shutters] >> at today's white house briefing, press secretary sean spicer was asked about that twe where heresident trump encouraged former security adviser michael flynn to ask for immunity in exchange for testifying before congress on russian interference in the 2016 elections. here's a -- his exchange with a reporter. >> sean, we heard from the president this morning saying they should ask -- michael flynn should ask form unity. we also know he has long-standing views on what community means. back in september he said if you crime, what do need immunity for. does the president flake -- think that mike flynn is guilty of a crime? should go ups he there and do what he hast to do to get the story up.

it's up to him and his lawyers to decide. i will not give him or mike flynn legal advice from the podium, but the president's view as he should go up there and testify. >> but the president gave legal advice from his twitter account. he has said in the past, the only reason you ask for immunity is if you have committed a crime. >> the underlying point you are missing jonathan, respectfully, is testify, get it out there, do it you have to do and tell congress we have been saying for a long time. what's interesting is if you stop for a second and realize what the president is doing he is saying do whatever you have to do to go up, make it clear what happened, take whatever precaution you want however your , legal counsel advises you. again, i have heard in some legal circles that the president could have exerted legal authority over him, sally eight -- sally yates and others. it's quite the opposite. that compares to the narrative you hear from a lot of folks in this room all the time, is

opposite. have a president who is telling michael flynn and others to go up there, we talked about the other day with members of the administration, that the president volunteered -- this administration is doing everything it can to -- get to the bottom of this. that is an important distinction that has been lost on a lot of you, that every action we have taken -- we got it. and talked about russia and the lack of a connection, we talked about the fact that every single person -- person briefed has said it does not exist. republican, democrat, obama appointee, etc. now we are going to the point where we actually encourage people to go talk to the house, senate intelligence committee, in appropriate investigators, so they can get to the bottom of this. i think that is quite the opposite of what you would normally think that somebody who would not try to get to the bottom would do. >> investigations into russian interference in the 20 16th u.s. presidential elections continue

and questions remain about president trump's claims that the obama administration used surveillance tactics to monitor his campaign. the top democrat on the house intelligence committee, congressman adam schiff, visited the white house today to view documents related to u.s. surveillance of foreign nationals. he says the materials were presented to him as being the same ones shown last week to committee chair devin nunes, republican. after the meeting congress and shift released a statement saying, while i'm not -- cannot discuss the content of the documents if the white house has concern over these materials they should have been shared with a full committees in the firstlace. these materials should now be provided to the full membership of both committees. ♪ >> c-span's washington journal live every day with news and policy issues that impact you. coming up saturday morning, bill will executive director -- discuss public policy issues impacting veterans. are talk about the

challenges of building the u.s. mexican border wall. in our spotlight on magazines segment will feature brendan koerner, contribute and editor of wire -- on wired, discussing his piece. c-span's washington journal live at 7:00 eastern saturday morning . join the discussion. ♪ \ cities weekend, c-span's were with the help of our comcast cable partners will explore the literary scene and history of chico, california, saturday at noon eastern. an author will tell us about the founder of chico in his book, john mack well in california: the life and writings of a 1841-1900. >> the most important long-lasting relationship with the federal government started with his relationship with the united states department of agriculture. he was constantly being -- corresponding with officials in

the usda and was constantly receiving from them different crops that they want to test it out in california's soil and climate. they really used richard chico as one of their early -- rancho chico is one of the early external farms. easternnday at 2:00pm on american history tv we visit the california state university farm. number one industry and california yet and we are the number one in the nation in terms of agriculture. these 23 campuses but only four of them have agriculture. what chico -- or presents the northern part of the state. which are students from all over california. to experience agriculture. >> we will also go inside the chico museum to see the historic chinese altar from the 1880 chico chinese temple. onch c-span cities tour

chico california, saturday at noon eastern on c-span twos but tv and sunday afternoon at 2:00pm on american history tv on c-span3. working with our cable affiliates and visiting cities across the country. >> next a look at trade deficits and their impact on the u.s. economy. speakers and food -- include former officials from the clinton and george w. bush administrations. by the washington international trade association and is an hour and a half. the everyone, thank you for joining us. my name is kenneth levinsohn, i'm the executive director of the washington international trade association. where delighted that so many of you braved the elements to be here today, welcome also to our friends watching on c-span. today's events follow a series of events on the current trade agenda.