get o to the bottom of reports suggesting that the pentagon may have altered intelligence assessments to paint a rosier puckture of the fight against the terrorist organization. here s the presidents. my expectation, which is the highest fidelity to facts, data, the truth. and if there are disagreements in terms of how folks are interpreting the facts, then that should be reflected in the reports that we receive that some folks think this is going on. other folks think that s going on and that s away i weigh in terms of making decisions. now this investigation coming amid-criticism that the president underestimated the strength of isis. many republicans have blasted the president for saying isis was contained the day before the terror attacks here in paris. a national security reporter for the new york times is joining us now. michael, thank you so much for joining me here. here s my first question.