LET’S PLAY "HARDBALL." GOOD EVENING.

GOOD EVENING. I’M CHRIS MATTHEWS IN

I’M CHRIS MATTHEWS IN WASHINGTON.

WASHINGTON. WITH NEW POLLS SHOWING HIS

WITH NEW POLLS SHOWING HIS DEMOCRATIC RIVALS WELL

DEMOCRATIC RIVALS WELL POSITIONED TO MAKE HIM A

POSITIONED TO MAKE HIM A ONE-TERM PRESIDENT, PRESIDENT

ONE-TERM PRESIDENT, PRESIDENT TRUMP IS WRAPPING UP THE THIRD

TRUMP IS WRAPPING UP THE THIRD SUMMER OF HIS PRESIDENCY BY

SUMMER OF HIS PRESIDENCY BY LASHING OUT IN ALL DIRECTIONS AS

LASHING OUT IN ALL DIRECTIONS AS HE WATCHES ONE OF HIS BIGGEST

HE WATCHES ONE OF HIS BIGGEST PRIORITY, THE BORDER WALL AT A

PRIORITY, THE BORDER WALL AT A STAND STILL AND THE ECONOMY

STAND STILL AND THE ECONOMY PERHAPS UNABLE TO SUSTAIN ITS

PERHAPS UNABLE TO SUSTAIN ITS EXTRAORDINARY PACE.

EXTRAORDINARY PACE. WHAT SEEMS TO BE UNSETTLING THE

WHAT SEEMS TO BE UNSETTLING THE PRESIDENT ARE THE POLL NUMBERS.

PRESIDENT ARE THE POLL NUMBERS. WITH THE ELECTION 14 MONTHS

WITH THE ELECTION 14 MONTHS AWAY, A NEW QUINNIPIAC POLL

AWAY, A NEW QUINNIPIAC POLL SHOWS TRUMP TRAILING EACH OF THE

SHOWS TRUMP TRAILING EACH OF THE TOP FOUR DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES

TOP FOUR DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES BY DOUBLE-DIGITS.

BY DOUBLE-DIGITS. LOOK AT THESE NUMBERS.

LOOK AT THESE NUMBERS. FORMER VICE PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN

FORMER VICE PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN LEADS HIM BY 16.

LEADS HIM BY 16. SENATOR BERNIE SANDERS IS UP BY

SENATOR BERNIE SANDERS IS UP BY 14.

14. SENATOR ELIZABETH WARREN BY 12.

SENATOR ELIZABETH WARREN BY 12. SENATOR KAMALA HARRIS UP BY 11.

SENATOR KAMALA HARRIS UP BY 11. MEANWHILE, NEW YORK SENATOR

MEANWHILE, NEW YORK SENATOR KIRSTEN GILLIBRAND BESET BY LOW

KIRSTEN GILLIBRAND BESET BY LOW POLL NUMBERS ANNOUNCED LATE

POLL NUMBERS ANNOUNCED LATE TODAY SHE IS LEAVING THE

TODAY SHE IS LEAVING THE PRESIDENTIAL COMPETITION.

PRESIDENTIAL COMPETITION. BUT THE PRESIDENT DOES NOT GET

BUT THE PRESIDENT DOES NOT GET MORE THAN 40% IN THESE POLLS.

MORE THAN 40% IN THESE POLLS. IN ANY OF THE MATCHUPS WITH THE

IN ANY OF THE MATCHUPS WITH THE DEMOCRATIC FRONT-RUNNERS, 40% IS

DEMOCRATIC FRONT-RUNNERS, 40% IS HIS TOP.

HIS TOP. TRUMP HAS HELD AN APPROVAL

TRUMP HAS HELD AN APPROVAL RATING IN THE LOW 40s IN MOST

RATING IN THE LOW 40s IN MOST POLLS AND THE REAL CLEAR

POLLS AND THE REAL CLEAR POLITICS HAS HIM AT ABOUT 43.

POLITICS HAS HIM AT ABOUT 43. TRUMP HAS BEEN COUNTING ON THE

TRUMP HAS BEEN COUNTING ON THE REASONABLE PROCESS THAT ONCE THE

REASONABLE PROCESS THAT ONCE THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE IS ACTUALLY

DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE IS ACTUALLY SELECTED AT THE CONVENTION NEXT

SELECTED AT THE CONVENTION NEXT SUMMER, HIS POSITION WILL BE

SUMMER, HIS POSITION WILL BE STRENGTHENED, THAT HE WILL LOOK

STRENGTHENED, THAT HE WILL LOOK BETTER IN COMPARISON.

BETTER IN COMPARISON. BUT THE NEW NUMBERS OUT NOW, THE

BUT THE NEW NUMBERS OUT NOW, THE MATCHUP NUMBERS MAY EXPLAIN WHY

MATCHUP NUMBERS MAY EXPLAIN WHY IN RECENT DAYS WE HAVE SEEN THE

IN RECENT DAYS WE HAVE SEEN THE PRESIDENT ATTACKING EVERYONE HE

PRESIDENT ATTACKING EVERYONE HE THINKS HAS DONE HIM WRONG,

THINKS HAS DONE HIM WRONG, LOBBING ATTACKS AT THE MAYOR OF

LOBBING ATTACKS AT THE MAYOR OF SAN JUAN IN PUERTO RICO AS THE

SAN JUAN IN PUERTO RICO AS THE ISLAND BRACES FOR HURRICANE

ISLAND BRACES FOR HURRICANE DORIAN, ATTACKING FOX NEWS,

DORIAN, ATTACKING FOX NEWS, WHICH USED TO BE HIS FAVORITE

WHICH USED TO BE HIS FAVORITE CHANNEL, BUT NOW HE SAYS IT

CHANNEL, BUT NOW HE SAYS IT ISN’T WORKING FOR US ANYMORE.

ISN’T WORKING FOR US ANYMORE. AND OF COURSE HIS DEFAULT

AND OF COURSE HIS DEFAULT TARGET, THE MEDIA.

TARGET, THE MEDIA. WITH THE NEW POLL NUMBERS

WITH THE NEW POLL NUMBERS PUTTING HIM BACK UP AGAINST THE

PUTTING HIM BACK UP AGAINST THE WALL, THE PRESIDENT IS REVERTING

WALL, THE PRESIDENT IS REVERTING TO HIS STANDARD PLAYBOOK AND

TO HIS STANDARD PLAYBOOK AND CROWD CHEERING HITS LIKE "BUILD

CROWD CHEERING HITS LIKE "BUILD THE WALL".

THE WALL". THE "WASHINGTON POST" REPORTS

THE "WASHINGTON POST" REPORTS THE PRESIDENT IS SO EAGER TO

THE PRESIDENT IS SO EAGER TO COMPLETE HUNDREDS OF MILES OF

COMPLETE HUNDREDS OF MILES OF BORDER FENCE AHEAD OF THE 2020

BORDER FENCE AHEAD OF THE 2020 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, THAT HE

PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, THAT HE HAS DIRECTED AIDES TO FAST TRACK

HAS DIRECTED AIDES TO FAST TRACK BILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF

BILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTS,

CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTS, AGGRESSIVELY SEIZE PRIVATE LAND,

AGGRESSIVELY SEIZE PRIVATE LAND, AND DISREGARD ENVIRONMENTAL

AND DISREGARD ENVIRONMENTAL RULES.

RULES. WOULD HARD THEM SHOULD THEY ARE

WOULD HARD THEM SHOULD THEY ARE TO BREAK THE LAW TO GET THAT

TO BREAK THE LAW TO GET THAT WALL BUILT.

WALL BUILT. WELL, THE "WASHINGTON POST" ADS

WELL, THE "WASHINGTON POST" ADS THE PRESIDENT HAS TOLD SENIOR

THE PRESIDENT HAS TOLD SENIOR AIDES A FAILURE TO DELIVER ON

AIDES A FAILURE TO DELIVER ON THE SIGNATURE PROGRESS OF HIS

THE SIGNATURE PROGRESS OF HIS 2016 CAMPAIGN WOULD BE A LETDOWN

2016 CAMPAIGN WOULD BE A LETDOWN TO HIS SUPPORTERS AND AN

TO HIS SUPPORTERS AND AN EMBARRASSING DEFEAT.

EMBARRASSING DEFEAT. THAT’S HOW HE SEES IT.

THAT’S HOW HE SEES IT. THE PRESIDENT IS DENYING HE

THE PRESIDENT IS DENYING HE OFFERED PARDONS, TWEETING IT WAS

OFFERED PARDONS, TWEETING IT WAS MADE UP BY "THE WASHINGTON POST"

MADE UP BY "THE WASHINGTON POST" ONLY TO DEMEAN AND DISPARAGE

ONLY TO DEMEAN AND DISPARAGE FAKE NEWS.

FAKE NEWS. I’M JOINED BY JACKIE SPEIER FROM

I’M JOINED BY JACKIE SPEIER FROM CALIFORNIA, ROBERT COSTA FOR

CALIFORNIA, ROBERT COSTA FOR "THE WASHINGTON POST," JASON

"THE WASHINGTON POST," JASON JOHNSON, POLITICS EDITOR AT THE

JOHNSON, POLITICS EDITOR AT THE ROOT, KATIE ROGER, WHITE HOUSE

ROOT, KATIE ROGER, WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT FOR "THE NEW YORK

CORRESPONDENT FOR "THE NEW YORK TIMES."

TIMES." CONGRESSWOMAN, I LOVE

CONGRESSWOMAN, I LOVE POLITICIANS WHO TELL ME THEY

POLITICIANS WHO TELL ME THEY DON’T READ POLLS, YET EVERYBODY

DON’T READ POLLS, YET EVERYBODY PAYS FOR THEM.

PAYS FOR THEM. EVERYBODY ACTS ON THEM.

EVERYBODY ACTS ON THEM. THEY’RE SCARING THE BEJESUS OUT

THEY’RE SCARING THE BEJESUS OUT OF HIM.

OF HIM. HE COULD LOSE TO BERNIE SANDERS.

HE COULD LOSE TO BERNIE SANDERS. DO YOU BELIEVE HE IS IN THAT

DO YOU BELIEVE HE IS IN THAT DEEP WATER RIGHT NOW?

DEEP WATER RIGHT NOW? JUST THE NUMBERS.

JUST THE NUMBERS. DO YOU BELIEVE THEM?

DO YOU BELIEVE THEM? >> I THINK THAT HE BELIEVES

>> I THINK THAT HE BELIEVES THOSE NUMBERS, AND I THINK THAT

THOSE NUMBERS, AND I THINK THAT HE’S SHOWING PARANOID SYMPTOMS.

HE’S SHOWING PARANOID SYMPTOMS. AND IT’S BECOMING VERY

AND IT’S BECOMING VERY WORRISOME.

WORRISOME. PROBABLY THE BEST POLL NUMBER IN

PROBABLY THE BEST POLL NUMBER IN TERMS OF HIM RECOGNIZING THAT

TERMS OF HIM RECOGNIZING THAT HE’S IN TROUBLE IS THAT NOW

HE’S IN TROUBLE IS THAT NOW POLLS SHOW THAT THE PUBLIC

POLLS SHOW THAT THE PUBLIC BELIEVES THE ECONOMY IS NOT

BELIEVES THE ECONOMY IS NOT HELPING THEM 37% AND IS HELPING

HELPING THEM 37% AND IS HELPING THEM 31%.

THEM 31%. >> YOU ARE DISTORTING THAT

>> YOU ARE DISTORTING THAT NUMBER.

NUMBER. CONGRESSWOMAN, YOU’RE DISTORTING

CONGRESSWOMAN, YOU’RE DISTORTING THE NUMBER.

THE NUMBER. 61% OF THE NEW POLL YOU’RE

61% OF THE NEW POLL YOU’RE QUOTING SAY THE ECONOMY IS IN

QUOTING SAY THE ECONOMY IS IN EXCELLENT SHAPE RIGHT NOW.

EXCELLENT SHAPE RIGHT NOW. 61% SAY IT’S EXCELLENT.

61% SAY IT’S EXCELLENT. AND 30 SOME SAY IT’S GETTING

AND 30 SOME SAY IT’S GETTING BETTER THAN EXCELLENT.

BETTER THAN EXCELLENT. AND YOU’RE SAYING YOU GIVE ME

AND YOU’RE SAYING YOU GIVE ME THE 37% AT THE WRONG END OF THE

THE 37% AT THE WRONG END OF THE FACT THERE.

FACT THERE. THE BIG FACT IS THEY DO LIKE THE

THE BIG FACT IS THEY DO LIKE THE ECONOMY.

ECONOMY. >> WELL, THE STATISTICS I JUST

>> WELL, THE STATISTICS I JUST SAW SHOWED THAT THE QUESTION

SAW SHOWED THAT THE QUESTION THAT WAS ASKED RELATIVE IS THE

THAT WAS ASKED RELATIVE IS THE ECONOMY WORKING FOR YOU, IT WAS

ECONOMY WORKING FOR YOU, IT WAS 37% NO.

37% NO. 31% YES.

31% YES. SO MAYBE WE’RE TALKING ABOUT TWO

SO MAYBE WE’RE TALKING ABOUT TWO DIFFERENT POLLS, CHRIS.

DIFFERENT POLLS, CHRIS. >> I GUESS WE ARE.

>> I GUESS WE ARE. THE LATEST POLL WE GOT WAS 61%.

THE LATEST POLL WE GOT WAS 61%. AND MY QUESTION IS YOU THINK

AND MY QUESTION IS YOU THINK THAT TRUMP’S IN TROUBLE BECAUSE

THAT TRUMP’S IN TROUBLE BECAUSE PEOPLE THINK THE ECONOMY IS NOT

PEOPLE THINK THE ECONOMY IS NOT WORKING FOR THEM.

WORKING FOR THEM. IS THAT RIGHT?

IS THAT RIGHT? >> NO, I THINK HE’S IN TROUBLE

>> NO, I THINK HE’S IN TROUBLE BECAUSE OF HIS ACTIONS.

BECAUSE OF HIS ACTIONS. I THINK THE DEEPER HE GOES --

I THINK THE DEEPER HE GOES -- NOW THAT HE’S ACTUALLY SAID THAT

NOW THAT HE’S ACTUALLY SAID THAT FOX NEWS ISN’T WORKING FOR HIM,

FOX NEWS ISN’T WORKING FOR HIM, I MEAN, THAT IS PROBABLY THE

I MEAN, THAT IS PROBABLY THE MOST REAL COMMENT HE’S MADE.

MOST REAL COMMENT HE’S MADE. AND IT SHOWS THAT HE’S LASHING

AND IT SHOWS THAT HE’S LASHING OUT AT EVERYTHING, EVEN HIS

OUT AT EVERYTHING, EVEN HIS BELOVED FOX NEWS.

BELOVED FOX NEWS. SO I THINK IT’S MORE HIS

SO I THINK IT’S MORE HIS BEHAVIOR THAN IT IS ANYTHING

BEHAVIOR THAN IT IS ANYTHING ELSE.

ELSE. >> ROBERT, YOU’RE A STUDENT OF

>> ROBERT, YOU’RE A STUDENT OF THIS GUY.

THIS GUY. WHAT DO YOU THINK?

WHAT DO YOU THINK? DO YOU THINK THESE NUMBERS ARE

DO YOU THINK THESE NUMBERS ARE REAL TO HIM?

REAL TO HIM? THE MATCHUP NUMBERS, THE NUMBERS

THE MATCHUP NUMBERS, THE NUMBERS THAT SHOW HIM LOSING TO BERNIE,

THAT SHOW HIM LOSING TO BERNIE, WARREN, KAMALA HARRIS, JOE BIDEN

WARREN, KAMALA HARRIS, JOE BIDEN BIG TIME, ALL OF THEM.

BIG TIME, ALL OF THEM. >> THEY TAKE SERIOUSLY INSIDE OF

>> THEY TAKE SERIOUSLY INSIDE OF THE WHITE HOUSE AND THEY FACE A

THE WHITE HOUSE AND THEY FACE A POSSIBLE THREAT FROM A STRONG

POSSIBLE THREAT FROM A STRONG DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE IN 2020.

DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE IN 2020. AND SO THEY’RE LOOKING AT THINGS

AND SO THEY’RE LOOKING AT THINGS LIKE EXECUTIVE ACTION ON THE

LIKE EXECUTIVE ACTION ON THE BORDER WALL TO TRY TO GET THAT

BORDER WALL TO TRY TO GET THAT BASE ACTIVATED OP THE REPUBLICAN

BASE ACTIVATED OP THE REPUBLICAN SIDE, KNOWING THAT THEY FACE A

SIDE, KNOWING THAT THEY FACE A REAL TOUGH OUTCOME IN CONGRESS

REAL TOUGH OUTCOME IN CONGRESS THIS FALL.

THIS FALL. SPEAKER PELOSI MAY NOT BRING THE

SPEAKER PELOSI MAY NOT BRING THE USNC TO A VOTE.

USNC TO A VOTE. >> THE NAFTA SUBSTITUTE.

>> THE NAFTA SUBSTITUTE. WHY DOESN’T HE BLAME IT ON THE

WHY DOESN’T HE BLAME IT ON THE DEMOCRATS, KATIE?

DEMOCRATS, KATIE? THEY DON’T WANT THE HELP HIM ON

THEY DON’T WANT THE HELP HIM ON THE WALL.

THE WALL. THEY DON’T WANT TO HELP HIM ON

THEY DON’T WANT TO HELP HIM ON DETENTION CENTERS.

DETENTION CENTERS. THEY DON’T WANT TO HELP ON ANY

THEY DON’T WANT TO HELP ON ANY OF THIS STUFF.

OF THIS STUFF. >> I THINK THE MEDIA MIGHT BE AN

>> I THINK THE MEDIA MIGHT BE AN EASIER FOIL FOR HIM RIGHT NOW.

EASIER FOIL FOR HIM RIGHT NOW. IT’S JUST WHAT HE HAS ALWAYS

IT’S JUST WHAT HE HAS ALWAYS RELIED ON.

RELIED ON. WE’RE NOT GIVELING HIM FAVORABLE

WE’RE NOT GIVELING HIM FAVORABLE COVERAGE ON HIS BORDER WALL, ON

COVERAGE ON HIS BORDER WALL, ON ALL OF THE WHIMS IN THE ECONOMY.

ALL OF THE WHIMS IN THE ECONOMY. I THINK HE IS LASHING OUT INSIDE

I THINK HE IS LASHING OUT INSIDE THE WHITE HOUSE THE SPIN IS --

THE WHITE HOUSE THE SPIN IS -- >> DO YOU THINK HE GETS GOOD

>> DO YOU THINK HE GETS GOOD PRESS?

PRESS? >> DO I THINK?

>> DO I THINK? >> A GOOD PRESS.

>> A GOOD PRESS. >> I THINK HE WOULD SAY HE DOES

>> I THINK HE WOULD SAY HE DOES NOT GET GOOD PRESS.

NOT GET GOOD PRESS. I THINK HE OFTEN GETS FAIR

I THINK HE OFTEN GETS FAIR PRESS.

PRESS. I THINK HE GETS AGGRESSIVE

I THINK HE GETS AGGRESSIVE PRESS, BUT HE HITS RIGHT BACK,

PRESS, BUT HE HITS RIGHT BACK, AND I THINK THAT INVITES MORE

AND I THINK THAT INVITES MORE SCRUTINY ON HIM.

SCRUTINY ON HIM. >> WHAT DO YOU THINK, JASON?