>> c-span's washington journal live every day with news and policy issues that impact you. american immigration lawyers association director will talk about immigration arrests. and a senior fellow discusses potential changes to 2010. frank financial regulation slot. the committee for responsible resident -- budget president will talk about this week's federal budget deadline. what c-span's washington journal live at 7:00 eastern tuesday morning. join the discussion. >> the white house correspondents dinner is this askend, with daily shows -- the featured entertainer. president trump is not attending the event, making him the first president in more than three decades to skip the annual gathering. c-span recently spoke with white house correspondents association

president, jeff mason, about the president's decision. he also shared his peers on the relationship between the president and the executives bridge. >> jeff mason, white house correspondent and president of the white house correspondents association. you have seen the end of one administration, the start of a new one. from your standpoint, what have been the biggest challenges? >> the correspondents association is the main interlocking before the -- between the press corps and white house. of take the role at the end the obama administration and started with the new trump administration. -- that adjustment, the news administration comes into the white house with new priority, with less experience in this case in dealing with the press. she talks about -- we accompanied to the press corps. there's significant tension, that's not a surprise. you also have developed a good working relationship with president trump's press team.

that has led to some successes on behalf of the press corps. there was certainly some battles that i did not expect to fight. for example, the idea of the press moving out of the press room was floated at the beginning of the trump administration. we have at it -- had a discussion about that and are still there. >> lome ask you about the briefings and the briefing room, because it is midway between the west wing and white house. why is it important to be in that location? >> to be present. for when things happen here in the white house, when the president decides to speak to the press, we are right there. if the president has a meeting with a foreign leader, we are right there. if there is something last-minute or the need the press or in many cases, the press pool to come in and see some become a are right there. being at the white house shows the transparency that is protected by the constitution, by the first amendment. coming to the kits of the white

house every day to shed light on what the administration is doing are all things protected by the first amendment and the best way to be able to fulfill those responsibilities is to be so close to where the president is. >> the tensions between the president -- and the presidency not new, dates back to george washington. is very different but this president? >> you are right to say there has been tension between the press and presidency for longer than that. that's an inherent part of the relationship. it is hard for me to compare this to other administrations were i was not myself a correspondent but i would say tension has been high. that is part -- partially driven by the fact that president trump has excited smith's tweets and public remarks, critical things about the media. it is our job to continue doing our job, regardless of the criticism that comes from the president of the united states. as i said before, despite some of that not insignificant

tension, we have worked hard to develop a good working relationship with his team. >> one of those tweets, i will not be attending the white house correspondents association dinner. did that surprise you? >> yes insofar as did not have a warning that that was coming. possibility -- the most efficient night had was with sean spicer tongued the date of the dinner. that was his decision to make to decide not to come. he can speak for himself. the state -- the signal if he send. >> why do you think he decided not to show up? >> the reason he gave orders people have given was because of the relationship between the practice and the white house and president trump.

they focus was not to their liking. the president dating back to george washington as he just said -- covered has not been to their liking. gig whenst part of the you are the president of the united states. i understand that there are criticisms, and it's fair to ask reporters and correspondence to correct mistakes when they make mistakes, but it is our job to provide robust and sometimes critical coverage of the white house and of the president of the united states. that's what we do, it's not connected to the dinner. it's too bad the president decided not to come for whatever reason. but as i said, we will have to dinner and are going to highlight the importance of the first amendment. >> luhansk holly george condon said, the bigger issue is not the president skipping the dinner, but members of the president's cabinet, the white house staff, he called that unprecedented. >> it is. it's unfortunate.

signal they decide to send with that is only one that they can speak to. it sends a signal that is unfortunate to the american people. as a said before, we have worked really hard to develop a constructive relationship with this white house. that is something that we could have showcased if they had come. that's for them to make that decision. it is up to us to continue doing our job. we will do that at the dinner as well. people inside the washington hilton. how to come together, and explain how you are able to book the headliner. "it's a big production to get that many people in the room, to have the entertainment planned. there was lots of support for that. it is a privilege and also a lot of work. i was can for headliner, somebody who could bring us that entertainment value to the

dinner. i want people to come and enjoy themselves, having a bit of comedy has become a part of the dinner. that said i was looking for somebody who was not going to roast the president. think with the person from the daily show, i found somebody who will do that very well. >> you also want to focus on the first amendment. how will you do that? a few different things. they will make a big banner on the stage. we will talk about it in our video production. we will talk about it in our remarks on the stage. it sure hassan will no doubt mention it as well. i'm happy to say, bob woodward and carl -- will be there. there worked with the washington post during the watergate era. it's an example of the importance of good journalism. >> finally, this is the start of a new administration. presumably at least three more dinners with president trump.

how does the association move ahead in subsequent years? >> that will be up to my predecessors in this role to help navigate. -- and to send a signal we have -- that the president is welcome at our dinner. this staff is welcome at our dinner. it's possible, even when there's -- that is something that that we are working towards. even as we continue to provide robust coverage of this white house. as we would regardless of who the president of the united states was. that's what we need to do. after the dinner and figures to mason, thankff you. >> my pleasure. >> the latest correspondence dinner is this saturday. we will have live coverage beginning at 9:30pm eastern here on c-span.

>> in case you missed it, on c-span, karen harper royal at georgetown university, sale dedication. >> naming these buildings for isaac harkins and in review craft is the beginning of our journey together towards healing from the jesuits of georgetown's legacy of slavery. >> pennsylvania congressman matt cartwright holding a townhall meeting. >> we have moved the needle on this discussion. it used to be, no how. on anything like the aca. but now it is, let's make it work. >> the competitive enterprise institute, on science and public policy. scientific research should be separated from government. the new would not find climate s being an orthodoxy enforcing political movement.

but rather, the quest for knowledge. >> treasury secretary steve mnuchin. >> the objectives are simplified personal taxes, create middle income tax cuts. and, make our business texas competitive. >> former ambassador to afghanistan ran crocker. >> we have to work with the afghans to stabilize the situation against a telegram onslaught. then move ahead with a political process that will have to include pakistan. >> attorney general jeff sessions on trans-national crime organizations. >> if you are a gang member, we will find you. we will devastate your networks, we will starve your revenue sources, to your ranks, and sieze your profits. we will not concede a single block or streetcorner.

>> c-span programs are available at c-span.org, on our homepage, and by searching the video library. >> tonight on c-span, former president barack obama returns to his hometown for a public event at the university of chicago. that is followed by defense secretary james mattis discussing the u.s. strategy in afghanistan. after that, president trump holds a working lunch at the white house with members of the un security council. later, white house press secretary sean spicer takes questions from reporters about friday's deadline for funding the federal government. today, former president barack obama made his first public office.ce since leaving he discussed organizing with young adults. he also talked about his post-presidency plan