any lower amount would be, quote, not acceptable. joining us now, white house deputy press secretary andrew bates. andrew, thanks so much for getting up and being with us here this morning. let s talk reconciliation. let s start there. we know the president met with senators sinema and manchin yesterday. what can you tell us about those meetings and how the president think they when and if the spending bill will stay at $3.5 trillion. i appreciate you having me, jonathan. he had productive meetings with senator manchin and senator sinema yesterday. he s extremely engaged in these conversations with a wide range of members as we advance his build back better agenda, which as you were getting at is about building an economy that delivers for the middle class, not just those at the top. i think it should be noted that we re not going to negotiate about the top line number in public, of course, but 3.5 is not the price tag. that is the gross amount that