In a softball exchange with Democratic Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer on Monday’s NBC Today that sounded more like a DNC strategy session, co-host Matt Lauer demanded to know how liberal lawmakers were going to stop President Trump’s executive order on immigration: “...you said you thought it was crucial for Democrats to be the bulwark against some of the things that Donald Trump wants to do....what do you intend to do about it? What power do you have?”

Lauer was quoting Schumer’s own words during an Inauguration Day appearance on the morning show, when the New York Senator proclaimed: “I realized the importance of the role of we Democrats in the Senate. We are sort of the bulwark against some of the things that President-elect Trump might try to do that won't be acceptable to our values or the American people.”

On Monday, Schumer responded by announcing: “Well, this evening I will ask for a vote on the floor of the Senate to repeal this....Already 11 Republicans, not just the ones you’ve shown, have spoken out against it.” Lauer fretted: “Speaking out against it on the Republican side is very different from then taking the next step.”

Moments later, Lauer noted: “All of this happens as many of Donald Trump's nominees for cabinet positions, key cabinet positions, are still waiting action. I think only two of 15 have actually been approved.” Rather than press Schumer on Democrats holding up those nominations, the co-host vaguely wondered: “Are you willing to connect the dots?”

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Schumer took that to be an endorsement of Democratic obstructionism:

Yes, tonight another thing I will do is ask that they delay the nomination, the vote, on Mr. Tillerson for Secretary of State because when he was questioned in committee and asked about a future Muslim ban, because we didn't know that it was occurring, he was very mealy-mouthed. So I'm going to ask for a delay...

Lauer followed up: “What about any of the other cabinet nominees?” Schumer replied: “I think we’re going to ask about it for just about every one.” Lauer warned: “And you’re going to be accused of taking political hostages.” Schumer dismissed such concerns: “Oh, please. This is so important to America. Aren't the American people entitled to know the positions of these cabinet people before they come in?”

Notice how the NBC journalist said Schumer was “going to be accused” of playing politics, rather than actually level the charge directly.

Wrapping up the friendly sit-down, Lauer teed up Schumer to promise another fight against Trump’s agenda: “...there is word that President Trump's pick for the Supreme Court could be announced as early as today or tomorrow. Given what happened with Merrick Garland back last year with the Republicans, how messy is this going to get?”

Schumer declared: “Well, look, we're not looking for payback, but we're looking for two things. Number one, and above all, a candidate who will be in the mainstream....Will the President nominate someone who’s mainstream enough to get bipartisan support?”

Lauer skipped the usual talk of urging the Senate to give the President’s court pick a fair hearing and instead put the onus on the Trump administration: “Has the White House reached out at all across the aisle?” Schumer explained: “They've asked, in general, our views with nothing specific. I told them we wanted a mainstream judge. Let's hope and pray he listens.”

Despite the Democrat’s claims that his party was not “looking for payback,” just hours later, Schumer’s colleagues announced they would filibuster Trump’s court pick “no matter who the president chooses to the fill the current vacancy.”

Here is a full transcript of Lauer’s January 30 interview with Schumer: