today on "kqed newsroom" what does trump know about hush money paid to a porn action? we'll here from congressman adam rshift. ule by the court can disrupt the economy. plus the california gop convention kicks off this week with the focus on firing up voters and a potential endorsement. hello and welcome to kqed newsroom. we begun with politics. this week president trump acknowledges a series of tweets that he repaid his lawyer for $130,000 payment made to storm damages. the twee contradict an earlier statement when trump stated he

did notbnowt the payment. one of trump's newest attorneys rudy giuliani revealed the source of the story on wednesday. congressman adam shift joins us from burbank. nice to see you again. >> thanks. >> what is your reaction to ther trump adminion now saying three u.s. prisoners held by north korea may soon be released? >> i don't think they should be talking about it until the al is sealed. i'd expect that in order for the president to sit don wth kim jong-un to give kim that meeting he's always wanted with the u.s. president to sit on the same stage that at a minimum we'd get our hostages back. i don't think you should send out the president's lawyer giuliani to make this announcement when it's clear the deal had been struck and i don't think the president should be suggesting it either.

i think it undermines his own lever ranch. >> is there any reason to be optimism right now in terms of the overall strategy north korea has released prisoners in ane pas issue to that to violent threats and confrontation. are you optimistic there's a signale h any long-term strategy but kip jong un? >> there's an iening. i we need to test to seer whet the north koreans are reserious. youight there's a history here followed by confrontation again. they'remi to the table, i think it's a great advance on what the president -- but no one should expect this is going to be easy or the north koreans are simply going to walk away from their nuclear a weapon ballistic program. it's going to be a tough negotiation. ey're going to seek to divide us from our allies and

koreans and nap needs. the president's going to need to make sure there's no daylight between us. he has not been very good at that and he needs to realize things are going to get more difficult before this is done. we should give it a collapse and test whether the north koreans are serious. also wanted to get your thoughts on thetormy daniels situation as well? what's the reaction that president reimbursed his attorney to keep stormy daniels from going forward o alleged stormy ship with daniels? >> it shows where we are. our defense is you can't believe the preside of the united states. when he said earlier he hadn't been aware of this payment, he wasn't telling the truth. of a defense. whny they're walk giuliani back now, if the president was aware of tis president, did reimburse michael

cohen. that payment, thatoan of money was a company finance law, that means t president is now imhated in that. the more fundamental pblem is they're not committed to telling the truth. let's say there's no violation of law found here, are there ethical violations? >> therecertainly are a lot of ethical violations. if michael cohen was making this payment to stormy daniels and not telling his clieit about thad put his legal license in jeopardy. iftormy daniels was threatened to get her to take the deal, that's a very differentpr lem. and then of course there's the problem of the prident's credibility. he's paying hush money to porn stars, he's notth being t about it, coming up with different explanations. all of nkthis, i t detract from the standing of the president of the united states.

and indeed our standing around the meanwhile the mueller investigation is proceeding. the new york times released a list of four dozen questions that robertll mu, the special counsel would like to ask preside trump. you're a former prosecutor you think mrt do mueller is trying to determine through these questions? >> so many questions dealt with obstruction of justice and collusion. there's some thing bob mueller feels there's work that need to be don on other issues. did he intend to instruct the russian investigation by firing the person who was t leadingt investigation for the fbi, that about fbi director? did he basically tell the fbi director to drop the criminal case against michael flynn? was that also an act of obstruction of justice? but the president's itent is really key and so many of the questions go to exactly that. >> let's talk about the head ota

the environmprotection agency as well. scott pruitt facinglgations of his practices. do you think he should resign? >> she should absolutely resign. he should have never en appointed in the first place. he knows little about the environment. given all the misconduct in office, and it just keeps multiying every ay. there are new problems, new alleges, o new propriety, the administration ought to get rid of him. i can think that this is the president dciding that firing him this would be another admission of guilt. they are quite far from gaining the swamp. they seem to be licensing the swamp and branding with big gold letters s th "trump." i think he's a real problem for ae administration and also is problem for the rest of the

country. just this week california filed a lawsuit the -- to enforce auto standards. this is more than 30 lawsuits the state has filed against the trump administration. do you feel like they're makin a deference, needs lawsuits? >> i do. thank goodness for our governor, the attorney general and just the degree that california has stepped in. the global leader of california is a climate for change. we need to fight these reversals andnvonmental policies. a higher fuel emission standards are part of the solution. it's employed for our state and the otherstates that are also suing the federal government and n's good for the planet. >> but everybody in

california agree with what the state is doing. an increasing number of communities are now taking legal action or enacting resolutions, officially stating their opposition to the sanctuary laws. what are yourh tho to this backlash? fornia did what ca makes a lot of sense. it basically says we're not going to turn our law enforcement into the arm of the border patrol. yes, we'll work with immigration uthorities when there are people who are here who are undocumented and who committed v y seriouscrimes. we're not going to simply become an arm of the president's regref immigration licies. that wasn't going to please everybody, even in asi progr state like california. so, you see some of these very consertive communities sa no, we're with trump on his progressive policies. n that'st where californians or americans are. i have to say, this is the first president in my life time who

simply don't seem to uderstand hat a big part of his job is to make us a more perfect union. this president is determined to divide us and that is so deeply destructive. >> all right. congressman adam shift joining us from burbk, thank you f your time. this speak the supreme court issued a big victory for those who work in the so-lled gig economy. the lawsuit was originated by cure your and a company called dinah max. in its ruling t core said company must prove -- as independent contractors. the ruling could grant state workers benefits such as rest breaks and over time pay. u joini now to discuss this issue are silicon valley reporter sam hornet. you seeny of -- visit that

devaul and eduardo escobar who drives for uber, welcome to you all. professor duvall how big is this moment? >> it's huge. it shifts the burdens on employers to hire entities to prove thee workers are -->> s's a three-prong >> yeah shifted the test from this idea that whether or not the hiring entity controlled the worker and it said, okay, we're goie to put burden on the employer. we're going to presume these people are employees and new employer, you prover to us that actua hly you havered an independent contractor and the test is amazingly simple. so, moved away from law test and it says, you have to prove three things to us if you wa us to believe that this worker is an independent contractor. veyou have to p you do not control or direct this person at

all. you have to prove this person is not a part of your every day business. they're doing something different than what you do. and that this person is sort of a customarilyndendent contractor work. and the second prong in parcular is huge because you can imagine with uber. the question would bes uberdrivers doing something different than what doing.s >> so, eduardo you drive full-time for both uband lyft. do you think of yourself as an independent contractor or employee? >> well i'd likeo think i'm an independent contractor but we're being treating less than the employees. that's not requiring them tote

contri their fair share contribution to the worker-safety net and that's not fair, just ofe. equita >> so , would you take legal action and challenge your status as a contractor and try to get employee stus? of course. it em powerfulings us to unite and speak upfor our rights. >> and, sam how are the compani responding? >> well, since thegning all these companies have said that they're platforms. uberhas always said we're not in the platform we connect our drivers. i -- trying the service rep for themselves. >> i wonder if going back to your point, edward about driving

for uber, why do you do that? do you enjoy the freedom? the work? >> well, i think there's this phony treatmenthat's being sold to the public that the dvers are able to earn a living. i look at it as earning a surviving and that's where it's gone to. sstarted driving four years ago and then it's nose dived. so, i think there's some seris concerns here that have to be addressed regarding t drivers' rights. let's put the owners and responsibilities back on the techec firmsse uber and lyftea are basically heading this abuse of the worker safety net. >> there's some who would argue that youave freedom and flexibility by doing this type of work. you still get to decide when yon work how many hours a day you work. >> the freedom andflect is not true because you have to work when the demand is there. if the demand is early in the

morning or later in the afternoon, late at night, so it's really not true.si that is lly a spin job that's being done. >> i think it's also important to note this decision is not about all aspe employee status, it's really about minimal wage and the minimal working conditions. so, just because someone is an employee under california law for minimum wage purposes dowse not make them an employee for other purposes. edward might still be an indpekt contractor under the national labor act. what the court did in its decision beautifully was to say, look, workers need to make enough money to feed their families and i this economy that's not happening. we're simplifying this test we're going to unsure for wedge purposes that people are macing a minimum wage. if they're working more hours a week that they're getting overtime. >> i thought it was interesting,

in the decision the opinion said this is mischaracterizization of workers is a huge oblem. it's costing tax payers billions of in loss taxes but mischaracterizing workers. >> the numbers of people who do this type of work is growing, right? because there are studies that shthe past decade or so, that population has grown to the point where it's 16% of the work force and the numbers will keep increasing. there are somers freelan out there who look at this situation and say, you know what, when you rk for some of these companies, there's uber, lyft, tax rabbit, there's many of other companies out there. aside from your point they get some level of flexibility and freedoms, so, isn't there a trade off? >> sub standard living conditions right, that's the idea here.

i don't think there's anything about employment necessarily that necessitate lack of freblt and freedom. i'm an employee and i have a very flexible work schedule. i think that's sort of cohe pany line that needs to be undermined. >> i think it's a false choice. would you like to be employed, have benefits,retirement and do a job that you love and have freedom, i think people would go for that. a lot of lyft drivers i've entered for -- at the end of the day they're trying to make rent or -- >> survivor. >> yeah. >> so there's not sustain ability factor being able to speaking to. that's a serious problem. you see this basic switch, they promise you the american dream but e workers are waking up to the american nightmare, that's the reality of driving. >> i've never met a driver who describes himself as an

entrepreneur. they may say,h i'm independ but not that i have my own business and building something for myself. >> the business side of this, converting contract to employees could cost them money. it could cost business from 45% worker. is the risk is it could lead to smaller economy oingt of business. >> if you change the rule and the model and evyone now h to abide by this, then, yeah maynte e capital in the cake a little more money. if you want to start a company you got to start paying people better to begin with. it might change the model a little bit but if it's kind ofr the board, it just might -- >> i think it's goingo fair competition. >> meaning what? >> therebe needs t certain requirements that are basic minimums on par with the tax industry and needs to be -- the taxndustry have the certain

requirements because it's been tested and proven for many years for publ safety, for the environment. there's a lot of concerns that are ipacting society. these are adverse. so we need to address those now before it gets much worse. t >> do ynk companies like uber and lyft for example have gottid a free of not having to contribute to the social safety net to workers compensation, for example? >> absolutely. what they've been trying to do experiment in different states with new market base workers' compensation in many ways they're just putting band aids on what is otherwise a horrific wound in the body of the working class. and this is a great, great effort by the state of california to say, you know, there's some responsibility associated with being a big business andwn up to those responsibilities. pay your workers.

>> and you're looking a privatization of public transportation. the targetor them is not taxies, it'sbu es, bart systems. they're having to reduce service. that are being impacted. >> so whatbo you think needs to change? if you feel this way with uber why are you working for them? >> i work with.rk i w with. i'm an advocate and we're lobbying to effect chang. that's why i've stade in the trenches. >> wald youike to see uber change? >> uber and lyft i'd like to see them contribute their fair shar to the worker safety net. and not build their unsustainable business models on the backs of the drivers. >> could this provide another nudge for companies to automate faster? >> i think the speed automation is driven by technology change. i think if uber and lyft had cars that would operate well and

function they could go to that tomorrow. i would say the who discussion about what a company -- what kind of companies ubery and actually are, we're seeing all through technology companies what is facebook actually, is it awedia company? t is airbnb? is it a hotel company. think it's getting all scrutinye >> and what e implications nationwide? could it extend beyond californi >> absolutely. i think we'll start seeing a blue and red state divide. washington, colorado, new york, these are stating that like to california to see how they're going to redefine their i would not be surprised at all in the next few years to see some of these shift in these states. you mentioned the -- whether someone's a contractor or an employee. that's already in place in

massacjesetts. >> newey. right. >> thank you all for wonderful discussions. nice to have you aer >> thank you. >> likewise. the california republican parties convention kicks off this week in san diego. delegates will decide to endorsj orn cox to be the state's next governor. both candidates have spoken out living in cooperation with local law enforcement and agencies. they also support -- and vehicle registration fees. marisa joins us via skype. >> thanks for having me. >> let's start with the helifornia race this weekend. this gop governor's race will decide will it be john cox or allen, what do you think?

>> as far ashe allen has a lot of grass root reports it seems some he party leadership sort of folks at the top are going to cox. we saw use majority leader kevin mccarthy endorse him just thursday. we've seen congressional renés come out and support. it's up to the delegates. i think it couldcl bee and, you know, they could not endorse anyone. >> wel,ohn cox did pretty polling.some recent will that help his chances, do you think? >> it might. i thi sometimes we forget that the party and the general elect rat can be general constituents. i think in this case, you're right they're both for repealing the gas tax, state law, both talking about tax being too high and democrats leading some of the problea that califor has.

they're different people. travis allen is a lot more alie with donald trump. cox is a businessman. he hasn't runif in cnia before but in some ways he's the outsider bein embraced by t insider. >> he was in a verttal tie with -- that's right, and allen's been pulling pretty well, another poll fm u.c. berkeley had -- we have a chance to getting into this november reasonoff. it's a top two. they're not guaranteed a spot in november. ink that they really really want to see a gop candidate come outd, ah which ever one it is. >> on the congress fall front,o democratsng to flip as many as half of the 14 congressional districtld by republicans in california. that would help them win back control of the house. how heated is that battle right now? >> i think in the district

people are probably starting to hear a lot morebout it. tonight, friday night we're expecting representative walker to talk. valley.rom the central they're definitely going to be here. one thing is a consideration is having again, a governor candidate in november would really help the rally folks and to pcome to thety and come to the ballot. i think it' all sort of tied together. >> only 25% of california voters are registered as a republican, so, aside from the candidates. which are the issues that are likely to energize gop voters? >> you can see behind you partu of poster to repeal the gas tax. i think that is a big part of their strategy. to get there on the ballot and really talk to voters aboutthat x and tie it to the overall leadership of democrats. there's a really wide range of potential ballot members for

novthber. i think candidate races are going to be very important to them. and again, to have -- both congressional races up to the republican ticket -- governor's ticket, really talking about all of those issues is a big thing for them. >> it seems like they're getting a lot of national attention right? >> that's right, i think democrats th'sk i ironic since lot of state legislatures are led by republicans. they see this as a winning issue and as a way to raise mon and awareness of their candidates. and repeal a d tax theyn't like. i think it is something that we are going to be hring aot about in the coming months. >> what about california sanctua statepolicies. we're seeing a small but growing theer of communities around state that are opposing the policy. how important this issue to gop

party leaders? >> well, along with the gas tax this is the other thing you hear talked about themost. it is a winner with more republican voters, 88% of republican likely voters in a recent poll so they opp e the sanctuary a lot. more thanhalf of overall voters say they support it. i think that's a interesting gamble coming into the primary is a great way to rally the party. does that message play in the myths of 10 million democrats.op >> more added their name to the list, all county in california, past resolution against sanctuary policy. that is not begging theestion among some critics. is this orchestrated by gop party leaders or a grass roots effort? >> we sign -- sort of training session where folks from th former rnc, republican national

committee. folks and some people who are very involved in anti-immigrants roup are offering sort of training for local officials and so that caused some blow backs. i think there's some things that are a bit of both. there is some coordination happening at the national level and with the tparty. re's also a lot of anger among grass roots republicans about it.ar >>sa largo reporting to us from the gop state con veng.a you. >> thank you. >> that'll do it for us. you can mind more of our coverage at kqed newsroom. thanks g r join.

robert: damage control. the white house is blindsided by one of the president's new lawyers. i'm robert costa. we examine the extraordinary legal battle on multiple fronts from russion to to congress. tonight on "washington week." >> the fund and the president repaid t >> former new york mayor and attorney rahm emanuel --ud r guiliani dropped a bombshell and claimed the president reimbursed his attorney for a $130,000 payment to an adult film star to buy her silence. that statement abo the 2016 campaign contradicted the president's own words on airforce one just last month. >> do you know about the 30,000 paymento stormy daniels? president trump: no, no. >>hy do people -- es