The 77-year-old ex-Democratic Senate leader has been encouraging multiple Democrats to run for president, he acknowledged to POLITICO in an interview late last week at his work space two miles from the Las Vegas Strip. He skewered the congressional Republicans whom he blames for the rise of Donald Trump. And while insisting he’s leaving the daily tactical maneuvering in the Senate to Chuck Schumer after 34 years in Washington, Reid acknowledged dialing and texting with Democratic senators who seek his advice on how to better fight back against Trump.

“I didn’t want anyone thinking I was still trying to run the Senate, so I told them I wasn’t going to try and run the Senate. I told Schumer: If you need me, you call me anytime, I’m available. I will only call you under circumstances I think I need to. And that’s what I’ve done,” he said. “I hope that makes him feel good, that I’m not saying, ‘Chuck, why the hell’d you do that?’ Or calling [Senate Minority Whip Dick] Durbin and saying, ‘Talk to Chuck and tell him, don’t do that, that’s so dumb.’ Or call Schumer and say, ‘Tell Durbin to shut up.’ I haven’t done that.”