera Tanden will join the NOW panel today to talk about the options and priorities President Obama and Congress have for getting comprehensive gun reform, as well as how the NRA became such an influential organization. Vice President Joe Biden meets with Democratic members of Congress today, and tomorrow is expected to release the recommendations of his gun policy task force. Meanwhile, opponents of stricter gun laws continue to voice their opposition to a ban on assault weapons, and Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin voiced the view that a stand-alone ban will never pass Congress. Will the answer come from Vice President Biden’s panel tomorrow? And will members of congress be able to compromise and work with the administration on a legislative package? If you tuned in to some of the Sunday talk shows, the answer seems to be, ‘not likely.’ While republicans grapple with a party identity crisis, some democrats aren’t exactly receptive to the idea of reaching across the aisle. Alex and the panel will search for answers with Former Bush Adviser and Co-Founder of “No Labels,” Mark McKinnon. We’ll have that and more when we see you at noon ET on msnbc.
PANEL
Kurt Andersen, Radio Host, “Studio 360”/Author, “True Believers” (@kbandersen)
Amie Parnes, The Hill (@amieparnes)
Jared Bernstein, Sr. Fellow, Center On Budget and Policy Priorities/msnbc Contributor (@econjared)
Hendrik Hertzberg, Staff Writer, The New Yorker
GUESTS
Neera Tanden, President and CEO, Center for American Progress (@neeratanden)
Mark McKinnon, Fmr. Adviser to Pres. George W. Bush/Co-Founder, “No Labels” (@mmckinnon)
Robert Gifford