host: alexis simendinger, start with the smaller issue of zta. but also china and how this plays out with what the president hopes to do with north korea. guest: one of the interesting elements of this storyline is that the president is getting defensive over this idea. as mes the president xi to look at this, and he agreed to do it. in therarely criticized united states among even his supporters for agreeing to do that. his point was that he understood, and the president explain this last week himself, saying he understands that the tough tariffs the united states would like to impose on china, particularly over intellectual property and the theft of u.s. technology that would affect zte, he said he understood that it is tough and is making china be more open to negotiations. but it is also in jury is to some u.s. companies, especially those that make parts. he said it is quite of a balancing act. he promised the president of china he would look at it, and you can see his advisers are trying to just be very clear about what might happen to zte.

host: alexis simendinger, start with the smaller issue of zta. but also china and how this plays out with what the president hopes to do with north korea. guest: one of the interesting elements of this storyline is that the president is getting defensive over this idea. as mes the president xi to look at this, and he agreed to do it. in therarely criticized united states among even his supporters for agreeing to do that. his point was that he understood, and the president explain this last week himself, saying he understands that the tough tariffs the united states would like to impose on china, particularly over intellectual property and the theft of u.s. technology that would affect zte, he said he understood that it is tough and is making china be more open to negotiations. but it is also in jury is to some u.s. companies, especially those that make parts. he said it is quite of a balancing act. he promised the president of china he would look at it, and you can see his advisers are trying to just be very clear about what might happen to zte.

to talk aboutus activities in congress and also the white house, alexis simendinger reports as the national political correspondent for the hill, and where