modified process, that it actually helps us produce more corn so we can feed the entire world and of course here in nebraska we are, it's beef month here in nebraska. we've got the best beef in the world. in fact, we're number one for all red meat production, number one for cattlen of feed, number two for all cattle and cavs. our exports are in highly demand around the world. in fact, japan last year increased its exports of u.s. beefer doctor or nebraska briefly 26%. we can see there's demand out there and want to continue to make sure we can meet the needs of a growing world. that's what we're doing here in nebraska, geeding a growing world. host: governor pete ricketts abort the c-span bus in nebraska. appreciate you being here. guest: appreciate it, you have a good one. host: you as well. we want to thank our cable partner spectrum here in lincoln, nebraska.

and remind our viewers to stay tuned for the next stop of the c-span bus tour. >> we are live once again from the white house briefing room awaiting the start of the daily briefing with press secretary sarah sanders running a few minutes behind. this was going to start at 2:00, it's about 2:30 now. we will have it live here on c-span when it gets under way. ere she comes. ms. sanders: good afternoon. with labor participation wages and job growth on the rise we're seing how president trump's economic policies are benefiting american workers. the unemployment rate dropped to 3.9% the lowest level since the year 2000. the unemployment rate for adult women is 3.5%, and african-american unemployment rate is 6.5% the lowest ever recorded and the unemployment rate for hispanics sighed a -- tied a series low. since the president's election

more than three million jobs have been create the president's historic tax cuts and pro-growth policy are creating jobs and restoring confidence in the american economy. the white house has been in contact with state and local officials in haye since the initial earthquake and volcanic eruption they have president continues to monitor the ongoing situation. fema and the white house encourage all individuals in potentially affected areas to monitor local radio or tv stations for update emergency information and follow the instructions of state and local officials. the york post said today that geena haspel has headed four c.i.a. offices around the world and post-9/11 was senior level supervisor in counterterrorism "the post" further noted her integrity and significantly her political impartiality are

unchallenged. she deserves quick confirmation without partisan theatrics. the bottom line acting director haspel has an unparalleled understanding of the c.i.a. and is the right person to lead it in these dangerous times. lastly on a lighter note i would like to congratulate katherine and alex, two members of the white house press corps, for over the gement weekend, i don't know even know if they showed up today, i would have given them a question, but since i don't see themming kevin we'll go with you. reporter: is it true the president and yourself and others had to convince geena haspel had to convince her not to withdraw her name from consideration, what was that like and has this situation happened? and a followup on don blankenship. why does the president believe he can't win an election.

ms. sanders: in regards to acting director haspel, he commitment to the agency one of the reasons that she is the right person to lead it. she wants to do everything she can to make sure the integrity of the c.i.a. remains intact. isn't unnecessarily attacked. and if she felt her nomination would have been a problem for that and for the agency, she wanted to do everything she could to protect the agency. at the same time she wants to do everything she can to protect the safety and security of americans which is why she is 100% committed to going through this confirmation process. and being confirmed as the next leader of the c.i.a. >> and the followup on blankenship and west virginia, why does the president believe he can't win an election in the state of west virginia? why not? ms. sanders: i have a few more limitations as the president,

under the hatch act can't get into specifics about an election prior to it taking place. i refer you to the president's tweet which i think is clear. if he has more to say on it, he certainly will. >> rudy giuliani said if necessary, it's possible michael cohen could have paid off other women to keep them quiet about alleged affairs with the president. is that possible? will there other women out there who received money from the president to stay quiet? ms. sanders: i'm not aware of others but i would refer you to rudy giuliani to answer those questions. >> you were in the circle far long time is that anything that came across your desk? ms. sanders: i'm not aware of anything like that but i refer you to outside council. >> the president has a may 12 deadline on the nuclear deal is he wavering on this deal?

ms. sanders: the president will make an announcement on what his decision is soon. he's got a few days to do that and we'll let you know when he's ready to make a decision. reporter: john kerry's shadow diplomacy how does that impact the deliberations? ms. sanders: i don't think it impacts it at all. i don't think we'd take advice from someone who -- from somebody who the president believes created one of the worst deals ever made. i'm not sure why we'd start listening to them now. reporter: the fact that the confirmation hear is on wednesday, an open hearing before the senate intelligence committee, are there any questions that are off limits from the white house's point of view as it relates to her career at the c.i.a.? ms. sanders: we think acting director haspel is a highly qualified, uniquely positioned individual to lead the cray crade -- c.i.a. and we're confident in her ability to answer the questions we know are

going to come. if you don't believe me, listen to the quotes from other people who have been outspoken in their support for her. former director leon panetta said i'm glad it's geena because she's someone who knows the c.i.a. inside and out. farmer director michael haden said she's the best choice for director. former acting director and deputy direct you michael corel said she cares deeply about the mission of the agency and cares deeply about the men and woism they have agency. lastly former acting director and deputy director john mclaughlin said if you're picking a professional officer to head the agency, i can't think of a better person than geena. we want her to get a fair hearing, a thor rogue hearing and we're confident that not only will all of the members of the senate see what the rest of us see and certainly even some of the people that have held out that position see, that geena is more than qualified to run and lead the agency.

reporter: if she's asked questions regarding a -- an interrogation technique that took place in her tenure in the c.i.a. that democrats believe she was involved with, she can answer them fully in an open hearing, is that your position? ms. sanders: i'll let her address the questions as they come. we think the issues surrounding her record and experience will be brought up and we're confident in her ability to nswer those questions. reporter: president putin was inaugurated for a new six-year term and we saw in russia police resting about 600 anti-putin demonstratorle. we have seen the president tweet about other russia matters today but not about either of these things. what message does the president have for the kremlin and the russian people about these events?

ms. sanders: the president congratulates him and looks forward to a time when we can hopefully have a good relationship with russia. however the united states believes that everyone has a right to be heard and assemble peacefully. reporter: the president said in the past in the russia investigation is an excuse for democrats losing the election but he appeared to look forward to the 2018 mid terms and quoted, is this phony witch hunt going to go on longer to wrongfully impact the mid-term election which is what the democrats intended, he ended that with a question mark. does the president believe the russia investigation has to do with the 2018 mid terms as well? ms. sanders: i think he thinks that the narrative continues to be drive, the fact that a year and a half later, after spending most all of your time every single day looking into this and still finding nothing, the fact that we're still talking about it, will -- and has the potential to impact the 2018

election. i think the point he's making is how ridiculous it is that we're still having this conversation and the depth to which this research has gone on and investigation has been conducted nd still produced nothing. reporter: is the president pleased with the appearances of rudy giuliani over the last few days? ms. sanders: i haven't spoken with him directly about that, but feels he's an added value to his outside special council. reporter: giuliani said yesterday the president could be subpoenaed by the special counsel, i want to know why the president would go that route if he hasn't done anything wrong as he said repeatedly there was no collusion or obstruction of justice. ms. sanders: i'm not an attorney, couldn't address that i'm going to keep moving because we're going to get real tight on time. reporter: does the president believe he's within his executive powers to reject a subpoena from the special

council's office? and can i follow up on geena haspel? reporter: mike pompeo, secretary of state, a and john bolton, have been among the most prominent critics of the iran deal is there any reason to think the president won't kill the deal? ms. sanders: the president will announce that very soon. >> on the e.p.a., andrew wheeler is confirmed as second in command at the e.p.a. does the president think he'd be able to continue the deregulatory agenda that pruitt has been in charge of working to remove mr. pruitt and given the cascade of ethical problems, how close is -- what's the status of the rejew you -- review yo guys have been doing and is the president closer to removing mr. putin if office? ms. sanders: i don't have any personnel announcements on that

front. we have confidence in the number two or the president wouldn't have asked him to serve at such a senior level position at the e.p.a. i don't have anything further on that front. reporter: i want to catch back up about china after the delegation came back. the president had some sort of breaking on that interaction now can you tell us his reaction to the talks that happened, if the u.s. plans to talk to china again before the may 22 public comment deadline and what sort of next steps are. ms. sanders: the president has a briefing this morning with the members who traveled this epresident has a great relationship with president shi and we are working on something we think will be great for everybody. china's top economic adviseor will be coming here next week to continue the discussions with the president's economic team. we'll keep you posted as those discussions are ongoing. reporter: "the washington post"

among many things reported there are persistent rumors that mrs. trump doesn't live in this white house and lives with her parents in the suburbs. what do you make of those rumors? ms. sanders: i make of the fact that just when you think "the washington post" can't get things any more wrong they do. that's a -- an outrageous and ridiculous claim. the first lady lives here, we see her regularly. that's something that belongs in tabloid gossip not on the front pages of the "washington post" and i hope they do better next time. peter. reporter: the first lady -- we'll hear from the first lady in a moment she'll promote good behavior among children. does the president accept any responsibility for the fact that the president -- that the first lady will speak out against cyber bullying. ms. sanders: we've got to make

sure we get there and the president will be joining the first lady at that event, we want to make sure everybody has reporter: to tune in does he accept responsibility for the climate that exists right now that there's the need to address an issue like cyber bullying. ms. sanders: i think the idea that you're trying to blame cyber bullying on the president is ridiculous. it's something that's been problematic and something we have seen over the last decade and the first lady sees it to be an important issue and something she wants to address and she'll do that here shortly. aisha. >> there's bf re-- there have been reports an rael intelligence firm was hired to dig up dirt on former obama obama administration officials regarding the iran nuclear deal. does the white house have any knowledge of that or the idea that any trump aides were involved in hiring those

intelligence officials? ms. sanders: i'm not aware of anything on that front. if something comes up, we'll let you know. i hope you'll all join us in the rose garden for the first lady's announcement on her initiative. >> wrapping up today's bress briefing a number of questions and comments about geena haspel, president trump's nominee to run the c.i.a. she's on capitol hill today for meetings ahead of her senate intelligence committee confirmation hearing. we're hearing she's speaking with senate democrats today. a hearing is this coming wednesday and we'll have live coverage starting at 9:30 a.m. eastern on our companion network c-span3. more live coverage shortly right around 3:00 p.m. eastern, about 15 minutes from now, and you heard spokesperson sarah sanders mention it, the white house rose garden will be the scene when first lady melania trump arrives to talk about her policy priorities. we'll have that for you live starting at