The Trump administration is working on a new set of directives on the use of school bathrooms by transgender students, the White House said Tuesday.

The announcement alarmed LGBT groups across the country that have urged President Donald Trump to safeguard Obama-era guidelines allowing students to use school restrooms that match their gender identity, not their assigned gender at birth.

White House spokesman Sean Spicer did not provide any details on the new guidelines that are being prepared by the Justice Department, but said Trump has long held that such matters should be left to the states, not the federal government, to decide.

The Obama administration's guidance, issued last May, held that transgender students can access restrooms and participate in school athletics according with the gender they identify with.

Schools were also instructed to treat students in line with their expressed gender identity without requiring any medical proof.

While the move was hailed by rights organizations, it was attacked by conservative groups, which called it federal overreach and an infringement on the personal space and safety of all other students.

A patchwork of state laws and policies on the issue is emerging.

Fifteen states have explicit protections for transgender students, and many individual school districts in other states have adopted policies that recognize students on the basis of their gender identity, said Sarah Warbelow, legal director of the Human Rights Campaign. Just one state, North Carolina, has enacted a law restricting students' bathroom access to their sex at birth.

But so far this year, lawmakers in more than 10 states are considering similar legislation, according to the National Conference of State Legislators.

Raleigh, North Carolina – 22 February 2017

1. Wide shot of North Carolina legislative building

2. Tight of legislative building sign

3. Wide of transgender man talking on phone

4. Tight of name tag

5. SOUNDBITE (English): Ames Simmons, Equality NC

"Just, my stomach feels cold with worry. Even walking out, I saw a large group of school kids leaving the North Carolina General Assembly and wondered, How many students who are trans or gender non-conforming in that class might be hearing that same message today, and feeling like it's less for them in school. And that makes me, that makes me feel really sad as a trans person. To think about a young person feeling a lack of hope because of what the folks in this building and in Washington, DC are doing."

6. Wide of school kids leaving legislature

7. Tight of foot walking past state seal with word "CONSTITUTION"

8. Wide of Tami Fitzgerald of NC Values Coalition walking out of legislature

9. SOUNDBITE (English): Tami Fitzgerald, NC Values Coalition

"When Congress passed the Civil Rights Act and Title IX, they never contemplated that sex would mean gender identity. It's not in the bill. It's not what the bill says. It's not what the law says. And so we think that the directive that the Obama administration issued about interpreting sex as meaning gender identity is wrong, and it should be repealed."

10. Tight of Fitzgerald's name tag

11. SOUNDBITE (English): Tami Fitzgerald, NC Values Coalition

"I agree with President Trump. This IS a state issue. And the federal government was engaged in gross overreach when it issued this directive that impacted every public school in the country."

12. Mid of sign for school groups touring legislature

13. SOUNDBITE (English): Ames Simmons, Equality NC

"We believe that this is a terrible message that the Trump administration is sending to some of the most vulnerable young people in our country today. That the president and the administration are not going to protect them from discrimination, no matter what Title IX says."

14. Tight of sign for school groups

15. Wide of woman and son outside legislature

16. SOUNDBITE (English): Tina Matthews, Visiting Capital with Son

"I think that everybody deserves an equal shot at being who they are, love who they want to love and be able to go into a bathroom that corresponds to their gender identity."

17. Wide of legislative building

18. Mid of fluttering American flag

19. Mid of North Carolina flag

The Trump administration is working on a new set of directives on the use of school bathrooms by transgender students, the White House said Tuesday.

The announcement alarmed LGBT groups across the country that have urged President Donald Trump to safeguard Obama-era guidelines allowing students to use school restrooms that match their gender identity, not their assigned gender at birth.

White House spokesman Sean Spicer did not provide any details on the new guidelines that are being prepared by the Justice Department, but said Trump has long held that such matters should be left to the states, not the federal government, to decide.

The Obama administration's guidance, issued last May, held that transgender students can access restrooms and participate in school athletics according with the gender they identify with.

Schools were also instructed to treat students in line with their expressed gender identity without requiring any medical proof.

While the move was hailed by rights organizations, it was attacked by conservative groups, which called it federal overreach and an infringement on the personal space and safety of all other students.

A patchwork of state laws and policies on the issue is emerging.

Fifteen states have explicit protections for transgender students, and many individual school districts in other states have adopted policies that recognize students on the basis of their gender identity, said Sarah Warbelow, legal director of the Human Rights Campaign. Just one state, North Carolina, has enacted a law restricting students' bathroom access to their sex at birth.

But so far this year, lawmakers in more than 10 states are considering similar legislation, according to the National Conference of State Legislators.

Raleigh, North Carolina – 22 February 2017

1. Wide shot of North Carolina legislative building

2. Tight of legislative building sign

3. Wide of transgender man talking on phone

4. Tight of name tag

5. SOUNDBITE (English): Ames Simmons, Equality NC

"Just, my stomach feels cold with worry. Even walking out, I saw a large group of school kids leaving the North Carolina General Assembly and wondered, How many students who are trans or gender non-conforming in that class might be hearing that same message today, and feeling like it's less for them in school. And that makes me, that makes me feel really sad as a trans person. To think about a young person feeling a lack of hope because of what the folks in this building and in Washington, DC are doing."

6. Wide of school kids leaving legislature

7. Tight of foot walking past state seal with word "CONSTITUTION"

8. Wide of Tami Fitzgerald of NC Values Coalition walking out of legislature

9. SOUNDBITE (English): Tami Fitzgerald, NC Values Coalition

"When Congress passed the Civil Rights Act and Title IX, they never contemplated that sex would mean gender identity. It's not in the bill. It's not what the bill says. It's not what the law says. And so we think that the directive that the Obama administration issued about interpreting sex as meaning gender identity is wrong, and it should be repealed."

10. Tight of Fitzgerald's name tag

11. SOUNDBITE (English): Tami Fitzgerald, NC Values Coalition

"I agree with President Trump. This IS a state issue. And the federal government was engaged in gross overreach when it issued this directive that impacted every public school in the country."

12. Mid of sign for school groups touring legislature

13. SOUNDBITE (English): Ames Simmons, Equality NC

"We believe that this is a terrible message that the Trump administration is sending to some of the most vulnerable young people in our country today. That the president and the administration are not going to protect them from discrimination, no matter what Title IX says."

14. Tight of sign for school groups

15. Wide of woman and son outside legislature

16. SOUNDBITE (English): Tina Matthews, Visiting Capital with Son

"I think that everybody deserves an equal shot at being who they are, love who they want to love and be able to go into a bathroom that corresponds to their gender identity."

17. Wide of legislative building

18. Mid of fluttering American flag

19. Mid of North Carolina flag

STORY

On January 12th 2017 President-elect Donald Trump's nominee to run the CIA says Russian meddling in the president election was an aggressive action taken by senior Russian leaders. At his confirmation hearing on Thursday, congressman Mike Pompeo of Kansas says it's pretty clear Russia worked to hack information and to have an impact on American democracy. Trump has voiced scepticism that Russia was behind hacking of political sites. But he said Wednesday for the first time that he believes Russia was responsible for the hacking. Pompeo also said he expected to be able to present the incoming administration with intelligence that is sound and that the leadership would make decisions based on that intelligence. US President Donald Trump said in his speech on January 20th that he will govern the country by putting America first. Trump said as president that "from this day forward it's going to be only America first". He said that every decision he makes, on issues from trade to taxes to immigration and foreign affairs, will be made to benefit American workers and families. "We must protect our borders from the ravages of other countries" taking American jobs, Trump said. US President Donald Trump signed his first executive order on January 20th, ordering federal agencies to ease the burden of former President Barrack Obama's sweeping health care law. No details were given on what the order contained. Trump was joined in the Oval Office by Vice President Mike Pence, White House chief of staff Reince Priebus and other top advisers as he signed the executive order on the so-called "Obamacare" law that he opposed throughout his campaign. Trump also formally signed the commissions of incoming Defence Secretary James Mattis and Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly. Pence later swore them in at a separate ceremony in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, where the vice president's suite of offices is located. On January 26th White House press secretary Sean Spicer said US President Donald Trump will seek a 20 percent tax on Mexican imports to pay for a proposed border wall. The wall is part of Trump's plan to halt illegal immigration to the U.S., and he has long insisted that Mexico will pay. Mexican President Pena Nieto insists his country will not. On the flight back to Washington, Spicer told reporters travelling with the president that Trump will seek to impose a 20 percent tax on Mexican imports to pay for the wall. Congressional approval would be needed for such a step. Trump's brief trip to Philadelphia to speak with Congressional Republicans at their policy retreat, marked his first flight on Air Force One, the familiar blue and white government plane that has long ferried presidents around the country and the world. Trump spoke to reporters on board the plane, describing Air Force One as a "beautiful, great plane." On January 27th President Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Theresa May were seen holding hands for a brief period of time as they walked along the colonnade at the White House, before Trump tapped on May's hand and they let go. The two appeared to be in conversation following joint remarks made earlier at a news conference. May's meeting with the US president in Washington, D.C. is being hailed by the British government as a sign that the tarns-Atlantic "special relationship" is valued by the new US administration. On January 29th protests have erupted for the second day after US President Donald Trump issued an executive order to temporarily bar refugees and citizens of seven predominantly Muslim countries from entering the US. Dozens of protesters gathered outside the White House, while a smaller group protested outside an airport in Morrisville, North Carolina, holding banners in support of refugees and immigrants and chanting anti-Trump slogans. Several thousand people gathered near Prime Minister Theresa May's London residence on January 30th to protest against a planned state visit by US President Donald Trump. Protesters held signs and placards, some branding May "shameless", and chanted "No state visit!" Many said they were protesting to express their anger over Trump's immigration ban. January 30th's protest near 10 Downing Street was the largest of a series of protests across the country, including in Oxford, Manchester, Newcastle, Cardiff and Glasgow. An online petition opposing Trump's state visit has more than 1.5 million signatures. Any petition with more than 100,000 signatures must be considered for a debate in Parliament, though not a binding vote. US President Donald Trump fired acting Attorney General Sally Yates on January 31st after she announced she would not defend his controversial immigration order. He is naming Dana Boente, US Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, to serve in her place. The White House press office said in a statement that Yates "has betrayed the Department of Justice by refusing to enforce a legal order designed to protect the citizens of the United States." The statement calls Yates an Obama administration appointee "who is weak on borders and very weak on illegal immigration." Trump's order from Friday temporarily suspends the US refugee programme and bars immigration from seven majority-Muslim countries - Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen. Trump has picked Senator Jeff Sessions to lead the Justice Department, but he has yet to be confirmed by the Senate. US Secretary of Homeland Security John Kelly on January 31st defended President Donald Trump's executive order on immigration. Kelly said that the order is "not a travel ban. This is a temporary pause that allows us to better review the existing refugee and visa vetting system." Nordstrom says it will stop selling Ivanka Trump clothing and accessories, creating some questions about the future of the brand elsewhere. The Seattle-based department store chain said the decision was based on the sales performance of the first daughter's brand. Neiman Marcus may be the next one to pull back on the label, as the branded jewellery is nowhere to be seen on the up scale retailer's website as of 3rd February. "We've said all along we make buying decisions based on performance," said Nordstrom in a statement emailed to The Associated Press. "We've got thousands of brands” more than 2,000 offered on the site alone. Reviewing their merit and making edits is part of the regular rhythm of our business." Nordstrom said that each year the chain cuts about 10 percent and refreshes its assortment with about the same amount. "In this case, based on the brand's performance we've decided not to buy it for this season," Nordstrom added. Lord & Taylor only said it continues to carry the brand. Neiman Marcus, Macy's and Dillard's, which also carry the label, didn't immediately reply to AP's query. The move by Nordstrom Inc. comes amid a social media campaign called "Grab Your Wallet," urging a boycott of stores that stock Ivanka Trump or Donald Trump products. In a statement emailed to The Associated Press late Friday, Rosemary K. Young, senior director of marketing at Ivanka Trump, said that the brand continues to expand across all categories and distribution, resulting in "significant" revenue growth last year compared to the previous year. "We believe that the strength of a brand is measured not only by the profits it generates, but the integrity it maintains," said Young in the statement. "The women behind the brand represent a diverse group of professionals and we are proud to say that the Ivanka Trump brand continues to embody the principles upon which it was founded." An unnamed spokesperson for the brand contradicted Nordstrom's statement, saying that Nordstrom did order both shoes and clothing for spring and moved forward with the purchase of clothing. Wendy Liebmann, CEO of WSL Strategic Retail, says that retailers walk a tight rope when it comes to celebrity brands but given the politics surrounding the Ivanka Trump brand, that only adds extra controversy, particularly given such a politically divisive climate. Liebmann noted a decision of whether to pull a brand is politically loaded even if it's based on poor sales performance. "The brand is vulnerable," Liebmann said. "Retailers view their role as having the right products for the right consumer, not being pulled in a political situation." She noted that some shoppers may not want to wear the Ivanka Trump brand because they may want to avoid making a political statement. Ivanka Trump announced earlier this month that she would take a leave of absence from her clothing and accessories business as well as the Trump organization. US President Donald Trump's embattled national security adviser Michael Flynn resigned late on February 13th, following reports that he had misled Vice President Mike Pence and other officials about his contacts with Russia. His departure upends Trump's senior team after less than one month in office. In a resignation letter, Flynn said he gave Pence and others "incomplete information" about his calls with Russia's ambassador to the US. The vice president, apparently relying on information from Flynn, initially said the national security adviser hadn't discussed sanctions with the Russian envoy, though Flynn later conceded the issue may have come up. Trump named retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg as the acting national security adviser. Kellogg had previously been appointed the National Security Council chief of staff and advised Trump during the campaign. Trump is also considering former CIA Director David Petraeus and Vice Admiral Robert Harward, a US Navy SEAL, for the post, according to a senior administration official. The Trump team's account of Flynn's discussions with the Russian envoy changed repeatedly over several weeks, including the number of contacts, the dates of those contacts and ultimately, the content of the conversations. Late in January, the Justice Department warned the White House that Flynn could be in a compromised position as a result of the contradictions between the public depictions of the calls and what intelligence officials knew to be true based on recordings of the conversations, which were picked up as part of routine monitoring of foreign officials communications in the US. A US official told The Associated Press that Flynn was in frequent contact with Ambassador Sergey Kislyak on the day the Obama administration slapped sanctions on Russia for election-related hacking, as well as at other times during the transition. US President Donald Trump on February 16th said his ousted national security adviser was a "fine person" after offering his resignation amid reports of contact with Russian officials. Trump was recounting why he asked Michael Flynn for his resignation. The president said at a news conference that he was "not happy" with how information about Flynn's phone call to a Russian diplomat was relayed to Vice President Mike Pence. But Trump says what Flynn did "wasn't wrong" - and called attention to what he described as "classified information that was given illegally." Dakota Access pipeline protesters are ceremonially burning some of their living structures ahead of the closure of a long-standing camp in North Dakota. About 200 to 300 protesters remain at the camp near the Standing Rock Sioux reservation. The Army Corps of Engineers has ordered the camp closed at 2 p.m. February 22nd, citing the potential for spring flooding. Those left in camp milled about peacefully Wednesday, many in prayer. At least four wooden structures were being burned in what protesters say is part of the ceremony of leaving. Authorities in North Dakota are offering assistance and services to Dakota Access pipeline protesters as they close a long-standing encampment near the Standing Rock Sioux reservation. A White House spokeswoman said March 3rd that Vice President Mike Pence "did everything to the letter of the law" after public records revealed that he used a private email account to conduct public business as Indiana's governor. The Indianapolis Star reported that emails provided through a public records request show that Pence communicated with advisers through his personal AOL account on homeland security matters and security at the governor's residence during his four years as governor. The governor also faced email security issues. Pence's AOL account was subjected to a phishing scheme last spring, before he was chosen by Donald Trump to join the GOP presidential ticket. Pence's contacts were sent an email falsely claiming that the governor and his wife were stranded in the Philippines and needed money. As Trump's running mate, Pence frequently criticized rival Hillary Clinton's use of a private email server as President Barrack Obama's secretary of state, accusing her of purposely keeping her emails out of public reach and shielding her from scrutiny. Hours before it was to take effect, President Donald Trump's revised travel ban was put on hold March 15th by a federal judge in Hawaii who questioned whether the administration was motivated by national security concerns. U.S. District Judge Derrick Watson also said Hawaii would suffer financially if the executive order blocked the flow of students and tourists to the state, and he concluded that Hawaii was likely to succeed on a claim that the ban violates First Amendment protections against religious discrimination. A federal judge in Greenbelt, Maryland, has blocked US President Donald Trump's revised travel ban targeting six predominantly Muslim countries. Judge Theodore Chuang ruled on Thursday in a case brought near the nation's capital by the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) and other groups representing immigrants, refugees and their families. It was the latest ruling against Trump's revised travel ban. On March 15th, a federal judge in Hawaii blocked Trump's revised travel ban hours before it was to take effect, marking the second time courts have thwarted Trump's efforts to freeze immigration by refugees and citizens of some predominantly Muslim nations. Government lawyers argued that the ban was substantially revised from an earlier version signed in January that was later blocked by a federal judge in Washington state. They said the ban was ordered in the interest of national security to protect the US from "radical Islamic terrorism." During his campaign as a Republican presidential candidate, Donald Trump called for a "total and complete shut-down of Muslims entering the United States." Trump's campaign said in a statement that such a ban should stand "until our country's representatives can figure out what is going on." It said the proposal comes in response to a level of hatred among "large segments of the Muslim population" toward US citizens. At an evening rally in South Carolina in December 2015, Trump supporters cheered and shouted in support as he read his statement. An earlier version of the executive order, issued in late January, was blocked by a judge in Seattle, sparking harsh criticism from the president of both the judge and his decision. Trump said at the time that the court fight over his refugee and immigration executive order could end up in the Supreme Court. Speaking to reporters on 7 February 2017, Trump said he was going to take his fight to uphold the directive "through the system." A federal appeals court refused to reinstate President Donald Trump's ban on travellers from seven predominantly Muslim nations, dealing another legal setback to the new administration's immigration policy. In a unanimous decision, the panel of three judges from the San Francisco-based 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals declined to block a lower-court ruling that suspended the ban and allowed previously barred travellers to enter the US. Moments after the ruling was released, Trump tweeted, "SEE YOU IN COURT," adding that "THE SECURITY OF OUR NATION IS AT STAKE!" Declaring "the start of a new era" in energy production, President Donald Trump signed an executive order March 28th that he said would revive the coal industry and create jobs. The move makes good on his campaign pledge to unravel former President Barrack Obama's plan to curb global warming. The order seeks to suspend, rescind or flag for review more than a half-dozen measures in an effort to boost domestic energy production in the form of fossil fuels. Environmental activists, including former Vice President Al Gore, denounced the plan. But Trump said the effort would allow workers to "succeed on a level playing field for the first time in a long time." "That is what this is all about: bringing back our jobs, bringing back our dreams and making America wealthy again," Trump said, during a ceremony at the Environmental Protection Agency headquarters, attended by a number of coal miners. In addition to pulling back from the Clean Power Plan, the administration will also lift a 14-month-old moratorium on new coal leases on federal lands.

SHOWS

(HD version available in \\Source_Clips\Newsroom Failures)

Pompeo: Russia aimed to influence US election

4075583

POOL

Washington DC - 12 January 2017

1. SOUNDBITE: (English) Sen. Marco Rubio, (R) Florida:

"In your personal opinion, is Vladimir Putin and the Russians looking at all this and saying 'we did a really good job of creating chaos, division, instability in the American political process?"

2. SOUNDBITE: (English) Rep. Mike Pompeo, CIA Director Nominee:

"I have no doubt that the discourse that's been taking place is something that Vladimir Puttin would look at and say, 'Wow, that was among the objectives that I have."

00:20:23

Trump to govern by putting America first

4076960

POOL

Washington, DC - 20 January 2017

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, US President: ++INCLUDES SHOTS OF CROWDS++

" From this day forward a new vision will govern our land. From this day forward, it's going to be only America First, America First." (++Crowds clapping)

00:39:22

Trump signs executive orders in Oval Office

4077026

POOL

Washington DC - 20 January 2017

4. US President Donald Trump signing commission allowing General James Mattis to be sworn in as Defence Secretary

00:46:24

Spicer: Trump Seeks 20% Tax on Mexican Imports

4078053

POOL

On Board Air Force One - 26 January 2017

5. SOUNDBITE: (English) Sean Spicer, White House Press Secretary:

"If you tax that $50 billion at 20 percent of imports - which is by the way a practice that 160 other countries do - right now our country's policy is to tax exports and let imports flow freely in, which is ridiculous."

01:02:06

Trump, May hold hands outside White House

4078211

AP TELEVISION

Washington,D.C. - 27 January 2017

6. Tracking shot of British Prime Minister Theresa May and President Donald Trump walking outside White House, holding hands for a few seconds

01:10:09

US protests against Trump's immigration ban

4078426

AP TELEVISION

Washington DC/Morrisville - 29 January 2017

7. Protesters on ground gathering outside White House, holding banners and chanting slogans in support of refugees

01:21:12

UK protest against Trump's state visit

4078640

AP TELEVISION

London - 30 January 2017

++NIGHT SHOTS++

8. Protesters standing in front of Downing Street with signs and posters

9. Close of sign that reads (English) "Shameless May, Fascist Tyrant"

10. Close of sign that reads (English) "No to racism, no to Trump"

01:46:12

Trump fires Attorney General Sally Yates

4078666

POOL

FILE: Washington, DC - 28 June 2016

11. Various of Sally Yates, now former acting US Attorney General speaking at briefing while serving as Deputy Attorney General

01:54:19

US Homeland Security chief defends travel ban

4078785

AP TELEVISION

Washington DC - 31 January 2017

12. SOUNDBITE (English): John Kelly, Secretary of Homeland Security:

" It is important to understand that there are terrorists and other bad actors who are seeking to infiltrate our homeland every single day."

02:02:13

Nordstrom will stop selling Ivanka Trump clothing and accessories

4079404

AP Entertainment

New York, 29 June 2012

13. Medium of Ivanka Trump talking and showing her clothing line

AP Entertainment

New York, 14 April 2015

14. Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner arriving at the Vanity Fair Tribeca Film Festival party

02:17:16

US National Security Adviser Flynn resigns and Kellogg takes over as acting US National Security Adviser

4080946

US POOL

Washington DC - Recent/File

Washington DC - 20 January 2017

15. Michael Flynn arrives at inauguration

New York - 7 October 2016

16. General Kellogg, sitting next to Trump, speaking

02:30:06

Trump: Russia links reports are "fake news"

4081499

AP TELEVISION

Washington DC - 16 February 2017

17. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, US President:

"I can tell you from speaking for myself, I own nothing in Russia, I have no loans in Russia, I don't have any deals in Russia. (Russian) President (Vladimir) Putin called me up very nicely to congratulate me on the win of the election, he then called me up extremely nicely to congratulate me on the inauguration which was terrific, but so did many other leaders, almost all other leaders from almost all other countries, so that's the extent. Russia is fake news, this is fake news put out by the media."

03:03:24

Pipeline Protesters Set Fires to Close Camp

4082450

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Near Cannon Ball - 22 February 2017

++QUALITY AS INCOMING++

18. Wide pan of area with protesters and fire

03:16:18

Pence responds to use of private email account

4084169

POOL

Janesville, Wisconsin - 3 March 2017

19. SOUNDBITE (English) Mike Pence, Vice President:

(Reporter question off camera: "Why did you decide to use your private email accounts to deal with some public business?")

"I did. We issued a statement on that. I am very confident that our email practices were in full compliance with all of Indiana's laws. And in my service as a vice president will continue, will continue that practice."

03:31:02

Federal judge in Hawaii puts travel ban on hold

4086131

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Honolulu - 15 March 2017

20. Wide of press conference beginning

21. SOUNDBITE (English) Doug Chin, Hawaii Attorney General

" It showed that they were trying even harder to mask what was a religious animus."

03:42:17

Trump suffers second travel ban defeat

4086216

POOL

Mount Pleasant, South Carolina - 7 December 2015

22. Donald Trump walking to podium

23. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, Republican Presidential Candidate:

"Donald J. Trump is calling for a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States until our country's representatives can figure out what the hell is going on. We have no choice."

04:07:09

Trump signs roll-back on Obama era climate plans

4088397

POOL

Washington DC - 28 March 2017

24. US President Donald Trump signing executive order

HD version available in \\Source_Clips\Newsroom Failures

White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer reiterated on Tuesday that US President Donald Trump's executive order to halt entry from nationals of seven, predominantly Muslim, countries is "not a Muslim ban" - contrary to comments made by former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani.

Trump ally Giuliani made comments to Fox News on Saturday that seemed to indicate the order was designed as a legal way to fulfil Trump's campaign pledge to ban Muslims from entering the US.

Trump had frequently called for a "complete shutdown" of Muslim immigration while on the campaign trail.

When asked about Giuliani's comments, Spicer said: "It's not a travel ban, it's a vetting system to keep America safe."

In relation to a tweet sent by Trump on Monday, in which the President himself labelled the order a "ban," Spicer said Trump was merely "using the words that the media is using."

One reporter asked Spicer if he or the President was confused about the situation.

"No, I'm not confused. I think the words that are being used to describe are derived from what the media is calling this. He has been very clear that this is extreme vetting," he said.

Washington, DC - 31 January 2017

1. Sean Spicer, White House Press Secretary, walking into briefing

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Sean Spicer, White House Press Secretary:

(Responding to question over whether former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani's claim that the executive order banning entry from seven countries evolved from the Muslim ban the US President Donald Trump proposed during the campaign)

"I think the President has talked about extreme vetting and the need to keep America safe for a very, very long time. At the same time, he's also made very clear that this is not a 'Muslim ban,' it's not a travel ban, it's a vetting system to keep America safe. That's it, plain and simple, and all of the facts into reading of it clearly show that that's what it is."

(Reporter: But Mayor Giuliani stressed that too, but he said that it came out of the desire to have a Muslim ban)

"I think you should ask Mayor Giuliani. That's his opinion. I'm just telling you what the President has said, and what the President has done, has been to focus on making sure that we make the country safe and that the executive order that was drafted does just that. It is to make sure and to ensure that people coming in from seven countries, identified by the Obama administration, that we didn't have the proper systems to know who was coming into our country, was put in place and a 90-day period was also granted to ensure that we knew how to further address vetting situations in the future."

++BLACK FRAMES++

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Sean Spicer, White House Press Secretary:

(Reporter: You're saying it's not a ban, but this was President Trump's tweet yesterday - 'If the ban were announced with a one-week notice, the bad would rush into our country during that week.' So he says it's a ban.)

"Well, he's using the words that the media is using, but at the end of the day it can't...hold on, hold on, hold on...it can't be...Jonathan, thanks, I'll let Kristen talk... It can't be a ban if you're letting a million people in. If 325,000 people from another country can come in, that is by nature not a ban. It is extreme vetting."

(Reporter: The President himself called it a ban - is he confused or are you confused?)

"I understand...No, I'm not confused. I think the words that are being used to describe it are derived from what the media is calling this. He has been very clear that this is extreme vetting."

++ENDS ON SOUNDBITE++

The White House is vigorously defending President Donald Trump's immigration restrictions, as protests spread throughout the country.

Some Republicans in Congress urged caution amid legal challenges to the order banning travelers from seven predominantly Muslim countries, though top congressional Republicans remain largely behind the new president.

That, despite widespread confusion and an apparent walk-back about how the order, which temporarily bars the citizens of seven majority Muslim nations from entering the U.S., would be applied to certain groups, like U.S. legal permanent residents.

White House Press Secretary said that the uproar over the travel ban has been 'blown way out of proportion and exaggerated.'

Trump's order, which also suspends refugee admissions for 120 days and indefinitely bars the processing of refugees from Syria, has sparked widespread protests and denunciations from Democrats and a handful of Republicans.

Washington - 30 January 2017

1. Wide of White House briefing

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Sean Spicer, White House Press Secretary:

"This focus on securing our borders and our homeland was obviously a major part of what the president campaigned on. And now, he's doing exactly what the -- he's doing exactly what he told the American people he would do. The president will always put the safety and prosperity of our country first and foremost."

3. Cutaway, Spicer speaking

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Sean Spicer, White House Press Secretary:

"We're going to put the safety of Americans first, we're not going to wait and react as I said in the statement, the President's going to be very proactive in protecting this country, we're not going to wait until we get attacked and figure out how it won't happen again, he's going to do everything in his power to stop every threat that we face in this country and every potential threat and that's the key point in this, how do we get ahead of threats, how do we keep America ahead of the curve when it comes to people who want to do us harm, and that's what the president has done, he's made sure that every way possible that we get down the path of ensuring this country putting America's safety and security first and foremost, bar none."

5. Cutaway, Spicer speaking

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Sean Spicer, White House Press Secretary:

"Getting ahead of threats is the key, not waiting until they happen, not saying 'hey once it happens how do we react and make sure it doesn't happen again,' what I want to be clear about is since becoming president he has continued to take steps through executive order and otherwise, to make sure that this country is as safe as it can be and we're ahead of every threat."

7. Cutaway, Spicer speaking

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Sean Spicer, White House Press Secretary:

"Any government official, anyone who doesn't understand the president goal in this and what this actually was, again, I think this has been blown way out of proportion and exaggerated. Again you talk about in a 24 hour period, 325,000 people from other countries flew into our airports and you talk about 109 people from seven countries that the Obama administration identify, and these career bureaucrats have a problem with it? I think that they should either get with the program or they can go. This is about the safety of America and there's a reason the majority of Americans agree with the president, it's cause they understand that's his number one priority and it's his number one duty as it should be with any president to keep our people and our institutions safe from attack and that these steps are frankly common sense steps that the president's taking to make sure that we're never looking in the rear view mirror saying we should have done something like this."

9. Cutaway

The White House is vigorously defending President Donald Trump's immigration restrictions, as protests spread throughout the country.

Some Republicans in Congress urged caution amid legal challenges to the order banning travelers from seven predominantly Muslim countries, though top congressional Republicans remain largely behind the new president.

That, despite widespread confusion and an apparent walk-back about how the order, which temporarily bars the citizens of seven majority Muslim nations from entering the U.S., would be applied to certain groups, like U.S. legal permanent residents.

White House Press Secretary said that the uproar over the travel ban has been 'blown way out of proportion and exaggerated.'

Trump's order, which also suspends refugee admissions for 120 days and indefinitely bars the processing of refugees from Syria, has sparked widespread protests and denunciations from Democrats and a handful of Republicans.

Washington - 30 January 2017

1. Wide of White House briefing

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Sean Spicer, White House Press Secretary:

"This focus on securing our borders and our homeland was obviously a major part of what the president campaigned on. And now, he's doing exactly what the -- he's doing exactly what he told the American people he would do. The president will always put the safety and prosperity of our country first and foremost."

3. Cutaway, Spicer speaking

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Sean Spicer, White House Press Secretary:

"We're going to put the safety of Americans first, we're not going to wait and react as I said in the statement, the President's going to be very proactive in protecting this country, we're not going to wait until we get attacked and figure out how it won't happen again, he's going to do everything in his power to stop every threat that we face in this country and every potential threat and that's the key point in this, how do we get ahead of threats, how do we keep America ahead of the curve when it comes to people who want to do us harm, and that's what the president has done, he's made sure that every way possible that we get down the path of ensuring this country putting America's safety and security first and foremost, bar none."

5. Cutaway, Spicer speaking

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Sean Spicer, White House Press Secretary:

"Getting ahead of threats is the key, not waiting until they happen, not saying 'hey once it happens how do we react and make sure it doesn't happen again,' what I want to be clear about is since becoming president he has continued to take steps through executive order and otherwise, to make sure that this country is as safe as it can be and we're ahead of every threat."

7. Cutaway, Spicer speaking

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Sean Spicer, White House Press Secretary:

"Any government official, anyone who doesn't understand the president goal in this and what this actually was, again, I think this has been blown way out of proportion and exaggerated. Again you talk about in a 24 hour period, 325,000 people from other countries flew into our airports and you talk about 109 people from seven countries that the Obama administration identify, and these career bureaucrats have a problem with it? I think that they should either get with the program or they can go. This is about the safety of America and there's a reason the majority of Americans agree with the president, it's cause they understand that's his number one priority and it's his number one duty as it should be with any president to keep our people and our institutions safe from attack and that these steps are frankly common sense steps that the president's taking to make sure that we're never looking in the rear view mirror saying we should have done something like this."

9. Cutaway

RESTRICTION SUMMARY: AP CLIENTS ONLY

ASSOCIATED PRESS – AP CLIENTS ONLY

Seattle – May 15, 2017

1.Wide shot of federal district court building

2. Medium view of Hawaii Attorney General Doug Chin

3. SOUNDBITE: (English) Doug Chin, Attorney General, Hawaii

"Our concern is not pushing back against the politics of what's being determined. What we're saying is it's not so much President Trump is being politically correct or refusing to be politically correct. It's that he's not being correct when it comes to the Constitution. So, when it comes to the Constitution of the United States, then it's just very important for us to follow and uphold those standards."

4. Close view of police

5. SOUNDBITE: (English) Doug Chin, Attorney General, Hawaii

"We cannot be going back to a time when people are allowing executive orders that discriminate or exclude people solely based on the country they come from or solely because of their religion."

5. Medium view of U.S.flag.

STORYLINE:

Federal judges on Monday peppered a lawyer for President Donald Trump with questions about whether the administration's travel ban discriminates against Muslims and zeroed in on the president's campaign statements, the second time in a week the rhetoric has faced judicial scrutiny.

Acting Solicitor General Jeffrey Wall, defending the travel ban, told the three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that the executive order should be reinstated because it falls well within the president's authority.

Neal Katyal, who represented Hawaii, a plaintiff in the lawsuit, expressed disbelief at that argument and said Trump had repeatedly spoken of a Muslim ban during the presidential campaign and after.

The 9th Circuit panel was hearing arguments over Hawaii's lawsuit challenging the travel ban, which would suspend the nation's refugee program and temporarily bar new visas for citizens of Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.

The judges will decide whether to uphold a Hawaii judge's decision in March that blocked the ban.

"What we're saying is it's not so much President Trump is being politically correct or refusing to be politically correct. It's that he's not being correct when it comes to the Constitution. So, when it comes to the Constitution of the United States, then it's just very important for us to follow and uphold those standards," Hawaii Attorney General Doug Chin said outside the courthouse in Seattle.

Last week, judges on the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals heard arguments over whether to affirm a Maryland judge's decision putting the ban on ice. They also questioned whether they could consider Trump's campaign statements, with one judge asking if there was anything other than "willful blindness" that would prevent them from doing so.

Monday's arguments marked the second time Trump's efforts to restrict immigration from certain Muslim-majority nations have reached the San Francisco-based 9th Circuit.

After Trump issued his initial travel ban on a Friday in late January, bringing chaos and protests to airports around the country, a Seattle judge blocked its enforcement nationwide - a decision that was unanimously upheld by a three-judge 9th Circuit panel.

The president then rewrote his executive order, rather than appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court, and in March, U.S. District Judge Derrick Watson in Honolulu blocked the new version from taking effect, citing what he called "significant and unrebutted evidence of religious animus" in Trump's campaign statements.

"Again, in this court, the President claims a nearly limitless power to make immigration policy that is all but immune from judicial review," Hawaii Attorney General Chin wrote to the 9th Circuit. "Again, he must be checked."

At his daily briefing, White House press secretary Sean Spicer expressed confidence that the executive order will be upheld by the appeals court.

"The executive order is fully lawful and will be upheld. We fully believe that," Spicer said.

The travel ban cases are expected to reach the Supreme Court, but that would likely be cemented if the 4th and 9th Circuits reach differing conclusions about its legality. Because of how the courts chose to proceed, a full slate of 13 judges heard the 4th Circuit arguments last week, while just three, all appointees of President Bill Clinton, will consider the case in Seattle.

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The US administration said on Monday "Russia probably was involved" in meddling in the 2016 presidential election, but said it should have been the responsibility of the previous president to take action.

"If you believe the story that was written, that means from August to November 8th," White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer told reporters at a briefing where video cameras were not permitted.

Spicer appeared to be referencing a Washington Post article about the Obama administration's handling of Russia's attempts to influence voters.

Former President Barack Obama ordered a review of Russia's actions and imposed new sanctions after the election.

Spicer also claimed that the Obama administration should have known that there was "no collusion" between Russia and the Trump campaign.

Spicer also referred to the Supreme Court ruling that the Trump administration could go forward with a limited version of its ban on travel from six mostly Muslim countries.

The White House spokesman described the ruling "as a positive step forward" and said he thought the president would be "very pleased" with the decision.

There was friction during the briefing, with CNN's Jim Acosta interrupting Spicer to to ask why television were not allowed to attend.

Spicer said the White House would have a mix of different ways of dealing with media questions.

Washington DC - 26 June 2017

1. STILL of White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer at podium talking to press during daily briefing, with only AUDIO allowed

2. STILL of Spicer speaking during daily briefing ++SOUNDBITES PLAY UNDER STILL, SEPARATED BY BLACK FRAMES++

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Sean Spicer, White House Press Secretary:

"It's a positive step forward, as I mentioned at the outset, the Department of Justice in particular is reviewing this, in terms of both its implementation and its impact. So I don't want to get too far ahead of all these brilliant legal minds as they review the impact, but I think, as I noted, I think the president feels very, very pleased with the 9-0 decision."

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Sean Spicer, White House Press Secretary:

"They are looking at the totality of it, I think part of it as I mentioned to Blake a second ago will be dependent on what the lawyers believe its impact will be in terms of how it goes forward and what we can do, so I'm going to punt on that for a moment and let the lawyers take a look at that and give an update."

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Sean Spicer, White House Press Secretary:

"The statement that he made in January is consistent with what he said the other day, which is that he believes that Russia probably was involved, potentially some other countries as well, could have been equally involved or could have been involved, not equally. And he stands by the statements that he made in January."

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Sean Spicer, White House Press Secretary:

"One is that if you believe the story that was written, that means from August through November 8th, two things, one that if you believe that then they did know about this and there is some serious questions about what they did or did not do in terms of acting and the second is I think it's then pretty clear that they knew all along that there was no collusion and that's very helpful for the president."

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Sean Spicer, White House Press Secretary:

"But as to the point of what he is doing, that continues to be what I mentioned the other day, he signed an Executive Order on cyber security to strengthen our ability to combat anybody for interfering, not just in our elections but in a lot of our key infrastructure, cyber infrastructure. And secondly, he has got a commission that will continue to have more activities this month, looking holistically at the election process, to make sure that we are taking all the steps to protect the integrity of our voting systems."

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Sean Spicer, White House Press Secretary:

"Obviously I don't have all the understanding of what they knew and when they knew it, but there does seem to be a bit of hypocrisy in terms of what they didn't clearly do, if they truly believed all of this was happening. But as I mentioned to Kristin just a second ago, I think what is also important to note is that, if they did know all this, then they clearly do know that there was no collusion."

9. SOUNDBITE (English) Sean Spicer, White House Press Secretary:

"They have been very clear and they have been playing this card about blaming Trump and Russia, and yet at the same time, they were the ones who according to this report knew about it and didn't take any action, so the question is, if they didn't take any action, does that make them complicit? I think there is a lot of questions that have to get answered about who did know what and when."

10. STILL of video monitors in press briefing room

The Administration said Monday "Russia probably was involved" in meddling in the U.S. 2016 elections, but it was up to the previous president to take action.

"One is that if you believe the story that was written, that means from August to November 8th," said White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer.

"If you believe that then they did know about this and there is some serious questions about what they did or did not do in terms of acting and second is I think it's then pretty clear that they knew all along that there was no."

This comes on the same day the Supreme Court ruled on President Trump's travel ban.

"It's a positive step forward." said Spicer.

"So I don't want to get too far ahead of all these brilliant legal minds as they review the impact, but I think as I noted, I think the president feels very,very pleased."

Washington DC - 26 June 2017

1. Still photo of Sean Spicer at podium talking to press during daily briefing, with only AUDIO allowed

2. Still Photo of Sean Spicer speaking during daily briefing

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Sean Spicer, White House Press Secretary:

"It's a positive step forward, as I mentioned at the outset, the Department of Justice in particular is reviewing this, in terms of both its implementation and its impact. So I don't want to get too far ahead of all these brilliant legal minds as they review the impact, but I think as I noted, I think the president feels very,very pleased with he 9-0 decision."

++SEPARATED BY BLACK++

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Sean Spicer, White House Press Secretary:

"They are looking at the totality of it, I think part of it as I mentioned to Blake a second ago wil be dependent on what the lawyers believe its impact will be in terms of how it goes forward and what we can do, so I'm going to punt on that for a moment and let the lawyers take a look at that and give an update."

++SEPARATED BY BLACK++

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Sean Spicer, White House Press Secretary:

"The statement that he made in January is consistent with what he said the other day, which is that he believes Russia probably was involved, potentially some other countries as well, could have been equally involved or could have been involved, not equally. And he stands by the statements that he made in January."

++SEPARATED BY BLACK++

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Sean Spicer, White House Press Secretary:

"One is that if you believe the story that was written, that means from August to November 8th, two things, one that if you believe that then they did know about this and there is some serious questions about what they did or did not do in terms of acting and second is I think it's then pretty clear that they knew all along that there was no collusion and that's very helpful for the president."

++SEPARATED BY BLACK++

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Sean Spicer, White House Press Secretary:

"But as to the point of what he is doing, that continues to be what I mentioned the other day, he signed an Executive Order on cyber security to strengthen our ability to combat anybody for interfering not just in our elections but in a lot of our key infrastructure, cyber infrastructure. And secondly, he has got a commission that will continue to have more activities this month, looking holistically at the election process, to make sure that we are taking all the steps to protect the integrity of our voting systems."

++SEPARATED BY BLACK++

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Sean Spicer, White House Press Secretary:

"Obviously I don't have all the understanding of what they knew and when they knew it, but there does seem to be a bit of hypocrisy in terms of what they didn't clearly do, if they truly believed all of this was happening. But as I mentioned to Kristin just a second ago, I think what is also important to note is that, if they did know all this, then they clearly do know that there was no collusion."

++SEPARATED BY BLACK++

9. SOUNDBITE (English) Sean Spicer, White House Press Secretary:

"They have been very clear in playing this card about blaming Trump and Russia, and yet at the same time, they were the ones who according to this report knew about it and didn't take any action, so the question is, if they didn't take any action, does that make them complicit? I think there is a lot of questions that have to get answered about who did know what and when."

10. Still photo of video monitors in press briefing room