said. that is that the justice department s inspector general this week issued a report that said the fbi can t report to a single terrorist plot that was broken up as a result of this program, isn t that a really strong argument against it? i think that report covers only a small piece of the total picture. that is to say what the fbi is looking at. nsa and others former cia officials have said that of many recent terrorist incidents affecting the homeland the bulk data collection program has been a factor in every one of them. let s be clear how intelligence works. very rare that one piece of intelligence dictates the conclusion. this nsa program is part of a lot of efforts and it is very important. you talk about the hysteria what you say is the hysteria against it and also have said that critics are of the program are engaging in mccarthy like tactics trying to scare american
something that governor huckabee said. that is that the justice department s inspector general this week issued a report that said the fbi can t report to a single terrorist plot that was broken up as a result of this program, isn t that a really strong argument against it? i think that report covers only a small piece of the total picture. that is to say what the fbi is looking at. nsa and others former cia officials have said that of many recent terrorist incidents affecting the homeland the bulk data collection program has been a factor in every one of them. let s be clear how intelligence works. very rare that one piece of intelligence dictates the conclusion. this nsa program is part of a lot of efforts and it is very important. you talk about the hysteria what you say is the hysteria against it and also have said that critics are of the program are engaging in mccarthy like tactics trying to scare american
it has not done anything to save american lives. the government hasn t been able to show any examples of this nsa bulk data collection program, playing a key role in thwarting any terror plots. they basically say this is not the vital anti-terrorism tool that the government says it is. where does the white house stand on this, athena? well, the white house wants to see reforms. they support the lee foreforms house that would remove the data that s collected from the hands of the government to private companies themselves. listen to what white house press secretary josh ernests had to say. we have got people in the united states senate right now who are playing chicken with us. they re in a situation where they re saying to try to do just a two-week extension on or a short-term extension. of these critical national security authorities. and to play chicken with that is
here where the pipeline broke. they have to shut that down train it, find out what causeds the spill and alex that could take months. okay. scott, we re going to check back in with you next hour and get an update in santa barbara. the senate is in recess today after failing early this morning to pass motions to renew or reform the nsa bulk data collection program. majority leader mitch mcconnell offered a number of options for short-term extensions each failed. senators will return may 31st before the nsa program expires on june 1st. kelly owe dodge at the white house for us. with another good day to you, why wasn t the majority leader able to push this through? despite all of mitch mcconnell s good intentions ss and his belief the programs under the patriot act in question here are good for national security you ve got a now senators who feel very differently about this. rand paul chief among them libertarian kind of republican running for the president, who has been out front a
u.s.a. freedom act which the house overwhelmingly passed last week which would ask the telecom companies to keep the phone records instead of the nsa. senate republican leaders are not convinced it will work or maybe very inefficient so they re pushing for a two-month extension of current lawyer. democrats don t like that. so there s talk of a shorter extension, perhaps one week. the senate majority leader favors to two months. be a mistake to take from our intelligence community, any of the valuable tools needed to build a complete picture of terrorist nutworks and their plans such as the bulk data collection program of section 21 attempt intelligence community needs these tools to protect us. the senate intelligence chairman offered a compromise that would include the house bill but allows to years for the fran signifies from the nsa to