what president trump's visit to san diego and a congressional race in pennsylvania m california. the pice chief f oakland schools says arming teachers will not make schoolsaf r. >> it was irresponsible, it was a ridiculous comment made by plus, the students in alameda sound off why they walked out of school this week. >> the >> hello and welcome to "kqed newsroom." i'mhuy vu. we begin with a wild week inli cs. on tuesday, president trump made his first visit to california since ting office. toured the ur and examined wall prototypes. tr immigration enforcement resigned

in the wake of a bay arearaid. james schwab said he didn't want to spread falsehoods. and robert mueller issued subpoenasumo the organization, after republicans said they found no evidence of collusion with russia in the election. and a narrow victory in a pennsylvania elecon lessons for key california race and scuss all of this, i'm joined by san francisco chronical reporter joy garafoli, welcome to all of you. lonni, given all that's happened this week from the mueller subpoena to trump's visit to th californirder, and let's not forget rex tillerson's firing,l how w you sum up this week for the trump administration? >> welcome to the trumpho white se where every week feels

like three months. this is a remarkable amount of activity. to a certain degree, though, this is exactlynd the f cadence and exactly the white house president trump wants. i think he thrives on some elemt of chaos, particularly around him, talk about his innel c you know, let's not forget that os brings the atrpprentet to washington. and whether he was talking about immigration while in california, bei more aggressive on drug dealers, that's something he talked about this week as well. a lot of these are the themes he wants when he's talking to the republican base, the base he n perceives heds to have a republican majority return to the house and senate in november and to be re-elected in 2020. i bo wer this weeken trump visited with hundreds of his supporters. i have to saygh you're on. those folks were right behind him o t all ofese issues.

the fact that it's looking more like "shevivor" at white house is not bothering them at . a >> the supporters who came out, were they californians? >> as far away as chicago. the base is there with him. the idea of ade b is a very big deal to them. this issue with t i.c.e. raids is a very big deal to them. most of them did not care a bit about the russian story or the stormy daniels' story. the media has gone on about it a lot. that visit worked with his base. it also fired up democrats all across california, as well. >> he went after jerry brown, oakland may yoor. >> which they loved. gavin newsom started fund raising within hours after being called out b sessions.

this was an appeal to the base, ut as we saw in pennsylvania, the base may not be enough. the president did lo that race in western pennsylvania, a district that he hadp -- was by 22 points in the election. and those are his base voters, the democrats won that seat. that's a warning for so he's appealing to the base, but he has to broaden his h appl hopes to be re-elected. >> let's talk about conor lamb, the democrat who won in ni pennsyl it a runoff, or to joe' point, is this hurting him where it hurt counts with the base? n> i think it's both. conor lamb did as a very conservative democrat. >> republican light. >> how many democratks you imagine with a picture with an ar-15. and you had a republican

candidate who was anti-union in a district that was very pro union. so there are reasons to believe this is particularized. but you do have a lot of energy in the democrat base. the reblican base till angry over the failure to repeal obamacare last year. that still continues to be a factor. i think it's one the onehand you shouldn't be think thing is what we're going see in november. on the other hand, there are trends hereo worrisome republicans. >> and this was no democratic primary there. we're seeing in the senate race in california, feinstein being challenged from the left. these primaries in california are a worrisome to some democratshere, because in some of these races that looked to be easy for them to pick off, darrell issa down there, they've got half a dozen democrats now vying for theea s, and it's very possible that two republicans are going to end up in the -- winning in the primarl

as a r democrats are really word about this. >> the chairman ofy the pa is openly saying we have an overpopulation party. please get out of he's asking democts to leave. those orange county seats aren't as conservative -- or aren't as as we might think they are. those are voters who vote in state ballot measures for the conservative side of things. not incrats, those are the bag. it may have been a blessing to republicans that thosele republicant, because they got to have stronger candidates come in. >> so what is the lesson then from pennsylvania from california? you have an overcrowded democratic field for a lot of these congressional you know, california is hoping use this state to help it wit-- take over t house in november. you have an overcrowded democratic field. what suld democrats need to do in california with their

messaging? i think the lesson i pennsylvania was, have candidates that look like your correct. you can't -- if you start talking about single payer health care western pennsylvania, you'll g at as a socialist. but conor lamb looked like the district. so the lesson forsome of the conservative districts, have someone who looks likehe correct. >> is devin nunes' seat, you have a former prosecutor up for that seat. it looked like there's no way you could take out devin nunes. but it's a republican leaning, distriut now the candidate, the democrat, is saying it's going to be possible. if conor lamb could do it in a district so strongly republican, a lot of democrats are saying here that hope >> i think the challenge, though, is that there are divisions within the democratic partye, elector as well. maybe you see more of that in

california, some of these candidates arell getting p to the left. so you may have a candidate that ends up being a little too progressive for a district like alifornia39, which is e royce's seat. by and large, it may be less progressive people think. if you end up with a candidate who is trying toout-left the other candidate, your general election democrat, if there is the left e too far to to be credible come november. so that's a big concern for deeacrats. >> sng of the left, i want to move on to immigration real quickly. we have the first undocumented a igrant appointed to statewide post on a commission that will help advise on college assets. >> that's a huge marker, and really fired u lot of people on the right. she's a very credible torney, someone who did not qualify for daca because she wentack to mexico. but she's been appointed to help

undocumeted immigrants get into college in california. of course, that's being cheered ft the and being vilified by the right. yet another really divisive immigration issue that comes right home to california. >> and the raise that has been happening,let's take a look at the bigger picture h now ye a number of central valley farmers who once supporte trump are sounding the alarm saying these raises are hurting our farm worker population here in california. >> and there's already a shortage farm lady. this will drive people underground, and then on the political side, it will increase theurgency for latinos to vote. >> this is an issue wheretr presidenp, if he really wanted to come out and forge bipartisan consensus, ther is a pathway to do that. so far, unfortunately, the administration attended to adopt some of that rhetoric, and some of t positioning on this issue that will make a compromise

difficult. if the presidt wanted to do it, i think he would uniquely be able to do it. >> there was a case this week in the central valley where a couple, farm workers looking fo, won an suv, were to be pulled over by i.c.e. the car crashed after a chase. the six kids are now orphaned. i think this kind of case is getting attention, the fact that 23 fa workers last yeweek were brought in by i.c.e. and senator feinstein protested and said why are we going after farm workers? as you said, the benefit some of the elected officials who stood up to them, like libby schaaf. this stuff has been gold to her. t coulde's two people t help bridge a come pro-mispromc.

that's kevin mccarthy nunes. they've been waiting years to take a stand, and to find tt compromise that could appease conservatives. done it. >> all right. much what a it started monday and kept [ laughter ] >>all right. thank you all. one month after 17 people were killed at stoneman douglas high school in florida, tens of thousands of students across the country walked out of schesol wey to send a message. theyaid they were protesting the inaction of congress on gun violence. president trumpreversed himselfg on sever control proposals and is advocating that teachers be armed ins. classro joining me now to discuss this are san francisco chronicle

educationeporter jill tucker. oakland unified school district's police chief jeff da and pittsburgh high school teacher peter. thank you for joining us toay. chief, you lead a unit of 20 s,sworn police offic another 100 school security officers who are notrm d. what is your reaction to the suggestion that teachers be atied? >> my i reaction to the president's statement was that it was a ridiculous comment mady he president. he has noin experience safety in schools. i kn he's developing a blue ribbon panel of people that hav system. it was irresponsible. there is not a positive aspect of arming teachers i can come up with, and talked to many teachers that say the same thing. teame ers teachers are there to teach and prevent violence. that's wat i'm paid tdo. >> what are your biggest concern it is teachers have guns?

>> what is the teacher now responsible to do? are they responsible to stop a student a long-range rifle such aa? flor are they supposed to stop a robbery in front of a school? are they nsp sible for policing the school such as my people would be responsible fm? i n, really what is the reason why they're carrying gun and what are their responsibilities? it's fraught with pblems and training, and where they're going to carry the gun. as a student, how am i going to feel if i know teacher is carrying a gun. what kind of school environment, does that make me feel safer? i don't see any positive aspects of it. people in the midwest, i'm sure you'll find people that think it's the right thing to do. >> peter, you're a teacher at pittsburgh high school. what do you hhink about what just said about that student-teacher teachers arermed? >> well, i want to say i 100% agree that it's a terrible idea

to have teachers armed. what i was thinking about is that what makes anffective teacher is that they establish a relionship with their students. and that relationship involves trust, openness, it involves students feeling like they're comfortable to share anything i. the moment that you have mebody with a gun, it students will feel -- i believe that many students will really d.el threatened or scar and it just not be the same kind of environment. and i really feel like the education of students is going to be much worse. i don't see it as being a good solution at all. >> and teaching in many distrts is alre very stressful job. >> yeah, you can sayak i this joke with my students, but honestly, there high strung alread, and is an incredibly stressful job. i truly belie you'llave more

instances of teachers losing their cool and you're going to have classroom tragedies because a teacher just, you know, some kid just pushed him or her to the limit and you'll have accidents andha you'll situations. and i believe more people will be hurt that way thanany -- stopping a mass shooting for example. >> there's a new poll that just came out today on this. >> in general, teachers oppo having oth teachers armed. the gallup poll today with 73% of teachers oppose the idea. 58% said they would feel less safe. 18% said they would be willing . and that's outchf ts -- a quarter of teachers, of the 3.2 miolion teachers n wide, give or take half own guns. many are gun owners. but poll after poll after poll agree with peter here, saying we don't want our felloweachers

armed. >> and yet it is -- although it's illegal incalifornia, it is legal in at least 14 other states where teachers can be armed. texas, missouri, ohio, indiana, florida following the parkland shooting. a lot of thesese states made t changes after the sandy hook shooting. after happened in florida, do you see the momentum picking up for teachers to be armed in otcrer statesss the nation is >> certainly i thinkomnities in general in states are talking about it. is this somhing that they would want? where we've seen it in the past yoin idaho where see it, it's in some rural areas where the local communities have said we want this because theshiff is 45 minutes away. in arina and other states, you can -- teachers can be armed, but they have to get permission from their local school board. this is largely a discussion happing in local communities.

not in california, certainly not the bay area. but there's a lot of folks talking about this at their local school boards and their communities >> and the argument forearming teachers from the nra and fromt presidenp is that this could be a deterrent based on what you see out there, with iur officers, would it be a deterrent? woul be effective in stopping a determined shooter? >> i'm glad you answered the questio -- thest qn, because th. e get confused between school safety and what happened in florida. the everyday schools in california and oakland and i'm sure in other areas are very safe. kids go to school, we might recover a hand gun every once in a while, but for the most part, schools are isafe. our district, as well as most districts in california. this gentleman came in with a high powellered rifle, the one

police officer stationed inid fldidn't stop him. if that kid came into my office, it would be hard p ussed for to stop him. now you expect one teacher to stop somebody with a high powered weapon? it's ridiculous to consider that. the reason that 18% of the teachers are willing to dothat, because they're willing to take care of their kids. m theyht not understand the responsibility of what that will involve, but i'm not surprised because they want to keep their kids safe. but it's not going to work. and the officers show up on scene, how will i know which teacher is which? now i have a civilianith a hand gun and i have other peopl. i don't see a simple solution, nor do i see it positive in any way. >> i was going to say, in talking to kids over the last few weeks, i spent a lot of time talking to young people, one

thing that struck me when taing about their teachers being armed, they said, do you think a teacher is going to shoot one of their students when they walk in wh gun? how do you expect them to look them in the eye and shoot them? it was dprgrippin when they thi about having their teachers being armed. ahey feel other students could easily get d of that gun. >> that's the other thing we haven't brought up yet. nhat is the likelihood an accident will hap if >> we saw that happen this week. >> this teacheras a reserve police officer. you have to think this is somebody who would be the most qualified for this kind of thing. and what happened? a gun goes off in his classroom. >> during atu l about gun safety. >> it's ironic and incredible this happenit. but a perfect example of another reason why this is such idea.rible

>> i think, chief, they -- what they say the statistics is that even trained officers who train all theime don't hit their target, you know, 75% of the time. >> the harsh reality is every one of these shootings that occurred, a suspect that comes wants to pump many rounds down range as he can. he knows as soon as he pulls the trigger, 911 will be called and he has between five to eight minutes to cause as much damage as he can the clvary arrives, and they're going to either commit suicide or kill by the police. officer in flori ird time goo that building, for whatever reason, which he is supposed to. now a teacher will have to do that job instead? i can't imagine being in that position and i can't imagine where the teachers will ask for re money to do this job. >> this is very

i'm actually reallyquite offended that the president proposed budget cuts to the department of education. and yet all of a sudden now there's money, he's going to buy guns and bullets for teachers, providraining for teachers. he said we should offer a bonus if teachers are willing to do that. i would like to say how aboutn for books, technology, smaller class sizes. health care for kfy

walkout to memorialize the lives of the students from parkland, florida, and to take a stand. >> to parkland, florida, it's a date never to be forgotten. >> when i found out about the shooting in parkland, i was at school and not the notification on my phone. i was devastated, thought, another one? how does this keep happening? for me, it'sia especly close to home, because i'm a high school >> can you guys help us really quick? >> these are the names of the victims,okay? >> we're not just skipping class

or becoming reckless teams. >> marjory stoneman douglas, 17 lives were taken. we cannot tolerate 17 lives taken at the hands of a gun. we cannot tolerte gridlock in congress to tell us how to react to these situations. >> we want change! >> if i can say one thing to members of congress, i would say that there's blood o your hand it is you're not doing anything to prevent gun violence in thisy coun >> let today be a step towards the change tomorrow. a change for the bette do not forget the lives that have been lost. and remember the reasons youed wa today, because you are the change. >> we have about 300 coming up from alameda high school.he ty're moving quickly. >> save our ds! stop the bullets. >> we've grown up with this mass violence. we know about it fom social media, and we're really feeling this. every there's a fire alarmo that ges off, students worry

there might be a school shooter on campus. >> hey, hey, ho, ho -- >> we're fed up. enough is enough.th ere's so many amazing student leaders around the country who are saying that and rallying students we are now at washington park, we just marched down from some other schools. lae're here withda high and joe. >> parents are burying their damn and saying their last good boois. >> i'm proud to seean how m students are out here, braving the rain, it's gross and wet, but they're out here being involved, being proud of what they believe in, and i think that's something to >> i'm 17, and i go to high school. today, i decided to speak because i'm the victieof gun vie and i would like to chair my story. someone who i'm close toea

tned my life with a gun. sd someone i'm also very close to, theyvived a mass shooting. >> thank you for >> i support the student's voice in standing up for what they believe, andit affecting pe change in this world. i also know that this is just an unacceptable reality that we live in. somebody, some day, may come to school and shoot our children while they're in our care. and it's just got to stop. >> due to all the school shootings going on, high school student s like us are forced to actice active shooter drills. f silence. the red dot is the safest place in the classroom. so if a shooter would enter, this would be the last place they look. and during this, our teacher is

going to lock the door and close th blinds to prevent access from the shooter to see into our classroom and enter. the three things we do while dealing withacanve shooter is run, hide, if a shoot is able to shoot through the windows and doors and get in, you have to ight. that means taking everything you can, staplers, desks and throwing fighting and try to stall, because a couple of seconds can make a huge difference in a person life. >> to be a high school student today, it's scary. i'm not going to liend say it's not. >> we are done with gun violence. we are done with school shootings. >> at the same time, it makes me feel like i havepu real rpose, i feel an urgency t create change. think it is this genera that's going to advocate for gun control actually happen. >>awe w change! >> and i would really hope that students would understand that going forward. >> when do wwant it?be

>>re we go, we have an update from another high school student. last week, weu brought yo the story of jennifer bravo, whose mother had been in det for a year. a judge orderedhat h mother be released and they were reunited and that will do it for us. find more of our coverage at our website. i'm thuy v thank you f

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