The White House's sudden moves in the Mideast sparked alarm from Congress on Wednesday as key Democrats warned President Donald Trump off war with Iran and lawmakers in both parties demanded more information on the administration's strategy.

The top leaders in Congress -- the so-called Gang of Eight -- are expected to receive a classified briefing from the administration on Thursday.

Some Republicans, including Sen. Mitt Romney, sought out their own briefings as the Trump administration sends resources to the region amid claims of unspecified threats linked to Iran.

Romney added that he agrees that Republicans and Democrats on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee should be briefed on the White House strategy toward Iran.

The top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee also warned the administration against any action without approval from lawmakers.

"I've never seen an administration that is less forthcoming about such critical information than the Trump administration. It's pretty outrageous and what really bothers me is that my republican colleagues don't seem to be calling for the type of information that is critical to making decisions on war and peace and life and death," said Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J.

Menendez also noted at a hearing on Wednesday that Congress has not authorized war with Iran.

"We should not provoke a conflict. I think that's what's happening. I think we ought to find a way to sit down and have a decent conversation. I think that's possible," said Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-CA.

Washington - 15 May 2019

++EDIT ENDS ON SOUNDBITE++

1. SOUNDBITE: (English) Sen. Bob Menendez, (D) New Jersey:

"We do not need another Iraq weapons of mass destruction moment where we were falsely led into a military engagement in Iraq, which is one of the biggest mistakes we have had in foreign policy. So we cannot make intelligent foreign policy and national security decisions in the absence of having the information and the intelligence that tells us what are the risks, what are the assessments of those risks, how strong are those assessments and so this is like making foreign policy and national security decisions in the blind and so I've never seen an administration that is less forthcoming about such critical information than the Trump administration. It's pretty outrageous and what really bothers me is that my republican colleagues don't seem to be calling for the type of information that is critical to making decisions on war and peace and life and death. (Reporter Question: Do you think there should be receiving more briefings by the administration?) More? There need to be briefings. Forget about more briefings. There need to be briefings. There haven't been any briefings and we saw today, even when we get an administration witness up here there are total nonanswers. This is totally unacceptable. In 27 years of doing foreign policy, I've never seen anything like it."

++SOTS SEPARATED BY BLACK FRAMES++

2. SOUNDBITE: (English) Sen. Chris Murphy, (D) Connecticut: (Responding to question on whether we are heading to war with Iran)

"I hope we aren't. I think that the administration is engaged in a series of blind escalations without any endgame. This isn't well thought out and it's entirely predictable that we have threats against US troops. Our military leaders told the president that if he took the steps that he took that it would end up compromising our troops' security in Iraq and that's exactly what may be happening today and it was entirely avoidable."

++SOTS SEPARATED BY BLACK FRAMES++

3. SOUNDBITE: (English) Sen. Dianne Feinstein, (D) California:

"We should not provoke a conflict. I think that's what's happening. I think we ought to find a way to sit down and have a decent conversation. I think that's possible. I happen to know the Foreign Minister of Iran, know him quite well. He's a very reasonable man and would not be encouraging this kind of activity on the part of his country. I deeply believe that."

4. Feinstein walks away

5. SOUNDBITE: (English) Sen. Mitt Romney, (R) Utah:

"The administration is showing that we have the capacity to deter that through our strength. It's also out of an abundance of caution, appropriate to remove individuals who might be in harm's way. I received a personal briefing, which I requested about that intelligence. I know the chairman has received that briefing, but that's not going to be publicly provided. But it is appropriate I think for our committee to have that kind of info."

The White House's sudden moves in the Mideast sparked alarm from Congress on Wednesday as key Democrats warned President Donald Trump off war with Iran and lawmakers in both parties demanded more information on the administration's strategy.

The top leaders in Congress -- the so-called Gang of Eight -- are expected to receive a classified briefing from the administration on Thursday.

Some Republicans, including Sen. Mitt Romney, sought out their own briefings as the Trump administration sends resources to the region amid claims of unspecified threats linked to Iran.

Romney added that he agrees that Republicans and Democrats on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee should be briefed on the White House strategy toward Iran.

The top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee also warned the administration against any action without approval from lawmakers.

"I've never seen an administration that is less forthcoming about such critical information than the Trump administration. It's pretty outrageous and what really bothers me is that my republican colleagues don't seem to be calling for the type of information that is critical to making decisions on war and peace and life and death," said Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J.

Menendez also noted at a hearing on Wednesday that Congress has not authorized war with Iran.

"We should not provoke a conflict. I think that's what's happening. I think we ought to find a way to sit down and have a decent conversation. I think that's possible," said Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-CA.

Washington - 15 May 2019

++EDIT ENDS ON SOUNDBITE++

1. SOUNDBITE: (English) Sen. Bob Menendez, (D) New Jersey:

"We do not need another Iraq weapons of mass destruction moment where we were falsely led into a military engagement in Iraq, which is one of the biggest mistakes we have had in foreign policy. So we cannot make intelligent foreign policy and national security decisions in the absence of having the information and the intelligence that tells us what are the risks, what are the assessments of those risks, how strong are those assessments and so this is like making foreign policy and national security decisions in the blind and so I've never seen an administration that is less forthcoming about such critical information than the Trump administration. It's pretty outrageous and what really bothers me is that my republican colleagues don't seem to be calling for the type of information that is critical to making decisions on war and peace and life and death. (Reporter Question: Do you think there should be receiving more briefings by the administration?) More? There need to be briefings. Forget about more briefings. There need to be briefings. There haven't been any briefings and we saw today, even when we get an administration witness up here there are total nonanswers. This is totally unacceptable. In 27 years of doing foreign policy, I've never seen anything like it."

++SOTS SEPARATED BY BLACK FRAMES++

2. SOUNDBITE: (English) Sen. Chris Murphy, (D) Connecticut: (Responding to question on whether we are heading to war with Iran)

"I hope we aren't. I think that the administration is engaged in a series of blind escalations without any endgame. This isn't well thought out and it's entirely predictable that we have threats against US troops. Our military leaders told the president that if he took the steps that he took that it would end up compromising our troops' security in Iraq and that's exactly what may be happening today and it was entirely avoidable."

++SOTS SEPARATED BY BLACK FRAMES++

3. SOUNDBITE: (English) Sen. Dianne Feinstein, (D) California:

"We should not provoke a conflict. I think that's what's happening. I think we ought to find a way to sit down and have a decent conversation. I think that's possible. I happen to know the Foreign Minister of Iran, know him quite well. He's a very reasonable man and would not be encouraging this kind of activity on the part of his country. I deeply believe that."

4. Feinstein walks away

5. SOUNDBITE: (English) Sen. Mitt Romney, (R) Utah:

"The administration is showing that we have the capacity to deter that through our strength. It's also out of an abundance of caution, appropriate to remove individuals who might be in harm's way. I received a personal briefing, which I requested about that intelligence. I know the chairman has received that briefing, but that's not going to be publicly provided. But it is appropriate I think for our committee to have that kind of info."

The White House's sudden moves in the Mideast sparked alarm from Congress on Wednesday as key Democrats warned President Donald Trump off war with Iran and lawmakers in both parties demanded more information on the administration's strategy.

The top leaders in Congress -- the so-called Gang of Eight -- are expected to receive a classified briefing from the administration on Thursday.

Some Republicans, including Sen. Mitt Romney, sought out their own briefings as the Trump administration sends resources to the region amid claims of unspecified threats linked to Iran.

Romney added that he agrees that Republicans and Democrats on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee should be briefed on the White House strategy toward Iran.

The top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee also warned the administration against any action without approval from lawmakers.

"I've never seen an administration that is less forthcoming about such critical information than the Trump administration. It's pretty outrageous and what really bothers me is that my republican colleagues don't seem to be calling for the type of information that is critical to making decisions on war and peace and life and death," said Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J.

Menendez also noted at a hearing on Wednesday that Congress has not authorized war with Iran.

"We should not provoke a conflict. I think that's what's happening. I think we ought to find a way to sit down and have a decent conversation. I think that's possible," said Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-CA.

Washington - 15 May 2019

1. SOUNDBITE: (English) Sen. Bob Menendez, (D) New Jersey:

"This is like making foreign policy and national security decisions in the blind and so I've never seen an administration that is less forthcoming about such critical information than the Trump administration. It's pretty outrageous and what really bothers me is that my republican colleagues don't seem to be calling for the type of information that is critical to making decisions on war and peace and life and death. (Reporter Question: Do you think there should be receiving more briefings by the administration?) More? There need to be briefings. Forget about more briefings. There need to be briefings."

2. SOUNDBITE: (English) Sen. Dianne Feinstein, (D) California:

"We should not provoke a conflict. I think that's what's happening. I think we ought to find a way to sit down and have a decent conversation. I think that's possible."

3. SOUNDBITE: (English) Sen. Chris Murphy, (D) Connecticut:

"This isn't well thought out and it's entirely predictable that we have threats against US troops. Our military leaders told the president that if he took the steps that he took that it would end up compromising our troops' security in Iraq and that's exactly what may be happening today and it was entirely avoidable."

4. SOUNDBITE: (English) Sen. Mitt Romney, (R) Utah:

"I received a personal briefing, which I requested about that intelligence. I know the chairman has received that briefing, but that's not going to be publicly provided. But it is appropriate I think for our committee to have that kind of info."

US President Donald Trump says his Republican party needs to "get tougher and fight" against the Democrat led impeachment inquiry.

Trump made the comments during a White House Cabinet meeting in which he again called the investigation "phony" and said "Democrats are trying to hurt the Republican Party" in the upcoming 2020 Election.

A growing number of Republicans have been critical of Trump following his decision to pull U.S. troops out of Syria, followed by the announcement that the administration would host next summer's G-7 meeting at Trump's Doral private golf club outside Miami.  Trump has since reversed the Doral decision, saying he will host the meetings somewhere else.

Trump said though he believes Democrats "fight dirty" and are "lousy politicians," they have two things he admires: "they're vicious and they stick together."

He then called out Utah Republican Senator Mitt Romney for his frequent criticisms of Trump and for "breaking off" from the party.  

"They don't have people like that," Trump said referring to the Democrats. "They stick together."

The president told reporters Democrats want to impeach him "and they want to do it as quick as possible" because he says they're afraid Trump is going to win the election.

Washington, DC - 21 October 2019

1. Wide shot of US President Donald Trump talking in Cabinet room

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, U.S. President:

"So there's a phony investigation. I watched a couple of people on television today talking about it. They were talking about what a phony deal it is, what a phony investigation it is. And the Republicans have to get tougher and fight. We have some that are great fighters, but they have to get tougher and fight because the Democrats are trying to hurt the Republican Party for the election, which is coming up."

3. Cutaway of Cabinet members

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, U.S. President:

"(Reporter question: You said the Republicans need to get tougher and fight. What are you talking about?)

Well I think the Democrats fight dirty. I think the Democrats are lousy politicians with lousy policy. They want open borders. They don't care about crime. They want sanctuary cities. They don't care about drugs, they don't care about almost anything. They don't care about USMCA, how about that? I think they're lousy politicians. But two things they have: they're vicious and they stick together. They don't have Mitt Romney in their midst. They don't have people like that. They stick together. You never see them break off. You never see somebody go out and.."

5. Mid shot of Trump speaking

6 . SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, U.S. President:

"This whole thing is very bad for our country. In the midst of that, I'm trying to get out of wars. We may have to get in wars, too, OK? We may have to get in wars. We're better prepared than we've ever been. If Iran does something, they'll be hit like they've never been hit before. I mean, we have things that we're looking at. But can you imagine? I have to fight off these these low-lifes at the same time, I'm negotiating these very important things, that should have been done during Obama and Bush and even before that. All right. So that's where we are right now."

7. Cutaway of Cabinet members

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, U.S. President:

"(On impeachment) Well I think they want to. Any Democrat wants to because they're not going to beat me in the election. So of course, they want to impeach. Why wouldn't they want to impeach me? It's so, it's so illegitimate. It cannot be the way the founders, our great founders, meant this to be. But I see this guy, Congressman Al Green, say we have to impeach him, otherwise, he's going to win the election. What's that all about? But that's exactly what they're saying. We have to impeach him because otherwise he's going to win. I'm going to win the election."

9. Wide shot of Trump in Cabinet Room

10. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, U.S. President:

"You know you had a Never-Trumper-Bush, you have heard of those. Those people might be worse than the Democrats, the Never-Trumpers. The good news is they're dying off fast. They're on artificial respiration, I think. But, no impeachment, uh, they want to impeach and they want to do it as quick as possible. And that's pretty much the story, ok?"

11. Wide shot of press and Cabinet members

President Donald Trump says his Republican party needs to "get tougher and fight" against the Democrat led impeachment inquiry.

Trump made the comments during a White House Cabinet meeting in which he again called the investigation "phony" and said "Democrats are trying to hurt the Republican Party" in the upcoming 2020 Election.

A growing number of Republicans have been critical of Trump following his decision to pull U.S. troops out of Syria, followed by the announcement that the administration would host next summer's G-7 meeting at Trump's Doral private golf club outside Miami.  Trump has since reversed the Doral decision, saying he will host the meetings somewhere else.

Trump said though he believes Democrats "fight dirty" and are "lousy politicians," they have two things he admires: "they're vicious and they stick together."

He then called out Utah Republican Senator Mitt Romney for his frequent criticisms of Trump and for "breaking off" from the party.  

"They don't have people like that," Trump said referring to the Democrats. "They stick together."

The president told reporters Democrats want to impeach him "and they want to do it as quick as possible" because he says they're afraid Trump is going to win the election.

Washington, DC - 21 October 2019

1. Wide shot of Trump talking in Cabinet room

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, U.S. President:

"So there's a phony investigation. I watched a couple of people on television today talking about it. They were talking about what a phony deal it is, what a phony investigation it is. And the Republicans have to get tougher and fight. We have some that are great fighters, but they have to get tougher and fight because the Democrats are trying to hurt the Republican Party for the election, which is coming up."

3. Cutaway of Cabinet members

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, U.S. President:

"(Reporter question: You said the Republicans need to get tougher and fight. What are you talking about?)

Well I think the Democrats fight dirty. I think the Democrats are lousy politicians with lousy policy. They want open borders. They don't care about crime. They want sanctuary cities. They don't care about drugs, they don't care about almost anything. They don't care about USMCA, how about that? I think they're lousy politicians. But two things they have: they're vicious and they stick together. They don't have Mitt Romney in their midst. They don't have people like that. They stick together. You never see them break off. You never see somebody go out and.."

5. Mid shot of Trump speaking

6 . SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, U.S. President:

"This whole thing is very bad for our country. In the midst of that, I'm trying to get out of wars. We may have to get in wars, too, OK? We may have to get in wars. We're better prepared than we've ever been. If Iran does something, they'll be hit like they've never been hit before. I mean, we have things that we're looking at. But can you imagine? I have to fight off these these low-lifes at the same time, I'm negotiating these very important things, that should have been done during Obama and Bush and even before that. All right. So that's where we are right now."

7. Cutaway of Cabinet members

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, U.S. President:

"(On impeachment) Well I think they want to. Any Democrat wants to because they're not going to beat me in the election. So of course, they want to impeach. Why wouldn't they want to impeach me? It's so, it's so illegitimate. It cannot be the way the founders, our great founders, meant this to be. But I see this guy, Congressman Al Green, say we have to impeach him, otherwise, he's going to win the election. What's that all about? But that's exactly what they're saying. We have to impeach him because otherwise he's going to win. I'm going to win the election."

9. Wide shot of Trump in Cabinet Room

10. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, U.S. President:

"You know you had a Never-Trumper-Bush, you have heard of those. Those people might be worse than the Democrats, the Never-Trumpers. The good news is they're dying off fast. They're on artificial respiration, I think. But, no impeachment, uh, they want to impeach and they want to do it as quick as possible. And that's pretty much the story, ok?"

11. Wide shot of press and Cabinet members

Alaska Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski says she's “struggling” over whether she can support President Donald Trump given his handling of the virus and race crises roiling the U.S.

Murkowski said Thursday that she was “thankful” for retired Gen. James Mattis' extraordinary rebuke of Trump for politicizing the military. Asked about her support of president, Murkowski replied, “I have struggled with it for a long time.” Murkowski retracted her endorsement of Trump in 2016 after the “Access Hollywood” tape revealed he had bragged about sexually assaulting women.

She voted to acquit Trump of House impeachment charges earlier this year.

She spoke Thursday to reporters at the Capitol. Some other Republicans chose not to respond to reporter question's about Mattis' rebuke.

Sen. Mitt Romney responded by saying that Mattis is a "wonderful" man: "If I ever had to choose somebody to be in a foxhole with-- it would be with a General Mattis."

But he did not elaborate on whether he is also critical of the president's actions

POOL

Washington - 4 June 2020

1. Sen. Mitt Romney listens to reporter question

2. SOUNDBITE: (English) Sen. Mitt Romney, (R) Utah:

"Well, General Mattis' letter was stunning and powerful. General Mattis is a man of extraordinary sacrifice. He's an American patriot. He's an individual whose judgment I respect, and I think the world of him. If I ever had to choose somebody to be in a foxhole with-- it would be with a General Mattis. What a wonderful, wonderful man."

3. Romney departs

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington - 19 May 2020

4. Still photo of Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, wearing an Alaska-themed face mask to protect against the spread of the new coronavirus

POOL

Washington - 4 June 2020

++AUDIO ONLY++AUDIO QUALITY AS INCOMING++

++AUDIO COVERED BY STILL PHOTO++

5. SOUNDBITE: (English) Sen. Lisa Murkowski, (R) Alaska:

"I was really thankful. I thought General Mattis' words were true and honest and necessary and overdue.

(Reporter asks: Can you still support President Trump then, is that something you're struggling with?)

I am struggling  with it. I have struggled with it for a long time. I think you know that, I didn't support the president in the initial election and I work hard to try and make sure that I'm able to represent my state well, that I'm able to work with any administration and with any president. He is our duly elected president, I will continue to work with him, I will continue to work with his administration. But I think right now as we are struggling to find ways to express the words that need to be expressed appropriately, questions about who I'm going to vote for, who I'm not going to vote for, I think, are distracting to the moment. I know people might think that that's a dodge, but I think there are important conversations that we need to have as an American people amongst ourselves about where we are right now."

6. Sen. Pat Roberts, (R) Kansas walks by as reporter asks question on Gen. Mattis

7. Sen. Lamar Alexander, (R) Tennessee walks by reporter without responding to reporter question

Alaska Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski says she's “struggling” over whether she can support President Donald Trump given his handling of the virus and race crises roiling the U.S.

Murkowski said Thursday that she was “thankful” for retired Gen. James Mattis' extraordinary rebuke of Trump for politicizing the military. Asked about her support of president, Murkowski replied, “I have struggled with it for a long time.” Murkowski retracted her endorsement of Trump in 2016 after the “Access Hollywood” tape revealed he had bragged about sexually assaulting women.

She voted to acquit Trump of House impeachment charges earlier this year.

She spoke Thursday to reporters at the Capitol. Some other Republicans chose not to respond to reporter question's about Mattis' rebuke.

Sen. Mitt Romney responded by saying that Mattis is a "wonderful" man: "If I ever had to choose somebody to be in a foxhole with-- it would be with a General Mattis."

But he did not elaborate on whether he is also critical of the president's actions

POOL

Washington - 4 June 2020

1. Sen. Mitt Romney listens to reporter question

2. SOUNDBITE: (English) Sen. Mitt Romney, (R) Utah:

"Well, General Mattis' letter was stunning and powerful. General Mattis is a man of extraordinary sacrifice. He's an American patriot. He's an individual whose judgment I respect, and I think the world of him. If I ever had to choose somebody to be in a foxhole with-- it would be with a General Mattis. What a wonderful, wonderful man."

3. Romney departs

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington - 19 May 2020

4. Still photo of Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, wearing an Alaska-themed face mask to protect against the spread of the new coronavirus

POOL

Washington - 4 June 2020

++AUDIO ONLY++AUDIO QUALITY AS INCOMING++

++AUDIO COVERED BY STILL PHOTO++

5. SOUNDBITE: (English) Sen. Lisa Murkowski, (R) Alaska:

"I was really thankful. I thought General Mattis' words were true and honest and necessary and overdue.

(Reporter asks: Can you still support President Trump then, is that something you're struggling with?)

I am struggling  with it. I have struggled with it for a long time. I think you know that, I didn't support the president in the initial election and I work hard to try and make sure that I'm able to represent my state well, that I'm able to work with any administration and with any president. He is our duly elected president, I will continue to work with him, I will continue to work with his administration. But I think right now as we are struggling to find ways to express the words that need to be expressed appropriately, questions about who I'm going to vote for, who I'm not going to vote for, I think, are distracting to the moment. I know people might think that that's a dodge, but I think there are important conversations that we need to have as an American people amongst ourselves about where we are right now."

6. Sen. Pat Roberts, (R) Kansas walks by as reporter asks question on Gen. Mattis

7. Sen. Lamar Alexander, (R) Tennessee walks by reporter without responding to reporter question