>> mike allen sitting patiently, chief white house correspondent. >> by the way, it's alex corson's anniversary today. happy anniversary, alex. >> i did it so i could remember the date. >> he finds the button now. >> i've got the button. >> remember when chris licht came out wearing a bow on his birthday? these two guys are so different. corson, licht. >> mike, good morning. i'm sorry about all this. >> 89 years to 01-01-01. >> yes! that's number four on our list. >> 89 years till we have this again. 01-01-01. 89 years. >> you're right. >> only mike. >> thank you, mike. >> i've got to think through this. let's get to the "politico playbook." defense cuts have been a bit of a sticking point. we don't talk about them much. it's been all about taxes. you say some republicans now open to looking at trimming the defense budget. >> well, they are. and this is another part of this republican reboot we're seeing just in the last week.