program. 9:00, attorney general jeff russia andstimony on the james comey firing. host: our first half-hour and phones. former presidents directly addressed president trump. other topics are of her grab this first half-hour. (202)n call us at 784-8001 four republicans. (202) 748-8000 for democrats.

if you want to reach us on ,.itter thefull statement from chief of staff john kelly is available on our website www.c-span.org. many papers are playing out the statement. representative from florida made statements about the phone call president trump made. this is part of his statement yesterday. family,u are not in the if you've not been in combat, you can't imagine how to make that call. the call in question that he made yesterday, the day before

, it was next of kin designated by the individual. if he is not married, that is typically the parents. the point is the phone call is only ifthe next of kin the next 10 agrees to take a phone call. sometimes they don't. a pre-call is made. typically, they all except call. he called for people the other day and expressed his condolences in the best way he could. say?id to me, what do i i said there's nothing you can do to write this.

let me tell you what i told him. said, he was doing exactly what he wanted to do when he was killed. a new what he was getting into by joining that 1%. in new with the possibilities were. died, he was surrounded by the best man on the earth, his friends. that's what the president tried to say to the families. i was stunned when i came to work yesterday morning.

a member of congress who listened in on a phone call to a young life. rests way, he tried to fix -- express that opinion. he was a brave man, a fallen hero. he knew what he was getting into because he wanted to enlist. he was with the people he wanted to to be with. that was the message. stuns me that a member of congress would have listened in on that conversation. it stuns me. that is part of the statement from you they white house. that is available at www.c-span.org. you can respond to that or anything else in open phones. four republicans.

(202) 748-8000 for democrats. if donald, you are first. theer: let me say i have utmost respect for general kelly. let me say that this should have never gotten to this point. when donald trump said in 2015, what he said about john mccain, at that point, the people who voted for him should have said this guy is not worth it. at that time, they had other kasichtes like governor of ohio, jeb bush. point, that's when they

should have said this guy is not worth it. good morning. caller: good morning. the irony is when you fight for another country, the soldiers are good to you. care if you got captured. mccain survived.

five years. torture. listen to the words i'm saying. what i'm trying to say is mccain survived. he and our president is not a hero to. heroes call real them americans. memphis,ert is in tennessee. i've got a solution to solve the problem. arrest obama for treason. robert rumer georgia.

-- from georgia. caller: i think general kelly put together two thoughts yesterday as if he was trying to thread a needle. he said this is what president trump was trying to say. i think he meant that president trump wasn't capable of delivering the message the way he had tried to fire president -- spire president trump to deliver. he said he was appalled by what doing oressperson was that she had listened then on the phone call. bothnk he was saying people were responsible for the inappropriate things that were said and done. and i do notat want to say any ring good about -- anything good about trump.

the lady who was listening to the speakerphone comments could not help but here it, but she should not have on to the press to relay the information that was so private. host: the wall street journal writes under the title, saying it took a while for him to talk about the phone call. about context. he described what happens when a soldier gets killed in action.

dorothy is next up. caller: good morning to you. what i would like to say is everything they say is a reflection of themselves. congresswoman was listening into a private phone -- all of this russian stuff that is going on. this is all sewed terrible. half ofe can't realize america is being do, there is

something wrong going on in. host: go ahead. you are next. trump is going to get that golden ticket. they are disrespect. host: off twitter, it appears john kelly has fallen under these l of the trump phenomenon. the white house day care center only has two adults left.

he spoke about not only the incident of the phone call, but the response john kelly had. this is a bit of that last night. >> after the chief of staff said he was stunned and brokenhearted by her actions, this was her response. >> the stars and bark at the moon. issues not become an until the moon barks back. the criticism comes after she is the resident of being insensitive in his condolences call to the widow. she said she was in the limo which you heard the president say this. >> he knew what he was signing up for. >> family members of act up

current out of the call. the president maintains it's not too. threatening getting phone calls from white nationalists. come forward, that the white house is following me. this is amazing. that is out smoothly phenomenal. i am a rock star and out. host: let's hear from monica. i get sell it because of the nature of my information. i've been trying to break through to the feds for eight years. i have a blog. i have a message or mr. kelly.

your point?s caller: well wishes for the death of his son. host: let's go to david in indianapolis. caller: i am a warmer soldier and democrat. general kelly was a little disingenuous covering war president trump. two days prior, president dropped said he had already called the other soldiers that it. held in i don't believe host: on twitter, what person would want to listen in on a call like that.

that fuller statement from the white house reaping yesterday on www.c-span.org. you can see it in total. there is a lot more information on that situation and from bridgeton, new jersey the independent line and. caller: i think it was the way the call came off as and sent. -- insensitive. he was in a very dangerous unit. the msnbc host has a piece on the daily base about john kelly.

now that the general is fully political leveling insults heinst the congressman, remains in his position to protect country from trumps or dangerous impulses. we will go next to louisiana. caller: how are you this morning? my comment is about general kelly. i have respect for him as well. you are not hearing his first advice the president. not to make the

call. the president did not listen to his advisors. general kelly told him out to do it. he said he did it in the best way to good, not the way it should have been done. the first thing was advising him not to make the call. president when the cannot accept other advice. if he would listen to other people instead of speaking what he wants to say. he could have said i am sorry for your loss. he had to say he signed up for it. he made it a rule statement. rcruel statement.

host: next is the independent line. caller: good morning. i am pointed to say this. godidea of one nation under has been a failure unless we agreed to put our ultralow differences -- cultural differences behind us. thank you very much. john mccain is asking or an investigation and briefing on the matter. trumpet in itshe creation to brief about the existence of operations. he said the obama illustration was far better at doing that.

in illinois, we will hear next from john on the democrat line. for johnhank that this kelly. he is the manchurian candidate. he is in there too ring that guys neck to read. michigan, youin wouldn't put your daughter in a room with that president.

about ouralking present day leader. host: we will show you more as we go route the morning. former presidents made statements yesterday. george w. bush spoke in new york yesterday, not mentioning donald trumps name. denounced speech, the bigotry in the trump era of american politics. an comments amounted to from a formerque republican president who has remained largely silent. he did not name mr. trump. that was the washington times.

president obama spoke in virginia on behalf of the lieutenant evan are there -- governor there. the abandoned nine months of political silence to accuse the republicans of fear mongering tactics. he did not tension president trump by name. ofdenounced the controversy commercial. from flushing, new york. caller: good morning.

we have to politicize everything. when he talked to the widow, he did not the right words. she ambushed the president. chance, the sad and is when i see the widow on husband, cnnor her

showed the little girl. they are asked waiting people -- exploiting people. for becomes public everybody. host: south carolina, the independent line. go ahead. caller: to my brothers and sisters in south carolina and the greater country, general .elly is respected i lived in boston or 10 years.

lawrence o'donnell also comes from boston. theral kelly called congresswoman and empty barrel. bigotry, hatred, blacksingenuousness for people. respect and he should have lost respect for the greater part of america for mouthing the stuff trump ignited. rooted in a hatred of black people in this country. they keep running the tape. it's nauseating to believe that these are people you should respect and he should have had the temerity to confront donald

trump. he run up a personal situation. i just can't accept the fact that these are men who are serving in this in illustration -- administration. i can't leave the greater portion of america and my brothers and sisters here in our carolina can accept this area. host: we have about five more minutes left. the president is tweeting this morning about the future of tax cuts and what happened in the senate last night. this is the president tweet.

the new york times picks it up from here. they are taking a look at the proposals saying party legals cannot finalize a bill until another budget hurtle clears it this will include instructions on how much tax revenues could be decreased. that would be an agreement between the house and senate hearing. that could come weekly. that is from the new york times this morning. going back to the phones. caller: i listened to general to defend he tried what president trump said.

i thought it was a shameful thing that he tried to do. he should have told president trump i'm not going to go out there and express this sentiment. he should resign. him.e respect for the came out there like a puppet for donald trump. take the president and tillerson 10 days before they said anything about what happened over there? republicans, when hillary was secretary of state, they were all over her about benghazi. this is worse than benghazi.

the soldier was left there for two days. didn'tted states still find him. the contractors found this man. the united states did not have any backup to defend the soldiers. they were carrying out orders. tot: we've got to move on john in virginia. caller: i was calling about the governor's race in virginia. i am a republican. . am supporting is mr. obama's claim that democracy is at stake thathere is some confusion

that democracy would get stake in an election of a republican for governor there is -- governor. good morning. i have a comment. this is not going to go away if donald trump leaves in a few months or four years. basic cultural shift.

thecomputing the matter in the understanding of the people to have a view in these times. host: last call on open phones. we will talk with sam quinones, who will join us a talk about the federal response to the opioid epidemic. he joins us next. later on, discussion about the future of the iranian nuclear deal with jamil jaffer. general kelly spoke also about protocol when it comes to what happens to the death of a soldier on the field. here is a bit of that statement from yesterday. [video clip] >> most americans do not know what happens when we lose one of our soldiers in combat. we tell you what happens. they are buddies. wrap them up in

whatever passes as a shroud, puts them on a helicopter as routine, and send them home. the first stop is when they are packed in ice, typically at the airhead. then, they are flown to come usually, europe. we are -- where they are then packed in ice again and flown to dover air force base. where dover takes care of the remains. embalms them. particular sleeve dresses them in uniform with the medals they have earned, the emblems of their service. then puts them on another plane with an escort that takes them home. a very good movie to watch is "taking chance," where this is done in a movie. that, if youeeing

have never seen it. that is the process. while thatpening -- is happening, a casualty officer typically goes to the home, very early in the first lights to go on. then, he knocks on the door. typically, a mom and dad will answer. wife, it if there is a is happening in two different places. if the parents are divorced, three different places. the casualty officer proceeds to break the heart of the family member and stays with that family until -- for a long time, even after internment. that is what happens. who are these young men and women? 1% this the best country produces. most of you, as americans, do not know them. many of you do not know anyone who knows any one of them. but they are the very best his country produces. they volunteered to protect our country, when there is nothing

in our country anymore that seems to suggest that selfless service to the nation is not only appropriate that required. but that is all right. who writes letters to the families? typically, the company commander. as a marine, the regiment commander, the secretary of defense. the service chief, and the president typically writes a letter. typically, the only phone calls a family receives are the most important phone calls they can imagine, from their buddies. in my case, when my son was killed, his friends were calling from afghanistan, telling us what a great guy he was. those are the only phone calls that really matter. >> "washington journal" continues. sam quinones is the a uthor of "dream land" and joins us to talk about what is going

on when it comes to opioids in america and the white house response. we are at the point where trump is saying some type of announcement is forthcoming. what do you think that means about the situation overall? guest: finally, this topic is getting the recognition it deserves. this problem has been percolating 20 plus years. deadliest drug problem we have ever had in this country. that last will find year, when the numbers are counted, something on the order of 60,000 plus people have died, or the in the americans lost in the vietnam war. finally, it is getting that kind of response. we will see what the response is . so far, i have not heard the president say anything about what that response will be. we have what are called the commission," because

chris christie leads it. they had proposals. they are not original -- people have been talking about this for a long time. but it is important that things for theon paper administration. we will have the final report next week. host: as far as what the federal government does currently, what does it do and what is the best way to respond in light of what might happen? guest: what we need to understand is -- the more i got into this story, the more i realized this is a story that grows out of isolation. one kind of isolation is isolated response. for a long time in this country, we had one response to addiction. that was a jail cell or prison cell. law enforcement has a robust -- and crucial -- role in this problem.

but there has to be far greater treatment options for people. both at the very moment when they are overdosing at the er level, but also after that. we have saturated whatever capacity we had long ago. of course, prevention is extraordinarily important as well. it is that community response. the federal government cannot do a lot of that. it really boils down to the local folks, the counties. county government is where this hits most heavily. if you think about what county governments do. jails, corners reports, ers'itals -- corono reports, hospitals. the federal government is that facilitate to make it easier for those folks to do those jobs. and finally, so public health and law enforcement combine. that is what the federal government's role ought to be.

as well as federal prosecutions. host: our guest, the author of "dream land." if you want to ask questions, (202) 748-8000 -- we divided lines differently. that number is if you have been impacted in some way by the opioid epidemic. medical professionals, (202) 748-8001. all others, (202) 748-8002. let's hear from trump from last week talking about what he plans to do about this situation. here he is. [video clip] >> three will be going -- we will be doing that next week. by the way, you know that is a big step. by the way, people who have no understanding of what you just said, that is a very big statement. it is a very important step. to get to that step, i lot of work has to be done. we will be doing it next week. host: that is trump -- even that he reports

blindsided his advisers as far as coming up with an appropriate response. intercoms complicated to even fashion something like that -- it becomes complicated to even fashion something like that. guest: it is part law enforcement, part public health, part community resources. what are the problems we are finding is a foster children explosion, because so many parents are addicted and unable to care. those numbers would be greater if it were not for so many grandparents stepping up and taking care of their grandchildren. i would like to shout out to a lot of the grandparents out there. they are doing an amazing job under horrible circumstances. we would have an even worse problem if it were not for them. -- i talk about opiates, youicularly heroin, as when are writing about that, you are writing about america, what we have become.

as a country, it touches so many aspects of our lives. i think that realization or that approach is the best one. we have tried the unilateral approach. "jail for all pain," addicts," i think there needs to be a combine community approach. a lot of this has to do with the destruction of community. i then wealthy areas, where people do not interact anymore. in poor or -- or rust belt areas where jobs have left. host: let's go to calls. this one from new york, rob you are on with our guest. caller: good morning. thanks for this. i see a correlation in now with

the opioid crisis and us in afghanistan and what happened in vietnam with the same problems. do you see that as being a potential cause? guest: i do not. but thanks for the call. idea being, what you're suggesting, is we have a lot of heroin in americans today and a war going on in afghanistan for whatever -- the last 14 years -- i am not sure anymore. and thus, there is a major , here.r of heroin that is not true. heroin coming into the united states for the last 20 years and 30 years has mostly come from latin america. for many years, it was columbia sidelombia on the eastern of the u.s., and mexico to the west. now, it is virtually all mexico. that stands to reason.

there are business reasons why that is true. heroin is commodity. in howce is reflected far it has travel. if it has to travel across a continent and an ocean, it will be far more expensive, far weaker than heroin that only has 1500 miles before it gets to the united states. it is important to understand, in our country, that heroin coming into our country, almost all of it comes from latin america, and increasingly today, the vast majority of that is mexico. impacted byomeone this, trenton, new jersey, john. caller: yes. i have two people who take opiates. one cut back by two thirds. functioning --'s

is in bed five days a week. maybe get a couple of hours of life. the other person has opiates and ptsd medicines. they cannot take a both. either the person will die from a mental problem or they will die from opiates. thanks for your consideration. and i believe bill bennett addressed this. focus on the illegal opiates first. i think that would be appropriate. thank you. guest: thanks for your call. a part of the problem, the response we have had, we have -- we are swinging that pendulum a little too hard in the case of some individuals, who suffer from chronic ain't -- pain and may need that. the problem for a long time was we prescribed very little of this. then, we got this big push, and all of a sudden, there are pain pills for everybody.

there is a happy medium where we need to nestle what has been lacking is health care in which people are actually treated as individuals, and not as -- therefore, you devise an individual response for an individual's pain. pain management was headed that way in the early 1980's, so you would treat a person's pain with marital counseling, architecture, exercise and diet, but what happened is that the pills took over entirely. now, a lot of people who have a high daily dose that they have to take -- my feeling is a lot frome might benefit hanging back, but the problem is

we want to drastically hang back. that is cruel and counterproductive. this is where our approach has been lost and flailing, with vision and direction. host: let's hear from a medical professional in connecticut. caller: good morning. i am an anesthesiologist. the classical teaching that we were taught is in a cute situations, in other words a patient has had surgery, you give as much pain medicine as you can, so the patient will be relieved. and there is no dependence for anyone in this acute situation. clearly, that was not good teaching. in my opinion, just like you are speaker said, a happy medium must be reached. can -- a lot of hospitals

can do with less pain medication. guest: i entirely agree. for a long time, we have had people come in for routine surgery, who go home with -- the pain for which will last two or three or four days, the most. they go home with 30 days worth of pain pills. and maybe also a refill. you multiply that by millions and millions of americans across the country every year for the last 20 years. what you have created, a lot of those drugs leak onto the black market. a lot of those drugs are abused and used by the folks who prescribed. those folks get addicted to your there has been this massive amount of prescribing that has gone on for 20 plus years. because people were thinking that it did not matter how many of these pills use at home with an acute pain willnt after surgery, it

not be addictive. studies have shown the longer you use these drugs, 92 100 days is one -- pretty much anybody can get addicted. it is that access many to be reconsidered. host: the front page story in "usa today" talks about a recent meeting chris christie had in trenton. that they invited ceos with the promise of a good networking opportunity. pharmaceuticals met with members of the commission who pitched a public private partnership. guest: they clearly have a role to play. up to now, people always ask what is the government doing about this? my feeling is the government has been doing a lot.

the only people who were fighting this for 20 years were cdc, etc.jailers, the i think there is a far more robust, maybe expensive, role for the pharmaceutical companies to play. i do not think you can leave them out. i do not understand how that would be helpful. it depends on what role that is. it depends on how the story goes on. response, a community is a community response. that means, you have to bring in people who have not lived in silence up to now. bearing legislations or lawsuits will -- varying legislations or lawsuits or what have you. they produce these products. these products have a legitimate medical use. we need to figure out the proper role for them. i woulde should not be,

argue evidence shows, in every medicine cabinet in america. host: on our line for all others, california, where mike is. caller: good morning, gentlemen. in my view, the inclusion of law enforcement is part of the solution -- as part of the solution just makes things worse. isn't the drug provision the foolish replay of alcohol prohibition? causing the same social reasons for the same reason. you are putting high crime, gangs, putting it in the hands of those violent people, billions of dollars. please?ve your comment, guest: well, it is hard for me to look at this story -- i understand the argument. i lived in mexico for 10 years. i saw drug trafficking up close when i lived down there. it is true that drug prohibition coffers ofe

the cartels and drug trafficking culture in mexico. it is hard for me to see how this story would argue for legalizing drugs. because this happens because of legal drugs. this is an entire store in which the whole thing starts because there is a massive fire hose of atal, potent drugs blasted the american public. it is a classic story. when i lived in mexico, i believed our drug demand yield these problems. -- fueled these problems. but really, the problem has to do with supply. there is a reason why alcohol is most abused drug in america. because it is cheap and available almost everywhere.

the same is true here. this is a story that starts with legal drugs being blasted at the american public. when you do that, you run into problems. that does not mean that there is not a better way. iere is a better way, believe, of doing this, that would not lead to what we have seen. but it is hard to see how this idea, this story, our opiate epidemic, would argue strongly for legalizing more. i think that is where we are going with marijuana. they are one is an example -- we need to be cautious and humble about legalizing a potent drug. i think there are strong arguments to be made. , that weis in an op-ed need to go slowly, do what we did after prohibition. was regulate potency in beer and wine.

equal. all pot is there's very potent stuff out there. see -- el chapo was a marijuana dealer before he was anything else. but maybe we need to take the slowly and with an abundance of caution. host: kenneth in kentucky. opioids forve used close to 20 years for back problems i have had. and the last five years, i have been battling cancer. now, they tell me they cannot write my medicine. i have to go to pain management. they will do spinal injections, maybe give me some physical therapy. i am in my 70's. i have no addiction. i took, before these laws started passing, i take my medicine once a week or every two weeks.

but since you take the laws, i have to take it every day and heavy doses, because when i go to the doctor, i have to pass a that it is insee my system, even when i do not need it. , it is a heroin epidemic. and you refuse to say it on the news media. i know friends who work in the medical profession. they see them all the time. it is heroin and fentanyl and carfentanil. they are doing extra clean because the legal people, you can go after them. the legal ones is more trouble. host: got it. thank you. guest: i sympathize with the caller's issue. it is an important one. it is, again, what we have to get better at, ratcheting back uanced withore ne

our treatment. but i argue the last part of what he was saying is not true. yes, heroin and fentanyl are in the headlines today. but the pills got this started a the pills are why we have more overdose deaths than traffic that allergies for the first time since the rise of the modern automobile in 2007 -- more overdose deaths then traffic fatalities for the first time since the rise of the modern automobile in 2007. people on pills are so desperate that they switch to heroin, which is cheaper. oxycontin are big parts of it. again, it is a massive supply released over a 20 year period by doctors who believed that these tables were nonaddictive -- these pills were

nonaddictive. i think it's very clear that pills --mous supply of people rarely jump from a more innocuous drug to heroin or fentanyl. it is a progression. it has to be a progression. it is a natural thing to get your mind around the idea, get your mind enslaved, essentially, that you will want to seek out something as potent as fentanyl. to me, it starts with the pill. host: we have a related story that took place this week. representative tom marino, who removed himself from becoming the next drug czar. what do you think about that decision and his role in this overall story? guest: i am not sure i know everything there is to know about mr. marino's background. she was a guy i did not even know about before this whole thing blew up. but it's clear in american

politics today, you cannot be seen to be doing the bidding of former single companies. -- pharmaceutical companies. that is what he was doing, seems like. a couple of other politicians, i think, were doing the same. what we are seeing now also is pharmaceuticalof industry power and money and influence and, now, a heightened understanding of what that has helped create. now, we have massive addiction and people dying across the country, largely because they started with this huge excess supply of pills prescribed from coast-to-coast. host: from new jersey, all others, this is norm. caller: hi. the manufacture of heroin begins

with the poppyseed. the poppyseed is turned into opium. opium is turned into heroin. we know the poppyseed is majority leader -- majority grown in afghanistan and burma. why not try to go after before it hits the united states, go after it where it is grown? guest: in this case, our heroin is not grown in afghanistan and burma. in a lot of that heroin, from that neck of the world, goes to russia, goes to iran, goes to other countries. it does not come here. our problem stems from mexico, largely. question toa good ask your policy makers. i would say that what that deep -- anda really i lived in mexico 10 years, wrote two books about the country. i have long believed that a lot of these problems would be

resolvable if we had a deeper, more nuanced, relationship with mexico. whatever you want to do, mexico, is fine. one that recognizes that mexico --ds our help, needs to needs our influence. i deeply believe that. help when we talk in.t mexico in foot-stomping terms. wallsling is we have enough. walls will not stop heroin from crossing. heroin crosses in areas with lots of walls.

going after the poppy is maybe a good idea, but now, fentanyl is a different drug. theanyl has democratized heroin industry. heroin used to come from four or five mexican states. now, fentanyl can be made anywhere. the card -- it could come from nebraska. to me, fentanyl makes the whole argument far more complicated. host: one more call. jean, in corpus christi, texas. caller: hi. i am a registered nurse for 36 years. i have watched the progression of this. two months ago, my grandson of 27 years of age decided that he was going to have a little taste of whatever his friends were offering him. it happened to be opium and

fentanyl. he died. they could not revive him. and it was a huge mess. issue is we have cut back on the funding for the dea. back on the research. what is happening is these major pharmaceutical companies are making their own compound, and more tacitds are than a combination between fentanyl and opium -- host: i am sorry to stop it there. we are running short on time. guest: i would say this goes to the federal response. far more robust approach from the dea, may be better funded,

would be a good idea, although i think the dea has been one of those agencies that have been fighting the longest in this country come along before anyone really got on it. but also, funding for research. we have to expand. it sounds like there is this studying-- paucity of this, how the brain works, what the repsonse is. an essential part of the federal response. it seems to me the evidence would show that to be an important part of the federal response. book "dreamest's land," author sam quinones joining us. it is open phones. call (202) 748-8001 for republicans. (202) 748-8000 for democrats.

independents, (202) 748-8002. was inpresident obama virginia yesterday, addressing the lieutenant governor as he is running in a campaign rally or virginia governor. regardingut issues the race itself and also larger issues. we also heard from president bush. here is president obama from yesterday. [video clip] to talk aboutoing our history, then we should do it in a way that heals, not in a way that wounds. not in a way that divides. we should not use the most painful part of our history just to score political points. we saw what happened in charlottesville. but we also saw what happened after charlottesville, when the biggest gatherings of all rejected fear and rejected hate.

and the decency and good will of the american people came out. [applause] that is how we rise. we don't rise up by repeating the past. we rise up by learning from the past and by listening to each other and knowing that we're all flawed. -- we still tried to resume some baseline measure of decency and patriotism. in people, the good not the worst. we think of ourselves as americans first. that is how we should be thinking about our history. i have written about this before. my father was from kenya, as you know. well, some of you know. some of you may have forgotten. but i have written about the fact that my mother -- you can

and -- i amneage 1/8th or 1/9th or 1/0th removed from jefferson davis, who was the head of the confederacy. think about that. i will bet he is spinning in his grave. [applause] [cheers] that that's is america. all of our history, the good and the bad. we can acknowledge thomas jefferson, one of virginia's owned slaves.ns, that is not disputable. and we can also acknowledged he wrote the words "we hold these

jews to be self evident. that all men are created equal. that they are endowed by their truths -- we hold these to be self evident. that all men are created equal." we can recognize that we can honor the constitutional ideas that have allowed us to come this far. host: that is president obama, who appeared in virginia yesterday. a newspaper from new jersey on its front page also shows a picture of the former. "hail to the chief campaigner." it highlights a picture of him at a campaign rally for new jersey's democratic gubernatorial candidate that took place in newark thursday. again, open phones. (202) 748-8001 for republicans. democrats, (202) 748-8000. independents, (202) 748-8002.

we start with bryant in hamilton, virginia, independent line. caller: good morning. i was listening to your piece about the opioids. i think a large portion of the problem is the medical profession. tohink doctors are too quick just give people a pill. don with antibiotics, they not work on the common cold. thea lot of people go to doctor and say, i want antibiotics, and the doctor gives it to them. the same happens with opioids. they are given hand over fist. there needs a grassroots solution where doctors counsel their forents when given opioids pain. needed, but they are overprescribed. i think that is a major part of the problem. host: judy in pennsylvania, east

berlin, democrat line. caller: hi. about the opioid issue. i have several friends, and one family member, will have lost young adults to prescription opioid overdoses. closest friends just came to me after losing her grandson in maryland -- he was one of three children at the funeral home that day in caskets. she just said, you save your money so you can help your grandson go to college. and when he is old enough to go to college, you find you are using that money to bury him. i just wanted to say that. host: ralph in washington, d.c., you are next. caller: hi. i have been trying to tell the media about this. for some reason, they do not want to cover it. about 30 years or 40's ago, when

i was in germany, amsterdam legalized marijuana. amsterdam had a huge problem with heroin addiction. what they found was once late legalized marijuana, they took it out of the hands of people who want to sell you drugs on the illegal market. and the number of new heroin 1/10th felt t -- fell to of what it was before. we are starting to see that indication in many areas, for the number of addicts and the number of overdoses have fallen. what i found amazing is one of the companies that sold the most gavetive heroin actually campaign contributions to prevent the legalization of marijuana. thank you very much. host: in the papers, follow-up to a story earlier about how to bury of ohio announcing he will eave --

remaining republican lawmakers, many growing weary of the st umbles that have come to define the trump era. departure -- as a senior member of the tax-writing committee, and his position and exerts significant influence over the party. tax reform was do or die before pat's decision to leave. it goes on to say his departure is not helpful. he is a good guy. a smart guy. baltimore, maryland, democrat's line. we will hear from robert.

robert in baltimore, hello. caller: can you hear me? host: go ahead. caller: thank you. all i want to say is the groundwork for the current opioid epidemic was laid ready -- way back in the 1980's, when reagan allowed pharmaceutical companies to advertise on tv. ,s far as the opioid epidemic like the previous callers before me, if they were to consider legalizing marijuana, medicinal marijuana, whatever, i think a deaths would increase. again, i find it disingenuous that people talking about -- this huge emphasis on treatment right now. we all know 30 years ago, that was not the emphasis what a crisis broke out in the

african-american community. at the same time, i look at yesterday's news, and what do i see? george bush quoting the words of mlk. of all people. this guy should be put in jail for the 9/11 fiasco. but this guy is pretty much the architect of this financial meltdown that we are still recovering from in this administration. host: frank, beverly, new jersey, republican line. caller: good morning. you have a great show. i watch all the time. i would like to make a comment about the little part that you had obama on there. he talks about bringing the country together. all you have to do is go back and see what has happened in the prior, and even

until now, all other things, the bad things that have been happening. i have not seen racial divide in this country like this since the 1960's. he is partly responsible for this. if you really cared about crime and what is going on in this asntry in his eight years president of the united states, what did he do for his own home state in chicago, illinois. look at the murder rate in chicago with the black people. he did nothing. host: the previous caller and the caller before him both mentioning president bush. stories today taking a look at the former president speech in new york -- former president's speech in new york. saying it was the former trump'st that rejected stance on immigration and trade.

in a speech, the 43rd president also denounced bigotry and bullying, saying civil discourse was needed. mr. bush did not mention his fellow republican by name. part of that speech talked about america's unique history, why it is important to reject racism. you can see our whole that should behold speech on our website, c-span.org. [video clip] identity as a nation is not determined by geography or ethnicity, by soil or blood. being an american involves the embrace of high ideals and civic responsibility. we become the heirs of thomas jefferson by accepting the ideals of human dignity found in the decoration of independence. heirs of james madison by understanding the genius and values of the u.s. constitution. of martinthe heirs

luther king, junior by recognizing one another not by the caller of -- color of our skin but the content of their personality. it means that bigotry or white supremacy, in any form, is blasphemy against the american creed. [applause] and it means the very identity of americans means passing on civic ideals to the next generation. we need a renewed emphasis on civic learning in schools. our young people need positive role models. bullying and prejudice in our public life set a national tone, provides permission for cruelty and bigotry, and compromises the moral education of children.

the only way to pass along civic values is the first live up to them. host: again, that full speech available at c-span.org. ruben is in fort lauderdale, florida, democrats line. caller: good morning. how are you doing? host: fine. go ahead. caller: this opioid addiction, you have people who need medication. do not know what that guy was talking about, but he had not mentioned anything about that, because some people really need medication in this country. it sounds like a population control or something is going on. this has been going on for years and years. thanks so much. host: from stanley, new york, we hear from linda, republican line. caller: how are you today? host: i am fine. caller: i have a sunday and just

deployed to the middle east. last day he was home, he said to me, "mom, i know what i am doing. this is what i signed up for. " and i am so sick of these lefties getting on the president because he tried to say the same thing. and what other thing i would like to say -- do not press your button -- i am tired of hearing people saying stuff about trump being a draft dodger. that they hadhem twice a draft dodger in the white house. used the losses for his own personal -- i am so sick of these democrats just going on.

should beongresswoman thrown out of congress, as far as i am concerned. host: cnn highlights senator thad cochran, who reported earlier with medical issues. a follow-up saying that the 79-year-old said thursday he is doing fine. again in 2020, despite nagging health problems. he spoke briefly off-camera to reporters as he entered the capitol thursday. he was soft-spoken. asked if he is well enough, physically and mentally, to remain the chair of the operations committee, a demanding job, he says he thinks he is. then goes on to be quoted as saying it is up to the people to decide. i think i am. as he walked into the capitol,

he walked through a metal detector, which he does not need to do. that story on cnn's website. we are in the open phones the next 15 minutes or so. (202) 748-8001 for republicans. (202) 748-8000, democrats. independents, (202) 748-8002. pam from south carolina, democrats line. hello. caller: good morning. host: go ahead. caller: yes. a discussion this morning about nursing homes. my father was in a nursing home approximately seven years. during the first year, first two years, every time i went in there, my dad will be hunched over in a wheelchair, with a blanket over his head. it turns out they were putting fentanyl patches on hand. fentanyl patches, i understand,

is for certain people. however, during those seven years, i witnessed the nursing not necessarily the nursing staff, but the staff in sitting him in the parking lot. when i tried to bring it to someone's attention, i was the one railroad to it needs to be looked at it a lot of it is coming from these nursing homes. as far as the marijuana issue, i spent 23 years with my inhusband -- he was a marine the army, retired -- 90% of the soldiers that came through our area all smoked marijuana. if they left it alone, it would not be cushion for all of these heavy drugs. thank you. have a great day. kansas,hn in olathe, independent line. thank you.

i am concerned because most people are not proactive about their health. how many times have you heard people say, i do not have to worry about that, i have insurance"? that is total irresponsibility. i go to the doctor every year. said thathe nurse your cholesterol is high. i said no, tell me why my cholesterol is high. so i went to the doctor. talked to a nutritionist. changed my diet habits. three months later, lo and behold, i don't have to take lipitor and never did. you have to ask your doctor to give you the time to do the things that will change your life. toast.i was eating some so if people become more responsible, we will not have epidemics in diabetes, we will

not have epidemics in opioids. doctors run businesses. they run people through their offices. they have to pay their own bills. you have to demand time with your doctor to change her life. host: before you leave, i want to point your website to c-span.org. this week, the senate held a hearing, and the topic was taking a look at changing lifestyle and how it may lead to a committeeth with that took a look at that hearing. if you want to check that out, because of the topic you brought up, go to our website at c-span.org. of can find that courtesy our video library. that is a archive where all of our video is kept for not only things happening today but also things that happened 30 years ago. catherine, north conway, new hampshire. independent line. caller: good morning.

i have a suggestion concerning the football players kneeling. now, football players can stand, face the flag. each football player placing both hands over their hearts. and then open their arms out wide and far out, showing care, .oodness, and kindness for all and fans could return the gesture, showing everyone matters, and we are one. thank you. think the nfl commissioner should have made a more exacting policy regarding how the flag is treated and things of those matter? that when there is something to be concerned a right tole have express themselves. to gowould like it towards inclusive and positive.

expressedayers have their concern, so now, let's go further and be inclusive and do i say,rent gesture, as placing both hands over their hearts, bring hands out wide in front of you, far out and wide and open. the fans could do in return -- host: we got that from previously. randy in clearwater, florida, republican line. caller: hello. i am calling about the medication stuff. and a permanently disabled as i am -- i am permanently disabled damage andith spinal nerve damage. i take 6 medications. ingr theedients,

and one is opioid. take as directed, like my doctors say. proble willm. -- no problem. who the heck do these people in washington, d.c. think they can tell us that they can limit t hose of us who need it. pharmacies, like cvs, 10-dayg to limit a supply. 60-day oryou have the 90-day supply of where you used to do, now, they're going

a 10-day supply. have extra cost, plus, you'll have to do extra travel and pay gas for travel -- host: ok. if you have followed this network long enough, you will know what the elves mov -- al s mith dinner is. it's highlighted during season's. this is house speaker paul ryan, who spoke at the dinner. the "new york times" says his ,tingers were aimed at trump who himself was a guest at the dinner. is the press misunderstands and never records the bigger compliment of the white house. "look at all the jobs the

president has created just among the white house staff" he goes on to say. just one of the many jokes that took place at the al smith dinner. go to our website for more of that. indiana is next. bill in indiana, line four democrats. -- line for democrats. caller: yes. talking about a tax cut, this is ridiculous. we are nearly $20 trillion in debt. thanin 1980, we had less and our tax bracket was 7%. now, the tax bracket is 39%. are $20 trillion in debt. every time the republicans talk about tax cut, look what happens. we keep going further in debt. i am against any tax cut at this time. host: do you think taxes should

be raised in order to get more revenue? caller: yes, sir, i do. i think we should hold trump to his word. he said he will raise taxes on the rich people. i think it is time to raise the -- if you do anything with taxes, you should raise it from 39% to at least 49%, to cover the cost we are incurring now in our operation of the government. becausemy take today, people cannot afford another tax cut. another tax cut is going to put us in the whole further -- put us in the hole further. we don't need it. host: let's hear from stan in

memphis, democrat line. caller: good morning. i am very happy to hear the conversation on the opioid addiction, as far as a written publication, now. and some serious work being done on that particular industry as it relates to corporations. here in memphis, tennessee, i am a certified social worker. the streets of memphis the last 46 years. i am also a community organizer and a business person. i am very familiar with it. but i would like to enlarge the discussion to what i have written about -- the euphoric industry. it is an industry. and the word "euphoria" means getting high. hascorporations in america a huge participation in the

euphoric industry. i will not go into it any further right now, because i have not published that articlesr article and that i have written about. it is very timely, but i hope to will look some point, at the industry itself, not only derivatives but all forms of getting "high." ok. louis in fletcher, independent line. caller: good morning. i would like to throw this out, folks. this is public knowledge. you can google it and find out. there are a number of american corporations as well as a few lobby government agencies that particularly the corporations

that own a number of patents on cannabonoids. pop upioid issue did not last week. it is only a matter of time before the cannabinoids legalization takes place on a more national scale. ofre are already a number states that have gone medicinal and then recreational. the point being it is all a business. those who have a vested interest future --nabinoids like i said, this chatter did not just start last week. when you are surrounded i political chatter, you have to start following the money. host: one more call. michael in pennsylvania, republican line. caller: how are you doing today? host: fine, thanks.

caller: i have voted republican the last 20 years. as far as dealing with the affordable care act, i was in massachusetts for quite a while. i love mitt romney. the health care in massachusetts is the best. when they basically broke it ,own, the affordable care act when it was able, made massachusetts' health care great. i transferred to kentucky, they have the same thing as massachusetts as far as the affordable care act they accepted it. is biggest things -- thing when it comes so purex, comes from africa. everybody should move over to prescription pills. host: michael, last call on the

topic of this open phone. two guests joining us. we were here first from jamil jeff are. jaffar, talking about the future of the iranian nuclear deal. a former top staffer of bob corker. later on, we will be joined by npr's justice correspondent carrie johnson. she will talk about attorney general jeff session' recent comments about the rush investigation and the future of daca. ♪ >> this weekend on the tv on c-span 2, saturday at 8:00 p.m. eastern, number vice president al gore looks at the effects of climate change around the world with his book "an inconvenient

sequel: truth to power." >> we, in our civilization -- not me, but technologists and engineers, are learning how to manage atoms and molecules with the same precision they use to manage bits of information. co2 emissions globally have stabilized the last four years, starting a downward trend. we are going to win this. remaining question is will we put it in time to reduce the risk to and accept that the level that we will cross some point of no return. it is a dangerous race between hope and the catastrophic consequences we are creating. eastern, at 5:30 p.m. and author discussion on political diversity and free speech on college campuses.

of columbialla university. and the former president of the aclu. and do not want to demonize disparage these protesters, the way i think often happens. so what is positive about what they are doing? they are passionately committed to social justice and racial justice. thank them for that. but i would love to have the opportunity to persuade them that freedom of speech, especially for the thought that we hate, is the most essential ally. >> for more of this weekend's schedule, go to booktv.org. >> "washington journal" continues. serves as theffer national security institute

founder and was the former chief counsel for the senate foreign relations committee. here's to talk about the future of the iran nuclear agreement. talk about the events of the recent days of this white house and what they are doing with their current deal, or what they would like to do with the iran nuclear deal, and do you think it is the right approach? president is determined that the sanctions granted to iran is not sufficient compared to what iran is doing -- essentially, the deal is no good. he has triggered the ability for to, tos, if it wants reimpose sanctions. he has not been that. instead, he asked them to modify the deal through u.s. legislation. make the deal longer, more enforceable. that is what the president is asking congress to work on. host: as far as the requirements laid out in the deal, has iran kept those into what degree?

guest: iran has engaged in a variety of encroachments. test centerntral gold futures inappropriately. they have not given us access to the sites we want to access. there have been times in the past was a have not complied, but as of today, he has not certified that part of the deal. host: what are the options for congress? they can do nothing. the president has all of the authority today if he wants to get rid of the deal or put more pressure on iran. he is essentially waiving sanctions put in place by congress. the president has all of the authority he needs to undo the deal. orsay, at a certain date, i will stop waving, so you will need to

negotiate with me or the secretary of state, rex tillerson. we have unified support from both branches to say we need to renegotiate. host: is there value to keeping this deal? guest: i think the deal is not a good deal. i do not think it was a good deal when it was negotiated. if we are going to do a deal with iran, it ought to be tougher on them. there is opportunity for the president to do that. the best way to do that is congress. but even today, maybe he ought to tell iranians, i will stop at a certain date. you will have to negotiate with me, no matter what. we have not seen that statement yet from the president. the dealally believe is not a good deal, as i do and the president says he does, that is what he ought to do. host: our guest here to talk

about the current deal does the current state of the iran deal. (202) 748-8001 for republicans. (202) 748-8000 democrats. independentfors, (202) 748-8002. whatit comes to sanctions, is the ultimate impact and are more sanctions the answer? guest: the sanctions congress put in place in 2012 were effective. what a sad to europeans and all other nations, if you want to deal with iran, you cannot bank in the united states. economically, they had no choice . that really put the run in a tough place. in aat really put iran tough place. at the time, the europeans and the obama administration who were opposed to those sanctions, effective the most sanctions. those are the sections we are talking about with north korea.

ae challenge is it is successful way to get to the deal, to get to negotiations, negotiationsmake even better this time, but it does not appear the president is willing to take that step just yet. host: will the allies go forward if we decide to pull out? guest: in theory, but because of economic downfall, they will not. or bank deal with iran with the united states, they will bank with the united states. host: food does the sanctions hurt? guest: that is the challenge. they have an effect on the who we generally believe are favorable to the united states. there is national pride in the nuclear program, but we have tried to sanction just the government. we have tried to put more

pressure on the regime itself. that does not mean that sanctions will not be tough on but whenan people, people are unhappy, puts pressure on the government. host: we will take a call. illinois, democrat line, don. you're on with jamil jaffer. caller: good morning. -- one thing,ons i think donald trump wants to get rid of these sanctions just because president obama helped create them. them toay we can get come to the bargaining table and negotiate with the world and , we should keep the iran deal. i think it is slowing down their progress.

look at north korea. so i think it works. have a good day. god bless this country. guest: thanks. you make a good point is a lot of people believe the iran deal makes us safer and limits iran. you make the point about north korea. what other folks inc., in capitol hill in particular, is we run the same deal with north korea that we are running with iran. the problem is north korea got a nuclear weapon after a number of deals that they do not comply with. that is the fear with iran. to president saw pressure renegotiate. so the question is how do you get there? the former secretary of state relates this to north korea. if you change the parameters with north korea.

secondly, screwing around with the deal is do not mess around with the united states -- they will not keep their deal. knew, if hillary clinton was not elected, that they would have to deal with donald trump here the notion somehow that if a republican won , they did not know the deal was going to be renegotiated, that is false. it is not really about u.s. credibility here. -- it is nott is surprising secretary kerry would defend it. it was his deal. the north negotiated korea deal, which has led to north korea having a nuclear weapon. we do not want to be in that place with iran. if you do not want that, undoing this deal and finding a better one is the way to go. host: from texas, brian.

caller: i just watched on c-span 2 -- host: i will have to pause you, only because the connection is really bad. we will try to see if we can establish a better connection. larry, winston-salem, north carolina, democrat line. go ahead. larry from winston-salem? caller: can you hear me? host: go ahead. you are on. , he is talkingy about hot this deal went down -- almost six countries involved in the nuclear iran deal. this guy acting like the united states did this on their own. make a deal where everybody agreed to it, and this guy trying to make it look like the united states is the only one involved in this deal.

up -- oing to end deal, weet rid of this are going to end up going to war soon. if they get a deal in the next few months, we will be right back where we were. guest: you make a good point. this deal was negotiated by the permanent five members of the u.n. security council, plus one. you are right. but part of this was a deal set up by the united states that they brought to the p5 and the p5 endorsed. it was u.s. sanctions that put pressure on iran. but you are right, the other countries would have to agree or fourth to go along. one of the challenges was the sanctions regime is that they

know if they had to be put to the choice of complying with u.s. sanctions or dealing with take bank withd united states. we put our allies in an uncomfortable position, but if we think the deal is a bad deal, that is something we may have to do. if they want to keep the deal, that is fine. but if you want to undo the deal, the only way to do that is pressure iran with sanctions. deal is the deal -- if the is undone, what would that do with iran's nuclear weapons capability? the problem is the deal allows them to engage in research on advanced center bridges. that means whether year 10 or your seven or whether we got rid of this tomorrow, they have done research to do this faster.

the other question is when will they have the ability for a nuclear warhead? we know they have been pursuing it for a long time. i think of a have more space and more money as part of the deal. we do not know for sure. it is hard to know. host: new york is next, regal par, michael is there, calling on our line for democrats. caller: hi. how are you doing? great show. i just want to tell you i think it is a great deal. they should leave it alone. they should look at the world, the way it is today. israel has almost 500 nuclear weapons. who are they going to mess with? then, they have pakistan. i have examined the timeline with north korea. i think north korea has had nuclear weapons way before they

fired the first one off. i think they are capable of sending them around the world. , in partse there now of the united states. this is why they talk the way they do. so threatening. because i think he was a smart kid, educated in new york. i think cat inw he had to have a the bag. guest: the truth is with a nuclear weapon, iran can influence the situation in the region. hezbollah, if they have nuclear weapons --iran is messing around in lots of places. syria as well.

they may not use it directly, but they can be threatening, the same way that kim jong-un is threatening the united states today. that is a real problem and i do not think a world we want to live in. host: wayne is next in south carolina, independent line. caller: yes. thanks for letting me on. i want to say how great it is that we have a president now that actually wants to do something good. i think it is one of the best things, if he does get rid of this deal. because it is not any good to us. they will try to kill us, -- the opposite of what the guy said, from new york. they are going to come over here and tried to kill us. that is the reason why they keep saying "death to america." guest: i think it is a fair concern about iran's behavior in the region. i think the president was very

clear about his views on the iran deal during the campaign. that he thought it was a terrible deal. the challenges he has now been in office almost 10 months, has not gotten rid of it -- has had the opportunity, but has not. now, he is trying to get congress' support. that's a valuable thing. is hard to get stuff through congress. he has plenty of authority to get rid of the deal. up to president can live his election comments tomorrow. but i think working with congress will be a challenge for him, just as he has seen on the health care bill. host: that was wayne in south carolina. arlington, virginia, next to you this is josh, calling on our independent line. caller: hello.

an honor to have a fellow patriot. about, i wanted to ask your claims in regards to iran violating the sanctions. by the a complaint iranian american council by saying that the national atomic energy commission is not saying that iran is failing to comply to these requests. if we cannot trust the international atomic energy agency, who can we trust? guest: great question. is responsible for looking at all of the things happening around the world looking at compliance with nuclear nonproliferation regime, the npt. at the same time, a lot of outside groups has look at what the iaea is doing. group founded by david

albright, a nuclear expert, has determined at the beginning of has engagedt iran in violations. whether they are hugely problematic is a matter of perception. while today, though they may be in strict compliance, the real problem is the deal with its own challenges, the fact that it allows for advanced centrifuge research, all our problems and the longer term sense of the united states, even if iran refuses to comply. as far as the inspections are concerned, is it wide open to the inspectors as far as the sites that are in iran? what is the protocol? guest: unfortunately, not wide open at all. to get access to the sites, you have to go through a whole process. if they do not let you in, th

-- you can appeal. but even in military sites, we have a regime where iranians pull soil samples themselves, themselvesa watches from a distance. it is like watching an athlete do a drug test from a monitor. for: (202) 748-8001 republicans. democrats, (202) 748-8000. independents, (202) 748-8002. sarah is next in texas, our line for republicans. caller: thank you. have a great day. i cannot imagine why this deal was ever made with iran. they do not tell the truth, they -- it is just a crazy bill. -- deal.

sending them all of that money, buildncourages them to more nuclear weapons. i just think it is crazy, and i think we need to pull out immediately. thank you. guest: i think you raise an important point, which is if uraniuml was about enrichment. but there were three pieces. and reaching uranium to the port where you can use it as a weapon. warhead design. three, delivering that war had on a ballistic missile across your border into other countries or other continents. has nucleary iran ballistic capability. whether they can put a nuclear weapon on it or not is hard to know. we know they have mastered the enriched uranium part of the fuel cycle. but we do not know about the warhead. andought them time, space,

have given them money through sanctions relief that they can use on warhead design. host: you are the former chief counsel to the senate foreign relations committee. bob corker was your boss at one time. bysaid diplomatic effort allies was key to getting this done. what do you think about that? always important to work with your allies, just as it is important to work with congress. thate should all be clear we do not have to work with our allies, and the president does not have to work with congress. he can do it on his own. these economic sanctions are of the nature that our allies will not have a choice to go along. they will not be happy. but the president could undo this deal or pressurized this deal to make it better immediately with or without our allies. what that should tell our allies and congress is you have to work with the president to get the

deal done. it is better for the world is iran complies, rather than the --better for the worls if iran with a stronger deal. host: what about rex tillerson and nikki haley? guest: both are very important. nikki haley working with the u.n., the p5. the president has had challenges with the secretary of state. he has had differences of views with him. he had differences with bob corker. but at the end of the day, secretary tillerson and senator corker believe america needs to do the right thing. they ought to work with the president to move the ball down the world. but at the end of the day, leadership begins at the top. he president needs to, if does not put his foot forward,

as he said during the campaign. when senator corker remarked about the adult day care at the white house, what did you think about that? guest: he is a candid man. was frustrated about the situation. the president has said something on twitter as well. the president, and general kelly, are increasingly realizing that if you're going to lead this party and lead the country to success, the better way to do that is bringing them in. that is important to the process. senator corker wasn't stressing his view that he thinks it is important to do that. host: from florida, on our independent line, go ahead. caller: yes. what does that make us look like in the world right now?

president, with all of his rhetoric, talking to koreans and putting them down -- of this is empowering them, by trying to throw away the biggest deal of the century with iran. it just makes us look so phony. --e we are no longer staying we do not have any integrity anymore. that does not look good in the world. chance there is a good for an alliance between iran and north korea. moree just causing turbulence, especially in the area. and we are going to have problems longer. that we canthing only wish will never happen. but that is the fact. that there is more than one way ilk the cow, so to speak,

deal with this problem. guest: sahil is right. we should be worried about a relationship between iran and north korea. it are it exists. uranium and plutonium enrichment capacity is partly north korean in origin. it is right to be concerned inut the u.s.'s credibility the world. there are two ways to look at this. there is the credibility you have with your allies, where you stand by your work with your allies, defend them when you say you will. youmake your enemies fear when they oppose you. i think a lot of people will say this president has made that challenging, but there are just as many people who will say that made what seems like a week deal has -- weak d

eal has undermined our credibility. but you are right that credibility is critical in the world sphere. we have to show that we are resolute. as alliances, off of twitter, if we break our work with iran, what would stop them from buying a bomb from russia or china? guest: the chinese have not shown a willing is to sell nuclear weapons the other nationstates, to date. we have seen missiles technology sold to pakistan and north korea. those nations both have ballistic capabilities. iran and other nations can get that. it could lead to a nuclear arms race. weapons, pakistan will get some. host: one more call from

aterbury, come -- w connecticut. go ahead. caller: yes. a countrywondering, that has a leader of color, as soon as they give up their nuclear arms, the country gets invaded. that is my point. guest: the only example that i know of of a country giving up nuclear weapons voluntarily is libya. iraq war.r the that was 2002. you're right. spring, after arab mohammed gaddafi was overthrown, in part by his people and by the by -- and in part

u.n. involvement. but i am not sure of any nation's giving up nuclear weapons. he made is pretty clear to his team he didn't want to do that anymore, he didn't feel like certifying or waving. interesting thing to see whether continue to wave those sanctions. if he does, he will be in placeg a policy put by the prior administration. one, i don't think he agrees with it. host: jamil jaffer of george mason university law school, national security

institute. thanks for your time. about the we'll talk attorney general jeff sessions, estified before congress and a lot of topics came up from russia to daca. a close at what he n.p.r. carrie johnson. >> this weekend on american history t.v. on c-span 3, a look t controversial union and confederate generals during a live decision with authors and historical rom the park in petersburg, virginia, and ing saturday 9 a.m. sunday 9:15 eastern. saturday at 10 p.m. on real the january 1968 weekly series abc scope examines war tance to the vietnam and the draft. -- lyndon iddle of

johnson is a common murderer and should be arrested. there are no limits to defend. the peace movement should have vietnamese the omen whose child was burned by nepalm. movement has to go to the streets and use the tactic or disruption, the american people are drunk with apathy. >> sunday 7 p.m. on oral we continue our series on photo journalist with diana former white house photographer. i should accept the offer to be behind scenes every time they offered it, because any time you see the united states e behind the scenes, you learn something about the president. see something. nd it is important, i can be

there for you. you can't be there. see is ything i important. >> american history t.v., all weekend, only on c-span 3. >> "washington journal" continues. host: this is carrie johnson, she's with n.p.r., serves as correspondent, here to talk about the attorney general as he was questioned by senate this week. good morning. guest: good morning. host: what was the committee looking for, the justice committee? guest: two very different things. before the hearing started, all the committee on had sent attorney general sessions a letter saying, we're refusing to answer our questions and refusing to executive privilege on behalf of the president. we want to put you on notice answer our d to questions about your sensitive conversations with president trump. a very sions had different view of that process

and over five hours this week he frustrated democrats at every turn when they tried to ask about the of f.b.i. director james joarpio, to don of legal device given on the daca program. justification is for doing that, though? he could sions said not invoke executive privilege on behalf of the president and unable to discuss a number of topics that related to confidential communications he'd had with president trump. longstanding was a practice in the executive branch that had been honored over many, generations. host: we'll continue our conversation with carrie johnson about jeff sessions. ask her questions about the hearing, which we'll show you portions of, it's for republicans. democrats, 202-748-8000. and independents, 202-748-8002.

one of the conversations that like humentioned, is the back and forth about jim comey. diane a portion with feinstein talking about james comey. >> what was your designated role in the decision to fire director comey? a.g. sessions: it's a matter hat i can share some information about, because the president himself has talked revealed that letter. rosenstein and i ake our recommendations in writing. we prepared those recommendations and submitted it the president. senator feinstein, i don't think it's been fully understood the significance of the error that comey made on the clinton matter. the first time i'm aware of

in all of my experience and i of a think i've heard situation in which a major case in which the department of were e prosecutors involved in an investigation agency investigative announces the closure of the investigation. a few weeks before this happened, he was testifying mr. comey congress, was, and he said he thought he do the right thing and would it again. host: carrie johnson, give us exchange.o that guest: jeff sessions and rod osenstein recommended the f.b.i. director james comey be fired this year, citing many perceive to t they be failure necessary handling e-mail ary clinton investigation and as you just heard jeff sessions saying james comey doubled down in his essional testimony on decision to announce no charges against hillary clinton. that, s a problem with though.

the problem is president trump later said he fired comey in to lift the cloud on russia. was asked by ions senator feinstein he said he because of wer executive privilege. host: does this have anything to with the investigation being done by robert mueller? question, we have some clues, robert mueller investigating russian publicly ce has not spoken about the matter, but the justice department has refused attempts to officials at or the f.b.i. about the comey firing because mueller might be looking into the matters as possible obstruction of justice by president trump and others o the f.b.i. about the comey ining because the white house. that is a clue. host: the attorney general got direct questions about whether he himself had been interviewed mueller. guest: a bit of news, sessions hembled and fumbled and said had not been interviewed with

mueller and he would cooperate ith the inquiry when asked for an interview. host: were you surprised by that? guest: in the white house. i was because the deputy attorney general been senstein has interviewed by mueller. in these swgzs, you interview last.ost important people jeff sessions was in the room with donald trump, had a lot of onversations with donald trump and may be expected to be interviewed further down the line. talk our guest is here to about the hearing with the attorney general. you can find it on c-span.org, the whole thing, as far as the we took it in and see it at our website at c-span.org and go library, if you need help finding that. 202-748-8001 for republicans. democrats.8-8000 for 202-748-8002. we'll start with steve, in line,on, utah, independent you're on with n.p.r.'s carrie johnson. aller: hi, carrie tis time to get rid of all those people,

comey, s, all of them, everyone is corrupt, we, the we,ple, run this country and the people, are coming after them, you understand? attorney l, the general was confirmed by his former colleagues in the senate he'syear, there is no sign going anywhere, steve, at least right now. remember president trump has his way to publicly criticize jeff sessions on a number of occasions. offered to resign at one point, the white house resignation, his he intends to not go anywhere for a long time. jeff sessions says this is the attorney general job he's had in his life, including 20 senate, he's .s. having the time of his life and big decisions on behalf of the united states government. host: tucson, arizona, jill is next, democrat's line. hi. caller: hi. host: government. host: tucson, arizona, jill is

next, democrat'sjill, go ahead n the phone. caller: yes, i want to speak on trying to lse, i'm turn the t.v. down like she asked me. are on. ahead, you caller: hello. host: we'll put you on hold yore television set, if you can turn it down, we appreciate it. the president tweeting about jeff sessions of the f.b.i. the f.b.i. confirms jim comey letter exonerating crooked hillary clinton before the investigation was complete, to say many people not interviewed, including clinton himself. do this obviously a fix, where is the justice department. any context to that? tweets are just coming. guest: sure. president trump has been james comey at different points for letting the hook.inton off there is controversy now over prematurely had drafted a statement exonerating clinton. tell me my sources there were many, many interviews

over months with respect to the e-mail matter n last year and agents and career rosecutor his come to the conclusion more or less, there was no criminal intent on behalf any llary clinton to break law with respect to her private e-mail server. public , anticipating a outcry and need for a public statement, had weeks before the nd of the investigation, started thinking about how to craft a statement. the president views that, that as trump, views some kind of problem. when you talk to former and investigators, that's standard practice, more or less. hey tonight view this as the controversy president trump is making of it. host: philadelphia, pennsylvania. the hear from john on independent line. hi, john. caller: hi. that wondering why it was said thatnot sessions the hillary clinton, there was done with ther to be

hillary clinton? appearing that is the job of the attorney general? guest: that is an excellent question, that is the nature of jeff sessions and rod rosenstein's complaint with james comey last year. of course jeff sessions became 2017, but eneral in last year comey said that he the call that he saw nothing wrong with hillary at least actions, nothing prosecutable, after evidence the law, the and her interview notes. now typically that's the provence of the attorney general nd the justice department, not the f.b.i. director. couple things here. remember james comey was the during ttorney general the george w. bush administration, he also says viewed lynch and the on the tarmac and closing the hillary clinton e-mail investigation as that called into doubt

the independence of the investigation, he thought he had and neutrality to make a call about hillary clinton and the end of the investigation than the attorney lorettalynch did. ormer prosecutors are uncomfortable with that decision. host: let's try jill in tucson. jill, go ahead. yes, i'm here. yes, my comment on this jeff is he's stonewalling. e's had plenty opportunity to get this -- what is it, if utive privileges lifted he really wanted to do that. stonewalling with president trump and he's a racist, very racist. things he's ot of been doing, saying behind the to bring up i want how mr. franklin, senator franklin did the other day. first, he didrect, not meet with the russians at we, no meeting with them and find out three different

occasions, so he needs to get straight. guest: well, senator franken, who asked jeff sessions in the hearing in january, whether -- what he would do if contact e any improper between russians and the trump ampaign, actually started this issue in january. jeff sessions has in fact said senator patrick leahy that he had no contacts russia, that came out in the "washington post," sessions with least two meetings the then russian ambassador, here is a question if he had a third interaction with the ambassador last year. senator franken tried to suggest saying there at are major inconsistencies in didn't ' testimony and understand why sessions never reported the contact necessary security clearance forms in with his justice

department job this year, those re questions to which we have no firm answers. are word process to stonewalling, richard blumenthal ad argued sessions was stretching concept of executive privilege to the breaking point challenge for democrats, that in order to proceed with a contempt finding attorney general jeff sessions, you need cooperation of republicans, including grassley who is chairman of the judiciary committee, so far no sign buying in. are host: democrat, robert is next. caller: hi. likewise, has to do with she about comey'sment exonerating hillary, there was fromidence of any intent. what i understand, when you divulge national security nformation, it doesn't matter about intent and i refer to the case where a person on a nuclear

submarine took a polygraph in friends,ol room of his that got out and from what i understand, he was prosecuted. intent to he had divulge national security information, but just because it happened. guest: well, then f.b.i. director james comey said july 2016, that he could find another prosecution in the last 99 years with respect the statute under which hillary clinton had been investigated and he said in her 3-1/2 hour interview with f.b.i. agents, he no evidence of lying or intentional misleading of f.b.i. investigators. on those facts, he could not believe that any any reasonable prosecutor would bring that case to a jury or charge it to begin with. another exchange between the attorney general and senator cotar of minnesota, about the press, i'll show

ou it to you and get your response. >> this was on freedom of the press, we talked at your last wanted and you said you to look at what was going on with the ongoing regulations, department has taken action, will you commit to not putting reporter necessary jail for not their job? a.g. sessions: i don't know i commitment tonket that effect. can say this, we've not taken any aggressive action against we media at this point, but have matters that involve the ost serious national security issues that put our country at we will utilize the authorities that we have, if lly and constitutionally we have to. maybe we always try to find an way, as you probably directly tor, to

confronting media person, but blanket ot a total protection. host: the senator said, you take an action, the attorney general said not taking aggressive ction, what actions are we talking about? >> the senator is a daughter of a newspaperman, her father was a reporter and she's been asking attorney general sessions and doj, this question all year long, in part because routinely attack news media via twitter account nd public appearances and they are open questions about whether his justice department is willing to subpoena news organizations and individual reporters to get their sources. a lot ssions didn't give of comfort to news media in statements you just heard. e said, we have not taken aggressive action at this time, we know that news media by the justice department institute a number of controversy, obama era of under

review by jeff sessions and his rosenstein. given the advances in technology, federal out tigators can find through other means to whom eporters are speaking or subpoena telecommunications companies without notifying reporters. questions g, open about press freedom and how this administration will confront forward.eedom moving host: have you or n.p.r. been on the receiving end of request for sources? have not, although a colleague of mine at oregon ublic broadcasting has successfully fought back a subpoena from the justice department this year, after back went on for a long time. host: north carolina, line, john, good morning, go ahead. caller: good morning. i have a question. with -- coming up recently with he f.b.i., an open investigation into the clinton foundation, with robert specifically ,

nvolved with the uranium deal, especially delivering it, how much does that weigh into what sessions is what allowed to do, he said today he wasn't going to out the -- couple of things. one is that attorney general jeff sessions has recused matters rom any relating to hillary clinton because he played such a big campaign by year's president trump. the second is that as far as we the special counsel, robert mueller is investigating ties between the trump campaign nd russia and crimes that come up during the course of the -- there ion, such as is no sign mueller is playing investigation involving the clinton foundation. some stories this week have come ut with respect to the foundation and uranium deals, that resurface allegations first appeared in the "new york

times" and "wall street journal" before.or years sessions was not asked in detail anything about the clinton also said thishe week that he could not confirm ongoing the existence of investigations in the matter. host: mueller's investigation, see ips when we will something concrete come from it? guest: i wish i knew. hearing o know and are are reports from people who have been interviewed, people like former press secretary, communications official in the white house, and interview other current white house officials by robert mueller. if his history in washington, long histories a guide, he's going to do talking courtroom, not in the court of public opinion. so we're only going to find out people he'sing from talking to or when he appears in court, if ever. car korea ost: n.p.r. correspondence,

carrie johnson. ron, go ahead. caller: my name is ron, i live i have a couple questions here. i've been watching this deal on with trump and it's been going on for how many i can hear or as understand, they have not found. they have got to spend thousand thousand of dollars on this. the clintons went to russia, clinton went over there and gave a speech, gave them half a million dollars for talking a minutes, i think he read things someone wrote down for him. clintons have been hooked up with the russians for years and news like no one in the media cares about this. why? care.n american and i i watch the news and i get very upset with it, just what i hear morning, about trump made a doneto a woman and what he wrong. this congressman or senator, this woman from florida here this stink about he

called four people, only one, about it.aid anything host: okay, we'll pause you about ecause we'll talk what our guest can cover. guest: sure. with respect to ron's assertion investigators have found russia, i th refer to think we need to separate this. we don't know very much about what special counsel robert mueller has found, his work is subject to grand jury secrecy for now. there are investigations ongoing into russia, some testimony we don't know very much about has been public, some has been behind closed doors, there are some that suggest that multiple members of the trump campaign russians last year, including the meeting at trump campaign olving manafort, kushner and others, that is under and members ofow

the senate intelligence committee, who are perhaps wide-ranging ost investigation are telling n.p.r. they hope to be done first year.r of next this investigation is proceeding. time.kes host: we saw the attorney general enter into a case of a transgender person. what that is and why. uest: yes, attorney general to sessions had been asked review six or seven cases involving hate crimes or possible hate crimes and upon review, he decided to send a civil rights prosecutor to iowa help investigate and prosecute the murder of a 6-year-old teen who had identified as transgender. hailed by people in owa and elsewhere as a big step. pedro, according to civil pedro, according to civil rights organizations and lgbt groups, not enough from this justice department.

number of steps jeff sessions and doj have taken guidance from revoking for transgender students with espect to school bathrooms and locker rooms to positions it's taken in court cases, a number cases in which this justice epartment has for instance, determined that under title seven of major civil rights law, sex does tion against not mean sexual orientation, it ust means gender, that is reversal from the obama era. finally, a case before the court this term citing a to bakewner who refused a wedding cake for a same-sex couple arguing that would doing on his religious freedom. those things are viewed by like lamda legal as rights ement to their

could sible steps that drive a hole through landmark civil rights laws and hurt lgbt people. host: robert in charlestown, rhode island. caller: mrs. johnson, good morning, c-span. mrs. could drive a hole through landmark civil rights laws andjohnson, as msnbc, cbs, tions, against cnn, are all president trump with this russia investigation, which is really, there is nothing to it. but you won't hear them print hillary clinton, transpireed with russia with her, the money, the -- -- ion, and as far as be rod rosenstein. know tis a jewish kabul trying to control this, it is. what guest: well, i think that ultiple newspapers have been covering the clinton foundation, ussia and this uranium deal,

going back three or four years, i would argue with that. lso, with respect to litany of news organizations he cited being allegedly against president trump, i don't speak i speak for myself and my news organization, which everys to be impartial at turn. host: wisconsin is next, oshkosh, dust oshkosh,in. caller: with what jeff sessions involved in the past, the controversy, he recuse himself and the mueller picking up and be t of that is going to focusing on what role that, you know, the trump family members have played into this. 'm just wondering what she thinks about some of that. guest: well, we know a number of the trump family are being interviewed by ongressional investigators and

likely investigators for the special counsel robert mueller. say and should have said earlier, people on behalf of the president have denied wrongdoing in last year's investigation. his lawyers mp and says he's happy to sit down with mueller, unsel robert i expect if that happens it will be among the last step, as to the first step. host: this is the attorney diurbin.nd senator senator: did you have communication with any attorney bring a hreatening to lawsuit to void daca before the decision was made by trump administration? a.g. sessions: i would just say kind senator durbin, that of legal discussions i believe of the work product of the attorney general's office and i should reveal it. senator: you cannot tell me,

you're saying you are communication t is privileged that you had a communication with the texas attorney general about the lawsuit against daca before the administration's announcement? privileged? a.g. sessions: even olc in unications we have are fact, on privilege. i would say that's correct. it if it is something i can feel free, feel appropriate for me to reveal to you, i will do so. would have been just about the moment senator sessions of alabama would have up if the attorney general said he can't tell us if he ommunicated with another attorney general in another state. host: carrie johnson. experts number of legal reached out to me and said that is not privileged information attorney general has told other news outlets he had communications with the u.s. before the rtment decision to end daca.

t least one federal judge has ordered the justice department to release legal advice with respect to daca. this is only the beginning, i expect some point weville nswers, but that exchange is one reason why democrats on the committee were so frustrated ith jeff sessions this week, that he had used arguments about rather e to answer some basic questions about his interaction. valley e more call, city, north dakota, keith, good morning. morning.good i would just like to kind of comment on the russia opinion tion and my about that. you know what, i'm not convinced putin cared if hillary won won lection or if trump that election. i firmly believe either way his intention, the best enefit for him is to tear down to destroy a presidency.

he plays chess, our intellectuals in washington, play checkers, one move at time. trump elected, i can't think of a reason for that. i can think of a lot of reasons he wanted hillary, it would be easy to destroy her presidency. guest: the intelligence community has assessed trump el can't think of a reason for that. i can think of russians year's rfere in last election, over the course of ast year, the assessment were complicated, they couldn't igure out his ultimate intent, vladamir putin's ultimate intent, they came to believe, intelligencein the community he wanted chaos and complicate the path for hillary clinton because of interactions they had when she was secretary of intelligence community he wanted state and w ore democracy in democratic movements in russia. however, the senate intelligence are nity and the f.b.i. seeking to better understand

putin's motivations, i hope, and on capitol hill hope we will have a better public understanding of his motives over.this is all host: carrie johnson reports on the justice department for n.p.r., joining us to talk about hearing with the attorney general. you can see that at c-span.org, arrie johnson, thank you so much. guest: thank you. host: one more round of open phones before the end of the program. republicans. for 202-748-8000 for democrats. and independents, 202-748-8002. we'll take those in a moment, you are welcome to join us this cities tour inan cooperation with our spectrum cable partners takes book t.v. american history t.v. to portland, maine to explore america's story. here is mayor of portland and the city manager, both talking about the history of portland the city today. temperature >> portland, maine, is in the the united rner of states and it's in kind of the southern part of maine.

>> portland, maine is known for very vibrant, smaller city. are not a huge city -- we are a will wonderful place on the water. best known for lobster, most people think of maine other things are we're well known for, we are the foodie capital, we are in the country of destinations for people who want o come taste many different types of food. we have a lot of restaurants, we of food and eateries that also does mask a lot of economy that is going on that you don't see, of small lot businesses we have thousands of businesses in the city and those us the ly what give great strength. o down to our waterfront, you will see lobster boats that have been there for decades and

the work portland has been doing for hundreds of years, right next to businesses trying to create the generation of our economy. >> the city of portland is going be ugh growing pains, to condid, we have a community discussion going on between and remaining the same. we have to grow, it is a matter to grow.hat we have doing that in a balanced way brings people into the conversation. >> what we are struggling with places foraffordable people to live. we are in an economic growth is great, but also squeezing out the folks we want here.e sure can live gentrify not want to the city to the point where healthy people can live in the

heart of the downtown. to grow and be the welcoming city that we are. haveso have to continue to that conversation with the eople who live here, work here and play here to make sure that growth makes sense for all. >> "washington journal" continues. host: at c-span wj, post on twitter, post on facebook at facebook.com. the phone lines are open for open phones. .s. usz today is a picture of prototypes being looked at when it comes to proposed wall on the southern border. rafael coronda saying at feet, the design dwarfed the boundary, made of landing matts, twice the height f the secondary metal mesh fence which ends where the prototypes are being built. the inished prototypes and ones nearly complete are concrete as main construction

material. vary greatly. solid tial called for reinforced concrete design and several finished prototypes fit that description, under p, the nt from the cv administration included see-through feature necessary submission. the story also says that the cost of the eight contracts $320,000 to $480,000 patrol center has approved apropriated funds to pay for them. new designs will be tested before any are considered for the actual border, that is the republic story in "u.s.a. today." first up on open phones, jeremy republican line. nebraska?remy in let's go to rob. rob in tennessee. independent line. just : well, i was listening to this johnson, with n.p.r. for the eally a show democrats. sessions goodean,

rid of him, he did not start proceedings with hillary clinton and put her in everybody knows the fix he is in and the swamp is trying to protect her. been down in washington long enough he's part of the swamp, that is all i got say. host: melvin in erbana, illinois. independent line. caller: yes. why does president trump need kelly to explain what he -- never did did eneral kelly say exactly what president trump said, and so that would be interesting to know what he said to them and of t they also keep records all the calls he made to the gold star families? wonder how consistent his message was, was he telling people, buck up and lump it.

the guy volunteered. to know hear and like whether that is a matter of record and i think that is the know.f thing we ought to host: what do you think of general kelly's appearance overall? caller: i thought it was heartfacility, certain parts, nothing to do with what president trump actually said to the family and he tried to that the impression congresswoman being there was omething that she shouldn't have done and she was invited by a family, so that is just loy to try to get rid of this gorbachev that trump hung around his own neck, he's the worst ever had.we'll host: previous comments, taking a look at russia, "wall street morning has this in world watch section, that vladamir putin has weighed in on the u.s. government scrutiny of ussian funded sputnik promise mirrored response against u.s. media if those agencies are

sanctioned. concrete stepsee restricting activity of media, mirrored response will russian ly follow, the president said in russia. fficials in recent weeks reitala tory measures against u.s. news organizations russia after the russian government funded said had asked to register under the agent registration act to regulate foreign lobbying and the u.s. putin said .s. media have less power ricksyville, in virginia, republican line. ray, in north carolina. yes, sir. host: go ahead. aller: i got a comment on the opioids. i'm 74 years old. have a cattle farm, i'm standing here watching a cow clean up her first baby. it wasn't for opioids, i wouldn't be able to walk and be here.

now those people that have all answers should come have some of my problems and keep up doing.at i'm host: melrose, massachusetts, is jim, democrat's line. caller: good morning. host: morning. speak on theike to talk by our chief of staff and i if i may. comments, host: go ahead, you are on. very, very heartfelt. experience e from and much of his own with his son dying. first time i've heard anybody go procedure after a killed in action. source has placed upon the withns, the body is packed i ice, it is sent to an air

sorts, fly to europe, more ice is put on it. dover ket is brought to air force base, the excellent there embalmsonnel the body, put a brand-new with all its decorations and emblem of the in, as they were general kelly said, i do not nderstand why so many people have called in expressing kind attitude.ive host: was that the first time, jim, you heard that kind of those when it comes to killed in the field? caller: exactly right. i'm glad you asked me that i was going to say that. nobody has ever brought me his speech.prior to host: jim in massachusetts. missed what jim was talking about with general elly's speech yesterday, we have it at c-span.org. he did talk about the phone call

and what you have seen in the last couple days, he, like our guest or person who said, explained in great detail what happens and too, ed context there, involving his own son. that is available if you want to watch for yourself at the n.org, you can mention chief of staff's speech, you can mention the former two and dents, both obama george w. bush speaking in different context talking about the trump administration, those available in this open phone segment. smith,o to rebecca, fort arkansas, republican line. caller: good morning. host: hi. wondering why on earth everyone is ignoring verything that hillary clinton did, everything she did. and they're so bent, so hell on finding the least little bit wrong with trump. can't cross his eyes without somebody putting it in a bad light. he's trying to get things done, he's trying to do what he needs

said he would do when campaigning and it's as if democrats, se, everybody is so dead set on him succeeding. it.ust don't understand i don't understand it and i think it's disgusting. frustrating. he's trying to do right, he's gotten a lot done. lot of things done and, you know, nobody said obama gave -- did so many screwy things, there is did.cuse for what he the uranium and russia, like everyonejust is trying to find -- i don't all.stand it at host: joseph in miami, florida, democrat's line. hi. caller: good morning, pedro. lady from arkansas, mr. tries, buts tried, he he just doesn't have the

be ity, not ready to president of the united states. my main question this morning pedro, is how come c-span 2002, i was listening to brian. love body brian, what made me fall in love with insisted that what any of - responded to the -- i mean, reasonable uestions, really, you know, some omething that is not kind of off the wall question or but when, in the segment where we were talking the question was who is the facility e inspection

-- any nuclear progra programs? now, what happens? answered the question. he evaded it, that made me like prian, he insisted that they questions,reasonable skated around that point and i still don't know the answer. is he proposing the alternati alternate? guys.th that, i love you i watch you. host: okay, thanks, joseph, thanks for watching. from new hampshire, independent line. caller: yes, hello.

i have a question now. you just had a segment on the thing here subject and where in north korea does the prevailing winds blow? does the winds blow from the orth of like china, straight down the south korea, or does it the east?e west to this would make a big difference n attack or fall-out or anything would land f. it came south, it would land on our korea.in south this i have never seen addressed and i am very curious, i don't can't look itr, i up. host: okay. an answer, f i have but perhaps another viewer who watch might be able to find to that effect. we'll go on to utah, mary up

line. republican caller: good morning. thank you for taking my call. what i find absolutely surprising in our government situation at this point is we've in a lot of problems here the united states. and i don't understand why our sides d officials on both of the aisle are too busy trying do their eir job than job. they need to start looking out hat is best for the american people, from medicare, medicaid, on down through the best benefit for the american people, not just majority of taxes. and then, when you take a look health thing else, the care. if everybody has such a problem, the re they not stating specifics as to why they like or dislike any of the plans that the pike? down stop being part of the problem.

start being part of the solution. host: "wall street journal" this orning has a story taking a look at follow-up going on in puerto rico after hurricane there. this is based out of san juan, talking about a hospital ship there.used metric comfort, 70,000 ton ship staffed with medical beds has rsonnel and treated 150 people since it arrived october 3rd. navy spokesman said it ost -- to operate the ship, according to the navy. government officials say puerto the an hospitals are aware comfort can take critical patients. if the doctor is any example, about it, the doctor who works at a community health clinic said lk-in the islands northwest said it hadn't received information or how it can be used. patients who show up aren't

normal path but the is to san juan medical hospital, where doctors evaluate request transfer. hospitals contact the medical operations center in which turn ship.the patients are flown to the vessel via helicopter from other hospitals. ore about the operation there in the "wall street journal" this morning. savannah, georgia, independent line. warren, hello. caller: good morning, thank you for taking my call. i want to respond to the comment made by the general yesterday pertaining to our in icemen who were killed africa. i do appreciate the comments he made, i'm a vietnam veteran myself. "he knew what ds not gned up for" is necessarily comforting for i body to hear, i know when was -- as a vietnam veteran, i signed up to be in the service, up to die.ign i signed up to serve my country,

rejoin and come home and our family. i don't think those are going to be given to rds to the fallen soldiers' relatives knew what they were signing up for. that does not console them at all. for him to really strike rom the real issue yesterday, talking about the process, we didn't need to know the process. process in itself is sad to hear, however, it had nothing to words "he knewthe what he was signing up for," and to be g that is going something that is acceptable by a mother, by a wife and by siblings. now he, being a military man imself, maybe hardened to accept that when they told him that about his son. you can't tell that to a wife, a mother, or grieving children. that is my comment. appreciate it at all, trying to defend trump with his

articulate what a president should say to people who have lost their loved ones. you. host: off twitter, jim buck ffers response to the viewer asking about north korea. he says prevailing winds carry all out from north korea primarily to china. stevens say, i don't understand how congress can work they did act like something big, like budget, house, as to go to the that process is part of a larger effort on tax reform. independent ania, line, next up, ray, hello. doing? hey, how you host: fine, thanks. caller: quick thing for the called, the at rump -- cry babying about the ru russian uranium deal that was made. such a great dealer and cancelled how many deals now

nafta through climate change, why doesn't he give no more all and say uranium, i'm canceling the deal. to that. answer also, pedro, when you call the party the democrat party, you yourself away as to where you stand, it is the democratic party. ost: i don't use the term democrat when referring to the party, so -- caller: i've heard it, just today. i don't think so, we'll leave it there. new mexico, rque, republican line. the name, orgot carrie on with n.p.r. he talks about president trump like three times and she called him president trump and you don't hardly ever hear people even the ent, republicans, and i think that is really neat. don't always call him president, i wasn't for president obama and i think there are times i didn't call and i wished i had, they are our presidents, whether you are for them or not,

should call them president. so neat to hear her say that. carrie, i wish i called when she still on there. thank y'all and god bless y'all. host: "new york times" looking administration efforts in middle east. holstein writing -- tosident trump special envoy middle east visited cairo thursday, to move talks along ensure egyptians do not take them in a direction unacceptable and israel.d states cairoza strip in 2007, in to return control to coastal territory to the palestinianian authority, by president mah-moud abbas. palt is influence over government in the fwaza strip.

amarillo, texas, democrat's line. aller: i have one thing that i want to say. if this man is going to be perio president, that is what he needs to do and stay out of the football business and every des, ness that he intrutru he's an oxymoron, i've never een anybody as silly as he is, talks about people, but doesn't want anybody to talk about him. he's so perfect. he's not, that is all vito say. host: todd in michigan, democrat's line. todd, in michigan, hello. todd, are you there? aller: yes. host: go ahead, please go ahead. caller: okay. i leftormer democrat and the democratic party because they are so full of it and i'm democrats hington, and republicans, that is why i voted for trump.

you turds on ll t.v. making president trump look when you should be just complimenting him and looking at all the things he does good. guys are so negative, it's ridiculous. i'm a democrat and trump, i or president wanted him to bully everybody in washington, i wanted him to us, the american people and give our voice to the would refuse to give regular americans a voice. presidentan voted for trump to give regular americans a voice. host: okay. giving todd in michigan, his voice to the conversation this morning and that's it for ur program as far as phone calls are concerned. we close today's program, we from o show you a video original series that starbucks orporation is producing called upstandard, features stories of people making a difference in l community. this particular video stems from a moment on this program, "washington journal," that changed the lives of the caller

and the guest. >> everybody has some kind of prejudice. i thought i was getting good i was -- people are being portrayed in a mostly minorities, instances, it ad started reinforcing negative stereotypes. i had the t.v. on, it was c-span. black woman was on talking her. started watching i decided i was going to ask her advice. i'm a white male and i am

prejudice. thought, oh, boy, what kind of racist rant is coming at me now. thought, i'm so glad that he's just admitting it, talk.now we can >> what can i do to change, to american?er >> when he said that, i felt to help him. thank you so much for being and for opening up this conversation because it is one of the most important ones we have in this country. so what can you do? families.w black turn off the news at night. history of the african american community in this country, foster conversations in your family and in your neighborhood. the ideas gave gary off the top of my head, i didn't think he was going to follow

them. >> i'm a veteran, i live in the south, segregation was almost yesterday. and uggle with prejudice racism. soundedng she suggested easy, but i don't know if she it is very t difficult. my first conversation following advice was uncomfortable. my nervousness showed through. the poor fellow didn't know coming from or why i was bothering him, but it was learning ence, a process. i went into african american book store n of the and i opened two books and i a stack. counter, i said, being king on not prejudice. here?'re in this corner

>> yeah. >> that is amazing-looking building, was it something else before? >> used to be a little club, we called it railwood. here and i did not know that. for'm doing my own thinking myself. it's nice to have this new knowledge. it's a new start. >> hey, gary. oh. >> this is so great. see you, buddy. all right, here is my present for you. actually all about white people. >> okay. in there. >> it's everyday white people onfront racial and social injustice. [laughter] legitimately call gary a friend now and that is the thing i thought would

happen. be a better t to american, as gary said, it actually takes getting out there people who are different than you. that to be a bettertedi believe american, it actually takes getting out there and knowing people that are different than you. i feel like i wasted a lot of life. , how iup all the people could have been enriched a little bit. i am not proud. i'm not going to be ashamed because i'm working on being different. >> getting to know gary on his walk has taught me a lot about who we are as humans and our capacity to change. to get out of your comfort zone, keep up the good work. that theike to hope

unlikely friendship between the black woman on tv and the racist caller, there's something for all americans to have a little hope. there is something that connects us beyond our differences. out. is difficult to step you can have setbacks. in the end, you're going to be a for conflicton resolution. you're going to be a stronger person for tolerance. you get all that just from shaking somebody's hand. ♪

announcer: we are live as first lady melania trump will donate the gown that she wore to the 2017 inaugural ball to the first lady's collection at the of americaneum history. we are live at the donation ceremony. it is expected to get underway shortly on c-span.

. >> ladies and gentlemen, please