Thats such an easy one. I have no doubt thats going to happen very quickly. A lot of other people do have doubts. Plus, that same reception for senators rare and optimistic talk about recent actions in the war against isis. Were doing very well in iraq. Our soldiers are fighting and fighting like never before. And the results are very, very good. And yes, its been awhile. Hillary clinton returns to the public stage and says democrats must do a better job organizing. We need to resist actions that go against our values as americans, whether thats attacking immigrants and refugees, denying climate change, or passing bogus laws that make it harder for people to vote in elections. Also making a rare public appearance today, First Lady Melania Trump at a state Department Event honoring women from around the world. Together, we must declare that the era of allowing the brutality against women and children is over. While affirming that the time for empowering women around the world is now. With us to share their insights niamalika henderson, dan balz, peter taker of the new york times. Calm now on capitol hill, hours ago there was a dose of chaos. A driver slammed into a Police Cruiser sparking a chase in which shots were fired. A female driver now in handcuffs in custody. Police right now say it appears to be criminal behavior, not terror related. It was an interruption to whats going to be quite a busy day here in washington. Well bring you the latest if theres an update. Were waiting for sean spicer to enter the room. The president at this listening opioid event. Lets start a conversation about the big things. The reception last night with senators. All members of the United States senate. Not all came but he invited all 100. The health care debok counsel fresh in his mind. You heard the president at the top of the show, were going to make a deal on health care. Thats an easy one. I have to doubt it will happen very quickly. Based on what. It wasnt easy. That was the whole problem. Whats interesting to talk about it as if there was a deal to be made with democrats. Up till now, the entire conversation has been a negotiation among republicans, should we go this far right. Democrats have been off the table both because they dont want to be part of it and because the president didnt invite them to be. The question is, should he split Freedom Caucus which has been the sore in his posterior for the last couple weeks and try to make a real deal with democrats that wont please a lot of people in his own base or is this just talk to keep the keep up the appearance. Is it just talk is the key question. There is no imminent deal. There is no indication everyones saying kumbaya over the weekend and now theyre suddenly on the brink of a deal. I think a lot of people met political reality over the weekend. A lot of members of Congress Went home to their districts and had to face the fact they were unable to get the one thing they talked about for seven years done. Thing is that President Trump campaigned on every day. Thats why we are hearing a lot of talk about it. Again, theres no indication theres some kind of deal. Its loose talk, its casual talk from the president . That happens quite frequently with this administration. At the moment, when you have failed at something, maybe they can come back and put this together, we dont know what toll it will take on the president. Is that the smart thing, well get this done, its easy . No, but thats probably better than where he was before on friday. He was basically like too bad, so sad. Were going to move on to tax reform. That was good. Thats essentially what he said. Everyone else was saying, no, weve got to figure something out with health care. And his whole notion was its the democrats fault and well just let it fail and then well come in and rescue this. This is him getting on message. I think hes overselling it. But that is what he does. He speaks in superlatives and thinks everything is easy. He clearly hasnt learned his lesson that everybody learned which is that its complicated, health care. It is. If you look at the new cbs poll out this morning, Republican Voters i dont know if pass is the right word but not attaching blame to the president. They were asked why the Health Care Bill. 41 say because its not popular. 30 say its because the democrats didnt compromise. 16 saying because Congressional Republicans didnt compromise. 4 say the president. Republicans giving the president a bit of a pass. For him to be so publicly optimistic seems out of step. Its quite in character with President Trump. When he begins to ad lib, everythings great, everythings wonderful. Everythings going to be easy. Were going to win so much youre going to be tired of winning, et cetera, et cetera. But you know, as everybody says theres no concrete evidence that theres a makable deal that anybodys really got in mind right now. I mean, i talked to tom perez, the new chairman of the Democratic National committee yesterday and said would you guys work with the president , and he said id be happy to cooperate with the president on a public option. You can see how far thats going to go. Democrats will be happy to cooperate with the president if he comes about 95 their way which hes not going to do. They see no reason right now. His Approval Rating at 40 or lower and see no reason to reach out because had he think hes sinking a bit. You see the Briefing Room in the koch of your screen now. Where did the president s optimism come from . Is that casual talk . Another question is trying to resolve the question of whether the administration tried to block sally yates. A holdover from the obama administration. She was supposed to go up and speak to the House Intelligence Committee in a public hearing and then that was cancelled. Sean spicer yesterday said no lets listen to sean spicer yesterday. The white house did not respond and took no action that prevented miss yates from testifying. Thats the story. Thats what the documents show. I hope she testifies. I look forward to it. Thats what he said yesterday. Now, what others are saying is that if you read this and dan, your paper broke the story yesterday, this is a letter from the department of justice. Shes a former department justice. She reached out and said theyve asked me to testify at this hearing. Theyre saying the president owns those privileges. To the extent she needs to consent to disclose the details she needs to consult the white house. Essentially she was going to testify about conversations she had from the Justice Department with the white house about the former National Security adviser, Michael Flynn and other aspects perhaps of the russian investigation. She asked for legal guidance. Mr. Spicer at the podium to the white house. Good morning, everyone. Technically afternoon i guess. Sorry to move it up and screw up the schedule a little. But weve got a couple events this afternoon. So ive got to get through the this, get some questions and then got to move on. But weve got two more on camera briefings the rest of the week. This morning the president just wrapped up or is continuing to, i know some of the pool just left. The president is currently host agopioid and drug abuse listening session with Senior Administration officials, governors, experts in the psychology of drug addiction, recovery awareness advocates and others affected by the Opioid Crisis. Drug abuse has crippled communities across this nation. In 2015, more than 52,000 americans it, 144 people a day, died from a Drug Overdose with 63 involving an opioid according to cdc. Drug overdoses are now the leading cause of accidental dysdeath in our country. As the president discussed the brup this morning, we wont be able to be address theres epidemic with a single solution. First, we must get trug ling americans the help they need. Too many families have seen the destruction that drug abuse can bring and we must focus on prevention on law and enforcement. Cheap heroin is flooding into communities as cartels expand into the country setting off a Chain Reaction of addiction that spreads from person to person and everyone family to family. President trump has already taken executive action to strengthen Law Enforcement and dismantle criminal cartels. He and his team will continue to discuss how best to root out the threat to American Communities of with Drug Enforcement experts. Stopping this epidemic is an issue that every american regardless of your political background can and must get behind. We must Work Together from the leaders to the most local from most local and Community Recovery and support programs all the way to the white house to solve this problem. The white house took a big first step this morning in our bat to combat drug addiction and the Opioid Crisis by meeting with these individuals which included nrnlgs governor Chris Christie, a leader on this issue, attorney general sessions, education secretary devos, Veterans Administration secretary shulkin, Homeland Security secretary kelly were in attendance. A full list of participants has been provided. I know the pool was just in there. It is some of the stories from some of the individual who have been involved in this with the Family Member are unbelievably compelling. Their desire to see and to work with the administration to get this problem addressed is one that is plaguing communities and i know the president places it at the highest priority. There was a mention by the drug, the acting administrator of the dea that they have a program where twice a year, they gather unwanted drugs, last year they gathered over a Million Pounds of unwanted drugs. 35,000 sites americans can drop off stuff in their medicine cabinet to get it out of their house. The next dropoff will be on april 29th. The dea will put out more information. When you see some of the action that was taking place in report it is a call to arms for a crisis plaguing our country. This afternoon, the president will drop by the Womens Empowerment Panel that the white house is hosting led by Florida Attorney general pam bondi. Education secretary betsy devos, Small Business administrator Linda Mcmahon, u. S. Ambassador to the United Nations nikki haley, see ma verm ma who will speak about the challenges women and young girls face today. Vice president pence and the first lady will also be in attendance. The president is proud his administration is full of so many female leaders from whom will be on stage this afternoon to those in so that their work doesnt always make headlines but its felt across the federal government and across our nation. Womens History Month is coming to an end. The Trump Administration is committed to empowering women in the workplace. The work we started this month will not end at the end of this month. It will continue. The president made womens em paurpt a priority throughout the campaign speaking out on affordable child care and paid family leave, investing in Womens Health and the barriers faced by female entrepreneurs and business owners. In february, he and Prime Minister trudeau from canada launched the United StatesCanada Council for advancement of women entrepreneurs. This month the first lady hosted an event for International Womens day in the east wing. Cms administrator burma hosted a panel on women and health care. Ivan an ca held a roundtable with Women Business owners with Linda Mcmahon as well as others with latina business owners. The first lady joined the undersecretary for Political Affairs tom shannonton present the secretary of States International women of courage award at the state department. The president believes as the first lady said this morning wherever women are diminished, the entire world is diminished with them. However, wherever women are empowered, towns, villages, schools and economies are empowers and together were all made stronger. The Trump Administration will continue to work to ensure that the American Economy is a place where women can work and thrive. Later this evening, the Vice President will participate in the swearing in of David Friedman as the next ambassador to israel. President is glad that ambassador friedman will be officially on board as we strive for a lasting peace in the middle east. Mr. Friedmans strong relationships in israel will be a tremendous asset to the president in furthering that mission. Finally i want to speak about judge gorsuch and the blatantly political obstruction of his nomination to the Supreme Court by Senate Democrats. Yesterday, the Senate Majority leader Mitch Mcconnell said next friday the senate will vote to confirm neil gorsuch to the Supreme Court. Unfortunately, Senate Democrats began justifying their opposition by claiming a 60vote standard for his confirmation. That standard doesnt exist and these claims continue to be false. A party line filibuster by the Senate Minority is not a fair up or down vote. You dont have to look further than the voices of many of these same democrats to see why in 2013 senator tom udall said and i quote in full, some of us may disagree with Justice Scalia on philosophy, you he is a qualified nominee. He receives up an or down vote and he was confirmed. Likewise Ruth Ginsburg was considered a liberal. Many of the other side may have disagreed with her views but she was confirmed by a vote of 963. He added a minority in the senate should not be able to block qualified nominees. We could not agree more with senator udall. Unfortunately, he has now adopted a new party line of obstruction on confirmation of judge gorsuch. Its sad and unfortunate. We encourage all senators from both parties to fairly evaluate the judges eminent qualifications and grant him a vote. With that, glad to take your questions. April. Thank you, see. How are you today. Im fine and how are you . Fantastic. Well, sean, going back to some issues in the news, nunes is not going to recuse himself. What does the white house say about that . Well, april, the white house, as i think i mentioned this yesterday, i mean, hes conducting an investigation. He is the elected or appointed, i cant remember how they do it over there, but appointed and confirmed but by his colleagues in the house and the speaker. He is the chairman. Hes going to conduct an investigation. It is up to the house of representatives and the speaker and the members of the House Republican conference to determine. But theres nothing i see that is problematic in him conducting an investigation that we asked both the house and Senate Intelligence committee. Reporter what conversations with paul ryan to include demes and republicans are talking about what looks like impropriety in the intel chiefs handling of this so far, particularly as theres not a hearing right now. Well, i would take issue with i think youre right there may appear to be certain things. But i dont think theres any actual proof or sustaining allegation about anything thats done. Again, i mentioned this yesterday. If you look at what chairman nunes has done, he has met with people who are clear to discuss classified information regarding a review that he is conducting. Thats how its supposed to work. Again, i understand that when things are leaked out in the media, that somehow that is a standard thats acceptable, but when two people who are cleared to discuss classified information or three or however many discuss classified information, somehow thats wrong because its not being leaked. He is conducting a review which we have supported on both sides of the chambers and i think they should do this. But i think to start to prejudge where this thing is going, we have been as supportive as you know, and i think that lets let that process bear itself out and see what happens. I will tell you that ive seen reports in the media that the nsa has documents that they are supposedly trying to get to the House Intelligence Committee and that have been requested. We think thats a great thing. If thats in fact whats happening. But again, i think part of this all gets back to that there is a process. And i get that sometimes its frus