of arming teachers in an interview with nbc. >> i think that having a teacher who is armed who cares deeply about her students or his students and who is capable and qualified to bear arms is not a bad idea but it's an idea that needs to be discussed. >> reporter: the white house was asked whether the president is backing away from his support for raising the age for people buying assault rifles to 21 nationwide. the president tweeted his support for that last week but today press secretary sara sanders would only say he supports that concept. earlier today the president said he's willing to fight the nra on some of these issues. it's not clear if he'll fight the nra on that one. >> jim acosta, thank you very much. to the russia investigation and a potentially tense meeting of the house intelligence committee tonight. members of the panel are engaged in heated partisan clashes over the release of a democratic memo