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

The White House and its allies are scrambling for ways to offset potential damage from fired FBI Director James Comey's highly anticipated congressional testimony, an appearance that could expose new details about his discussions with President Donald Trump about the federal investigation into Russia's election meddling.

Asked about the testimony, Trump on Tuesday was tight-lipped: "I wish him luck," he told reporters before a meeting with lawmakers.

Trump's White House and its allies are crafting a strategy aimed at undermining Comey's credibility. Both White House officials and an outside group that backs Trump plan to hammer Comey in the coming days for misstatements he made about Democrat Hillary Clinton's emails during his last appearance on Capitol Hill.

An ad created by the pro-Trump Great America Alliance also casts Comey as a "showboat" who was "consumed with election meddling" instead of focusing on combating terrorism. The 30-second spot is slated to run digitally on Wednesday and appear the next day on CNN and Fox News.

Comey's testimony before the Senate intelligence committee marks his first public comments since he was abruptly ousted by Trump on May 9. Since then, Trump and Comey allies have traded competing narratives about their interactions. The president asserted that Comey told him three times that he was not personally under investigation, while the former director's associates allege Trump asked Comey if he could back off an investigation into Michael Flynn, who was fired as national security adviser because he misled the White House about his ties to Russia.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington, DC - 22 January 2017

1. Pan, then FBI Director James Comey shaking hands with President Donald Trump, UPSOUND (English) "He's become more famous than me."

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington - 6 June 2017

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Julie Bykowicz, Associated Press:

"Thursday will be one of the most consequential days of President Trump's administration so far and that's because we're going to hear for the first time since he was fired from former FBI director James Comey. He'll be testifying before a Senate Committee and he's expected to be asked not only about the Russian campaign to interfere with the US election and how if at all the Trump campaign was related to that but also the circumstances behind his firing. There's a lot of questions lawmakers have about whether President Trump was pressuring him or interfering with that underlying investigation in some way."

POOL

Washington, DC - 3 May 2017

3. Various, James Comey greeting lawmakers as he arrives to testify

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington - 6 June 2017

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Julie Bykowicz, Associated Press:

"We've actually heard from Comey a few times through congressional testimony because he was such a main player in the elections. You might remember that he testified about his investigation, the FBI's investigation into Hillary Clinton and her handling of emails and now he is looking, or he was until he was fired, was looking at any connections betweens Russians and the Trump campaigns. So he's been front and center quite a bit and lawmakers from both parties have been very interested in hearing from him about the Russia side of the investigation as well ."

POOL

Washington, DC - 3 May 2017

5. Various, Comey being sworn in before giving testimony

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington - 6 June 2017

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Julie Bykowicz, Associated Press:

"since it's such an important day and his testimony will be carried live on many different tv stations, it's important for the White House to have the strategy for how it handles it. President Trump is a prolific tweeter so there's been some question about whether Trump would be watching the hearings live and maybe even weighing in on Twitter. We of course don't have a definitive answer on that. We'll have to watch twitter to see if that happens but it's clear that the White House wants to keep the president busy that day. Sean Spicer the press secretary said in a briefing that the president has a full day, he'll actually be giving a speech here in Washington, during part of the hearing, ensuring that he won't be on twitter and there are lots of other White House events planned for the day. At the same time, aids of the president and outside groups who are supportive of the president are already starting to plan their pushback on Comey depending of course on what he says. There's an outside group called the Great America alliance. That's a politically active nonprofit that doesn't' have to disclose its donors that has cut the new ad that disparages Comey really. Questions his credibility based on statements he made at previous congressional hearings and also questions whether he is too much of a political actor and not dedicated enough to the overall mission of the FBI so that's one way that groups are trying to get out ahead of the hearing and raise questions in people's minds as to whether they can really trust anything that Comey says."

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington, DC - Recent

7. Various, exterior of Capitol Hill

The White House and its allies are scrambling for ways to offset potential damage from fired FBI Director James Comey's highly anticipated congressional testimony, an appearance that could expose new details about his discussions with President Donald Trump about the federal investigation into Russia's election meddling.

Asked about the testimony, Trump on Tuesday was tight-lipped: "I wish him luck," he told reporters before a meeting with lawmakers.

Trump's White House and its allies are crafting a strategy aimed at undermining Comey's credibility. Both White House officials and an outside group that backs Trump plan to hammer Comey in the coming days for misstatements he made about Democrat Hillary Clinton's emails during his last appearance on Capitol Hill.

An ad created by the pro-Trump Great America Alliance also casts Comey as a "showboat" who was "consumed with election meddling" instead of focusing on combating terrorism. The 30-second spot is slated to run digitally on Wednesday and appear the next day on CNN and Fox News.

Comey's testimony before the Senate intelligence committee marks his first public comments since he was abruptly ousted by Trump on May 9. Since then, Trump and Comey allies have traded competing narratives about their interactions. The president asserted that Comey told him three times that he was not personally under investigation, while the former director's associates allege Trump asked Comey if he could back off an investigation into Michael Flynn, who was fired as national security adviser because he misled the White House about his ties to Russia.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington, DC - 22 January 2017

1. Pan, then FBI Director James Comey shaking hands with President Donald Trump, UPSOUND (English) "He's become more famous than me."

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington - 6 June 2017

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Julie Bykowicz, Associated Press:

"Thursday will be one of the most consequential days of President Trump's administration so far and that's because we're going to hear for the first time since he was fired from former FBI director James Comey. He'll be testifying before a Senate Committee and he's expected to be asked not only about the Russian campaign to interfere with the US election and how if at all the Trump campaign was related to that but also the circumstances behind his firing. There's a lot of questions lawmakers have about whether President Trump was pressuring him or interfering with that underlying investigation in some way."

POOL

Washington, DC - 3 May 2017

3. Various, James Comey greeting lawmakers as he arrives to testify

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington - 6 June 2017

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Julie Bykowicz, Associated Press:

"We've actually heard from Comey a few times through congressional testimony because he was such a main player in the elections. You might remember that he testified about his investigation, the FBI's investigation into Hillary Clinton and her handling of emails and now he is looking, or he was until he was fired, was looking at any connections betweens Russians and the Trump campaigns. So he's been front and center quite a bit and lawmakers from both parties have been very interested in hearing from him about the Russia side of the investigation as well ."

POOL

Washington, DC - 3 May 2017

5. Various, Comey being sworn in before giving testimony

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington - 6 June 2017

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Julie Bykowicz, Associated Press:

"since it's such an important day and his testimony will be carried live on many different tv stations, it's important for the White House to have the strategy for how it handles it. President Trump is a prolific tweeter so there's been some question about whether Trump would be watching the hearings live and maybe even weighing in on Twitter. We of course don't have a definitive answer on that. We'll have to watch twitter to see if that happens but it's clear that the White House wants to keep the president busy that day. Sean Spicer the press secretary said in a briefing that the president has a full day, he'll actually be giving a speech here in Washington, during part of the hearing, ensuring that he won't be on twitter and there are lots of other White House events planned for the day. At the same time, aids of the president and outside groups who are supportive of the president are already starting to plan their pushback on Comey depending of course on what he says. There's an outside group called the Great America alliance. That's a politically active nonprofit that doesn't' have to disclose its donors that has cut the new ad that disparages Comey really. Questions his credibility based on statements he made at previous congressional hearings and also questions whether he is too much of a political actor and not dedicated enough to the overall mission of the FBI so that's one way that groups are trying to get out ahead of the hearing and raise questions in people's minds as to whether they can really trust anything that Comey says."

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington, DC - Recent

7. Various, exterior of Capitol Hill

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 spokesman Sean Spicer said President Donald Trump just wants rebuffed former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn to testify to Congressional investigators looking into Russia's meddling in the 2016 presidential election.

Flynn offered cooperation in exchange for immunity from prosecution.

President Donald Trump tweeted that Flynn, his former adviser, should ask for immunity because he's facing "a witch hunt."

Spicer said the president wants Flynn to testify in front of the committees, and there are no concerns that Flynn could implicate the president in any wrong doing.

Spicer also deflected questions about how Rep. Devin Nunes, chairman of the House intelligence committee, got to see intelligence reports.

He also said that there is a "bit of reality on the ground" about how the U.S. should approach the Syria conflict, and that the White House believes there is a "need to de-escalate violence and have a political process where Syrians will decide their own future."

Washington - 31 March 2017

1. Cutaway of news conference

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Sean Spicer, White House Press Secretary, on Trump meeting with Chinese president:

"I think we need to have that meeting with President Xi (Jinping). I'm sure there will be a lot of discussions about our economic relationship and so I don't -- we are days away from that, and let's see what those -- I just don't want to prejudge. We're days away from it, and I know there's a lot of issues that need to come up."

3. Cutaway

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

"There is a political reality that we have to accept, in terms of where we are right now. We lost a lot of opportunity the last administration with respect to Assad. And I think that our statement that both U.S. Ambassador Nikki Haley gave yesterday and Secretary of State Tillerson reflects the reality that it is now up to the Syrian people. I mean, we had an opportunity and we need to focus on, now, defeating ISIS."

5. Close of reporters

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

"You seem to be really focused on who showed up where and what door they went in and how it happened. To answer your question, yes, it's appropriate for a member of Congress to contact someone who has contacted him according to some of these reports. I don't know the answer to that, but if you're asking me, is it appropriate for a member of Congress to come over here -- as Chairman Nunes has said himself, he wasn't hiding or roaming. He was asked to come over here by an individual. He came over, which happens daily. He was asked to go somewhere, he went there. He is cleared and nothing that is inappropriate... exactly the opposite. What he did, what he saw and who he met with was 100 percent proper."

7. Close of reporter

8. UPSOUND (English) Reporter, off-screen: "Did the chief of staff know that he was on the campus? Did he approve..."

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

"So, OK, but you're playing cute there. You're doing two things. One is, you're talking about the Oval Office and the other is the campus. Right? So, no, the chief of staff does not know every single person who is on the 18 acres on any given time."

9. Wide of reporters

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

"But if there was a meeting, and in that case, we all sat back here, he made the announcement, and again, you're leaving out a key part: he actually briefed the press before he told anyone. We all found out, you, me, everyone else, that he was coming down here after he held a news conference with your colleagues to say he was coming down here based on stuff that he had found that didn't have to do with Russia, that a whistleblower source had given him."

11. Close of reporters

12. UPSOUND (English) Sean Spicer, White House Press Secretary:

"I think Mike Flynn and his legal counsel should do what's appropriate for Mike Flynn."

13. Close of reporter

14. SOUNDBITE (English) Sean Spicer, White House Press Secretary, on Trump's tweet:

"Again, he (Trump) didn't say 'Congress should grant'... right. And I think, what he means is he supports Mike Flynn's attempts to go up to Congress and be very clear with everything that they ask and what they want."

15. Mid of reporters

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

"I think that what the president -- not what I think, I've talked to the president about this... yes... and the president's that he wants Mike Flynn to go and be completely open and transparent with the committee and whatever it takes to do that, he is supportive of."

UPSOUND (English) Reporter, off-screen: "Even if he doesn't obtain immunity?"

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

"He (Trump) wants him (Flynn) to... I mean, I don't, again, I want to be clear. He wants him to do what is necessary to go up there and talk to the committee's of jurisdiction to get this matter behind us."

17. Wide of reporters

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

"I'm not entirely sure of the process of whether the Congress does it or DOJ or both, in this case. But the point that -- I get it -- but the point, but the bottom line... no, what he is instructing is Mike Flynn to do everything he can to cooperate with the committees that he's asked to look into this."

19. Spicer walking away from podium

White House spokesman Sean Spicer said the president stands by his claims as the White House wrestles with President Donald Trump's stunning wiretapping allegations against Obama.

Spicer suggested statements from a senate panel were made without a full review of the evidence or a briefing from the Justice Department.

"They are not findings," he said.

Trump offered no evidence to support his comments and has since said he was taking his cues from news reporters about intelligence agencies having intercepts of his associates' communications with Russia.

The White House tried to quickly shift the burden of proof to House and Senate intelligence committees investigating Russia's interference in the election.

But lawmakers simply ramped up the pressure on the administration, demanding evidence from the Justice Department.

The top two members of the Senate intelligence committee say there is no indication that Trump Tower was "the subject of surveillance" by the US government before or after the 2016 election, directly contradicting President Donald Trump's claims.

Washington, D.C. - 16 March 2017

1. White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer approaching podium

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

(Reporter question off camera): "Are you saying that the president still stands by his allegation that President Obama ordered wire tapping or surveillance of Trump Tower despite the fact that the Senate Intelligence Committee says they see no indication that it happened? Does the President still stand by the allegation?"

(Spicer): "First of all he stands by it, but you're mischaracterising what happened today. The Senate, no, no, I know, I understand that. At the same time they acknowledge that they have not been in contact with the Department of Justice."

3. Spicer at podium

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

(Reporter question off camera): "So Sean are you saying that despite the findings, the bipartisan findings of the Senate Intelligence Committee?"

(Spicer): "No they're not findings. There's a statement out today. They have not begun this. As you know yesterday, or two days ago, the Department of Justice asked for an additional week. So the statement clearly says that at this time that they don't believe that. They have yet to go through the information. The Department of Justice, as you know, has not supplied this."

5. Spicer at podium

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

(Spicer): "The bottom line is that the president said last night that they would be providing additional information coming forward. There are a ton of media reports out there that indicate that something was going on during the 2016 election. And I think it's interesting, where was the questioning of the New York Times, or these other outlets when that was going on? Where was the question?"

(Reporter question off camera): "So you think he'll be vindicated?"

(Spicer): "I believe he will."

7. Reporters in audience

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

(Reporter question off camera): "Sounds like Sean, that you and the president are saying now 'well we don't mean wiretapping anymore because that's not true anymore. So now we're going to explain there are other forms of surveillance. What's it going to be next?"

(Spicer): "No. No. Jim, I think that's cute. But at the end of the day we've talked about this for three or four days. What the President had the quote 'wiretapping' in quotes, he was referring to broad surveillance. And now you're basically going back. We've talked about this several days ago. The bottom line is that the investigation by the House and the Senate has not been provided all of the information."

9. Spicer at podium

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

(Spicer): "These are merely pointing out that I think that there's widespread reporting that throughout the 2016 election there was surveillance that was done on a variety of people that came up. (Reporter question off camera inaudible). Jim, I find it interesting that you somehow believe that you. Ok. Ok. I get it. Somehow you seem to believe that you have all of this information. You've been read in on all of these things which I find very interesting.

(CNN reporter Jim Acosta question off camera): "I haven't been read in by the FBI."

(Spicer): "So you're coming to some serious conclusions for a guy that has zero intelligence. (Laughter) Clearance. I wasn't done. Clearance. Maybe both."

11. CNN Reporter Jim Acosta

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

(on travel ban ruling) "Federal law that I read out clearly gives the president the authority, this is what we argued in the first one. I think for a judge to ignore that statute and talk about tweets or interpreting something that happened during the campaign trail is not in keeping with how they're supposed to interpret the law. I'm not going to continue to comment. We tailored that additional, that second executive order to comply with the judges order

13. Spicer at podium

White House spokesman Sean Spicer said the president stands by his claims as the White House wrestles with President Donald Trump's stunning wiretapping allegations against former President Barack Obama. Spicer suggested the lawmakers statements were made without a full review of the evidence or a briefing from the Justice Department.

"They are not findings," he said.

Trump offered no evidence to support his comments and has since said he was taking his cues from news reporters about intelligence agencies having intercepts of his associates' communications with Russia.

The White House tried to quickly shift the burden of proof to House and Senate intelligence committees investigating Russia's interference in the election. But lawmakers simply ramped up the pressure on the administration, demanding evidence from the Justice Department.

The top two members of the Senate intelligence committee say there is no indication that Trump Tower was "the subject of surveillance" by the U.S. government before or after the 2016 election, directly contradicting President Donald Trump's claims

Washington, D.C. - 16 March 2017

++SOUNDBITES SEPARATED BY WHITE FLASHES++

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

(Reporter question off camera): "Are you saying that the President still stands by his allegation that President Obama ordered wire tapping or surveillance of Trump Tower despite the fact that the Senate Intelligence Committee says they see no indication that it happened? Does the President still stand by the allegation?"

(Spicer): "First of all he stands by it, but you're mischaracterizing what happened today. The Senate, no, no, I know, I understand that. At the same time they acknowledge that they have not been in contact with the Department of Justice."

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

(Reporter question off camera): "So Sean are you saying that despite the findings, the bipartisan findings of the Senate Intelligence Committee."

(Spicer): "No they're not findings. There's a statement out today. They have not begun this. As you know yesterday, or two days ago, the Department of Justice asked for an additional week. So the statement clearly says that at this time that they don't believe that. They have yet to go through the information. The Department of Justice, as you know, has not supplied this."

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

(Spicer): "The bottom line is that the President said last night that they would be providing additional information coming forward. There are a ton of media reports out there that indicate that something was going on during the 2016 election. And I think it's interesting, where was the questioning of the New York Times, or these other outlets when that was going on? Where was the question?"

(Reporter question off camera): "So you think he'll be vindicated?"

(Spicer): "I believe he will."

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

(Spicer): "These are merely pointing out that I think that there's wide spread reporting that throughout the 2016 election there was surveillance that was done on a variety of people that came up. (Reporter question off camera inaudible). Jim, I find it interesting that you somehow believe that you. Ok. Ok. I get it. Somehow you seem to believe that you have all of this information. You've been read in on all of these things which I find very interesting.

(CNN reporter Jim Acosta question off camera): "I haven't been read in by the FBI."

(Spicer): "So you're coming to some serious conclusions for a guy that has zero intelligence. (Laughter) Clearance. I wasn't done. Clearance. Maybe both."

White House spokesman Sean Spicer said the president stands by his claims as the White House wrestles with President Donald Trump's stunning wiretapping allegations against former President Barack Obama. Spicer suggested the lawmakers statements were made without a full review of the evidence or a briefing from the Justice Department.

"They are not findings," he said.

Trump offered no evidence to support his comments and has since said he was taking his cues from news reporters about intelligence agencies having intercepts of his associates' communications with Russia.

The White House tried to quickly shift the burden of proof to House and Senate intelligence committees investigating Russia's interference in the election. But lawmakers simply ramped up the pressure on the administration, demanding evidence from the Justice Department.

The top two members of the Senate intelligence committee say there is no indication that Trump Tower was "the subject of surveillance" by the U.S. government before or after the 2016 election, directly contradicting President Donald Trump's claims

Washington, D.C. - 16 March 2017

1. White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer approaching podium

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

(Reporter question off camera): "Are you saying that the president still stands by his allegation that President Obama ordered wire tapping or surveillance of Trump Tower despite the fact that the Senate Intelligence Committee says they see no indication that it happened? Does the President still stand by the allegation?"

(Spicer): "First of all he stands by it, but you're mischaracterizing what happened today. The Senate, no, no, I know, I understand that. At the same time they acknowledge that they have not been in contact with the Department of Justice."

3. Spicer at podium

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

(Reporter question off camera): "So Sean are you saying that despite the findings, the bipartisan findings of the Senate Intelligence Committee."

(Spicer): "No they're not findings. There's a statement out today. They have not begun this. As you know yesterday, or two days ago, the Department of Justice asked for an additional week. So the statement clearly says that at this time that they don't believe that. They have yet to go through the information. The Department of Justice, as you know, has not supplied this."

5. Spicer at podium

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

(Spicer): "The bottom line is that the president said last night that they would be providing additional information coming forward. There are a ton of media reports out there that indicate that something was going on during the 2016 election. And I think it's interesting, where was the questioning of the New York Times, or these other outlets when that was going on? Where was the question?"

(Reporter question off camera): "So you think he'll be vindicated?"

(Spicer): "I believe he will."

7. Reporters in audience

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

(Reporter question off camera): "Sounds like Sean that you and the president are saying now 'well we don't mean wiretapping anymore because that's not true anymore. So now we're going to explain there are other forms of surveillance. What's it going to be next?"

(Spicer): "No. No. Jim, I think that's cute. But at the end of the day we've talked about this for three or four days. What the President had the quote 'wiretapping' in quotes, he was referring to broad surveillance. And now you're basically going back. We've talked about this several days ago. The bottom line is that the investigation by the House and the Senate has not been provided all of the information."

9. Spicer at podium

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

(Spicer): "These are merely pointing out that I think that there's wide spread reporting that throughout the 2016 election there was surveillance that was done on a variety of people that came up. (Reporter question off camera inaudible). Jim, I find it interesting that you somehow believe that you. Ok. Ok. I get it. Somehow you seem to believe that you have all of this information. You've been read in on all of these things which I find very interesting.

(CNN reporter Jim Acosta question off camera): "I haven't been read in by the FBI."

(Spicer): "So you're coming to some serious conclusions for a guy that has zero intelligence. (Laughter) Clearance. I wasn't done. Clearance. Maybe both."

11. CNN Reporter Jim Acosta

12. SOUNDBITE (English) Sean Spicer, White House Press Secretary: (on travel ban ruling)

"Federal law that I read out clearly gives the president the authority, this is what we argued in the first one. I think for a judge to ignore that statute and talk about tweets or interpreting something that happened during the campaign trail is not in keeping with how they're supposed to interpret the law. I'm not going to continue to comment. We tailored that additional, that second executive order to comply with the judges order

13. Spicer at podium

White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer says the president wants Senate Republicans to put forward a health care bill "that has heart".

Spicer told reporters during a White House briefing Tuesday that Donald Trump has "made it clear from the beginning that that was one of his priorities".

It is unclear how the administration defines the term "heart".

Spicer is also blaming Democrats for being left out of negotiations over a Senate bill that could come to vote next week.

He says Democrats "made it very clear that they didn't want to engage in this process" of writing a bill to repeal and replace former President Barack Obama's health care law.

The Republican effort to secretly craft a health care bill and push it through the Senate is drawing fire from members of both parties.

Washington - 20 June 2017

1. Wide of news conference

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

"The president clearly wants a bill that has heart in it. He believes that health care is something that is near and dear to so many families and individuals. He made it clear from the beginning that that was one of his priorities and as the Senate works its way through this bill as the House did, any ideas are welcome to strengthen it, to make it more affordable, more accessible and deliver the care that it needs. But this is an area that the president believes passionately about."

3. Cutaway of reporter

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

(Reporter: "Has the president has seen a draft of the Senate health care bill?")

"I don't know that. I know that there was some chatter today. I know the president has been on the phone extensively with the leader and with key senators, so I don't know if he's seen the legislation or not, but I know that they've been working extremely hard and the president has been giving his input and has ideas, feedback to them. And he's very excited about where this thing is headed."

5. Close of reporter asking if anyone on Trump's staff has seen a draft of the health care bill

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

"I don't. I know that they are up there working hand and glove with them, so to the extent that it's - I don't even know where we are in terms of a final plan. I know that the staff has been working very closely with the leader staff, with Senate finance and others. So I don't want to get ahead of an announcement on Senator McConnell saying when the final product is done. So I will refer you back to him."

7. Close of reporter asking question UPSOUND (English) Reporter: "So how is what's happening now with this bill being crafted, frankly behind closed doors, any different from what Republicans criticised Democrats for doing?"

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

"I think we wanted to be part of the process back then. If you look at what Senator Schumer said both in February both to a MoveOn.org call, where he said that no Democrat's going to go near this and what he said in a letter on May 9th, he said that no Democrats would be part of an effort that would repeal Obamacare. So they have chosen to take themselves... to not make themselves a part of this process."

9. Cutaway of briefing

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

"I'm not going to get ahead of - I'll let Senator McConnell determine the Senate schedule and run the Senate that he sees fit. But let's not mistake ourselves with how they approach this thing. Their leader, Senator Schumer, made it very clear on at least two separate occasions that they didn't want to be part of this process. They didn't want to repeal and replace Obamacare. They were happy with Obamacare. We believe Obamacare is failing. We want a better system for the American people, a patient-centric health care system that brings down cost and gives more accessibility to people. That's it. They chose not to... made it very clear that they didn't want to engage in this process. To turn around now and to second-guess - that's something that they should take up with their own leader."

11. Cutaway of briefing

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

"The president was pleased that he was able to work with the State Department and get Otto home as soon as he could. But I think when you realize what happened, the president believes that - had it happened sooner or quicker, potentially there might have been additional medical resources that could have been provided. He's just obviously saddened by this entire situation and just would've hoped that it could have been resolved earlier."

13. Spicer walks out of room

White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer says the president "clearly wants" Senate Republicans to put forward a health care bill "that has heart."

Spicer tells reporters during a White House briefing that Donald Trump has "made it clear from the beginning that that was one of his priorities."

It is unclear how the administration defines the term "heart."

Spicer is also blaming Democrats for being left out of negotiations over a Senate bill that could come to vote next week.

He says Democrats "made it very clear that they didn't want to engage in this process" of writing a bill to repeal and replace former President Barack Obama's health care law.

The Republican effort to secretly craft a health care bill and push it through the Senate is drawing fire from members of both parties.

Washington - 20 June 2017

1. Cutaway of press briefing

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

"The president clearly wants a bill that has heart in it. He believes that health care is something that is near and dear to so many families and individuals. He made it clear from the beginning that that was one of his priorities and as the Senate works its way through this bill as the House did, any ideas are welcome to strengthen it, to make it more affordable, more accessible and deliver the care that it needs. But this is an area that the president believes passionately about."

3. Close of reporter

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Sean Spicer, White House Press Secretary, responding to question about whether the president has seen a draft of the Senate health care bill:

"I don't know that. I know that there was some chatter today. I know the president has been on the phone extensively with the leader and with key senators, so I don't know if he's seen the legislation or not, but I know that they've been working extremely hard and the president has been giving his input and has ideas, feedback to them. And he's very excited about where this thing is headed."

5. Close of reporter asking if anyone on Trump's staff has seen a draft of the health care bill

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

"I don't. I know that they are up there working hand and glove with them, so to the extent that it's -- I don't even know where we are in terms of a final plan. I know that the staff has been working very closely with the leader staff, with Senate finance and others. So I don't want to get ahead of an announcement on Senator McConnell saying when the final product is done. So I will refer you back to him."

7. Close of reporter asking question UPSOUND (English) Reporter: "So how is what's happening now with this bill being crafted, frankly behind closed doors, any different from what Republicans criticized Democrats for doing?"

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

"I think we wanted to be part of the process back then. If you look at what Senator Schumer said both in February both to a MoveOn.org call, where he said that no Democrat's going to go near this and what he said in a letter on May 9th, he said that no Democrats would be part of an effort that would repeal Obamacare. So they have chosen to take themselves -- not make themselves a part of this process."

9. Mid cutaway of briefing

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

"I'm not going to get ahead of -- I'll let Senator McConnell determine the Senate schedule and run the Senate that he sees fit. But let's not mistake ourselves with how they approach this thing. Their leader, Senator Schumer, made it very clear on at least two separate occasions that they didn't want to be part of this process. They didn't want to repeal and replace Obamacare. They were happy with Obamacare. We believe Obamacare is failing. We want a better system for the American people, a patient-centric health care system that brings down cost and gives more accessibility to people. That's it. They chose not to -- made it very clear that they didn't want to engage in this process. To turn around now and to second-guess -- that's something that they should take up with their own leader."

11. Wide cutaway of briefing

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

"The president was pleased that he was able to work with the State Department and get Otto home as soon as he could. But I think when you realize what happened, the president believes that -- had it happened sooner or quicker, potentially there might have been additional medical resources that could have been provided. He's just obviously saddened by this entire situation and just would've hoped that it could have been resolved earlier."

13. Spicer walks out of room

White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer says the president "clearly wants" Senate Republicans to put forward a health care bill "that has heart."

Spicer tells reporters during a White House briefing that Donald Trump has "made it clear from the beginning that that was one of his priorities."

It is unclear how the administration defines the term "heart."

Spicer is also blaming Democrats for being left out of negotiations over a Senate bill that could come to vote next week.

He says Democrats "made it very clear that they didn't want to engage in this process" of writing a bill to repeal and replace former President Barack Obama's health care law.

The Republican effort to secretly craft a health care bill and push it through the Senate is drawing fire from members of both parties.

Washington - 20 June 2017

1. Cutaway of press briefing

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

"The president clearly wants a bill that has heart in it. He believes that health care is something that is near and dear to so many families and individuals. He made it clear from the beginning that that was one of his priorities and as the Senate works its way through this bill as the House did, any ideas are welcome to strengthen it, to make it more affordable, more accessible and deliver the care that it needs. But this is an area that the president believes passionately about."

3. Close of reporter

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Sean Spicer, White House Press Secretary, responding to question about whether the president has seen a draft of the Senate health care bill:

"I don't know that. I know that there was some chatter today. I know the president has been on the phone extensively with the leader and with key senators, so I don't know if he's seen the legislation or not, but I know that they've been working extremely hard and the president has been giving his input and has ideas, feedback to them. And he's very excited about where this thing is headed."

5. Close of reporter asking if anyone on Trump's staff has seen a draft of the health care bill

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

"I don't. I know that they are up there working hand and glove with them, so to the extent that it's -- I don't even know where we are in terms of a final plan. I know that the staff has been working very closely with the leader staff, with Senate finance and others. So I don't want to get ahead of an announcement on Senator McConnell saying when the final product is done. So I will refer you back to him."

7. Close of reporter asking question UPSOUND (English) Reporter: "So how is what's happening now with this bill being crafted, frankly behind closed doors, any different from what Republicans criticized Democrats for doing?"

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

"I think we wanted to be part of the process back then. If you look at what Senator Schumer said both in February both to a MoveOn.org call, where he said that no Democrat's going to go near this and what he said in a letter on May 9th, he said that no Democrats would be part of an effort that would repeal Obamacare. So they have chosen to take themselves -- not make themselves a part of this process."

9. Mid cutaway of briefing

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

"I'm not going to get ahead of -- I'll let Senator McConnell determine the Senate schedule and run the Senate that he sees fit. But let's not mistake ourselves with how they approach this thing. Their leader, Senator Schumer, made it very clear on at least two separate occasions that they didn't want to be part of this process. They didn't want to repeal and replace Obamacare. They were happy with Obamacare. We believe Obamacare is failing. We want a better system for the American people, a patient-centric health care system that brings down cost and gives more accessibility to people. That's it. They chose not to -- made it very clear that they didn't want to engage in this process. To turn around now and to second-guess -- that's something that they should take up with their own leader."

11. Wide cutaway of briefing

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

"The president was pleased that he was able to work with the State Department and get Otto home as soon as he could. But I think when you realize what happened, the president believes that -- had it happened sooner or quicker, potentially there might have been additional medical resources that could have been provided. He's just obviously saddened by this entire situation and just would've hoped that it could have been resolved earlier."

13. Spicer walks out of room

Hours after President Trump said deportations of people in the U.S. illegally were being carried out as a "military operation," Homeland Security Secretary Kelly said during a visit to Mexico that the US would not enlist the military to enforce immigration laws.

White House spokesman Sean Spicer later said Trump was describing the "precision" of the operations and not referring to the military actually being involved in deportations.

Spicer also discussed President Trump's tax plan and the administration's crack down on sanctuary cities.

Washington - 23 February 2017

1. White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer walks into press room

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Sean Spicer, White House Press Secretary, on President Trump's 28 February address to Congress:

"The theme of the address will be the renewal of the American spirit. The address will particularly focus on public safety, including defence, increased border security, taking care of our veterans. And then economic opportunity, including education job training, health care reform, jobs and tax and regulatory reform."

3. Wide of reporters

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Sean Spicer, White House Press Secretary, on Trump's comments about deportations being 'military operation':

"The president was using that as an adjective. It's happening with precision and in a manner in which it's being done very, very clearly. I think we've made it clear in the past and Secretary Kelly reiterated it, what kind of operation this was. But the president was clearly describing the manner in which this was being done. And so, just to be clear on his use of that phrase."

5. Wide of reporters

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

"Secretary Mnuchin also made it very clear that his goal is to have this wrapped up by August and implemented. And the question is, what you're referring to is what year it actually takes place. Right, so whether it's retroactive to tax year 2017 or fiscal year '17. And I think as the details get -- yeah, we'll have more details on that as we move forward. I think there's two issues -- fiscal year '17 and calendar year '17. And for taxpayers, it's obviously tax year -- I mean, excuse me -- calendar year 2017 that they're probably most concerned with. And I think the president -- as we work with Congress -- will have those details to be able to flush out."

7. Wide of reporters

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

"Whether you're a governor or a mayor, laws are passed in this country and we expect people and our lawmakers and our law enforcement agencies to follow and adhere to the laws as passed by the appropriate level of government. So it's obviously concerning, I think and it's troubling that that's the message he (Governor Dannel Malloy (Democrat) - told local leaders they don't have to enforce federal immigration law) would send to his people and to other governors, because we are a nation of laws, and I think that people need to understand that whether it's the laws that he passes as the governor of Connecticut or the laws that are passed through Congress and signed by the president."

9. Wide of press briefing

10. SOUNDBITE (English) Sean Spicer, White House Press Secretary (on sanctuary cities):

"I think this is an area that the American people, by huge amounts, support. They recognize their tax dollars shouldn't be spent supporting programs and activities which people are not entitled to. And so I think, the president's been very clear on this -- that if you are a sanctuary city, declared or undeclared, if you are providing benefits or services, we are going to do everything we can to respect taxpayers and ensure that your states follow the law."

11. Wide of press briefing

Hours after President Trump said deportations of people in the U.S. illegally were being carried out as a "military operation," Homeland Security Secretary Kelly said during a visit to Mexico that the U.S. would not enlist the military to enforce immigration laws.

White House spokesman Sean Spicer later said Trump was describing the "precision" of the operations and not referring to the military actually being involved in deportations.

Spicer also discussed President Trump's tax plan and the administration's crack down on sanctuary cities.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington - 23 February 2017

1. White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer walks into press room

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Sean Spicer, White House Press Secretary, on President Trump's address to Congress (Feb. 28):

"The theme of the address will be the renewal of the American spirit. The address will particularly focus on public safety, including defense, increased border security, taking care of our veterans. And then economic opportunity, including education job training, health care reform, jobs and tax and regulatory reform."

3. Wide of reporters

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Sean Spicer, White House Press Secretary, on Trump's comments about deportations being 'military operation':

"The president was using that as an adjective. It's happening with precision and in a manner in which it's being done very, very clearly. I think we've made it clear in the past and Secretary Kelly reiterated it, what kind of operation this was. But the president was clearly describing the manner in which this was being done. And so, just to be clear on his use of that phrase."

5. Wide of reporters

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

"Secretary Mnuchin also made it very clear that his goal is to have this wrapped up by August and implemented. And the question is, what you're referring to is what year it actually takes place. Right, so whether it's retroactive to tax year 2017 or fiscal year '17. And I think as the details get -- yeah, we'll have more details on that as we move forward. I think there's two issues -- fiscal year '17 and calendar year '17. And for taxpayers, it's obviously tax year -- I mean, excuse me -- calendar year 2017 that they're probably most concerned with. And I think the president -- as we work with Congress -- will have those details to be able to flush out."

7. Wide of reporters

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

"Whether you're a governor or a mayor, laws are passed in this country and we expect people and our lawmakers and our law enforcement agencies to follow and adhere to the laws as passed by the appropriate level of government. So it's obviously concerning, I think and it's troubling that that's the message he (Gov. Dannel Malloy (D)- Ct. told local leaders they don't have to enforce federal immigration law) would send to his people and to other governors, because we are a nation of laws, and I think that people need to understand that whether it's the laws that he passes as the governor of Connecticut or the laws that are passed through Congress and signed by the president."

9. Wide of press briefing

10. SOUNDBITE (English) Sean Spicer, White House Press Secretary (on sanctuary cities):

"I think this is an area that the American people, by huge amounts, support. They recognize their tax dollars shouldn't be spent supporting programs and activities which people are not entitled to. And so I think, the president's been very clear on this -- that if you are a sanctuary city, declared or undeclared, if you are providing benefits or services, we are going to do everything we can to respect taxpayers and ensure that your states follow the law."

11. Wide of press briefing

Hours after President Trump said deportations of people in the U.S. illegally were being carried out as a "military operation," Homeland Security Secretary Kelly said during a visit to Mexico that the U.S. would not enlist the military to enforce immigration laws.

White House spokesman Sean Spicer later said Trump was describing the "precision" of the operations and not referring to the military actually being involved in deportations.

Spicer also discussed President Trump's tax plan and the administration's crack down on sanctuary cities.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington - 23 February 2017

1. White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer walks into press room

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Sean Spicer, White House Press Secretary, on President Trump's address to Congress (Feb. 28):

"The theme of the address will be the renewal of the American spirit. The address will particularly focus on public safety, including defense, increased border security, taking care of our veterans. And then economic opportunity, including education job training, health care reform, jobs and tax and regulatory reform."

3. Wide of reporters

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Sean Spicer, White House Press Secretary, on Trump's comments about deportations being 'military operation':

"The president was using that as an adjective. It's happening with precision and in a manner in which it's being done very, very clearly. I think we've made it clear in the past and Secretary Kelly reiterated it, what kind of operation this was. But the president was clearly describing the manner in which this was being done. And so, just to be clear on his use of that phrase."

5. Wide of reporters

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

"Secretary Mnuchin also made it very clear that his goal is to have this wrapped up by August and implemented. And the question is, what you're referring to is what year it actually takes place. Right, so whether it's retroactive to tax year 2017 or fiscal year '17. And I think as the details get -- yeah, we'll have more details on that as we move forward. I think there's two issues -- fiscal year '17 and calendar year '17. And for taxpayers, it's obviously tax year -- I mean, excuse me -- calendar year 2017 that they're probably most concerned with. And I think the president -- as we work with Congress -- will have those details to be able to flush out."

7. Wide of reporters

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

"Whether you're a governor or a mayor, laws are passed in this country and we expect people and our lawmakers and our law enforcement agencies to follow and adhere to the laws as passed by the appropriate level of government. So it's obviously concerning, I think and it's troubling that that's the message he (Gov. Dannel Malloy (D)- Ct. told local leaders they don't have to enforce federal immigration law) would send to his people and to other governors, because we are a nation of laws, and I think that people need to understand that whether it's the laws that he passes as the governor of Connecticut or the laws that are passed through Congress and signed by the president."

9. Wide of press briefing

10. SOUNDBITE (English) Sean Spicer, White House Press Secretary (on sanctuary cities):

"I think this is an area that the American people, by huge amounts, support. They recognize their tax dollars shouldn't be spent supporting programs and activities which people are not entitled to. And so I think, the president's been very clear on this -- that if you are a sanctuary city, declared or undeclared, if you are providing benefits or services, we are going to do everything we can to respect taxpayers and ensure that your states follow the law."

11. Wide of press briefing

White House Spokesman Sean Spicer underscored President Donald Trump's tweet Monday morning that the Senate Judiciary Committee should ask former Acting Attorney General Sally Yates if she knows how classified information was leaked to the media.

Spicer made the remarks at the daily White House briefing shortly before Yates was to testify before the Committee about potential Russian interference in the U.S. presidential election and concerns she raised to the Trump administration about contacts between former national security adviser Michael Flynn and the Russian ambassador.

Spicer said leaks of classified information "should concern every American," but he didn't elaborate about if or why the White House believes Yates was the leaker of classified information.

He was also asked about the sister of Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, courting Chinese investors using a much-criticized federal visa program that provides a path toward obtaining green cards.

Spicer said the incident "had nothing to do with him per se," adding that Kushner has done "everything to comply with ethics rules.

Regarding the announcement by Pyongyang that North Korea has detained another instructor with U.S. citizenship at Pyongyang University of Science and Technology, Spicer called it "concerning," and added that the U.S. is working through the embassy of Sweden to "seek the release of individuals there."

Sweden handles U.S. consular affairs in North Korea, including those of American detainees.

Washington - 8 May 2017

1. Sean Spicer walks into briefing room

2. UPSOUND:reporter asking question

"Does the president have evidence that ties Sally Yates to the Flynn leaks? Why did he tweet that?

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

"Well, I think you guys are well aware of the president's concern about spills of -- of classified and other sensitive information out into the open. It's something that should concern every American. And the president's made it very clear for -- since -- since he took office that that's a big concern of his. And so, the idea that classified information made its way into the press is something that I think, while we're asking all of these questions, is one of the ones that I think the senator should ask. How did that information get -- get out into the -- the open like that? I think that is an equally important question that, frankly, isn't getting asked.

(Reporter question: But did the president believe that Sally Yates was the leaker in this...)

Again, I think the -- the tweet speaks for itself. What he's saying is that the Senate should ask those questions."

4. UPSOUND: reporter asking question

"Is it a violation of the conflict of interest agreement that Jared Kushner came to?"

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

"I think I would refer you to the company on that. This had, Jared has done everything to comply with the ethics rules to make sure and that had nothing to do with him per se, he wasn't involved. And secondly, I think we've talked about this before that the president and Congress are looking entirely at how to look over the entire visa program, all the various visa programs, and whether or not they are serving the purpose that they were intended to, whether or not we're making sure that we do what's in the best interest of the American worker and so we're going to continue to work with Congress on that."

6. Wide cutaway of briefing

7. UPSOUND: reporter asking question

"Are you concerned that they're trying to escalate tensions even further. Do you consider these Americans hostages and what are you doing diplomatically, back channel or otherwise, to try to get them released?

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

"Obviously, this is concerning. We're well aware of it and we're going to work through the Embassy of Sweden that has an embassy in North Korea, through our State Department to seek the release of the individuals there but I would refer you to the State Department on that."

9. Cutaway of Spicer at podium

White House Spokesman Sean Spicer underscored President Donald Trump's tweet Monday morning that the Senate Judiciary Committee should ask former Acting Attorney General Sally Yates if she knows how classified information was leaked to the media.

Spicer made the remarks at the daily White House briefing shortly before Yates was to testify before the Committee about potential Russian interference in the U.S. presidential election and concerns she raised to the Trump administration about contacts between former national security adviser Michael Flynn and the Russian ambassador.

Spicer said leaks of classified information "should concern every American," but he didn't elaborate about if or why the White House believes Yates was the leaker of classified information.

He was also asked about the sister of Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, courting Chinese investors using a much-criticized federal visa program that provides a path toward obtaining green cards.

Spicer said the incident "had nothing to do with him per se," adding that Kushner has done "everything to comply with ethics rules.

Regarding the announcement by Pyongyang that North Korea has detained another instructor with U.S. citizenship at Pyongyang University of Science and Technology, Spicer called it "concerning," and added that the U.S. is working through the embassy of Sweden to "seek the release of individuals there."

Sweden handles U.S. consular affairs in North Korea, including those of American detainees.

Washington - 8 May 2017

1. Sean Spicer walks into briefing room

2. UPSOUND:reporter asking question

"Does the president have evidence that ties Sally Yates to the Flynn leaks? Why did he tweet that?

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

"Well, I think you guys are well aware of the president's concern about spills of -- of classified and other sensitive information out into the open. It's something that should concern every American. And the president's made it very clear for -- since -- since he took office that that's a big concern of his. And so, the idea that classified information made its way into the press is something that I think, while we're asking all of these questions, is one of the ones that I think the senator should ask. How did that information get -- get out into the -- the open like that? I think that is an equally important question that, frankly, isn't getting asked.

(Reporter question: But did the president believe that Sally Yates was the leaker in this...)

Again, I think the -- the tweet speaks for itself. What he's saying is that the Senate should ask those questions."

4. UPSOUND: reporter asking question

"Is it a violation of the conflict of interest agreement that Jared Kushner came to?"

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

"I think I would refer you to the company on that. This had, Jared has done everything to comply with the ethics rules to make sure and that had nothing to do with him per se, he wasn't involved. And secondly, I think we've talked about this before that the president and Congress are looking entirely at how to look over the entire visa program, all the various visa programs, and whether or not they are serving the purpose that they were intended to, whether or not we're making sure that we do what's in the best interest of the American worker and so we're going to continue to work with Congress on that."

6. Wide cutaway of briefing

7. UPSOUND: reporter asking question

"Are you concerned that they're trying to escalate tensions even further. Do you consider these Americans hostages and what are you doing diplomatically, back channel or otherwise, to try to get them released?

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

"Obviously, this is concerning. We're well aware of it and we're going to work through the Embassy of Sweden that has an embassy in North Korea, through our State Department to seek the release of the individuals there but I would refer you to the State Department on that."

9. Cutaway of Spicer at podium

White House Spokesman Sean Spicer underscored President Donald Trump's tweet Monday morning that the Senate Judiciary Committee should ask former Acting Attorney General Sally Yates if she knows how classified information was leaked to the media.

Spicer made the remarks at the daily White House briefing shortly before Yates was to testify before the Committee about potential Russian interference in the U.S. presidential election and concerns she raised to the Trump administration about contacts between former national security adviser Michael Flynn and the Russian ambassador.

Spicer said leaks of classified information "should concern every American," but he didn't elaborate about if or why the White House believes Yates was the leaker of classified information.

He was also asked about the sister of Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, courting Chinese investors using a much-criticized federal visa program that provides a path toward obtaining green cards.

Spicer said the incident "had nothing to do with him per se," adding that Kushner has done "everything to comply with ethics rules.

Regarding the announcement by Pyongyang that North Korea has detained another instructor with U.S. citizenship at Pyongyang University of Science and Technology, Spicer called it "concerning," and added that the U.S. is working through the embassy of Sweden to "seek the release of individuals there."

Sweden handles U.S. consular affairs in North Korea, including those of American detainees.

Washington - 8 May 2017

1. Sean Spicer walks into briefing room

2. Cutaway of reporter asking question

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

"Well, I think you guys are well aware of the president's concern about spills of -- of classified and other sensitive information out into the open. It's something that should concern every American. And the president's made it very clear for -- since -- since he took office that that's a big concern of his. And so, the idea that classified information made its way into the press is something that I think, while we're asking all of these questions, is one of the ones that I think the senator should ask. How did that information get -- get out into the -- the open like that? I think that is an equally important question that, frankly, isn't getting asked.

(Reporter question: But did the president believe that Sally Yates was the leaker in this...)

Again, I think the -- the tweet speaks for itself. What he's saying is that the Senate should ask those questions."

4. (Q) Is it a violation of the conflict of interest agreement that Jared Kushner came to?

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

"I think I would refer you to the company on that. This had, Jared has done everything to comply with the ethics rules to make sure and that had nothing to do with him per se, he wasn't involved. And secondly, I think we've talked about this before that the president and Congress are looking entirely at how to look over the entire visa program, all the various visa programs, and whether or not they are serving the purpose that they were intended to, whether or not we're making sure that we do what's in the best interest of the American worker and so we're going to continue to work with Congress on that."

6. Wide cutaway of briefing

7. Cutaway of reporter asking question

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

(Q) Are you concerned that they're trying to escalate tensions even further. Do you consider these Americans hostages and what are you doing diplomatically, back channel or otherwise, to try to get them released?

Spicer: "Obviously, this is concerning. We're well aware of it and we're going to work through the Embassy of Sweden that has an embassy in North Korea, through our State Department to seek the release of the individuals there but I would refer you to the State Department on that."

9. Cutaway of Spicer at podium

The Department of Homeland Security says it was an idea that was never seriously considered.

Still, staff members say that as recently as last Friday, there was discussion of a proposal to mobilize as many as 100,000 National Guard troops to round up unauthorized immigrants.

The idea is outlined in an 11-page draft memo obtained by The Associated Press.

White House spokesman Sean Spicer says it's "not a White House document," and that there was "no effort at all" to use the National Guard in that way.

A Homeland Security official says the document was never brought to the department's secretary for approval.

According to the memo, governors in the 11 states would have a choice whether to have their guard troops participate.

Washington - February 17, 2017

1. Wide of Caldera

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Louis Caldera, George Washington University Professor, Former Secretary of the Army under President Bill Clinton

"So, this is a terrible idea whose time has not come. It's, the National Guard, first, you'd have to federalize them and this kind of role, states are going to be very resistant to having their national guards used in this way, second of all, they absolutely have no training to deal with law enforcement in this kind of manner. In fact, there's a federal law, the Posse Comitatus Act that prohibits the National Guard from being used for law enforcement. Now, the administration might argue that they're being used to enforce federal law, not civil law in the state, but I think it's still a grave question mark."

3. Wide of Caldera

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Louis Caldera, George Washington University Professor, Former Secretary of the Army under President Bill Clinton

"Many of them happen to be law enforcement personnel, firefighters, civil servants. To think that you would pull them out of their very important civilian roles to have them do a job for which they were not trained in which they could expose themselves -- or which many of them won't want to do is really just a misuse of their commitment to serve the country as guardsmen."

5. Wide of Caldera

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Louis Caldera, George Washington University Professor, Former Secretary of the Army under President Bill Clinton

"Yes, you know, we have a Posse Comitatus act actually prohibits military personnel to enforce civilian laws, and there's a reason for that. Because this country was created to remove oppression of think king using military forces in civilian communities. So, it would be absolutely unprecedented. It's like trying to find a way to double or triple the size of the border patrol without ever having to go to Congress to have to ask for an appropriation to be able to do that."

7. Wide of Caldera

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Louis Caldera, George Washington University Professor, Former Secretary of the Army under President Bill Clinton

"Well, the president has been so eager to demonstrate that he's making progress on his campaign commitments -- especially commitments on things like building a wall and removing undocumented immigrants from the country -- that they're trying to figure out how to circumvent having to go to the Congress to pass a law to get an appropriation to implement policies that already work. So, in their haste to try to figure out if there's a faster, quicker ways to do this, they're coming up with all sorts of what would be considered completely out of the box ideas. This is clearly an out of the box idea, and what that needs to be put back in the box."

9. Wide of Caldera

The Department of Homeland Security says it was an idea that was never seriously considered.

Still, staff members say that as recently as last Friday, there was discussion of a proposal to mobilize as many as 100,000 National Guard troops to round up unauthorized immigrants.

The idea is outlined in an 11-page draft memo obtained by The Associated Press.

White House spokesman Sean Spicer says it's "not a White House document," and that there was "no effort at all" to use the National Guard in that way.

A Homeland Security official says the document was never brought to the department's secretary for approval.

According to the memo, governors in the 11 states would have a choice whether to have their guard troops participate.

Washington - February 17, 2017

1. Wide of Caldera

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Louis Caldera, George Washington University Professor, Former Secretary of the Army under President Bill Clinton

"So, this is a terrible idea whose time has not come. It's, the National Guard, first, you'd have to federalize them and this kind of role, states are going to be very resistant to having their national guards used in this way, second of all, they absolutely have no training to deal with law enforcement in this kind of manner. In fact, there's a federal law, the Posse Comitatus Act that prohibits the National Guard from being used for law enforcement. Now, the administration might argue that they're being used to enforce federal law, not civil law in the state, but I think it's still a grave question mark."

3. Wide of Caldera

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Louis Caldera, George Washington University Professor, Former Secretary of the Army under President Bill Clinton

"Many of them happen to be law enforcement personnel, firefighters, civil servants. To think that you would pull them out of their very important civilian roles to have them do a job for which they were not trained in which they could expose themselves -- or which many of them won't want to do is really just a misuse of their commitment to serve the country as guardsmen."

5. Wide of Caldera

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Louis Caldera, George Washington University Professor, Former Secretary of the Army under President Bill Clinton

"Yes, you know, we have a Posse Comitatus act actually prohibits military personnel to enforce civilian laws, and there's a reason for that. Because this country was created to remove oppression of think king using military forces in civilian communities. So, it would be absolutely unprecedented. It's like trying to find a way to double or triple the size of the border patrol without ever having to go to Congress to have to ask for an appropriation to be able to do that."

7. Wide of Caldera

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Louis Caldera, George Washington University Professor, Former Secretary of the Army under President Bill Clinton

"Well, the president has been so eager to demonstrate that he's making progress on his campaign commitments -- especially commitments on things like building a wall and removing undocumented immigrants from the country -- that they're trying to figure out how to circumvent having to go to the Congress to pass a law to get an appropriation to implement policies that already work. So, in their haste to try to figure out if there's a faster, quicker ways to do this, they're coming up with all sorts of what would be considered completely out of the box ideas. This is clearly an out of the box idea, and what that needs to be put back in the box."

9. Wide of Caldera