English subtitles for clip: File:11-29-16- White House Press Briefing.webm
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1 00:00:02,035 --> 00:00:04,675 Mr. Earnest: If you have some opportunity to turn to 2 00:00:04,671 --> 00:00:05,571 somebody for inspiration, 3 00:00:05,572 --> 00:00:07,042 doesn't Eric Schultz immediately come to mind? 4 00:00:07,040 --> 00:00:07,740 (Laughter.) 5 00:00:07,741 --> 00:00:09,511 The Press: Eric Schultz comes to my mind. 6 00:00:09,509 --> 00:00:10,079 Mr. Earnest: Me, too. 7 00:00:10,076 --> 00:00:11,246 Me, too. 8 00:00:11,244 --> 00:00:12,174 Nice to see you all this afternoon. 9 00:00:12,178 --> 00:00:13,318 I do not have any announcements at the top, 10 00:00:13,313 --> 00:00:14,753 so we can go straight to your questions. 11 00:00:14,748 --> 00:00:16,148 Josh, do you want to fire away? 12 00:00:16,149 --> 00:00:16,679 The Press: Sure. 13 00:00:16,683 --> 00:00:17,553 Thanks, Josh. 14 00:00:17,550 --> 00:00:19,220 Will the United States send a delegation to the 15 00:00:19,219 --> 00:00:21,219 funeral of Fidel Castro? 16 00:00:21,221 --> 00:00:22,551 Mr. Earnest: Josh, I can tell you that the 17 00:00:22,555 --> 00:00:24,855 President has decided not to send a presidential 18 00:00:24,858 --> 00:00:29,058 delegation to attend the memorial service today. 19 00:00:29,062 --> 00:00:32,102 I can tell you, however, that Deputy National 20 00:00:32,098 --> 00:00:34,298 Security Advisor Ben Rhodes will attend the 21 00:00:34,300 --> 00:00:37,000 service, as will the top U.S. 22 00:00:37,003 --> 00:00:41,303 diplomat in Cuba, Jeff DeLaurentis. 23 00:00:41,307 --> 00:00:42,777 Those of you who have been following this story 24 00:00:42,776 --> 00:00:44,446 closely over the last couple of years know that 25 00:00:44,444 --> 00:00:48,644 Mr. Rhodes has played a leading role in crafting 26 00:00:48,648 --> 00:00:50,388 the normalization policy that President Obama 27 00:00:50,383 --> 00:00:52,223 announced about two years ago. 28 00:00:52,218 --> 00:00:54,558 He has been the principal interlocutor with the 29 00:00:54,554 --> 00:00:57,224 Cuban government from the White House in crafting 30 00:00:57,223 --> 00:00:58,693 this policy and implementing 31 00:00:58,691 --> 00:01:00,331 it successfully. 32 00:01:00,326 --> 00:01:03,196 As a part of those responsibilities, he has 33 00:01:03,196 --> 00:01:06,966 the occasion to travel to Cuba occasionally to 34 00:01:06,966 --> 00:01:08,866 further implement this policy. 35 00:01:08,868 --> 00:01:10,638 He actually was already planning to travel to Cuba 36 00:01:10,637 --> 00:01:13,507 this week, so in addition to the meetings that he 37 00:01:13,506 --> 00:01:15,146 already has on his schedule with the Cuban 38 00:01:15,141 --> 00:01:17,811 government officials and with officials at the U.S. 39 00:01:17,811 --> 00:01:21,551 embassy, he also will be attending the service that 40 00:01:21,548 --> 00:01:23,388 the Cuban government has planned for this evening. 41 00:01:23,383 --> 00:01:24,353 And as I mentioned, he'll 42 00:01:24,350 --> 00:01:27,220 be attending with the top U.S. 43 00:01:27,220 --> 00:01:30,560 diplomat on the island, Ambassador DeLaurentis. 44 00:01:30,557 --> 00:01:31,927 The Press: So I guess it begs the question that if 45 00:01:31,925 --> 00:01:33,425 two high-ranking U.S. 46 00:01:33,426 --> 00:01:35,226 officials -- national security official who 47 00:01:35,228 --> 00:01:36,998 worked on Cuba, the ambassador -- are 48 00:01:36,996 --> 00:01:39,566 attending, how is that not a 49 00:01:39,566 --> 00:01:41,266 U.S. delegation? 50 00:01:41,267 --> 00:01:42,707 Mr. Earnest: Well, Josh, there's a formal process 51 00:01:42,702 --> 00:01:44,842 where the President would designate a presidential 52 00:01:44,838 --> 00:01:47,808 delegation to travel to Cuba specifically to 53 00:01:47,807 --> 00:01:52,317 represent the United States at a foreign event. 54 00:01:52,312 --> 00:01:54,082 Sometimes it's an inauguration; sometimes 55 00:01:54,080 --> 00:01:56,350 it's a coronation; sometimes it's a funeral. 56 00:01:56,349 --> 00:01:58,489 That will not be taking place this time. 57 00:01:58,485 --> 00:02:00,755 But the United States will be represented at the 58 00:02:00,753 --> 00:02:03,723 event by our top diplomat on the island and by a 59 00:02:03,723 --> 00:02:06,193 senior White House official who will be 60 00:02:06,192 --> 00:02:07,332 traveling to Cuba. 61 00:02:07,327 --> 00:02:08,967 The Press: What was the thinking behind not 62 00:02:08,962 --> 00:02:13,232 designating a formal delegation? 63 00:02:13,233 --> 00:02:15,803 Mr. Earnest: Obviously, Josh, so much of the U.S. 64 00:02:15,802 --> 00:02:17,342 diplomatic relationship with Cuba is 65 00:02:17,337 --> 00:02:19,177 quite complicated. 66 00:02:19,172 --> 00:02:25,542 There are many aspects of the U.S.-Cuba relationship 67 00:02:25,545 --> 00:02:29,145 that were characterized by a lot of conflict and 68 00:02:29,148 --> 00:02:31,618 turmoil not just during the Castro regime, but we 69 00:02:31,618 --> 00:02:33,658 continue to have some significant concerns about 70 00:02:33,653 --> 00:02:35,823 the way the Cuban government currently 71 00:02:35,822 --> 00:02:39,692 operates, particularly with regard to protecting 72 00:02:39,692 --> 00:02:42,562 the basic human rights of the Cuban people. 73 00:02:42,562 --> 00:02:46,032 So we believe that this was an appropriate way for 74 00:02:46,032 --> 00:02:49,902 the United States to show our commitment to an 75 00:02:49,903 --> 00:02:54,343 ongoing, future-oriented relationship with 76 00:02:54,340 --> 00:02:55,640 the Cuban people. 77 00:02:55,642 --> 00:02:58,742 And this is an appropriate way to show respect, to 78 00:02:58,745 --> 00:03:02,685 participate in the events that are planned for this 79 00:03:02,682 --> 00:03:05,582 evening, while also acknowledging some of the 80 00:03:05,585 --> 00:03:07,725 differences that remain between the two countries. 81 00:03:07,720 --> 00:03:09,920 The Press: Josh, does the President view 82 00:03:09,923 --> 00:03:11,353 flag-burning to be a protected act of free 83 00:03:11,357 --> 00:03:12,597 speech, and does he feel that it 84 00:03:12,592 --> 00:03:17,032 should remain that way? 85 00:03:17,030 --> 00:03:21,430 Mr. Earnest: The freedom that we all have to 86 00:03:21,434 --> 00:03:24,874 express ourselves in the way that we choose to do 87 00:03:24,871 --> 00:03:26,611 so is protected by the United 88 00:03:26,606 --> 00:03:29,206 States Constitution. 89 00:03:29,208 --> 00:03:31,648 Similar freedoms related to the practice of 90 00:03:31,644 --> 00:03:37,984 religion, speech, the institution of journalism 91 00:03:37,984 --> 00:03:40,354 are also enshrined in our Constitution and 92 00:03:40,353 --> 00:03:46,663 are worth protecting. 93 00:03:46,659 --> 00:03:57,299 The need to protect those rights is in place to 94 00:03:57,303 --> 00:04:02,273 protect speech and expression not just when 95 00:04:02,275 --> 00:04:08,045 we agree with it but also when we find it offensive. 96 00:04:08,047 --> 00:04:12,017 Many Americans -- the vast majority of Americans, 97 00:04:12,018 --> 00:04:14,958 myself included -- find the burning of 98 00:04:14,954 --> 00:04:20,024 the flag offensive. 99 00:04:20,026 --> 00:04:23,026 But we have a responsibility as a 100 00:04:23,029 --> 00:04:28,439 country to carefully protect our rights that 101 00:04:28,434 --> 00:04:32,204 are enshrined in the Constitution. 102 00:04:32,205 --> 00:04:33,675 I know this is a bipartisan sentiment. 103 00:04:33,673 --> 00:04:37,143 I know that there are conservatives on the 104 00:04:37,143 --> 00:04:40,383 Supreme Court that share the view that 105 00:04:40,380 --> 00:04:42,020 I just articulated. 106 00:04:42,015 --> 00:04:45,685 I know that there are Democrats and Republicans 107 00:04:45,685 --> 00:04:47,755 in the United States Congress that share the 108 00:04:47,754 --> 00:04:50,824 view that I've just articulated. 109 00:04:50,823 --> 00:04:54,523 And it certainly is consistent with the kind 110 00:04:54,527 --> 00:04:58,197 of governing agenda that President Obama has 111 00:04:58,197 --> 00:04:59,997 pursued here in the White House during his eight 112 00:04:59,999 --> 00:05:02,199 years in the Oval Office. 113 00:05:02,201 --> 00:05:05,071 The Press: We passed the right to burn the flag if 114 00:05:05,071 --> 00:05:07,571 one chooses to do so as part of a broader set 115 00:05:07,573 --> 00:05:08,973 of basic freedoms. 116 00:05:08,975 --> 00:05:11,415 You mentioned the freedom of the press and others. 117 00:05:11,411 --> 00:05:15,951 Is it fair then to say that the President is 118 00:05:15,948 --> 00:05:19,718 concerned, when he sees the President-elect saying 119 00:05:19,719 --> 00:05:23,589 we need to remove citizenship from people 120 00:05:23,589 --> 00:05:26,829 who choose to engage in that activity, about a 121 00:05:26,826 --> 00:05:31,696 rolling back of some basic freedoms under the 122 00:05:31,698 --> 00:05:33,738 next administration? 123 00:05:33,733 --> 00:05:36,133 Mr. Earnest: Josh, I'll just make an observation 124 00:05:36,135 --> 00:05:37,605 that many of you have made, which is that this 125 00:05:37,603 --> 00:05:40,943 is not the first thing that the President-elect 126 00:05:40,940 --> 00:05:44,010 has said or tweeted that 127 00:05:44,010 --> 00:05:48,410 President Obama disagrees with. 128 00:05:48,414 --> 00:05:51,054 So I will let the President-elect and his 129 00:05:51,050 --> 00:05:55,120 team discuss the words 130 00:05:55,121 --> 00:05:56,791 that populate his Twitter feed. 131 00:05:56,789 --> 00:05:59,829 They can explain or defend 132 00:05:59,826 --> 00:06:02,526 those positions or those views. 133 00:06:02,528 --> 00:06:05,328 What I can do is my best to articulate to you the 134 00:06:05,331 --> 00:06:08,771 President's views and the priority that he places on 135 00:06:08,768 --> 00:06:10,238 a smooth and effective transition. 136 00:06:10,236 --> 00:06:16,476 And if I spend our daily interactions here 137 00:06:16,476 --> 00:06:18,676 itemizing and criticizing all of the things that the 138 00:06:18,678 --> 00:06:21,278 President-elect does that are different than what 139 00:06:21,280 --> 00:06:23,050 President Obama has done, that is going to 140 00:06:23,049 --> 00:06:26,149 materially undermine our ability to engage in a 141 00:06:26,152 --> 00:06:27,552 smooth and effective transition. 142 00:06:27,553 --> 00:06:29,393 And since that's the priority right now, since 143 00:06:29,388 --> 00:06:34,598 the election was held, I'll let the 144 00:06:34,594 --> 00:06:37,794 President-elect's team speak to the wisdom and 145 00:06:37,797 --> 00:06:41,137 views and policy positions that are articulated by 146 00:06:41,134 --> 00:06:42,934 the President-elect. 147 00:06:42,935 --> 00:06:45,105 The Press: Policy aside, a number of times in the 148 00:06:45,104 --> 00:06:49,044 last week or so you've noted that the method that 149 00:06:49,041 --> 00:06:52,541 these positions have come out from the 150 00:06:52,545 --> 00:06:54,785 President-elect have been Twitter. 151 00:06:54,781 --> 00:06:58,581 Are you suggesting that maybe it would be wiser, 152 00:06:58,584 --> 00:07:01,124 given the stature of the office, for the 153 00:07:01,120 --> 00:07:03,890 President-elect to be tweeting less or to be 154 00:07:03,890 --> 00:07:05,730 finding another way to sort of communicate some 155 00:07:05,725 --> 00:07:09,265 of these positions? 156 00:07:09,262 --> 00:07:10,092 Mr. Earnest: I don't mean to do that. 157 00:07:10,096 --> 00:07:13,396 I think what I've observed is that, since the 158 00:07:13,399 --> 00:07:15,569 election, this seems to have been the principal 159 00:07:15,568 --> 00:07:18,508 method that the President-elect has used 160 00:07:18,504 --> 00:07:20,204 to communicate with the American public and to 161 00:07:20,206 --> 00:07:22,546 communicate with all of you, with the exception of 162 00:07:22,542 --> 00:07:24,142 at least one off-the-record meeting 163 00:07:24,143 --> 00:07:25,313 that he held with journalists in 164 00:07:25,311 --> 00:07:28,681 New York last week. 165 00:07:28,681 --> 00:07:31,451 So I don't mean to make that reference 166 00:07:31,450 --> 00:07:33,720 pejoratively because the truth is President Obama 167 00:07:33,719 --> 00:07:36,959 has found Twitter to be a useful mechanism for 168 00:07:36,956 --> 00:07:38,696 communicating with the American public and 169 00:07:38,691 --> 00:07:41,831 providing some insight to all of you about what 170 00:07:41,828 --> 00:07:46,868 he's thinking about. 171 00:07:46,866 --> 00:07:47,966 At the same time, President Obama has not 172 00:07:47,967 --> 00:07:50,437 relied just on Twitter to communicate with the 173 00:07:50,436 --> 00:07:52,876 American public and interact with all of you. 174 00:07:52,872 --> 00:07:58,382 Over the course of the President's foreign trip, 175 00:07:58,377 --> 00:08:00,717 for example, when he traveled around the world, 176 00:08:00,713 --> 00:08:02,483 meeting with world leaders, talking about 177 00:08:02,481 --> 00:08:04,321 some of our highest national security 178 00:08:04,317 --> 00:08:05,817 priorities, the President, over the course of that 179 00:08:05,818 --> 00:08:07,918 trip, convened three different news conferences 180 00:08:07,920 --> 00:08:10,460 to answer your questions and to speak to all of you 181 00:08:10,456 --> 00:08:12,456 about those meetings and about the way that he was 182 00:08:12,458 --> 00:08:13,658 representing and advancing 183 00:08:13,659 --> 00:08:15,799 our interests around the globe. 184 00:08:15,795 --> 00:08:20,035 Interacting in that form with the independent media 185 00:08:20,032 --> 00:08:26,142 is not just valuable, it also is part of the job. 186 00:08:26,138 --> 00:08:27,878 And President Obama takes that part of his job 187 00:08:27,874 --> 00:08:30,014 quite seriously. 188 00:08:30,009 --> 00:08:32,679 And it's something that we've done extensively 189 00:08:32,678 --> 00:08:34,218 during his time here in office. 190 00:08:34,213 --> 00:08:36,113 But obviously the President-elect and his 191 00:08:36,115 --> 00:08:38,455 team will have to develop a communications strategy 192 00:08:38,451 --> 00:08:42,591 that they believe is most effective to informing the 193 00:08:42,588 --> 00:08:45,388 American public and is also consistent with the 194 00:08:45,391 --> 00:08:48,231 expectations that the American people have about 195 00:08:48,227 --> 00:08:49,867 transparency and accountability for those 196 00:08:49,862 --> 00:08:51,432 in positions of authority. 197 00:08:51,430 --> 00:08:56,770 And part of that is an individual in a position 198 00:08:56,769 --> 00:09:01,879 of authority submitting or even subjecting themselves 199 00:09:01,874 --> 00:09:02,974 to skeptical questioning 200 00:09:02,975 --> 00:09:04,615 from an independent news media. 201 00:09:04,610 --> 00:09:08,010 That's a valuable and critically important part 202 00:09:08,014 --> 00:09:10,314 of our democracy, and, in fact, the success of our 203 00:09:10,316 --> 00:09:13,886 democracy depends on it. Roberta. 204 00:09:13,886 --> 00:09:14,886 The Press: The President-elect is going 205 00:09:14,887 --> 00:09:18,887 to name -- or nominate Congressman Price as his 206 00:09:18,891 --> 00:09:22,691 HHS Secretary, and Congressman Price has for 207 00:09:22,695 --> 00:09:24,035 a long time been promoting 208 00:09:24,030 --> 00:09:26,430 an alternative to Obamacare. 209 00:09:26,432 --> 00:09:29,672 And I'm wondering what the White House's assessment 210 00:09:29,669 --> 00:09:32,769 is of his ideas about the alternatives that he has 211 00:09:32,772 --> 00:09:37,142 presented to Obamacare. 212 00:09:37,143 --> 00:09:38,983 Mr. Earnest: I don't know if a formal announcement 213 00:09:38,978 --> 00:09:40,348 has come from the President-elect's team, but -- 214 00:09:40,346 --> 00:09:41,376 The Press: There has. 215 00:09:41,380 --> 00:09:41,950 Mr. Earnest: There has been? 216 00:09:41,948 --> 00:09:42,548 The Press: Yes. 217 00:09:42,548 --> 00:09:44,648 Mr. Earnest: Okay. 218 00:09:44,650 --> 00:09:46,650 So what is clear is that the President-elect has 219 00:09:46,652 --> 00:09:56,062 chosen to nominate someone to be his Secretary of 220 00:09:56,062 --> 00:10:00,332 Health and Human Services who is an ardent opponent 221 00:10:00,333 --> 00:10:06,203 of the Affordable Care Act and somebody who says he 222 00:10:06,205 --> 00:10:14,115 is committed to repealing it. 223 00:10:14,113 --> 00:10:17,453 We have heard comments from the President-elect 224 00:10:17,450 --> 00:10:19,890 and from Congressman Price about some of the ideas 225 00:10:19,885 --> 00:10:23,855 that they say would work if implemented. 226 00:10:23,856 --> 00:10:27,856 And I spent a little time working with my staff 227 00:10:27,860 --> 00:10:33,770 today to develop what I think are some metrics 228 00:10:33,766 --> 00:10:35,706 that all of you and the American public should 229 00:10:35,701 --> 00:10:39,971 apply in evaluating some of the proposals that may 230 00:10:39,972 --> 00:10:41,612 be put forward by the other side. 231 00:10:41,607 --> 00:10:43,547 Here's why this is important. 232 00:10:43,542 --> 00:10:45,212 Since the day the President signed the 233 00:10:45,211 --> 00:10:48,411 Affordable Care Act into law in March of 2010, he 234 00:10:48,414 --> 00:10:51,154 indicated an openness to working with Republicans 235 00:10:51,150 --> 00:10:53,750 or Democrats to implement ideas for further 236 00:10:53,753 --> 00:10:55,653 strengthening the law. 237 00:10:55,654 --> 00:10:57,524 So the President has always welcomed good ideas 238 00:10:57,523 --> 00:10:59,393 either from Democrats or Republicans to 239 00:10:59,392 --> 00:11:01,062 strengthen the law. 240 00:11:01,060 --> 00:11:03,200 The problem has been that the only kinds of ideas 241 00:11:03,195 --> 00:11:05,695 that have been put forward by the Republicans, to the 242 00:11:05,698 --> 00:11:07,038 extent that they have put forward any ideas -- and 243 00:11:07,033 --> 00:11:09,433 there have not been many -- but when they have, 244 00:11:09,435 --> 00:11:10,875 they actually have been ideas for undermining the 245 00:11:10,870 --> 00:11:15,110 law, not strengthening it. 246 00:11:15,107 --> 00:11:20,677 And those were primarily methods of political 247 00:11:20,679 --> 00:11:22,919 communication making a political argument, not 248 00:11:22,915 --> 00:11:25,655 for actually governing the country. 249 00:11:25,651 --> 00:11:27,591 But as the President observed in the context of 250 00:11:27,586 --> 00:11:29,286 a couple of those news conferences I referred to 251 00:11:29,288 --> 00:11:31,858 earlier, reality has a way of intruding once you 252 00:11:31,857 --> 00:11:33,927 enter the Oval Office and you assume the awesome 253 00:11:33,926 --> 00:11:35,326 responsibility of governing the greatest 254 00:11:35,327 --> 00:11:36,627 country in the world. 255 00:11:36,629 --> 00:11:41,229 So I'll move expeditiously here, but I can whittle it 256 00:11:41,233 --> 00:11:48,273 down to five metrics that you can use to evaluate 257 00:11:48,274 --> 00:11:50,774 their proposal, and I think what you should 258 00:11:50,776 --> 00:11:53,946 measure it against is the progress that we've made 259 00:11:53,946 --> 00:11:56,946 through the Affordable Care Act in the six years 260 00:11:56,949 --> 00:11:59,649 or so that it's been in effect. 261 00:11:59,652 --> 00:12:00,722 So let's start. 262 00:12:00,719 --> 00:12:01,889 Number one -- this is the one that you guys have 263 00:12:01,887 --> 00:12:03,357 written about the most. 264 00:12:03,355 --> 00:12:05,395 Since the Affordable Care Act went into effect, 20 265 00:12:05,391 --> 00:12:08,961 million Americans have gotten health insurance. 266 00:12:08,961 --> 00:12:16,401 And according to a recent survey, 91.1 percent of 267 00:12:16,402 --> 00:12:18,702 Americans now has health insurance. 268 00:12:18,704 --> 00:12:23,514 That is an insured rate that's higher than 269 00:12:23,509 --> 00:12:26,479 it's ever been. 270 00:12:26,479 --> 00:12:28,579 So when these new ideas come forward, it's 271 00:12:28,581 --> 00:12:30,951 important to evaluate whether or not -- what 272 00:12:30,950 --> 00:12:33,350 impact that would have on the percentage of 273 00:12:33,352 --> 00:12:39,092 Americans that have health insurance, because, after 274 00:12:39,091 --> 00:12:40,731 all, expanding access to health care coverage was 275 00:12:40,726 --> 00:12:41,526 one of the principal goals 276 00:12:41,527 --> 00:12:42,597 of the Affordable Care Act. 277 00:12:42,595 --> 00:12:44,965 Number two -- another principal goal of the 278 00:12:44,964 --> 00:12:49,604 Affordable Care Act was holding down the rapid 279 00:12:49,602 --> 00:12:52,242 growth in health care costs. 280 00:12:52,238 --> 00:12:54,438 And this was a problem that has bedeviled 281 00:12:54,440 --> 00:12:58,210 policymakers for at least a generation, is that the 282 00:12:58,210 --> 00:13:06,050 growth in health care costs was higher than the 283 00:13:06,051 --> 00:13:10,391 growth of other aspects of our economy. 284 00:13:10,389 --> 00:13:13,659 And the Affordable Care Act has actually had a 285 00:13:13,659 --> 00:13:16,059 positive impact in holding down that growth in 286 00:13:16,061 --> 00:13:17,131 health care costs. 287 00:13:17,129 --> 00:13:17,799 And let me just give 288 00:13:17,796 --> 00:13:19,396 you the best metric to evaluate. 289 00:13:19,398 --> 00:13:21,598 In 2016 -- fiscal year 2016, which just ended a 290 00:13:21,600 --> 00:13:25,340 couple of months ago -- the growth in 291 00:13:25,337 --> 00:13:27,177 employer-based health 292 00:13:27,173 --> 00:13:31,343 insurance premiums was 3.4 percent. 293 00:13:31,343 --> 00:13:35,483 That is much lower than it was before the Affordable 294 00:13:35,481 --> 00:13:37,081 Care Act went into effect. 295 00:13:37,082 --> 00:13:40,322 In fact, between 2010 and the decade before the 296 00:13:40,319 --> 00:13:42,619 Affordable Care Act went into effect, employer 297 00:13:42,621 --> 00:13:46,221 premiums grew on average of about 7.9 percent. 298 00:13:46,225 --> 00:13:49,495 So we've cut the growth in health care costs 299 00:13:49,495 --> 00:13:52,335 by more than half. 300 00:13:52,331 --> 00:13:55,671 So, again, evaluating the proposals from the other 301 00:13:55,668 --> 00:13:58,368 side should take a look at what impact they have in 302 00:13:58,370 --> 00:14:00,340 limiting the growth in health care costs. 303 00:14:00,339 --> 00:14:03,639 And again, in 2016, the growth in employer-based 304 00:14:03,642 --> 00:14:07,512 insurance premiums was 3.4 percent, which is at or 305 00:14:07,513 --> 00:14:09,213 near all-time lows. 306 00:14:09,215 --> 00:14:14,425 The third thing that is among the benefits of the 307 00:14:14,420 --> 00:14:16,960 Affordable Care Act are a whole range of consumer 308 00:14:16,956 --> 00:14:18,386 protections, many of which even Republicans 309 00:14:18,390 --> 00:14:20,890 say that they like. 310 00:14:20,893 --> 00:14:22,863 So the proposals put forward by the other side 311 00:14:22,861 --> 00:14:24,901 should be evaluated based on whether or not those 312 00:14:24,897 --> 00:14:27,537 proposals remain in place. 313 00:14:27,533 --> 00:14:30,603 Some of these include ensuring that Americans 314 00:14:30,603 --> 00:14:31,973 can no longer be discriminated against 315 00:14:31,971 --> 00:14:34,111 because they have preexisting conditions. 316 00:14:34,106 --> 00:14:37,206 Before the Affordable Care Act, women could be 317 00:14:37,209 --> 00:14:38,249 charged more by their health insurance company 318 00:14:38,244 --> 00:14:40,114 for no other reason than 319 00:14:40,112 --> 00:14:42,882 the fact that they are women. 320 00:14:42,881 --> 00:14:45,351 Before the Affordable Care Act went into place, many 321 00:14:45,351 --> 00:14:48,121 Americans were subject to lifetime limits on the 322 00:14:48,120 --> 00:14:49,290 benefits they could collect from their 323 00:14:49,288 --> 00:14:51,088 insurance company. 324 00:14:51,090 --> 00:14:53,730 The problem for a lot of -- for many families is 325 00:14:53,726 --> 00:14:58,896 that if kids were sick at an early age, by age 10 or 326 00:14:58,897 --> 00:15:02,237 so, they would essentially be reaching the cap on the 327 00:15:02,234 --> 00:15:03,904 lifetime benefits that they could collect from 328 00:15:03,902 --> 00:15:05,602 their parents' insurance company, which basically 329 00:15:05,604 --> 00:15:06,974 meant that these kids were going to be 330 00:15:06,972 --> 00:15:08,172 without insurance. 331 00:15:08,173 --> 00:15:09,973 Those caps were eliminated because of the 332 00:15:09,975 --> 00:15:11,375 Affordable Care Act. 333 00:15:11,377 --> 00:15:13,677 And we'll have to evaluate whether or not those who 334 00:15:13,679 --> 00:15:18,249 vow to repeal the Affordable Care Act can 335 00:15:18,250 --> 00:15:20,190 protect those important consumer protections that 336 00:15:20,185 --> 00:15:22,685 are now in place. 337 00:15:22,688 --> 00:15:23,688 The other one that's gotten a lot of attention 338 00:15:23,689 --> 00:15:25,029 is that, thanks to the Affordable Care Act, young 339 00:15:25,024 --> 00:15:27,364 Americans can stay on their parents' insurance 340 00:15:27,359 --> 00:15:31,359 until age 26, and that provides an important 341 00:15:31,363 --> 00:15:34,733 buffer for many young Americans. 342 00:15:34,733 --> 00:15:36,003 When they get out of college before they get 343 00:15:36,001 --> 00:15:39,241 settled in a job over the long term, they can enjoy 344 00:15:39,238 --> 00:15:40,608 the protection of being on their parents' 345 00:15:40,606 --> 00:15:41,806 health insurance. 346 00:15:41,807 --> 00:15:44,207 So another consumer protection enjoyed and 347 00:15:44,209 --> 00:15:46,079 praised by Democrats and Republicans. 348 00:15:46,078 --> 00:15:48,018 We'll see if Republicans can do the important work 349 00:15:48,013 --> 00:15:50,783 to keep it, and their ability to do so should be 350 00:15:50,783 --> 00:15:52,423 part of the way in which 351 00:15:52,418 --> 00:15:53,748 their proposals are evaluated. 352 00:15:53,752 --> 00:15:55,752 Just two more. 353 00:15:55,754 --> 00:15:58,154 The first is, what impact will the law 354 00:15:58,157 --> 00:15:59,997 have on Medicare? 355 00:15:59,992 --> 00:16:04,132 The Affordable Care Act went into effect and the 356 00:16:04,129 --> 00:16:08,839 life of Medicare was extended by 11 years. 357 00:16:08,834 --> 00:16:11,004 There's still more work to do to strengthen and 358 00:16:11,003 --> 00:16:14,103 extend the life of Medicare, but you'll 359 00:16:14,106 --> 00:16:16,906 recall that when President Obama took office, the 360 00:16:16,909 --> 00:16:19,179 prediction was that the Medicare trust fund was 361 00:16:19,178 --> 00:16:23,118 going to run out of money by 2017; 2017 is a month 362 00:16:23,115 --> 00:16:26,615 from now, and the life of Medicare has been extended 363 00:16:26,618 --> 00:16:27,788 because of the Affordable Care Act by 364 00:16:27,786 --> 00:16:29,686 more than a decade. 365 00:16:29,688 --> 00:16:31,358 So it certainly will be important to ask questions 366 00:16:31,357 --> 00:16:33,697 if and when there is a proposal from the other 367 00:16:33,692 --> 00:16:36,132 side what impact their plan will have on 368 00:16:36,128 --> 00:16:38,728 strengthening Medicare. 369 00:16:38,731 --> 00:16:40,901 And the last thing -- and I cite this only because 370 00:16:40,899 --> 00:16:44,099 this is what Republicans most like to talk about -- 371 00:16:44,103 --> 00:16:46,043 and that's the deficit -- what impact will their 372 00:16:46,038 --> 00:16:47,708 proposal have on the deficit? 373 00:16:47,706 --> 00:16:50,506 What I can tell you that the CBO has concluded is 374 00:16:50,509 --> 00:16:53,049 that the impact of the Affordable Care Act on the 375 00:16:53,045 --> 00:16:58,385 deficit is to reduce the deficit by $3 trillion in 376 00:16:58,384 --> 00:17:02,254 the next 20 years -- trillion, with a "t" -- a 377 00:17:02,254 --> 00:17:05,024 $3 trillion reduction in the deficit over 378 00:17:05,023 --> 00:17:06,963 the next 20 years. 379 00:17:06,959 --> 00:17:09,999 So that certainly sets a pretty high bar for 380 00:17:09,995 --> 00:17:14,735 evaluating the budget impact of a proposal 381 00:17:14,733 --> 00:17:15,773 from the other side. 382 00:17:15,768 --> 00:17:17,268 But that is an important metric, one that 383 00:17:17,269 --> 00:17:19,039 Republicans have long prioritized. 384 00:17:19,037 --> 00:17:20,977 And if and when they put forward their own 385 00:17:20,973 --> 00:17:22,613 proposal, it should be measured against the kind 386 00:17:22,608 --> 00:17:24,448 of progress that the country has 387 00:17:24,443 --> 00:17:26,913 made under Obamacare. 388 00:17:26,912 --> 00:17:28,212 So I appreciate you indulging me with a long 389 00:17:28,213 --> 00:17:31,153 answer, but this is the kind of thing that I can 390 00:17:31,150 --> 00:17:33,450 certainly understand why this may not end up in the 391 00:17:33,452 --> 00:17:35,892 stories about Mr. Price's -- Congressman Price's 392 00:17:35,888 --> 00:17:40,258 nomination today, but at some point, if he makes 393 00:17:40,259 --> 00:17:43,199 good on his word, at some point, maybe in the next 394 00:17:43,195 --> 00:17:46,065 year or so, he will be standing at this podium, 395 00:17:46,064 --> 00:17:48,704 in this room, in front of all of you, unveiling a 396 00:17:48,700 --> 00:17:50,840 new health care plan. 397 00:17:50,836 --> 00:17:56,406 And so I hope -- I'll be counting on all of you to 398 00:17:56,408 --> 00:17:59,378 just take a look at my notes and if you are -- or 399 00:17:59,378 --> 00:18:02,218 take a look at notes from this briefing -- and maybe 400 00:18:02,214 --> 00:18:05,084 it can serve as some questions that are worth 401 00:18:05,083 --> 00:18:07,483 asking about the new proposal. 402 00:18:07,486 --> 00:18:09,256 The Press: So I don't want to go on too long -- 403 00:18:09,254 --> 00:18:11,694 Mr. Earnest: I already have, which I apologize. 404 00:18:11,690 --> 00:18:14,160 The Press: But have you evaluated Congressman 405 00:18:14,159 --> 00:18:16,429 Price's proposal by these metrics? 406 00:18:16,428 --> 00:18:17,828 Or do you have -- does the White House have an 407 00:18:17,830 --> 00:18:20,030 evaluation of his proposals, which have been 408 00:18:20,032 --> 00:18:21,502 out there for a long time? 409 00:18:21,500 --> 00:18:22,870 Mr. Earnest: Well, with all due respect to 410 00:18:22,868 --> 00:18:24,708 Congressman Price, what he's going to learn is 411 00:18:24,703 --> 00:18:26,203 that when he's the Secretary of Health and 412 00:18:26,205 --> 00:18:28,445 Human Services, it will be his job to implement the 413 00:18:28,440 --> 00:18:30,480 President's plan, not his own. 414 00:18:30,476 --> 00:18:34,876 So we'll certainly take a close look and we'll be 415 00:18:34,880 --> 00:18:36,520 interested to see what proposal is put forward by 416 00:18:36,515 --> 00:18:37,815 the Trump administration. 417 00:18:37,816 --> 00:18:39,916 But I certainly have laid out for you the progress 418 00:18:39,918 --> 00:18:41,988 that we have made under Obamacare, and we'll see 419 00:18:41,987 --> 00:18:47,827 if "Trumpcare" measures up. Michelle. 420 00:18:47,826 --> 00:18:48,796 The Press: Thanks. 421 00:18:48,794 --> 00:18:50,964 So in the past, you've expressed optimism and the 422 00:18:50,963 --> 00:18:52,903 President himself expressed optimism after 423 00:18:52,898 --> 00:18:55,498 the first time he met with President-elect Trump in 424 00:18:55,501 --> 00:18:57,131 the Oval Office that he may keep 425 00:18:57,135 --> 00:18:59,075 parts of Obamacare. 426 00:18:59,071 --> 00:19:03,571 Now, with Tom Price coming in as the head of HHS, do 427 00:19:03,575 --> 00:19:05,275 you still have that optimism? 428 00:19:05,277 --> 00:19:08,017 Or do you think that a lot of this -- Republicans, 429 00:19:08,013 --> 00:19:10,483 and these people in particular, are aware of 430 00:19:10,482 --> 00:19:15,092 the metrics that you cited, but there's still 431 00:19:15,087 --> 00:19:18,987 that mantra of repeal and replace. 432 00:19:18,991 --> 00:19:20,121 So do you still have that optimism, even with this 433 00:19:20,125 --> 00:19:22,795 pick that is coming? 434 00:19:22,794 --> 00:19:24,034 Mr. Earnest: Look, I think time will tell. 435 00:19:24,029 --> 00:19:25,969 I think what I said to Roberta certainly applies 436 00:19:25,964 --> 00:19:27,464 -- that with all due respect to Congressman 437 00:19:27,466 --> 00:19:29,406 Price, his responsibility will be to implement 438 00:19:29,401 --> 00:19:33,401 President Trump's health care plan, not Congressman 439 00:19:33,405 --> 00:19:36,345 Price's health care plan. 440 00:19:36,341 --> 00:19:37,881 And we'll see how it measures up. 441 00:19:37,876 --> 00:19:38,846 There will be an opportunity for us 442 00:19:38,844 --> 00:19:39,574 to evaluate it. 443 00:19:39,578 --> 00:19:41,648 And, look, Michelle, we have said all along, as I 444 00:19:41,647 --> 00:19:43,917 mentioned from the day the President signed this bill 445 00:19:43,916 --> 00:19:47,256 into law, the President indicated an openness to 446 00:19:47,252 --> 00:19:51,592 good ideas, including from Republicans, for 447 00:19:51,590 --> 00:19:52,290 strengthening our health care system and 448 00:19:52,291 --> 00:19:54,191 strengthening the Affordable Care Act. 449 00:19:54,192 --> 00:19:59,102 Those ideas didn't really materialize. 450 00:19:59,097 --> 00:20:01,897 But President Trump is taking office with 451 00:20:01,900 --> 00:20:07,340 certainly what he feels is strong support from the 452 00:20:07,339 --> 00:20:08,209 country to make some significant changes, 453 00:20:08,206 --> 00:20:09,246 including making changes 454 00:20:09,241 --> 00:20:11,181 to the Affordable Care Act. 455 00:20:11,176 --> 00:20:18,016 And he will -- we'll see how his proposals measure 456 00:20:18,016 --> 00:20:20,786 up to the progress that we have made in the United 457 00:20:20,786 --> 00:20:23,326 States, thanks to the Affordable Care Act. 458 00:20:23,322 --> 00:20:25,392 The Press: But given what is being said now and by 459 00:20:25,390 --> 00:20:28,130 whom, do you still have that optimism? 460 00:20:28,126 --> 00:20:30,966 Does the administration have an optimism that this 461 00:20:30,963 --> 00:20:33,233 is going to be a good idea by your standards? 462 00:20:33,231 --> 00:20:34,301 Mr. Earnest: Look, I'm reluctant to predict 463 00:20:34,299 --> 00:20:35,869 exactly what's going to happen under the 464 00:20:35,867 --> 00:20:37,737 new administration. 465 00:20:37,736 --> 00:20:39,706 They'll have an opportunity to put forward 466 00:20:39,705 --> 00:20:41,745 their own ideas, and they'll have an 467 00:20:41,740 --> 00:20:44,640 opportunity to put forward ideas that they think, for 468 00:20:44,643 --> 00:20:47,483 example, in this case, will strengthen the health 469 00:20:47,479 --> 00:20:49,049 care system in this country. 470 00:20:49,047 --> 00:20:52,087 And fortunately, we've had an opportunity to try it 471 00:20:52,084 --> 00:20:55,054 the way that President Obama advocates and we've 472 00:20:55,053 --> 00:20:57,723 got some statistics that indicate the real progress 473 00:20:57,723 --> 00:21:00,563 that we've made, the way the system has been 474 00:21:00,559 --> 00:21:03,199 strengthened because of these reforms. 475 00:21:03,195 --> 00:21:06,295 We'll see if reforms implemented by the Trump 476 00:21:06,298 --> 00:21:08,138 administration measure up. 477 00:21:08,133 --> 00:21:11,033 The Press: Often when you're -- I mean, you keep 478 00:21:11,036 --> 00:21:15,236 being asked about the same kinds of things and you 479 00:21:15,240 --> 00:21:18,980 always add reality has a way of intruding. 480 00:21:18,977 --> 00:21:19,677 Mr. Earnest: It does. 481 00:21:19,678 --> 00:21:20,878 The Press: So it sounds like you have a lot of 482 00:21:20,879 --> 00:21:23,149 doubt that what's being said out there is actually 483 00:21:23,148 --> 00:21:25,348 going to come to fruition. 484 00:21:25,350 --> 00:21:28,190 And does that include this whole flag-burning thing? 485 00:21:28,186 --> 00:21:33,426 Mr. Earnest: I think what I'm trying to convey, and 486 00:21:33,425 --> 00:21:35,095 I think what the President is trying to convey when 487 00:21:35,093 --> 00:21:38,763 he talks about the intrusion of reality is 488 00:21:38,764 --> 00:21:40,864 he's talking about his experience in the job. 489 00:21:40,866 --> 00:21:43,966 And President Obama's experience is that the job 490 00:21:43,969 --> 00:21:47,509 is harder than it looks, particularly even harder 491 00:21:47,506 --> 00:21:49,906 than it looks when you're campaigning for it. 492 00:21:49,908 --> 00:21:54,008 And reality has a way of intruding on your ability 493 00:21:54,012 --> 00:22:01,452 to do everything that you'd like to do. 494 00:22:01,453 --> 00:22:06,163 Now, I think President Obama's record, doing many 495 00:22:06,158 --> 00:22:07,958 of the things that he would like to do, is quite 496 00:22:07,959 --> 00:22:10,929 good, and the Affordable Care Act is as good an 497 00:22:10,929 --> 00:22:13,129 example of that as any. 498 00:22:13,131 --> 00:22:14,701 But you certainly can't do everything that you 499 00:22:14,700 --> 00:22:15,270 would like to do. 500 00:22:15,267 --> 00:22:17,807 And look, that's been the experience of all 44 501 00:22:17,803 --> 00:22:20,743 Presidents of the United States. 502 00:22:20,739 --> 00:22:24,509 Each of them has encountered a reality that 503 00:22:24,509 --> 00:22:26,149 they may not have anticipated that has 504 00:22:26,144 --> 00:22:29,184 limited their ability or checked their ability to 505 00:22:29,181 --> 00:22:30,921 do exactly what they want. 506 00:22:30,916 --> 00:22:32,016 Some of that is built into our system. 507 00:22:32,017 --> 00:22:34,687 That's part of a democracy and the 508 00:22:34,686 --> 00:22:35,826 need to compromise. 509 00:22:35,821 --> 00:22:39,461 In other cases, it's a function of real-world 510 00:22:39,458 --> 00:22:42,198 events, because, after all, nobody is 511 00:22:42,194 --> 00:22:44,734 governing in a vacuum. 512 00:22:44,730 --> 00:22:46,330 I think that contributes to my reluctance to 513 00:22:46,331 --> 00:22:48,101 predict exactly what the Trump administration will 514 00:22:48,100 --> 00:22:51,100 do and how President Trump will act and what 515 00:22:51,103 --> 00:22:53,803 priorities President Trump will pursue. 516 00:22:53,805 --> 00:22:56,575 I'll let his team speak to that. 517 00:22:56,575 --> 00:22:59,475 And I think it's difficult to predict primarily 518 00:22:59,478 --> 00:23:02,878 because as all 44 Presidents of the United 519 00:23:02,881 --> 00:23:06,151 States have learned, reality has a way of 520 00:23:06,151 --> 00:23:09,151 intruding on some of the rhetoric that sounded 521 00:23:09,154 --> 00:23:11,124 really good during the campaign. 522 00:23:11,123 --> 00:23:14,693 The Press: When you hear repeated defenses of 523 00:23:14,693 --> 00:23:17,033 Donald Trump statements that people who burn flags 524 00:23:17,028 --> 00:23:21,138 should be prosecuted, is that not much of a concern 525 00:23:21,133 --> 00:23:25,003 to the administration right now? 526 00:23:25,003 --> 00:23:27,443 Mr. Earnest: Well, I think there is a pretty strong 527 00:23:27,439 --> 00:23:30,109 bipartisan consensus across the country that 528 00:23:30,108 --> 00:23:32,378 the constitutional right to freedom of expression 529 00:23:32,377 --> 00:23:33,947 is one that's worth protecting. 530 00:23:33,945 --> 00:23:40,615 And so, again, part of that free expression is 531 00:23:40,619 --> 00:23:44,319 being able to say whatever you want on Twitter. 532 00:23:44,322 --> 00:23:45,922 So there's a little irony associated with this 533 00:23:45,924 --> 00:23:48,124 particular situation. 534 00:23:48,126 --> 00:23:51,626 But freedom of expression, freedom of religion, 535 00:23:51,630 --> 00:23:52,660 freedom of the press -- those are freedoms that 536 00:23:52,664 --> 00:23:53,734 are worth protecting. 537 00:23:53,732 --> 00:23:57,272 The Press: I guess this bubbling up again over 538 00:23:57,269 --> 00:24:02,279 flag-burning -- it doesn't bother you? 539 00:24:02,274 --> 00:24:03,704 Mr. Earnest: Well, again, it certainly is not 540 00:24:03,708 --> 00:24:07,078 consistent with the kind of priority that President 541 00:24:07,078 --> 00:24:11,078 Obama has placed on protecting constitutional 542 00:24:11,082 --> 00:24:15,052 -- our freedoms as citizens. 543 00:24:15,053 --> 00:24:20,523 So I'm not standing here prepared to defend or 544 00:24:20,525 --> 00:24:22,925 agree with those statements. 545 00:24:22,928 --> 00:24:24,598 But again, this is not the first time that the 546 00:24:24,596 --> 00:24:28,496 President-elect has said or tweeted something that 547 00:24:28,500 --> 00:24:30,770 is quite different than President 548 00:24:30,769 --> 00:24:33,609 Obama's approach. 549 00:24:33,605 --> 00:24:37,705 It was the hallmark of his campaign -- he ran vowing 550 00:24:37,709 --> 00:24:40,449 to aggressively do things differently than President 551 00:24:40,445 --> 00:24:41,985 Obama has, and we'll 552 00:24:41,980 --> 00:24:44,850 see how it works. Olivier. 553 00:24:44,850 --> 00:24:46,020 The Press: Thanks, Josh. 554 00:24:46,017 --> 00:24:47,187 Back on the Castro event. 555 00:24:47,185 --> 00:24:48,955 You're not suggesting that Mr. Rhodes and 556 00:24:48,954 --> 00:24:50,594 Mr. DeLaurentis are attending this in a 557 00:24:50,589 --> 00:24:51,819 private capacity, right? 558 00:24:51,823 --> 00:24:52,923 They are representing the United States? 559 00:24:52,924 --> 00:24:53,724 Mr. Earnest: That's correct. 560 00:24:53,725 --> 00:24:56,625 And I think if I was unclear about that, yes, 561 00:24:56,628 --> 00:24:58,128 they will be representing the United States at the 562 00:24:58,129 --> 00:25:01,829 memorial service this evening. 563 00:25:01,833 --> 00:25:04,103 The Press: During this transition period, when 564 00:25:04,102 --> 00:25:06,402 the President makes changes to, say, the 565 00:25:06,404 --> 00:25:08,974 number of troops in Iraq and Syria, or makes other 566 00:25:08,974 --> 00:25:12,244 significant national security decisions, do you 567 00:25:12,244 --> 00:25:14,444 loop in the President-elect's team? 568 00:25:14,446 --> 00:25:17,216 Is there a mechanism or a structure for saying, hey, 569 00:25:17,215 --> 00:25:19,015 by the way -- not submitting it for 570 00:25:19,017 --> 00:25:21,417 approval, but just to say, hey, by the way, we're 571 00:25:21,419 --> 00:25:24,059 going to be moving "x" number of troops from 572 00:25:24,055 --> 00:25:25,095 here to there? 573 00:25:25,090 --> 00:25:29,060 And is there a threshold for what kinds of 574 00:25:29,060 --> 00:25:31,960 decisions get read out to the incoming team? 575 00:25:31,963 --> 00:25:33,463 Mr. Earnest: Well, Olivier, as you point out, 576 00:25:33,465 --> 00:25:35,665 there is one President and one Commander-in-Chief at 577 00:25:35,667 --> 00:25:39,007 a time, and President Obama's ability to make 578 00:25:39,004 --> 00:25:41,604 those kinds of decisions about his view of the best 579 00:25:41,606 --> 00:25:44,376 interests of the country remain unconstrained 580 00:25:44,376 --> 00:25:46,446 by the election. 581 00:25:46,444 --> 00:25:50,614 He is going to make his own determination about 582 00:25:50,615 --> 00:25:52,355 what's best for the country and he'll abide, 583 00:25:52,350 --> 00:25:53,690 of course, by all the constitutional legal 584 00:25:53,685 --> 00:25:55,355 constraints that are in place, as he's done for 585 00:25:55,353 --> 00:25:56,953 more than seven years now. 586 00:25:56,955 --> 00:25:58,495 But he'll be President of the United States until 587 00:25:58,490 --> 00:26:00,130 January 20th, in which he'll hand off that 588 00:26:00,125 --> 00:26:02,425 responsibility to President Trump. 589 00:26:02,427 --> 00:26:04,327 One of the priorities that this President has 590 00:26:04,329 --> 00:26:07,029 articulated is a commitment to a smooth and 591 00:26:07,032 --> 00:26:08,202 effective transition. 592 00:26:08,199 --> 00:26:10,669 And that transition will be more smooth and more 593 00:26:10,669 --> 00:26:13,969 effective if the President-elect and his 594 00:26:13,972 --> 00:26:18,842 team has some insight into the kinds of decisions 595 00:26:18,843 --> 00:26:22,213 that are being made in real time as the 596 00:26:22,213 --> 00:26:23,783 President-elect prepares to take office. 597 00:26:23,782 --> 00:26:27,482 So it's hard for me to give you a lot of detail 598 00:26:27,485 --> 00:26:32,825 about what standard is established for something 599 00:26:32,824 --> 00:26:37,064 being needed to be communicated to the 600 00:26:37,062 --> 00:26:38,862 President-elect's team. 601 00:26:38,863 --> 00:26:41,633 But there certainly is an interest in helping the 602 00:26:41,633 --> 00:26:45,273 President-elect's team understand what kinds of 603 00:26:45,270 --> 00:26:48,770 decisions are being made so that they will be 604 00:26:48,773 --> 00:26:54,613 prepared to lead the country on January 20th. 605 00:26:54,612 --> 00:26:56,182 The Press: -- a slightly different take -- 606 00:26:56,181 --> 00:26:56,811 Mr. Earnest: Okay. 607 00:26:56,815 --> 00:26:58,085 The Press: Is there a mechanism other than the 608 00:26:58,083 --> 00:27:00,483 PDB, the intelligence briefings, for reading in 609 00:27:00,485 --> 00:27:02,885 the President-elect's team on major national 610 00:27:02,887 --> 00:27:04,557 security issues? 611 00:27:04,556 --> 00:27:06,256 Mr. Earnest: Well, there is a transition process. 612 00:27:06,257 --> 00:27:07,457 So, for example, the President-elect has 613 00:27:07,459 --> 00:27:10,829 designated a landing team to work closely with the 614 00:27:10,829 --> 00:27:12,569 National Security Council and the Department of 615 00:27:12,564 --> 00:27:14,704 Defense and other national security agencies to 616 00:27:14,699 --> 00:27:16,739 effect a smooth transition. 617 00:27:16,735 --> 00:27:20,105 So that certainly is a potential mechanism for 618 00:27:20,105 --> 00:27:23,245 providing insight into those decisions. 619 00:27:23,241 --> 00:27:26,341 And then, as we've discussed, there obviously 620 00:27:26,344 --> 00:27:29,814 is some communication that is ongoing between the 621 00:27:29,814 --> 00:27:33,454 President and the President-elect directly. 622 00:27:33,451 --> 00:27:35,621 I can't speak to whether or not some of the 623 00:27:35,620 --> 00:27:37,160 national security issues that you've alluded to 624 00:27:37,155 --> 00:27:38,925 came up in those conversations or not, but 625 00:27:38,923 --> 00:27:40,763 that certainly would be another mechanism for that 626 00:27:40,759 --> 00:27:42,399 information being transmitted. Ron. 627 00:27:42,394 --> 00:27:47,534 The Press: So on the Affordable Care Act, is 628 00:27:47,532 --> 00:27:51,432 the President -- are you saying that the President 629 00:27:51,436 --> 00:27:54,806 believes that reality is going to hit the new 630 00:27:54,806 --> 00:27:56,476 administration and they're going to be able to see 631 00:27:56,474 --> 00:27:59,744 that they can't dismantle this? 632 00:27:59,744 --> 00:28:01,344 Mr. Earnest: Well, I think the point that I'm making, 633 00:28:01,346 --> 00:28:02,886 Ron, just to try to be as direct as I can about 634 00:28:02,881 --> 00:28:09,691 this, is that it's one thing to use rhetoric on 635 00:28:09,687 --> 00:28:13,187 the campaign trail that may poll well among a 636 00:28:13,191 --> 00:28:16,031 certain segment of the population, and saying at 637 00:28:16,027 --> 00:28:20,637 a rally of thousands of conservatives who are 638 00:28:20,632 --> 00:28:24,332 ardent political opponents of President Obama -- to 639 00:28:24,335 --> 00:28:28,445 stand at a podium like this and say, I'm going to 640 00:28:28,440 --> 00:28:30,210 repeal Obamacare. 641 00:28:30,208 --> 00:28:35,078 It's yet another thing to enter office and be faced 642 00:28:35,080 --> 00:28:39,020 with the reality that one impact of the Affordable 643 00:28:39,017 --> 00:28:42,117 Care Act is that the rate of Americans who are 644 00:28:42,120 --> 00:28:45,860 uninsured is at a historic, all-time low; or 645 00:28:45,857 --> 00:28:50,597 to see that the growth in employer-based premiums is 646 00:28:50,595 --> 00:28:53,295 actually lower than it's been in quite some time; 647 00:28:53,298 --> 00:28:55,468 or that these kinds of consumer protections are 648 00:28:55,467 --> 00:28:57,267 actually the kinds of things that Democrats and 649 00:28:57,268 --> 00:28:58,838 Republicans alike all across the country 650 00:28:58,837 --> 00:28:59,937 strongly support. 651 00:28:59,938 --> 00:29:03,038 So the idea of repealing the law once you consider 652 00:29:03,041 --> 00:29:05,311 the benefits and once you have to reckon with the 653 00:29:05,310 --> 00:29:08,410 benefits becomes more difficult. 654 00:29:08,413 --> 00:29:10,813 The Press: How engaged is the President in trying to 655 00:29:10,815 --> 00:29:13,955 make this argument now on a practical matter? 656 00:29:13,952 --> 00:29:17,622 Is he in touch with -- is he in touch with the 657 00:29:17,622 --> 00:29:18,352 new administration? 658 00:29:18,356 --> 00:29:20,426 Is he in touch with folks on the Hill? 659 00:29:20,425 --> 00:29:23,525 What is he doing to try 660 00:29:23,528 --> 00:29:25,698 and make this case, if anything? 661 00:29:25,697 --> 00:29:28,437 Or is he just resigned to the fact that they're 662 00:29:28,433 --> 00:29:30,173 going to change it? 663 00:29:30,168 --> 00:29:31,838 Mr. Earnest: Well, again, I think as I've tried to 664 00:29:31,836 --> 00:29:35,236 lay out here, their promise to change it I 665 00:29:35,240 --> 00:29:37,580 think is going to be challenging. 666 00:29:37,575 --> 00:29:39,315 If they're at all concerned about trying to 667 00:29:39,310 --> 00:29:41,910 expand health care coverage, or save people 668 00:29:41,913 --> 00:29:43,883 money, or protect people from insurance companies 669 00:29:43,882 --> 00:29:45,312 that may not have their interests at heart, or to 670 00:29:45,316 --> 00:29:48,086 extend the lifetime of Medicare, or to cut the 671 00:29:48,086 --> 00:29:50,186 deficit -- if they don't share those priorities, 672 00:29:50,188 --> 00:29:51,758 then it will be pretty easy to come in and just 673 00:29:51,756 --> 00:29:54,196 knock this down and put in some other plan. 674 00:29:54,192 --> 00:29:55,732 I'm not really sure what the benefits would be, but 675 00:29:55,727 --> 00:29:56,657 they'll have an 676 00:29:56,661 --> 00:29:57,901 opportunity to make that case. 677 00:29:57,896 --> 00:29:59,866 I think that's my point. 678 00:29:59,864 --> 00:30:01,834 With regard to the President, he has had a 679 00:30:01,833 --> 00:30:04,473 handful of conversations with the President-elect, 680 00:30:04,469 --> 00:30:05,669 including in the Oval Office. 681 00:30:05,670 --> 00:30:06,910 I'm not going to speak to the content of 682 00:30:06,905 --> 00:30:08,005 those conversations. 683 00:30:08,006 --> 00:30:12,146 There are plenty of very strong supporters of the 684 00:30:12,143 --> 00:30:15,183 Affordable Care Act who continue to serve in the 685 00:30:15,180 --> 00:30:16,510 United States Congress. 686 00:30:16,514 --> 00:30:18,514 And many of the kinds of changes that are being 687 00:30:18,516 --> 00:30:21,286 discussed by some conservatives would 688 00:30:21,286 --> 00:30:23,226 require congressional approval, so -- 689 00:30:23,221 --> 00:30:25,091 The Press: But I asked because I think there's -- 690 00:30:25,089 --> 00:30:26,259 among some of the President's supporters, 691 00:30:26,257 --> 00:30:29,527 there's a concern that in his effort to create a 692 00:30:29,527 --> 00:30:32,827 smooth transition he appears to be not fighting 693 00:30:32,830 --> 00:30:36,900 back as much of his legacy is about to be dismantled 694 00:30:36,901 --> 00:30:38,601 or certainly severely threatened. 695 00:30:38,603 --> 00:30:40,043 Mr. Earnest: I guess my point is -- 696 00:30:40,038 --> 00:30:41,608 The Press: And on this issue, that's why I asked 697 00:30:41,606 --> 00:30:45,906 specifically what is he doing to protect Obamacare 698 00:30:45,910 --> 00:30:48,910 or the Affordable Care Act? 699 00:30:48,913 --> 00:30:51,213 Is my characterization -- 700 00:30:51,216 --> 00:30:52,686 Mr. Earnest: Well, I guess the point that I'm trying 701 00:30:52,684 --> 00:30:55,784 to make is that the most effective way for the 702 00:30:55,787 --> 00:31:09,137 Affordable Care Act to succeed is to implement 703 00:31:09,133 --> 00:31:11,903 it effectively. 704 00:31:11,903 --> 00:31:15,073 And I think many of the metrics here that we have 705 00:31:15,073 --> 00:31:15,943 laid out indicate how effectively we 706 00:31:15,940 --> 00:31:16,540 have implemented it. 707 00:31:16,541 --> 00:31:19,011 There have clearly been some highly publicized 708 00:31:19,010 --> 00:31:23,050 bumps in the road, and the failure of the website on 709 00:31:23,047 --> 00:31:24,717 the first day of its launch was not an 710 00:31:24,716 --> 00:31:26,756 insignificant one. 711 00:31:26,751 --> 00:31:30,221 But I think the results speak for themselves. 712 00:31:30,221 --> 00:31:33,321 The Press: More generally, in the final weeks, what 713 00:31:33,324 --> 00:31:34,894 are the President's priorities? 714 00:31:34,892 --> 00:31:37,662 What does he realistically think he can accomplish? 715 00:31:37,662 --> 00:31:39,762 And given your statement you keep coming back to 716 00:31:39,764 --> 00:31:41,904 about how the realities of the office set in, I 717 00:31:41,899 --> 00:31:43,939 imagine there's a lot of reality that's setting 718 00:31:43,935 --> 00:31:44,535 in now, too -- 719 00:31:44,535 --> 00:31:45,975 Mr. Earnest: Sure, sure. 720 00:31:45,970 --> 00:31:47,670 The Press: -- at the back end of this whole thing. 721 00:31:47,672 --> 00:31:48,872 And I think when asked about this before, you 722 00:31:48,873 --> 00:31:51,143 talked about national security and those sort of 723 00:31:51,142 --> 00:31:54,442 ongoing important obligations that 724 00:31:54,445 --> 00:31:55,245 the President has. 725 00:31:55,246 --> 00:31:58,286 But what else is he really trying to accomplish in 726 00:31:58,283 --> 00:32:00,053 the final weeks? 727 00:32:00,051 --> 00:32:01,651 Mr. Earnest: Well, there certainly are some 728 00:32:01,653 --> 00:32:03,223 legislative priorities that we're trying to make 729 00:32:03,221 --> 00:32:04,321 some progress on. 730 00:32:04,322 --> 00:32:08,062 There are many things that are going to be left 731 00:32:08,059 --> 00:32:10,229 undone, unfortunately -- things like immigration 732 00:32:10,228 --> 00:32:12,898 reform, probably criminal justice reform. 733 00:32:12,897 --> 00:32:14,537 And that's more than a little -- 734 00:32:14,532 --> 00:32:16,232 The Press: So what's realistic? 735 00:32:16,234 --> 00:32:17,674 Mr. Earnest: Well, the first thing is we've got 736 00:32:17,669 --> 00:32:19,139 to -- Congress has got to act on a budget. 737 00:32:19,137 --> 00:32:21,407 And if they don't act by December 9th, we'll have a 738 00:32:21,406 --> 00:32:22,336 government shutdown. 739 00:32:22,340 --> 00:32:23,810 I don't think anybody wants that. 740 00:32:23,808 --> 00:32:26,948 We certainly don't want that from here. 741 00:32:26,944 --> 00:32:28,784 And more than that, we don't just want to avoid a 742 00:32:28,780 --> 00:32:30,620 shutdown,; we also want to make sure that our men and 743 00:32:30,615 --> 00:32:35,115 women at the Department of Defense have the resources 744 00:32:35,119 --> 00:32:42,429 that they need, even in this challenging time, to 745 00:32:42,427 --> 00:32:45,827 succeed in their mission to protect the country. 746 00:32:45,830 --> 00:32:48,730 And there has been a proposal floated by some 747 00:32:48,733 --> 00:32:51,473 on Capitol Hill that they might consider an 748 00:32:51,469 --> 00:32:52,469 extension of the 749 00:32:52,470 --> 00:32:55,710 continuing resolution to May. 750 00:32:55,707 --> 00:32:57,907 That would be a big problem, and the reason 751 00:32:57,909 --> 00:33:02,179 that would be a problem is because it would hamstring 752 00:33:02,180 --> 00:33:05,250 some of the efforts that are underway at the 753 00:33:05,249 --> 00:33:08,089 Department of Defense to protect the country and to 754 00:33:08,086 --> 00:33:12,956 start new efforts, new weapons systems and other 755 00:33:12,957 --> 00:33:18,727 production increases that are required to ensure 756 00:33:18,730 --> 00:33:21,530 that our men and women in uniform have the resources 757 00:33:21,532 --> 00:33:23,132 that they need and the equipment that they need 758 00:33:23,134 --> 00:33:23,864 to protect the country. 759 00:33:23,868 --> 00:33:26,868 There also is an important fight underway in Iraq 760 00:33:26,871 --> 00:33:29,471 right now against ISIL. 761 00:33:29,474 --> 00:33:32,144 And there are substantial resources that have been 762 00:33:32,143 --> 00:33:33,913 committed to that fight. 763 00:33:33,911 --> 00:33:36,911 The United States has a very specific role. 764 00:33:36,914 --> 00:33:41,724 It's different than the role that our troops were 765 00:33:41,719 --> 00:33:43,319 -- or different than the mission that our troops 766 00:33:43,321 --> 00:33:44,521 were given when President Bush was the 767 00:33:44,522 --> 00:33:47,692 Commander-in-Chief, but it still requires resources. 768 00:33:47,692 --> 00:33:49,932 President Obama has made a substantial commitment to 769 00:33:49,927 --> 00:33:54,067 a European reassurance effort. 770 00:33:54,065 --> 00:33:56,305 And these are the kinds -- I'm listing out these 771 00:33:56,300 --> 00:33:58,170 things because these are the kinds of things that 772 00:33:58,169 --> 00:34:01,839 would not be addressed through a straight CR. 773 00:34:01,839 --> 00:34:05,109 And I think even the Secretary of Defense can 774 00:34:05,109 --> 00:34:11,319 tell you how a CR through March that essentially 775 00:34:11,315 --> 00:34:14,985 covers six months of the fiscal year is bad enough, 776 00:34:14,986 --> 00:34:17,186 but extending the CR through May and having a 777 00:34:17,188 --> 00:34:20,828 CR in place for three-quarters of the year 778 00:34:20,825 --> 00:34:23,695 would have a really negative impact on the 779 00:34:23,694 --> 00:34:26,064 Department of Defense and would undermine some of 780 00:34:26,063 --> 00:34:27,303 the important work that's being 781 00:34:27,298 --> 00:34:28,198 done there on a regular basis to 782 00:34:28,199 --> 00:34:29,439 protect the country. 783 00:34:29,434 --> 00:34:33,574 So Congress has got a responsibility here. 784 00:34:33,571 --> 00:34:35,271 We obviously prefer that they pass a budget. 785 00:34:35,273 --> 00:34:41,043 But if they resort to just a continuing resolution, 786 00:34:41,045 --> 00:34:44,445 we believe that that should be made -- that 787 00:34:44,449 --> 00:34:48,649 that should be as short as possible so that a regular 788 00:34:48,653 --> 00:34:51,653 appropriations bill can be passed and the resources 789 00:34:51,656 --> 00:34:52,656 that our men and women 790 00:34:52,657 --> 00:34:56,697 need can be approved. Kevin. 791 00:34:56,694 --> 00:34:57,294 The Press: Thanks, Josh. 792 00:34:57,295 --> 00:34:58,425 I want to ask you about South Korea and the 793 00:34:58,429 --> 00:34:59,869 instability that's happening there 794 00:34:59,864 --> 00:35:00,994 politically right now. 795 00:35:00,998 --> 00:35:03,038 How does that impact the U.S. 796 00:35:03,034 --> 00:35:04,704 relationship with what's happening there, in 797 00:35:04,702 --> 00:35:07,472 particular as we make the Asian pivot, as we've 798 00:35:07,472 --> 00:35:11,372 talked about at length for quite some time? 799 00:35:11,375 --> 00:35:12,745 Mr. Earnest: Well, Kevin, the thing I can tell you 800 00:35:12,743 --> 00:35:15,583 is that the United States and South Korea have been 801 00:35:15,580 --> 00:35:17,720 close allies for decades. 802 00:35:17,715 --> 00:35:19,585 And the strength of that alliance has persisted 803 00:35:19,584 --> 00:35:21,424 through Democratic and Republican administrations 804 00:35:21,419 --> 00:35:23,619 in the United States, and that alliance has 805 00:35:23,621 --> 00:35:25,191 persisted through different administrations 806 00:35:25,189 --> 00:35:27,489 in the Korean presidency as well. 807 00:35:27,492 --> 00:35:31,162 And that's an indication that the security 808 00:35:31,162 --> 00:35:33,332 relationship between the Republic of Korea and the 809 00:35:33,331 --> 00:35:35,931 United States is substantial and so 810 00:35:35,933 --> 00:35:40,543 important that it supersedes 811 00:35:40,538 --> 00:35:42,608 political relationships. 812 00:35:42,607 --> 00:35:45,307 The people-to-people ties between our two countries 813 00:35:45,309 --> 00:35:48,379 indicate just how important a relationship 814 00:35:48,379 --> 00:35:48,879 this is, and that certainly 815 00:35:48,880 --> 00:35:52,580 supersedes politics. 816 00:35:52,583 --> 00:35:58,253 So the President is committed to our alliance 817 00:35:58,256 --> 00:36:01,526 and, just as importantly, our country is committed 818 00:36:01,526 --> 00:36:02,796 to maintaining a strong alliance between 819 00:36:02,793 --> 00:36:06,663 our two countries. 820 00:36:06,664 --> 00:36:09,234 Investing in that alliance advances the interests of 821 00:36:09,233 --> 00:36:10,973 both our countries and enhances the national 822 00:36:10,968 --> 00:36:12,868 security of both our countries. 823 00:36:12,870 --> 00:36:19,010 So obviously there is a rather complicated, shall 824 00:36:19,010 --> 00:36:22,510 we say, domestic political situation inside of South 825 00:36:22,513 --> 00:36:24,413 Korea right now. 826 00:36:24,415 --> 00:36:26,615 That is a situation that the South Korean people 827 00:36:26,617 --> 00:36:28,387 will grapple with. 828 00:36:28,386 --> 00:36:32,626 But the ongoing alliance between our two countries 829 00:36:32,623 --> 00:36:34,593 is as strong and durable as ever. 830 00:36:34,592 --> 00:36:36,192 The Press: Has the President been in contact 831 00:36:36,193 --> 00:36:37,463 with his counterpart there? 832 00:36:37,461 --> 00:36:39,501 Mr. Earnest: I'm not aware that they have had an 833 00:36:39,497 --> 00:36:41,167 opportunity to speak since September. 834 00:36:41,165 --> 00:36:42,435 You'll recall that President Obama had an 835 00:36:42,433 --> 00:36:45,633 opportunity to meet with President Park in Laos 836 00:36:45,636 --> 00:36:48,136 in early September. 837 00:36:48,139 --> 00:36:52,079 They spoke shortly after that meeting on the 838 00:36:52,076 --> 00:36:56,176 telephone in the hours after the latest nuclear 839 00:36:56,180 --> 00:36:58,450 test from North Korea. 840 00:36:58,449 --> 00:37:02,019 I don't believe that they've spoken since then, 841 00:37:02,019 --> 00:37:04,619 but we can keep you updated on that situation. 842 00:37:04,622 --> 00:37:05,962 The Press: What does the President think about 843 00:37:05,957 --> 00:37:12,427 David Petraeus and his ability to be a Secretary 844 00:37:12,430 --> 00:37:15,000 of State if that were to be something the Trump 845 00:37:14,999 --> 00:37:16,639 administration would consider? 846 00:37:16,634 --> 00:37:18,374 Does the President think he's the kind of man who 847 00:37:18,369 --> 00:37:19,299 could do that job? 848 00:37:19,303 --> 00:37:22,303 Mr. Earnest: Listen, as I mentioned yesterday, I've 849 00:37:22,306 --> 00:37:26,006 avoided speculating on potential 850 00:37:26,010 --> 00:37:27,650 Obama administration -- 851 00:37:27,645 --> 00:37:29,385 The Press: This is someone he knows personally. 852 00:37:29,380 --> 00:37:30,620 Mr. Earnest: Well, yes -- but let me finish. 853 00:37:30,615 --> 00:37:31,315 I'll work on something here for you. 854 00:37:31,315 --> 00:37:31,845 (Laughter.) 855 00:37:31,849 --> 00:37:34,789 The Press: All right. 856 00:37:34,785 --> 00:37:35,925 Mr. Earnest: I'll try to help. 857 00:37:35,920 --> 00:37:37,420 Let me just stipulate, though, that I'm going to 858 00:37:37,421 --> 00:37:39,691 -- I'm reluctant -- as I've been reluctant to 859 00:37:39,690 --> 00:37:41,790 speculate on potential Obama administration 860 00:37:41,792 --> 00:37:44,032 personnel announcements, I'm particularly reluctant 861 00:37:44,028 --> 00:37:47,228 to speculate on any Trump administration 862 00:37:47,231 --> 00:37:49,571 personnel announcements. 863 00:37:49,567 --> 00:37:51,667 But as you point out, Kevin, the President does 864 00:37:51,669 --> 00:37:56,139 know General Petraeus, and General Petraeus assumed 865 00:37:56,140 --> 00:37:57,740 some significant responsibilities in the 866 00:37:57,742 --> 00:38:00,212 Obama administration, including not just in the 867 00:38:00,211 --> 00:38:02,381 military but also when he left the military to serve 868 00:38:02,380 --> 00:38:07,280 for a period of time as the Director of the CIA. 869 00:38:07,284 --> 00:38:17,864 And President Obama has always admired General 870 00:38:17,862 --> 00:38:22,232 Petraeus's commitment to serving the country, 871 00:38:22,233 --> 00:38:25,503 certainly when it came to leading our men and women 872 00:38:25,503 --> 00:38:31,773 in uniform in a hostile situation in Iraq. 873 00:38:31,776 --> 00:38:34,316 At the same time, obviously General Petraeus 874 00:38:34,311 --> 00:38:37,851 admitted to some serious crimes. 875 00:38:37,848 --> 00:38:44,658 And he had to pay a price for that, both publicly 876 00:38:44,655 --> 00:38:49,125 and in private -- and in his private life. 877 00:38:49,126 --> 00:38:52,526 But with regard to his potential appointment as 878 00:38:52,530 --> 00:38:55,800 Secretary of State, we'll leave it to the 879 00:38:55,800 --> 00:38:59,600 President-elect and his team to describe why 880 00:38:59,603 --> 00:39:01,573 General Petraeus may be a good fit for that position 881 00:39:01,572 --> 00:39:04,912 and why he may be under consideration for it. 882 00:39:04,909 --> 00:39:05,609 The Press: It's certainly fair to say the President 883 00:39:05,609 --> 00:39:08,149 doesn't consider him unfit. 884 00:39:08,145 --> 00:39:10,585 Mr. Earnest: Well, again, I don't think I'd pass 885 00:39:10,581 --> 00:39:12,351 judgment one way or another on a potential 886 00:39:12,349 --> 00:39:13,749 personnel announcement. 887 00:39:13,751 --> 00:39:15,021 As we've discussed earlier, General Petraeus 888 00:39:15,019 --> 00:39:17,359 is somebody with extensive experience in the Middle 889 00:39:17,354 --> 00:39:20,094 East, and he has, on occasion, served as an 890 00:39:20,091 --> 00:39:23,291 informal outside advisor to senior administration 891 00:39:23,294 --> 00:39:25,064 officials here who have sought his advice and 892 00:39:25,062 --> 00:39:27,232 counsel on some of the many difficult issues that 893 00:39:27,231 --> 00:39:31,201 our diplomats and intelligence professionals 894 00:39:31,202 --> 00:39:32,532 and military leaders face 895 00:39:32,536 --> 00:39:36,476 in that region of the world. 896 00:39:36,474 --> 00:39:37,944 That advice was not provided through any sort 897 00:39:37,942 --> 00:39:39,982 of formal channel or his service on any sort of 898 00:39:39,977 --> 00:39:42,147 formal advisory board. 899 00:39:42,146 --> 00:39:44,386 But he, nonetheless, maintains some important 900 00:39:44,381 --> 00:39:46,151 relationships with officials here in the 901 00:39:46,150 --> 00:39:47,590 Obama administration. 902 00:39:47,585 --> 00:39:50,425 And that's an indication that he is a professional 903 00:39:50,421 --> 00:39:54,121 who has a lot of experience and knowledge. 904 00:39:54,125 --> 00:39:57,225 He's somebody who loves his country and has served 905 00:39:57,228 --> 00:40:01,568 his country, and he's somebody who, over the 906 00:40:01,565 --> 00:40:04,735 course of his career, has provided valuable advice 907 00:40:04,735 --> 00:40:06,575 to Presidents in both parties. 908 00:40:06,570 --> 00:40:09,910 But his fitness for this position is something that 909 00:40:09,907 --> 00:40:12,507 I'll allow the President-elect to determine. 910 00:40:12,510 --> 00:40:14,150 The Press: Two quick ones. 911 00:40:14,145 --> 00:40:16,585 Any update on the possible strike -- I'm not sure if 912 00:40:16,580 --> 00:40:18,680 it's actually taking place -- up in Chicago? 913 00:40:18,682 --> 00:40:21,652 The SEIU is having a massive strike that could 914 00:40:21,652 --> 00:40:23,222 be impacting air travel. 915 00:40:23,220 --> 00:40:24,590 Are you aware of this? 916 00:40:24,588 --> 00:40:26,188 And if so, what's the outlook? 917 00:40:26,190 --> 00:40:27,960 Mr. Earnest: I've seen some of the news reports 918 00:40:27,958 --> 00:40:31,328 about the potential for a strike among some 919 00:40:31,328 --> 00:40:34,398 non-unionized workers in Chicago. 920 00:40:34,398 --> 00:40:36,898 I'm not aware of it having any significant impact on 921 00:40:36,901 --> 00:40:39,441 air travel at this point, but we can certainly check 922 00:40:39,436 --> 00:40:39,906 on that for you. 923 00:40:39,904 --> 00:40:40,874 I'm also not aware of any communication from the 924 00:40:40,871 --> 00:40:41,841 White House about this 925 00:40:41,839 --> 00:40:44,609 potential labor action. Chip. 926 00:40:44,608 --> 00:40:45,408 The Press: Thanks, Josh. 927 00:40:45,409 --> 00:40:46,979 On the Dakota pipeline situation, how closely is 928 00:40:46,977 --> 00:40:50,317 the President now following this? 929 00:40:50,314 --> 00:40:55,484 It really is becoming a bit of a powder keg. 930 00:40:55,486 --> 00:40:57,656 There already has been a fair amount of violence 931 00:40:57,655 --> 00:40:58,685 and there are some people who believe there could be 932 00:40:58,689 --> 00:40:59,389 more with the evacuation order from the governor 933 00:40:59,390 --> 00:41:01,290 and now a large group of veterans saying that they 934 00:41:01,292 --> 00:41:03,432 are going to go in and act as human shields to 935 00:41:03,427 --> 00:41:05,067 protect the protestors. 936 00:41:05,062 --> 00:41:07,932 Is the President -- there are people calling for the 937 00:41:07,932 --> 00:41:10,402 President to get more personally involved, for 938 00:41:10,401 --> 00:41:11,431 the administration to get more involved. 939 00:41:11,435 --> 00:41:13,735 Will they do that? 940 00:41:13,737 --> 00:41:14,707 Mr. Earnest: Well, Chip, I did see the statement 941 00:41:14,705 --> 00:41:15,635 from the governor. 942 00:41:15,639 --> 00:41:18,979 I think the governor at some point hastened to add 943 00:41:18,976 --> 00:41:22,976 that he did not anticipate forcibly removing people 944 00:41:22,980 --> 00:41:26,580 who are currently at that site. 945 00:41:26,584 --> 00:41:28,884 The President was asked about this a month ago and 946 00:41:28,886 --> 00:41:33,556 indicated his belief that protestors have a 947 00:41:33,557 --> 00:41:37,867 responsibility to protest peacefully. 948 00:41:37,862 --> 00:41:42,462 He indicated that there's an obligation for law 949 00:41:42,466 --> 00:41:45,136 enforcement authorities to show some restraint. 950 00:41:45,135 --> 00:41:48,175 And it's important for everybody to do what they 951 00:41:48,172 --> 00:41:50,942 can to try to avoid a situation where people are 952 00:41:50,941 --> 00:41:52,741 going to get hurt. 953 00:41:52,743 --> 00:41:55,313 So that obviously is a top priority. 954 00:41:55,312 --> 00:42:04,152 The President at the time indicated that there was 955 00:42:04,154 --> 00:42:05,324 an ongoing review at the Army Corps of Engineers, 956 00:42:05,322 --> 00:42:09,762 considering what sort of -- or I guess I should say 957 00:42:09,760 --> 00:42:14,630 whether additional engagement with tribes in 958 00:42:14,632 --> 00:42:19,272 the area was necessary before moving forward 959 00:42:19,270 --> 00:42:20,300 with the project. 960 00:42:20,304 --> 00:42:24,604 And that review determined that it was important for 961 00:42:24,608 --> 00:42:28,348 the Army Corps of Engineers to go back to 962 00:42:28,345 --> 00:42:31,115 the tribes and other affected populations and 963 00:42:31,115 --> 00:42:33,755 engage in additional conversations with them to 964 00:42:33,751 --> 00:42:35,421 try to address their concerns about this 965 00:42:35,419 --> 00:42:38,689 particular infrastructure project. 966 00:42:38,689 --> 00:42:40,329 So that is work that the Army Corps of Engineers 967 00:42:40,324 --> 00:42:41,024 is engaged in. 968 00:42:41,025 --> 00:42:42,155 The President obviously believes that it's 969 00:42:42,159 --> 00:42:45,729 important for government agencies in a situation 970 00:42:45,729 --> 00:42:48,329 like this to carefully consider the impact of 971 00:42:48,332 --> 00:42:50,772 these kinds of projects on local populations. 972 00:42:50,768 --> 00:42:55,308 I know that this is actually often a principle 973 00:42:55,306 --> 00:42:58,246 that Republicans -- or at least conservatives would 974 00:42:58,242 --> 00:43:00,642 hold up as an important thing for the federal 975 00:43:00,644 --> 00:43:02,214 government to do. 976 00:43:02,212 --> 00:43:03,452 And in this situation, President Obama agrees. 977 00:43:03,447 --> 00:43:08,317 And it's important for the concerns that are raised 978 00:43:08,319 --> 00:43:11,459 by local populations to be taken into consideration 979 00:43:11,455 --> 00:43:13,425 when a significant government action like 980 00:43:13,424 --> 00:43:14,654 this is being contemplated. 981 00:43:14,658 --> 00:43:16,298 The Press: So has he done anything to be more 982 00:43:16,293 --> 00:43:18,833 involved in this than what he said a month ago? 983 00:43:18,829 --> 00:43:21,029 Mr. Earnest: The President is being regularly updated 984 00:43:21,031 --> 00:43:22,431 on the situation. 985 00:43:22,433 --> 00:43:24,003 And I know that there are officials at the White 986 00:43:24,001 --> 00:43:25,341 House that have been in touch with the relevant 987 00:43:25,336 --> 00:43:27,606 agencies, including the Department of Interior. 988 00:43:27,604 --> 00:43:30,644 But I'm not aware of any specific presidential 989 00:43:30,641 --> 00:43:32,781 actions that have been taken at this point, in 990 00:43:32,776 --> 00:43:39,946 part because the renewed engagement of local 991 00:43:39,950 --> 00:43:44,620 populations by the Army Corps of Engineers is 992 00:43:44,621 --> 00:43:46,591 consistent with what the President believes is an 993 00:43:46,590 --> 00:43:48,860 appropriate next step. 994 00:43:48,859 --> 00:43:50,059 The Press: One of the possibilities that was 995 00:43:50,060 --> 00:43:52,430 suggested a month ago was rerouting the pipeline. 996 00:43:52,429 --> 00:43:53,799 Where does that stand? 997 00:43:53,797 --> 00:43:56,137 Mr. Earnest: Well, again, I can't speak for the Army 998 00:43:56,133 --> 00:43:57,773 Corps in terms of the discussions that they're 999 00:43:57,768 --> 00:44:02,738 having with the tribes in the area. 1000 00:44:02,740 --> 00:44:06,110 I think the President's hope is that both sides 1001 00:44:06,110 --> 00:44:09,410 will sit at the table in a constructive spirit and 1002 00:44:09,413 --> 00:44:12,553 actually focus on trying to resolve these 1003 00:44:12,549 --> 00:44:15,549 differences as quickly as possible. 1004 00:44:15,552 --> 00:44:17,592 And I think the President's view is that 1005 00:44:17,588 --> 00:44:20,058 it's in the interests of both the tribe -- the 1006 00:44:20,057 --> 00:44:22,727 locally affected tribes and the Army Corps of 1007 00:44:22,726 --> 00:44:25,426 Engineers to resolve these differences as soon as 1008 00:44:25,429 --> 00:44:28,269 possible and let the project go forward. 1009 00:44:28,265 --> 00:44:30,535 The Press: He has no plans to get more personally 1010 00:44:30,534 --> 00:44:31,974 involved at this point? 1011 00:44:31,969 --> 00:44:34,309 Mr. Earnest: At this point, I'm not aware of 1012 00:44:34,304 --> 00:44:36,504 any impending presidential actions. 1013 00:44:36,507 --> 00:44:38,207 But if that changes we'll let you 1014 00:44:38,208 --> 00:44:40,308 know. April. 1015 00:44:40,310 --> 00:44:42,710 The Press: Josh, two quick questions. 1016 00:44:42,713 --> 00:44:46,213 Are there any plans for any phone conversations or 1017 00:44:46,216 --> 00:44:49,216 any meetings, face to face, with President Obama 1018 00:44:49,219 --> 00:44:52,289 and President-elect Trump again? 1019 00:44:52,289 --> 00:44:53,259 Mr. Earnest: I certainly wouldn't rule them out, 1020 00:44:53,257 --> 00:44:54,627 but there are no -- nothing is scheduled at 1021 00:44:54,625 --> 00:44:56,165 this point. 1022 00:44:56,160 --> 00:44:57,460 The Press: Nothing is scheduled. 1023 00:44:57,461 --> 00:44:59,131 When you say you wouldn't rule it out, could it be 1024 00:44:59,129 --> 00:45:01,429 this week, next week, and it just happened just 1025 00:45:01,432 --> 00:45:03,002 by happenstance? 1026 00:45:03,000 --> 00:45:04,440 How is it happening? 1027 00:45:04,435 --> 00:45:05,935 Mr. Earnest: It typically happens when the 1028 00:45:05,936 --> 00:45:07,176 President-elect telephones the White House and says 1029 00:45:07,171 --> 00:45:08,441 that he would like to speak to the President of 1030 00:45:08,439 --> 00:45:10,439 the United States, and the President either gets on 1031 00:45:10,441 --> 00:45:12,941 the phone or calls him back quickly. 1032 00:45:12,943 --> 00:45:13,543 The Press: Has he called -- 1033 00:45:13,544 --> 00:45:15,744 Mr. Earnest: I can't speak 1034 00:45:15,746 --> 00:45:17,386 to the timing of those calls. 1035 00:45:17,381 --> 00:45:18,181 The Press: Why can't you? 1036 00:45:18,182 --> 00:45:19,312 Mr. Earnest: I don't know 1037 00:45:19,316 --> 00:45:22,156 when the calls have been placed. 1038 00:45:22,152 --> 00:45:22,982 The Press: Next question. 1039 00:45:22,986 --> 00:45:24,556 But that was a valid question. 1040 00:45:24,555 --> 00:45:27,925 Next question. 1041 00:45:27,925 --> 00:45:34,265 How do you rate or gauge the effectiveness of a 1042 00:45:34,264 --> 00:45:37,334 presidential policy, an initiative, particularly 1043 00:45:37,334 --> 00:45:42,044 when it is dismantled, defunded, or taken apart 1044 00:45:42,039 --> 00:45:46,779 not like you intended or originally placed it -- 1045 00:45:46,777 --> 00:45:49,617 how do you gauge for legacy purposes the 1046 00:45:49,613 --> 00:45:52,213 effectiveness of that piece of policy 1047 00:45:52,216 --> 00:45:54,886 or an initiative? 1048 00:45:54,885 --> 00:45:57,655 Mr. Earnest: Well, I think, April, what I would 1049 00:45:57,654 --> 00:45:59,124 do is I'd draw your attention to a metaphor 1050 00:45:59,123 --> 00:46:00,693 that you've heard the President use before that 1051 00:46:00,691 --> 00:46:05,361 he likens his service in the Oval Office to a relay 1052 00:46:05,362 --> 00:46:08,702 run, that for eight years he's had the baton, he's 1053 00:46:08,699 --> 00:46:10,669 had the responsibility of advancing the interests 1054 00:46:10,667 --> 00:46:12,067 of the country. 1055 00:46:12,069 --> 00:46:13,569 He took the handoff from President George W. 1056 00:46:13,570 --> 00:46:18,810 Bush, and he ran as far and as fast as he could 1057 00:46:18,809 --> 00:46:21,009 over the last eight years. 1058 00:46:21,011 --> 00:46:23,951 But on January 20th, it will be time for him to 1059 00:46:23,947 --> 00:46:27,187 hand off the baton to the next President -- in this 1060 00:46:27,184 --> 00:46:28,724 case it will be President Trump. 1061 00:46:28,719 --> 00:46:31,389 And there will be an opportunity, a very clear 1062 00:46:31,388 --> 00:46:34,358 opportunity for people to evaluate the progress that 1063 00:46:34,358 --> 00:46:37,028 the country has made during the eight years 1064 00:46:37,027 --> 00:46:38,697 that the President was carrying the baton. 1065 00:46:38,695 --> 00:46:40,095 And the Affordable Care Act is a good example. 1066 00:46:40,097 --> 00:46:41,867 And I laid out some clear benchmarks of the progress 1067 00:46:41,865 --> 00:46:44,535 that our country has made in the eight years that 1068 00:46:44,535 --> 00:46:45,505 President Obama was in office. 1069 00:46:45,502 --> 00:46:47,202 And what I would encourage you to do -- and I think 1070 00:46:47,204 --> 00:46:49,704 it's common sense -- I think this is what people 1071 00:46:49,706 --> 00:46:53,976 are likely to do, is to compare the progress that 1072 00:46:53,977 --> 00:46:55,947 our country has enjoyed under President Obama's 1073 00:46:55,946 --> 00:47:00,916 leadership to the progress that our country makes 1074 00:47:00,918 --> 00:47:03,518 after President Trump makes the changes 1075 00:47:03,520 --> 00:47:05,190 that he's recommended. 1076 00:47:05,189 --> 00:47:06,789 We've tried it the way that President 1077 00:47:06,790 --> 00:47:07,990 Obama has advocated. 1078 00:47:07,991 --> 00:47:09,831 We certainly would have appreciated greater 1079 00:47:09,826 --> 00:47:12,596 cooperation with Republicans in Congress 1080 00:47:12,596 --> 00:47:14,936 because there is more that we could have done to 1081 00:47:14,932 --> 00:47:17,502 strengthen the economy and to improve our country, 1082 00:47:17,501 --> 00:47:21,001 and even common-sense things like an investment 1083 00:47:21,004 --> 00:47:23,304 in infrastructure, reform of our tax code, and 1084 00:47:23,307 --> 00:47:27,707 immigration reform, all of which would have had 1085 00:47:27,711 --> 00:47:30,081 significant positive economic benefits. 1086 00:47:30,080 --> 00:47:31,950 So we could have done more. 1087 00:47:31,949 --> 00:47:33,549 But look, after eight 1088 00:47:33,550 --> 00:47:36,120 years, there's no making excuses. 1089 00:47:36,119 --> 00:47:40,329 We'll set the bar where it is, and we'll take a look 1090 00:47:40,324 --> 00:47:41,994 at the progress that we've made on health care. 1091 00:47:41,992 --> 00:47:43,362 We'll take a look at the progress we've made on the 1092 00:47:43,360 --> 00:47:46,930 economy -- 73 consecutive months of job growth, 15.5 1093 00:47:46,930 --> 00:47:48,770 million private sector 1094 00:47:48,765 --> 00:47:51,265 jobs over the last 80 months. 1095 00:47:51,268 --> 00:47:53,008 There are a variety of metrics I think that will 1096 00:47:53,003 --> 00:47:56,003 clearly indicate what kind of progress we've made 1097 00:47:56,006 --> 00:47:57,646 under President Obama's leadership. 1098 00:47:57,641 --> 00:48:00,611 The American people voted for a candidate who was 1099 00:48:00,611 --> 00:48:03,151 promising to radically change all of that, and 1100 00:48:03,146 --> 00:48:09,156 we'll have an opportunity to measure the wisdom of 1101 00:48:09,152 --> 00:48:10,452 making those changes. 1102 00:48:10,454 --> 00:48:11,424 The Press: And for the sake of this conversation, 1103 00:48:11,421 --> 00:48:13,661 what was the most significant pieces of 1104 00:48:13,657 --> 00:48:17,397 policy, executive order, or anything, initiative, 1105 00:48:17,394 --> 00:48:18,164 that the Bush 1106 00:48:18,161 --> 00:48:19,931 administration had -- George W. 1107 00:48:19,930 --> 00:48:22,770 Bush administration had that this administration 1108 00:48:22,766 --> 00:48:25,866 dismantled and there was a significant change for the 1109 00:48:25,869 --> 00:48:32,639 better over these eight years? 1110 00:48:32,643 --> 00:48:36,143 Mr. Earnest: Well, look, we've spent a lot of time 1111 00:48:36,146 --> 00:48:37,916 talking about it, and I think it applies here -- 1112 00:48:37,914 --> 00:48:39,454 the Affordable Care Act. 1113 00:48:39,449 --> 00:48:42,749 For a hundred years, Presidents in both parties 1114 00:48:42,753 --> 00:48:46,153 had assumed office promising to fix the 1115 00:48:46,156 --> 00:48:49,926 health care system to ensure that consumers were 1116 00:48:49,926 --> 00:48:51,796 better protected, to ensure that more Americans 1117 00:48:51,795 --> 00:48:54,335 had access to health care costs, to ensure that 1118 00:48:54,331 --> 00:48:57,571 health care costs weren't growing so rapidly, to 1119 00:48:57,567 --> 00:49:00,407 strengthen Medicare, which is something that a more 1120 00:49:00,404 --> 00:49:01,304 recent generation of 1121 00:49:01,305 --> 00:49:05,705 Presidents were faced with. 1122 00:49:05,709 --> 00:49:08,079 And by their own accounting, all those 1123 00:49:08,078 --> 00:49:09,318 Presidents failed. 1124 00:49:09,313 --> 00:49:10,983 They weren't able to get it done because of the 1125 00:49:10,981 --> 00:49:12,651 enormous legislative barriers that stood in 1126 00:49:12,649 --> 00:49:14,919 their way and because of the inherent complexity of 1127 00:49:14,918 --> 00:49:20,328 overhauling a sector of the economy that comprises 1128 00:49:20,324 --> 00:49:23,694 about 20 percent of our overall economy. 1129 00:49:23,694 --> 00:49:25,094 So it's substantial. 1130 00:49:25,095 --> 00:49:27,065 But President Obama succeeded in doing it. 1131 00:49:27,064 --> 00:49:28,464 And the results speak for themselves. 1132 00:49:28,465 --> 00:49:30,765 And there will be an opportunity to evaluate 1133 00:49:30,767 --> 00:49:32,807 whether or not the kinds of changes that President 1134 00:49:32,803 --> 00:49:34,873 Trump is recommending actually do have a 1135 00:49:34,871 --> 00:49:38,411 positive impact on the goals that Presidents in 1136 00:49:38,408 --> 00:49:40,378 both parties have stated. 1137 00:49:40,377 --> 00:49:43,117 So we can determine whether or not the Trump 1138 00:49:43,113 --> 00:49:46,683 administration succeeds in expanding access to 1139 00:49:46,683 --> 00:49:48,723 coverage and limiting the growth in health care 1140 00:49:48,719 --> 00:49:50,419 costs, and extending the life of *Medicaid 1141 00:49:50,420 --> 00:49:54,220 [Medicare], and protecting consumers and in reducing 1142 00:49:54,224 --> 00:49:55,594 the deficit -- all tangible benefits of the 1143 00:49:55,592 --> 00:49:56,662 Affordable Care Act. 1144 00:49:56,660 --> 00:49:59,930 We'll see if the changes that they vow to implement 1145 00:49:59,930 --> 00:50:01,530 will build on that progress and increase 1146 00:50:01,531 --> 00:50:04,071 those benefits. 1147 00:50:04,067 --> 00:50:06,737 And if so, President Obama will be among the first to 1148 00:50:06,737 --> 00:50:09,477 give them credit for doing so. 1149 00:50:09,473 --> 00:50:13,173 But if not, I think it certainly will once again 1150 00:50:13,176 --> 00:50:16,076 confirm the wisdom of the approach that President 1151 00:50:16,079 --> 00:50:16,679 Obama has pursued. 1152 00:50:16,680 --> 00:50:17,780 The Press: It wasn't there before. 1153 00:50:17,781 --> 00:50:19,921 I'm talking like things like education, or even 1154 00:50:19,916 --> 00:50:25,226 the military, with stem cell -- different changes. 1155 00:50:25,222 --> 00:50:28,792 What was dismantled there from when this President 1156 00:50:28,792 --> 00:50:31,462 came and changed for the positive throughout his 1157 00:50:31,461 --> 00:50:32,861 eight years -- dismantled from that 1158 00:50:32,863 --> 00:50:35,263 former administration? 1159 00:50:35,265 --> 00:50:37,965 Mr. Earnest: The former administration certainly 1160 00:50:37,968 --> 00:50:40,938 was reluctant -- in some cases, unwilling -- to 1161 00:50:40,937 --> 00:50:42,437 engage with the international community to 1162 00:50:42,439 --> 00:50:44,739 fight climate change. 1163 00:50:44,741 --> 00:50:48,641 The Bush administration famously ensured that the 1164 00:50:48,645 --> 00:50:50,285 United States remained one of the holdouts from the 1165 00:50:50,280 --> 00:50:51,820 Kyoto Protocol. 1166 00:50:51,815 --> 00:50:53,985 That undermined that coordinated international 1167 00:50:53,984 --> 00:50:57,384 effort to confront climate change. 1168 00:50:57,387 --> 00:50:59,757 President Obama reversed that strategy. 1169 00:50:59,756 --> 00:51:03,626 And as a result, we have made progress in both 1170 00:51:03,627 --> 00:51:07,597 reducing emissions and growing our economy. 1171 00:51:07,597 --> 00:51:12,707 And there is a lot more important work to be done 1172 00:51:12,702 --> 00:51:14,872 on that front, and that important work is going to 1173 00:51:14,871 --> 00:51:18,311 require the international community to cooperate in 1174 00:51:18,308 --> 00:51:21,678 pursuit of that effort. Jordan. 1175 00:51:21,678 --> 00:51:22,348 The Press: Thanks, Josh. 1176 00:51:22,345 --> 00:51:24,215 Can you tell us how this dinner last night with 1177 00:51:24,214 --> 00:51:26,154 President Obama and the Vice President and Senator 1178 00:51:26,149 --> 00:51:27,989 Reid came about, and tell us what they 1179 00:51:27,984 --> 00:51:30,554 discussed over dinner? 1180 00:51:30,554 --> 00:51:31,924 Mr. Earnest: I don't have a detailed readout to 1181 00:51:31,922 --> 00:51:36,492 provide, primarily because it was a social event. 1182 00:51:36,493 --> 00:51:37,723 And this was an opportunity for the 1183 00:51:37,727 --> 00:51:39,627 President and the First Lady to host a private 1184 00:51:39,629 --> 00:51:43,799 dinner in honor of Senator Reid and his 1185 00:51:43,800 --> 00:51:45,540 impending retirement. 1186 00:51:45,535 --> 00:51:48,335 Over the last eight years, the Democratic leader of 1187 00:51:48,338 --> 00:51:51,838 the Senate has been an enormously valuable 1188 00:51:51,842 --> 00:51:56,012 partner to the President. 1189 00:51:56,012 --> 00:52:01,352 And last night was a small, private, social 1190 00:52:01,351 --> 00:52:04,551 opportunity for the President and First Lady 1191 00:52:04,554 --> 00:52:09,824 to offer some appreciation to Leader Reid for his 1192 00:52:09,826 --> 00:52:11,326 friendship, for his partnership over the 1193 00:52:11,328 --> 00:52:12,998 last eight years. 1194 00:52:12,996 --> 00:52:15,666 The Press: Was this at all on the CR or 1195 00:52:15,665 --> 00:52:16,505 anything else like that? 1196 00:52:16,500 --> 00:52:18,540 Or was it just social? 1197 00:52:18,535 --> 00:52:20,005 Mr. Earnest: My guess is they probably couldn't get 1198 00:52:20,003 --> 00:52:21,343 in and out of the room without talking at least a 1199 00:52:21,338 --> 00:52:22,538 little business, but it 1200 00:52:22,539 --> 00:52:25,439 was primarily a social event. 1201 00:52:25,442 --> 00:52:26,212 The Press: One last thing 1202 00:52:26,209 --> 00:52:28,449 on the Castro funeral plans. 1203 00:52:28,445 --> 00:52:29,945 I know there's the memorial service today, 1204 00:52:29,946 --> 00:52:32,516 but there's a lot going on -- I know the formal 1205 00:52:32,516 --> 00:52:35,356 funeral ceremony is taking place on Sunday. 1206 00:52:35,352 --> 00:52:38,152 Is the United States sending anyone to that 1207 00:52:38,154 --> 00:52:42,264 ceremony,y or is this the only event, memorial 1208 00:52:42,259 --> 00:52:43,189 event, that is being 1209 00:52:43,193 --> 00:52:44,863 attended by U.S. officials? 1210 00:52:44,861 --> 00:52:46,901 Mr. Earnest: My understanding, at least 1211 00:52:46,897 --> 00:52:48,697 the way that it's been described to me is this is 1212 00:52:48,698 --> 00:52:53,668 -- the event that the Cuban government is 1213 00:52:53,670 --> 00:52:56,670 organizing for this evening is the event where 1214 00:52:56,673 --> 00:52:59,043 the United States will be represented by the Deputy 1215 00:52:59,042 --> 00:53:00,612 National Security Advisor and by the 1216 00:53:00,610 --> 00:53:04,680 top diplomat in Cuba. 1217 00:53:04,681 --> 00:53:07,821 I guess I'd refer you to the embassy in Havana for 1218 00:53:07,817 --> 00:53:09,487 greater information about whether or not there 1219 00:53:09,486 --> 00:53:10,086 will be a U.S. 1220 00:53:10,086 --> 00:53:12,156 presence at any of those other events. 1221 00:53:12,155 --> 00:53:15,695 Certainly no one from the White House and no other 1222 00:53:15,692 --> 00:53:18,862 delegation will be sent to Cuba to participate in any 1223 00:53:18,862 --> 00:53:20,032 of the other events. 1224 00:53:20,030 --> 00:53:22,130 But I don't know if there will be other diplomats or 1225 00:53:22,132 --> 00:53:24,202 other officials who are based at the embassy that 1226 00:53:24,200 --> 00:53:24,940 may participate in 1227 00:53:24,935 --> 00:53:27,335 some other events. Alexis. 1228 00:53:27,337 --> 00:53:28,637 The Press: Josh, two quick questions. 1229 00:53:28,638 --> 00:53:31,538 To follow up on what Olivier was asking, can 1230 00:53:31,541 --> 00:53:34,281 you check and see -- has General Flynn had a chance 1231 00:53:34,277 --> 00:53:37,977 to talk with Susan Rice? 1232 00:53:37,981 --> 00:53:39,251 Mr. Earnest: I don't know whether or not General 1233 00:53:39,249 --> 00:53:45,119 Flynn has had a conversation with Dr. Rice 1234 00:53:45,121 --> 00:53:48,021 at this point. 1235 00:53:48,024 --> 00:53:51,324 What I can tell you is that there obviously is 1236 00:53:51,328 --> 00:53:53,098 important work that's being done by the 1237 00:53:53,096 --> 00:53:55,696 officials at the National Security Council that have 1238 00:53:55,699 --> 00:53:58,869 been designated to engage with the transition team 1239 00:53:58,868 --> 00:54:00,708 appointed by the President-elect. 1240 00:54:00,704 --> 00:54:03,944 And I know that there are officials who are 1241 00:54:03,940 --> 00:54:05,210 designated by the President-elect that have 1242 00:54:05,208 --> 00:54:08,948 been focused on a smooth and effective transition 1243 00:54:08,945 --> 00:54:10,515 at the National Security Council. 1244 00:54:10,513 --> 00:54:12,353 That cooperation is underway, but I don't know 1245 00:54:12,349 --> 00:54:15,589 if that cooperation has included a phone call 1246 00:54:15,585 --> 00:54:17,585 between the National Security Advisor and the 1247 00:54:17,587 --> 00:54:20,587 President-elect's national security advisor. 1248 00:54:20,590 --> 00:54:21,630 The Press: A question about the metrics. 1249 00:54:21,625 --> 00:54:24,225 Before the election, we listened to President 1250 00:54:24,227 --> 00:54:27,827 Obama tell Americans that his prediction was that 1251 00:54:27,831 --> 00:54:30,501 Donald Trump and a Donald Trump administration could 1252 00:54:30,500 --> 00:54:33,840 reverse -- he described it, everything he'd 1253 00:54:33,837 --> 00:54:34,767 done is at risk. 1254 00:54:34,771 --> 00:54:40,041 And he was quite strident in his dire predictions. 1255 00:54:40,043 --> 00:54:43,983 Since the election and today again, yesterday, 1256 00:54:43,980 --> 00:54:47,650 the President and your rhetoric is that -- and he 1257 00:54:47,651 --> 00:54:49,591 even told The New Yorker he didn't expect more than 1258 00:54:49,586 --> 00:54:55,826 20, 25 percent of his achievements to be erased. 1259 00:54:55,825 --> 00:55:00,695 Can those two predictions of it's going to be much 1260 00:55:00,697 --> 00:55:02,197 harder than they imagine or they're going to take 1261 00:55:02,198 --> 00:55:05,038 away everything -- can those be consistent? 1262 00:55:05,035 --> 00:55:06,975 Or was he exaggerating then? 1263 00:55:06,970 --> 00:55:11,740 Or is he exaggerating rosy eyeglasses now? 1264 00:55:11,741 --> 00:55:12,541 Mr. Earnest: Well, I think 1265 00:55:12,542 --> 00:55:13,372 that's a good question, Alexis. 1266 00:55:13,376 --> 00:55:14,816 I think the point that the President was making on 1267 00:55:14,811 --> 00:55:17,881 the campaign trail is that progress is at risk 1268 00:55:17,881 --> 00:55:21,121 because of the way -- because of the outcome 1269 00:55:21,117 --> 00:55:24,657 of the election. 1270 00:55:24,654 --> 00:55:26,724 You had one candidate who was vowing to build on the 1271 00:55:26,723 --> 00:55:30,823 progress that we've made under the Affordable Care 1272 00:55:30,827 --> 00:55:34,327 Act -- that's not the candidate that won. 1273 00:55:34,330 --> 00:55:35,600 The candidate that won is the candidate that's 1274 00:55:35,598 --> 00:55:39,538 vowing to repeal the Affordable Care Act and 1275 00:55:39,536 --> 00:55:43,076 has even appointed or somehow signaled his 1276 00:55:43,073 --> 00:55:46,643 intention to nominate a Secretary of Health and 1277 00:55:46,643 --> 00:55:50,643 Human Services who has been a strident critic of 1278 00:55:50,647 --> 00:55:53,947 the Affordable Care Act. 1279 00:55:53,950 --> 00:55:55,550 Elections have consequences. 1280 00:55:55,552 --> 00:56:00,022 And as a result, the progress that we've made 1281 00:56:00,023 --> 00:56:04,763 under the Affordable Care Act is at risk. 1282 00:56:04,761 --> 00:56:05,361 There's just no denying that -- and at risk in a 1283 00:56:05,361 --> 00:56:08,061 way that it would not have been had the election 1284 00:56:08,064 --> 00:56:09,764 outcome been different. 1285 00:56:09,766 --> 00:56:13,606 That said, there will be some limits on the 1286 00:56:13,603 --> 00:56:15,373 ambition that was articulated by the 1287 00:56:15,371 --> 00:56:20,341 President-elect, just based on the need to 1288 00:56:20,343 --> 00:56:24,243 confront the reality of the progress that we've 1289 00:56:24,247 --> 00:56:25,917 made under the Affordable Care Act. 1290 00:56:25,915 --> 00:56:27,115 And that's something that he'll have to grapple 1291 00:56:27,117 --> 00:56:29,457 with in office. 1292 00:56:29,452 --> 00:56:35,162 But the risk facing the millions of Americans that 1293 00:56:35,158 --> 00:56:36,858 benefitted from the Affordable Care Act -- and 1294 00:56:36,860 --> 00:56:39,060 I don't just mean the 20 million who got health 1295 00:56:39,062 --> 00:56:40,502 insurance from the Affordable Care Act, but I 1296 00:56:40,497 --> 00:56:45,237 also mean the 150 million Americans who get health 1297 00:56:45,235 --> 00:56:48,505 insurance through their employer who certainly are 1298 00:56:48,505 --> 00:56:50,575 in a position where they could see their employer 1299 00:56:50,573 --> 00:56:53,213 premiums go up more quickly than they have in 1300 00:56:53,209 --> 00:56:55,849 the last few years, and they certainly are at risk 1301 00:56:55,845 --> 00:56:57,485 of seeing some of these consumer protections that 1302 00:56:57,480 --> 00:57:01,520 they benefit from now being stripped away. 1303 00:57:01,518 --> 00:57:06,218 But like I said, elections have consequences. 1304 00:57:06,222 --> 00:57:08,492 And I think that is reconcilable with the idea 1305 00:57:08,491 --> 00:57:11,231 that every President, when they take office, does 1306 00:57:11,227 --> 00:57:14,197 have to deal with the reality that has a 1307 00:57:14,197 --> 00:57:15,737 way of intruding. 1308 00:57:15,732 --> 00:57:16,732 The Press: I just want to clarify. 1309 00:57:16,733 --> 00:57:19,933 The President -- and we can imagine what the good 1310 00:57:19,936 --> 00:57:22,836 reasons were -- he did not tell voters, don't worry, 1311 00:57:22,839 --> 00:57:25,479 if she loses, it's going to be really hard for him 1312 00:57:25,475 --> 00:57:27,345 to do this stuff -- right? 1313 00:57:27,343 --> 00:57:29,213 Which is what he's saying now. 1314 00:57:29,212 --> 00:57:30,552 It's going to be really hard for this 1315 00:57:30,547 --> 00:57:33,917 administration to undo, he's arguing, what the 1316 00:57:33,917 --> 00:57:35,687 Obama administration achieved. 1317 00:57:35,685 --> 00:57:36,585 Mr. Earnest: The President was making an argument 1318 00:57:36,586 --> 00:57:39,586 based on risk. 1319 00:57:39,589 --> 00:57:42,889 And he was underscoring the risk that exists if 1320 00:57:42,892 --> 00:57:47,202 President Trump was elected because the 1321 00:57:47,197 --> 00:57:49,967 President-elect is vowing to roll back the progress 1322 00:57:49,966 --> 00:57:52,066 that we've made in so many areas. 1323 00:57:52,068 --> 00:57:54,538 That risk has now been realized. 1324 00:57:54,537 --> 00:57:56,737 That risk is present in a way that it would not 1325 00:57:56,739 --> 00:57:58,139 otherwise have been. 1326 00:57:58,141 --> 00:58:00,111 So the President's rhetoric has, 1327 00:58:00,109 --> 00:58:05,519 unfortunately, come to pass. 1328 00:58:05,515 --> 00:58:06,785 And now this is a risk that our country is 1329 00:58:06,783 --> 00:58:09,783 facing, unfortunately, a risk that the President 1330 00:58:09,786 --> 00:58:12,886 would prefer that we not have to pile on top of the 1331 00:58:12,889 --> 00:58:17,159 other inherent risks that any President will 1332 00:58:17,160 --> 00:58:19,130 have to encounter. 1333 00:58:19,128 --> 00:58:22,828 But yet that is what we face. 1334 00:58:22,832 --> 00:58:25,872 That risk is mitigated by the fact that, yes, 1335 00:58:25,869 --> 00:58:27,969 reality has a way of intruding. 1336 00:58:27,971 --> 00:58:34,781 But that risk is there nonetheless, and it's one 1337 00:58:34,777 --> 00:58:35,507 that the next administration will 1338 00:58:35,511 --> 00:58:37,451 have to deal with. Mike. 1339 00:58:37,447 --> 00:58:39,747 The Press: You were speaking earlier about the 1340 00:58:39,749 --> 00:58:40,919 important role the U.S. 1341 00:58:40,917 --> 00:58:44,187 is taking in the fight against ISIS in Iraq, 1342 00:58:44,187 --> 00:58:49,227 including, obviously, the battle in Mosul. 1343 00:58:49,225 --> 00:58:52,395 There has been some concern expressed about 1344 00:58:52,395 --> 00:58:54,995 the battle plan, the strategy there and its 1345 00:58:54,998 --> 00:58:58,338 impact on civilian casualties. 1346 00:58:58,334 --> 00:58:59,934 You probably have read there have been published 1347 00:58:59,936 --> 00:59:03,836 estimates already of 600 or more Iraqi civilians 1348 00:59:03,840 --> 00:59:06,910 already being killed in that and some controversy 1349 00:59:06,910 --> 00:59:08,540 over whether there should be a change 1350 00:59:08,544 --> 00:59:10,044 in the approach. 1351 00:59:10,046 --> 00:59:12,686 Does the administration see any need to alter the 1352 00:59:12,682 --> 00:59:15,052 approach to the battle of Mosul to reduce 1353 00:59:15,051 --> 00:59:17,791 civilian casualties? 1354 00:59:17,787 --> 00:59:18,717 Mr. Earnest: Well, Mike, I've read a 1355 00:59:18,721 --> 00:59:19,691 little bit about this. 1356 00:59:19,689 --> 00:59:24,499 In some ways -- I would encourage you to also 1357 00:59:24,494 --> 00:59:26,134 direct your question to the Department of Defense. 1358 00:59:26,129 --> 00:59:27,699 They can provide you probably more tangible 1359 00:59:27,697 --> 00:59:30,437 operational assessment of some changes that 1360 00:59:30,433 --> 00:59:32,233 may be contemplated. 1361 00:59:32,235 --> 00:59:34,535 But as a policy matter, why don't I lay out a 1362 00:59:34,537 --> 00:59:35,737 couple of the considerations that 1363 00:59:35,738 --> 00:59:37,938 factor into this. 1364 00:59:37,941 --> 00:59:43,911 The first is that in the two and a half years that 1365 00:59:43,913 --> 00:59:48,523 ISIL has been in control of Mosul, we know that any 1366 00:59:48,518 --> 00:59:54,058 number of civilians have been killed, executed, 1367 00:59:54,057 --> 01:00:02,067 tortured, harassed, threatened, maimed. 1368 01:00:02,065 --> 01:00:09,375 So it's not as if not acting to retake Mosul 1369 01:00:09,372 --> 01:00:11,742 somehow enhances the security of the civilians 1370 01:00:11,741 --> 01:00:13,141 who are already there. 1371 01:00:13,142 --> 01:00:17,552 So the question really is, given that the status quo 1372 01:00:17,547 --> 01:00:24,017 is unacceptable, how do you execute an operation 1373 01:00:24,020 --> 01:00:29,930 that avoids unnecessary risk to the 1374 01:00:29,926 --> 01:00:32,926 civilian population? 1375 01:00:32,929 --> 01:00:34,969 Anytime you're talking about the second-largest 1376 01:00:34,964 --> 01:00:37,864 city in Iraq, this is a pretty 1377 01:00:37,867 --> 01:00:39,207 significant challenge. 1378 01:00:39,202 --> 01:00:43,602 And it is why the United States spent months 1379 01:00:43,606 --> 01:00:47,906 working closely with Iraqi security forces and with 1380 01:00:47,910 --> 01:00:50,410 other members of our coalition to effectively 1381 01:00:50,413 --> 01:00:54,453 plan for the operation to retake Mosul. 1382 01:00:54,450 --> 01:00:57,150 And what we have seen thus far is effective 1383 01:00:57,153 --> 01:00:58,953 coordination among a variety of fighting 1384 01:00:58,955 --> 01:01:01,495 forces, Kurdish forces, Iraqi security forces, 1385 01:01:01,491 --> 01:01:03,861 both of which are being 1386 01:01:03,860 --> 01:01:08,100 advised and assisted by U.S. 1387 01:01:08,097 --> 01:01:10,437 Special Forces on the ground there. 1388 01:01:10,433 --> 01:01:12,803 And we're pleased at the kind of progress that has 1389 01:01:12,802 --> 01:01:14,672 been made thus far. 1390 01:01:14,670 --> 01:01:19,110 The other element of the planning was actually 1391 01:01:19,108 --> 01:01:22,278 coordinated by the United Nations to ensure that 1392 01:01:22,278 --> 01:01:28,548 there was sufficient capacity to deal with the 1393 01:01:28,551 --> 01:01:31,491 humanitarian situation and to deal with the 1394 01:01:31,487 --> 01:01:34,657 possibility, even the likelihood that there 1395 01:01:34,657 --> 01:01:38,197 would be civilians fleeing that city once parts of it 1396 01:01:38,194 --> 01:01:40,064 had been liberated. 1397 01:01:40,063 --> 01:01:43,963 And fleeing the city means ending up in the desert 1398 01:01:43,966 --> 01:01:45,436 without any food, water or shelter. 1399 01:01:45,435 --> 01:01:48,475 And that has meant that the United Nations and a 1400 01:01:48,471 --> 01:01:51,871 variety of multilateral aid organizations and some 1401 01:01:51,874 --> 01:01:54,474 countries have mobilized resources to make sure 1402 01:01:54,477 --> 01:01:56,177 that that aid is readily available to people 1403 01:01:56,179 --> 01:01:57,579 fleeing violence. 1404 01:01:57,580 --> 01:02:02,120 And we've seen that planning be useful as 1405 01:02:02,118 --> 01:02:04,958 thousands of civilians fleeing Mosul have been 1406 01:02:04,954 --> 01:02:09,924 able to benefit from the shelter, food, water and 1407 01:02:09,926 --> 01:02:13,426 medicine that's provided by the United Nations. 1408 01:02:13,429 --> 01:02:14,869 But there's more work to be done. 1409 01:02:14,864 --> 01:02:16,734 There are more risks that will be faced. 1410 01:02:16,732 --> 01:02:20,702 And certainly minimizing the risk to the civilian 1411 01:02:20,703 --> 01:02:24,803 population is an important priority of this 1412 01:02:24,807 --> 01:02:26,077 ongoing operation. 1413 01:02:26,075 --> 01:02:28,245 But anytime you are mobilizing a large-scale 1414 01:02:28,244 --> 01:02:30,514 military operation in an urban environment, there 1415 01:02:30,513 --> 01:02:31,683 are going to be risks. 1416 01:02:31,681 --> 01:02:36,621 And that risk is only enhanced when you have an 1417 01:02:36,619 --> 01:02:40,889 organization like ISIL that is so depraved that 1418 01:02:40,890 --> 01:02:42,760 they're willing to use innocent men, women and 1419 01:02:42,758 --> 01:02:44,498 children as human shields. 1420 01:02:44,494 --> 01:02:50,734 So the United States and others who are involved in 1421 01:02:50,733 --> 01:02:53,003 this operation will certainly be working to 1422 01:02:53,002 --> 01:02:56,472 minimize the risk that is faced by civilians. 1423 01:02:56,472 --> 01:02:58,712 But it is entirely -- it's impossible to reduce 1424 01:02:58,708 --> 01:03:00,348 that risk to zero. 1425 01:03:00,343 --> 01:03:02,813 And as you evaluate what sort of risk you're 1426 01:03:02,812 --> 01:03:05,912 willing to tolerate, it's important to remember that 1427 01:03:05,915 --> 01:03:11,355 those civilians are facing a severe risk even if the 1428 01:03:11,354 --> 01:03:13,124 status quo were in place and even if there were not 1429 01:03:13,122 --> 01:03:16,492 an operation underway to retake that city. 1430 01:03:16,492 --> 01:03:17,192 The Press: One more question. 1431 01:03:17,193 --> 01:03:18,833 Most of the trade lobbyists and people 1432 01:03:18,828 --> 01:03:21,368 around town have kind of given up on the TPP, 1433 01:03:21,364 --> 01:03:24,204 particularly during this administration. 1434 01:03:24,200 --> 01:03:26,440 When you've been asked about it in the past, 1435 01:03:26,435 --> 01:03:28,135 you've been kind of coy about whether the 1436 01:03:28,137 --> 01:03:29,577 administration is still 1437 01:03:29,572 --> 01:03:31,672 trying to do anything on it. 1438 01:03:31,674 --> 01:03:34,074 The lame duck session is starting. 1439 01:03:34,076 --> 01:03:37,576 The President just had dinner with the Senate 1440 01:03:37,580 --> 01:03:40,550 Democratic leader last night. 1441 01:03:40,550 --> 01:03:42,690 Are you actually making any press to get this 1442 01:03:42,685 --> 01:03:46,185 passed, ratified, done in the lame duck session? 1443 01:03:46,189 --> 01:03:47,819 Or have you just completely given up on it 1444 01:03:47,823 --> 01:03:48,923 like everyone else? 1445 01:03:48,925 --> 01:03:52,965 Mr. Earnest: Well, the prospects are not good. 1446 01:03:52,962 --> 01:03:55,332 But I don't know to what extent it was discussed at 1447 01:03:55,331 --> 01:03:58,271 dinner last night. Cheryl. 1448 01:03:58,267 --> 01:03:58,867 The Press: Thanks, Josh. 1449 01:03:58,868 --> 01:04:01,168 And this just came over -- it looks like Vice 1450 01:04:01,170 --> 01:04:03,670 President Biden is going to be traveling to Canada 1451 01:04:03,673 --> 01:04:06,973 to meet with Trudeau and others. 1452 01:04:06,976 --> 01:04:10,076 Talking a lot about risk, is there any -- are there 1453 01:04:10,079 --> 01:04:13,919 treaties or agreements or issues with Canada that 1454 01:04:13,916 --> 01:04:16,516 maybe are at risk now? 1455 01:04:16,519 --> 01:04:18,659 Why is Biden going to Canada? 1456 01:04:18,654 --> 01:04:22,354 Mr. Earnest: Well, I don't have all the details on 1457 01:04:22,358 --> 01:04:24,228 his itinerary or all of the items that 1458 01:04:24,227 --> 01:04:26,167 are on his agenda. 1459 01:04:26,162 --> 01:04:27,732 As you know, President Obama had an opportunity 1460 01:04:27,730 --> 01:04:30,270 to meet with Prime Minister Trudeau in Peru 1461 01:04:30,266 --> 01:04:37,006 just last week -- or a week ago last Sunday, and 1462 01:04:37,006 --> 01:04:39,576 it was a valuable opportunity for the leader 1463 01:04:39,575 --> 01:04:42,275 of the United States to sit down with the leader 1464 01:04:42,278 --> 01:04:43,818 of Canada, who is our closest partner 1465 01:04:43,813 --> 01:04:45,613 on so many issues. 1466 01:04:45,615 --> 01:04:49,985 So I'll refer you to the Vice President's office 1467 01:04:49,986 --> 01:04:52,356 for a more detailed account of what's on his 1468 01:04:52,355 --> 01:04:53,825 agenda when he travels there. 1469 01:04:53,823 --> 01:04:55,823 But I think, like President Obama, he 1470 01:04:55,825 --> 01:04:57,965 certainly admires the leadership of Prime 1471 01:04:57,960 --> 01:05:03,000 Minister Trudeau and is hopeful that the next 1472 01:05:02,999 --> 01:05:05,299 administration will build on the strong relationship 1473 01:05:05,301 --> 01:05:07,901 that this administration has helped to cultivate 1474 01:05:07,903 --> 01:05:08,973 with Prime Minister 1475 01:05:08,971 --> 01:05:10,371 Trudeau and the 1476 01:05:10,373 --> 01:05:13,943 Canadian people. Lana. 1477 01:05:13,943 --> 01:05:16,983 The Press: The memorial service and the funeral 1478 01:05:16,979 --> 01:05:19,079 Sunday -- I just want to clarify one thing on that. 1479 01:05:19,081 --> 01:05:21,621 Will the same U.S. 1480 01:05:21,617 --> 01:05:23,217 non-presidential delegation be attending 1481 01:05:23,219 --> 01:05:25,059 the funeral? 1482 01:05:25,054 --> 01:05:28,454 Can we assume that Ben Rhodes and ambassador -- 1483 01:05:28,457 --> 01:05:30,557 or DeLaurentis will also be in 1484 01:05:30,559 --> 01:05:31,659 attendance at the funeral? 1485 01:05:31,661 --> 01:05:33,031 Mr. Earnest: They are only participating in the 1486 01:05:33,029 --> 01:05:34,899 memorial service that's planned for tonight. 1487 01:05:34,897 --> 01:05:37,237 The briefing that was provided to me is that the 1488 01:05:37,233 --> 01:05:40,273 actual funeral itself is actually a private event. 1489 01:05:40,269 --> 01:05:45,779 But I can tell you that this is the only event 1490 01:05:45,775 --> 01:05:46,975 that the Deputy National Security Advisor is 1491 01:05:46,976 --> 01:05:48,516 planning to attend. 1492 01:05:48,511 --> 01:05:50,281 The Press: Ohio State yesterday -- does the 1493 01:05:50,279 --> 01:05:52,549 President condemn that as an act of terror? 1494 01:05:52,548 --> 01:05:54,988 Mr. Earnest: Well, obviously, I should start 1495 01:05:54,984 --> 01:05:58,384 by saying that we owe a deep debt of gratitude to 1496 01:05:58,387 --> 01:06:03,257 the first responders who reacted so heroically to 1497 01:06:03,259 --> 01:06:04,489 the situation there. 1498 01:06:04,493 --> 01:06:07,693 There are indications that the suspect was 1499 01:06:07,697 --> 01:06:10,837 neutralized within a minute or two of beginning 1500 01:06:10,833 --> 01:06:13,633 this terrible act of violence. 1501 01:06:13,636 --> 01:06:15,106 And that's thanks to the bravery and 1502 01:06:15,104 --> 01:06:18,744 professionalism and skill of some of the law 1503 01:06:18,741 --> 01:06:21,441 enforcement officers who responded so quickly 1504 01:06:21,444 --> 01:06:21,914 to the scene. 1505 01:06:21,911 --> 01:06:24,111 So we obviously -- this is yet another opportunity 1506 01:06:24,113 --> 01:06:29,023 for us to remember how professionally and how 1507 01:06:29,018 --> 01:06:32,618 bravely men and women in police officers' uniforms 1508 01:06:32,621 --> 01:06:36,391 all across the country work to protect us so well 1509 01:06:36,392 --> 01:06:39,092 every day. 1510 01:06:39,095 --> 01:06:40,495 We also are deeply appreciative of the 1511 01:06:40,496 --> 01:06:43,996 response that was mobilized by EMTs and 1512 01:06:43,999 --> 01:06:46,669 doctors and nurses in the Columbus area. 1513 01:06:46,669 --> 01:06:48,939 Again, based on the briefing that I received 1514 01:06:48,938 --> 01:06:52,838 this morning, it's likely that there will be no loss 1515 01:06:52,842 --> 01:06:54,312 of life in this incident other than 1516 01:06:54,310 --> 01:06:56,210 the perpetrator. 1517 01:06:56,212 --> 01:06:59,782 And we obviously are thinking about and praying 1518 01:06:59,782 --> 01:07:02,782 for a swift recovery for those who were harmed 1519 01:07:02,785 --> 01:07:04,855 in this incident. 1520 01:07:04,854 --> 01:07:07,054 More generally, I can tell you that law enforcement 1521 01:07:07,056 --> 01:07:10,826 officers, with the support of the FBI, are conducting 1522 01:07:10,826 --> 01:07:12,866 a thorough investigation of this situation to learn 1523 01:07:12,862 --> 01:07:14,962 as much as they can about the potential motive of 1524 01:07:14,964 --> 01:07:17,864 this individual. 1525 01:07:17,867 --> 01:07:23,637 It's important that those investigators uncover as 1526 01:07:23,639 --> 01:07:25,909 much as they possibly can to learn about this 1527 01:07:25,908 --> 01:07:28,378 incident and to learn what we can do to try to 1528 01:07:28,377 --> 01:07:31,517 prevent it from taking -- an event like this from 1529 01:07:31,514 --> 01:07:33,414 happening again. 1530 01:07:33,416 --> 01:07:34,416 There are a couple of things, though, 1531 01:07:34,417 --> 01:07:35,717 that we know. 1532 01:07:35,718 --> 01:07:38,888 The first is that there is plenty of available 1533 01:07:38,888 --> 01:07:40,888 evidence to indicate that this individual may have 1534 01:07:40,890 --> 01:07:43,490 been motivated by extremism and may have 1535 01:07:43,492 --> 01:07:46,592 been motivated by a desire to carry out an 1536 01:07:46,595 --> 01:07:48,195 act of terrorism. 1537 01:07:48,197 --> 01:07:51,167 And we know that our law enforcement officers have 1538 01:07:51,167 --> 01:07:53,437 a critical role to play in preventing those acts of 1539 01:07:53,436 --> 01:07:55,066 terrorism from succeeding. 1540 01:07:55,070 --> 01:07:56,510 There are more than a hundred joint terrorism 1541 01:07:56,505 --> 01:08:00,445 task forces that are organized in communities 1542 01:08:00,443 --> 01:08:02,643 all across the country that fight crime, that 1543 01:08:02,645 --> 01:08:04,685 fight extremism, that fight terrorism 1544 01:08:04,680 --> 01:08:05,850 on a daily basis. 1545 01:08:05,848 --> 01:08:08,418 And it's important that we give them the support, 1546 01:08:08,417 --> 01:08:09,887 financial and otherwise, 1547 01:08:09,885 --> 01:08:11,325 to do their important work. 1548 01:08:11,320 --> 01:08:12,920 It's also important for us to make sure that we're 1549 01:08:12,922 --> 01:08:17,522 investing in programs to counter violent extremism. 1550 01:08:17,526 --> 01:08:20,326 These interagency task forces, some of which are 1551 01:08:20,329 --> 01:08:23,369 mobilized, are organized at the federal level and 1552 01:08:23,365 --> 01:08:26,665 work closely with state and local officials, law 1553 01:08:26,669 --> 01:08:30,409 enforcement and community leaders, to fight efforts 1554 01:08:30,406 --> 01:08:33,606 to radicalize people in this country is 1555 01:08:33,609 --> 01:08:34,739 critically important. 1556 01:08:34,743 --> 01:08:36,943 And this administration has poured more resources 1557 01:08:36,946 --> 01:08:38,916 and devoted more time and attention to the success 1558 01:08:38,914 --> 01:08:41,254 of these programs than anyone else. 1559 01:08:41,250 --> 01:08:44,490 And that reflects our desire to adapt to the 1560 01:08:44,487 --> 01:08:46,787 current threat picture. 1561 01:08:46,789 --> 01:08:49,489 What's also true and what we also know based on some 1562 01:08:49,492 --> 01:08:52,892 of the information about this perpetrator that has 1563 01:08:52,895 --> 01:08:59,165 been made public is that our response to the 1564 01:08:59,168 --> 01:09:01,738 situation matters. 1565 01:09:01,737 --> 01:09:03,377 And I don't mean our response as a government. 1566 01:09:03,372 --> 01:09:06,172 I mean our response as a country to this 1567 01:09:06,175 --> 01:09:10,215 situation matters. 1568 01:09:10,212 --> 01:09:14,082 And if we respond to this situation by casting 1569 01:09:14,083 --> 01:09:20,193 aspersions on millions of people that adhere to a 1570 01:09:20,189 --> 01:09:24,529 particular religion, or if we increase our suspicion 1571 01:09:24,527 --> 01:09:27,567 of people who practice a particular 1572 01:09:27,563 --> 01:09:32,673 religion, we're more likely to contribute to 1573 01:09:32,668 --> 01:09:37,678 acts of violence than we are to prevent them. 1574 01:09:37,673 --> 01:09:41,443 So our response matters. 1575 01:09:41,443 --> 01:09:42,583 We'll let our investigators determine 1576 01:09:42,578 --> 01:09:46,218 exactly what led to this event, but even as we're 1577 01:09:46,215 --> 01:09:49,585 waiting for additional information, we should be 1578 01:09:49,585 --> 01:09:52,085 mindful of that response. 1579 01:09:52,087 --> 01:09:54,187 The Press: And then, the Southern Poverty Law 1580 01:09:54,189 --> 01:09:57,229 Center released a report that 2,500 acts of 1581 01:09:57,226 --> 01:09:59,126 harassment and intimidation were reported 1582 01:09:59,128 --> 01:10:01,698 by teachers, invoking either President-elect 1583 01:10:01,697 --> 01:10:04,437 Donald Trump or his campaign rhetoric. 1584 01:10:04,433 --> 01:10:07,573 Is this -- how concerning is this to the President? 1585 01:10:07,570 --> 01:10:08,840 Mr. Earnest: Well, I think what we've seen is that 1586 01:10:08,837 --> 01:10:13,177 the recently concluded presidential campaign was 1587 01:10:13,175 --> 01:10:17,045 a hotly contested one and, unfortunately, a campaign 1588 01:10:17,046 --> 01:10:17,676 that was characterized by a lot of 1589 01:10:17,680 --> 01:10:19,920 divisive rhetoric. 1590 01:10:19,915 --> 01:10:24,355 And it was going to be the responsibility of the 1591 01:10:24,353 --> 01:10:26,023 winner of that election, whether it was Secretary 1592 01:10:26,021 --> 01:10:30,931 Clinton or Donald Trump, to put at the top of his 1593 01:10:30,926 --> 01:10:35,366 or her agenda uniting the country and healing the 1594 01:10:35,364 --> 01:10:40,134 country in the aftermath of that election. 1595 01:10:40,135 --> 01:10:46,005 And there are a lot of ways to measure or 1596 01:10:46,008 --> 01:10:48,178 evaluate the impact that this recently concluded 1597 01:10:48,177 --> 01:10:52,617 election had on our country. 1598 01:10:52,615 --> 01:10:55,085 But the President is certainly hopeful. 1599 01:10:55,084 --> 01:10:56,184 And the President certainly tried to do his 1600 01:10:56,185 --> 01:10:59,255 part by setting aside his own political views and 1601 01:10:59,254 --> 01:11:02,554 focusing on a smooth and effective transition to 1602 01:11:02,558 --> 01:11:06,228 lay the groundwork for the next President to take 1603 01:11:06,228 --> 01:11:10,068 office and actually succeed in beginning to 1604 01:11:10,065 --> 01:11:12,405 bring the country together once again after a 1605 01:11:12,401 --> 01:11:15,471 divisive election. 1606 01:11:15,471 --> 01:11:16,771 And the President is genuinely hopeful that the 1607 01:11:16,772 --> 01:11:19,342 next President will make that a priority and that 1608 01:11:19,341 --> 01:11:20,041 he will succeed 1609 01:11:20,042 --> 01:11:21,542 in doing that. Pam. 1610 01:11:21,543 --> 01:11:24,483 The Press: Josh, thanks. 1611 01:11:24,480 --> 01:11:27,120 The President-elect has had positive things to say 1612 01:11:27,116 --> 01:11:28,956 about his dealings with President Obama in the 1613 01:11:28,951 --> 01:11:31,151 Oval Office meeting and phone calls. 1614 01:11:31,153 --> 01:11:34,023 Does President Obama view his discussions with his 1615 01:11:34,023 --> 01:11:37,623 successor as an opportunity to maybe use 1616 01:11:37,626 --> 01:11:40,866 his powers of persuasion to get him to back off of 1617 01:11:40,863 --> 01:11:42,503 a lot of the things he said on the campaign in 1618 01:11:42,498 --> 01:11:45,998 terms of changing Obama policies? 1619 01:11:46,001 --> 01:11:48,601 Mr. Earnest: I think President Obama views 1620 01:11:48,604 --> 01:11:52,104 those conversations as an opportunity to offer some 1621 01:11:52,107 --> 01:11:54,007 advice and to consult with the President-elect as he 1622 01:11:54,009 --> 01:11:56,549 prepares to assume the awesome responsibility of 1623 01:11:56,545 --> 01:11:58,845 governing the greatest country in the world. 1624 01:11:58,847 --> 01:12:01,187 That's the nature of their phone conversations. 1625 01:12:01,183 --> 01:12:08,753 I'm going to protect their ability to have private 1626 01:12:08,757 --> 01:12:11,157 consultations, so I won't be able to get into the 1627 01:12:11,160 --> 01:12:14,830 topics that are covered or more precisely discuss the 1628 01:12:14,830 --> 01:12:16,430 nature of their conversations. 1629 01:12:16,432 --> 01:12:20,332 But President Obama does feel an obligation and 1630 01:12:20,335 --> 01:12:24,105 believes that it is one of his most important 1631 01:12:24,106 --> 01:12:26,646 remaining tasks to ensure a smooth and effective 1632 01:12:26,642 --> 01:12:28,642 transition from the Obama administration to the 1633 01:12:28,644 --> 01:12:30,714 Trump administration. 1634 01:12:30,713 --> 01:12:34,983 And if that transition can be facilitated by 1635 01:12:34,983 --> 01:12:38,083 telephone conversations between the President and 1636 01:12:38,087 --> 01:12:43,597 the President-elect, then President Obama will 1637 01:12:43,592 --> 01:12:45,632 participate in them accordingly, and he will 1638 01:12:45,627 --> 01:12:49,497 offer the best advice that he possibly can to the 1639 01:12:49,498 --> 01:12:52,938 incoming President. Charlie. 1640 01:12:52,935 --> 01:12:54,775 The Press: Just a quick question. 1641 01:12:54,770 --> 01:12:57,970 Has the President had the opportunity to speak to 1642 01:12:57,973 --> 01:12:59,573 the Ohio State police officer that helped 1643 01:12:59,575 --> 01:13:01,915 neutralize the attack yesterday? 1644 01:13:01,910 --> 01:13:03,210 Mr. Earnest: I don't know that they've had a chance 1645 01:13:03,212 --> 01:13:04,612 to talk at this point, but if a conversation like 1646 01:13:04,613 --> 01:13:07,183 that occurs, we'll let you know. 1647 01:13:07,182 --> 01:13:08,322 And, Fred, I'll give you the last one. 1648 01:13:08,317 --> 01:13:09,517 The Press: Thanks, Josh. 1649 01:13:09,518 --> 01:13:11,458 Yeah, just following up on some issues about what 1650 01:13:11,453 --> 01:13:13,353 Trump might change. 1651 01:13:13,355 --> 01:13:16,255 Has the President expressed any concern 1652 01:13:16,258 --> 01:13:19,158 about what a Trump Supreme Court would look like and 1653 01:13:19,161 --> 01:13:24,231 how that would affect some of the legacy? 1654 01:13:24,233 --> 01:13:29,033 Mr. Earnest: I'm not aware that the President has 1655 01:13:29,037 --> 01:13:31,737 spoken to this, either publicly or privately. 1656 01:13:31,740 --> 01:13:34,140 I think the President's expectation is that 1657 01:13:34,143 --> 01:13:43,423 President Trump will fill vacancies on the Supreme 1658 01:13:43,418 --> 01:13:45,088 Court by appointing people who are quite different 1659 01:13:45,087 --> 01:13:45,617 than the kind of people 1660 01:13:45,621 --> 01:13:47,591 that President Obama appointed. 1661 01:13:47,589 --> 01:13:49,289 That may be one thing that everybody across the 1662 01:13:49,291 --> 01:13:52,431 country can agree on. 1663 01:13:52,427 --> 01:13:54,897 It certainly doesn't discount the President's 1664 01:13:54,897 --> 01:13:58,797 deep disappointment at the way Republicans in the 1665 01:13:58,801 --> 01:14:03,401 Senate treated Chief Judge Merrick Garland. 1666 01:14:03,405 --> 01:14:05,975 Chief Judge Garland has been waiting for 1667 01:14:05,974 --> 01:14:12,144 consideration by this Senate for almost a year. 1668 01:14:12,147 --> 01:14:17,117 And he is the most experienced Supreme Court 1669 01:14:17,119 --> 01:14:19,019 nominee in American history when you consider 1670 01:14:19,021 --> 01:14:21,461 his 19 years on the federal bench. 1671 01:14:21,456 --> 01:14:25,566 He was somebody who served his country in prosecuting 1672 01:14:25,561 --> 01:14:28,961 the perpetrators of one of the worst acts of 1673 01:14:28,964 --> 01:14:32,764 terrorism on American soil when he helped lead an 1674 01:14:32,768 --> 01:14:35,838 investigation and a prosecution of Timothy 1675 01:14:35,838 --> 01:14:40,178 McVeigh after the Oklahoma City bombing. 1676 01:14:40,175 --> 01:14:41,575 Chief Judge Garland is somebody that both 1677 01:14:41,577 --> 01:14:45,817 Democrats and Republicans have said is somebody with 1678 01:14:45,814 --> 01:14:47,654 a brilliant legal mind. 1679 01:14:47,649 --> 01:14:50,049 And even Republicans have acknowledged that he's a 1680 01:14:50,052 --> 01:14:52,892 consensus pick. 1681 01:14:52,888 --> 01:14:56,558 And yet, Republicans in the Senate refused to do 1682 01:14:56,558 --> 01:15:00,868 their basic job and even give him a hearing and 1683 01:15:00,863 --> 01:15:02,093 even give him a vote. 1684 01:15:02,097 --> 01:15:03,397 And that's deeply disappointing. 1685 01:15:03,398 --> 01:15:08,638 And, look, I don't know if that will -- if they will 1686 01:15:08,637 --> 01:15:11,007 change course between now and January 20th. 1687 01:15:11,006 --> 01:15:12,906 I suspect they will not. 1688 01:15:12,908 --> 01:15:16,248 And I don't know at this point who President Trump 1689 01:15:16,245 --> 01:15:16,875 would choose. 1690 01:15:16,879 --> 01:15:19,619 He certainly would -- I think he could in good 1691 01:15:19,615 --> 01:15:23,455 faith -- well, look, he'll obviously have the 1692 01:15:23,452 --> 01:15:25,592 opportunity to choose whomever he would like. 1693 01:15:25,587 --> 01:15:30,757 And we'll see how they're treated in the Senate. 1694 01:15:30,759 --> 01:15:32,929 The Press: Two more quick ones. 1695 01:15:32,928 --> 01:15:39,798 Would the President plan on any executive actions 1696 01:15:39,801 --> 01:15:42,901 -- or does he just believe that those will just be 1697 01:15:42,905 --> 01:15:48,345 instantly overturned at this point? 1698 01:15:48,343 --> 01:15:49,543 Mr. Earnest: Can you repeat your question? 1699 01:15:49,544 --> 01:15:52,314 There was a key word in your question that I 1700 01:15:52,314 --> 01:15:54,254 missed and I want to make sure I don't screw it up. 1701 01:15:54,249 --> 01:15:55,389 The Press: Does the President plan on taking 1702 01:15:55,384 --> 01:15:58,354 any executive actions before leaving office to 1703 01:15:58,353 --> 01:16:02,093 solidify some policies? 1704 01:16:02,090 --> 01:16:03,790 Or does he just believe those would be instantly 1705 01:16:03,792 --> 01:16:07,162 overturned once the Trump presidency has started? 1706 01:16:07,162 --> 01:16:08,732 Mr. Earnest: Well, the process of acting on an 1707 01:16:08,730 --> 01:16:11,200 executive order, Fred, as you know, is -- an 1708 01:16:11,199 --> 01:16:14,899 executive action or an executive order is one 1709 01:16:14,903 --> 01:16:17,403 that requires a lot of preparation. 1710 01:16:17,406 --> 01:16:20,346 And so I'm not going to rule out additional 1711 01:16:20,342 --> 01:16:22,712 executive actions that the administration may take 1712 01:16:22,711 --> 01:16:24,611 between now and January 20th -- after all, the 1713 01:16:24,613 --> 01:16:25,953 President of the United States is the President of 1714 01:16:25,948 --> 01:16:29,388 the United States until January 20th. 1715 01:16:29,384 --> 01:16:32,554 But what I can rule out are any sort of hastily 1716 01:16:32,554 --> 01:16:36,124 added executive actions that weren't previously 1717 01:16:36,124 --> 01:16:39,324 considered that would just be tacked on at the end. 1718 01:16:39,328 --> 01:16:43,328 But are there some actions that have been in the 1719 01:16:43,332 --> 01:16:46,502 pipeline for quite some time that could be 1720 01:16:46,501 --> 01:16:48,371 announced between now and January 20th? 1721 01:16:48,370 --> 01:16:49,870 That possibility certainly exists, but I don't have 1722 01:16:49,871 --> 01:16:51,441 anything to preview at this point. 1723 01:16:51,440 --> 01:16:54,080 The Press: Trump made, of course, quite a bit of 1724 01:16:54,076 --> 01:16:55,406 news last week when he indicated there wouldn't 1725 01:16:55,410 --> 01:16:59,720 be prosecution of Hillary Clinton. 1726 01:16:59,715 --> 01:17:03,455 Given that, does the Obama administration take 1727 01:17:03,452 --> 01:17:04,782 his word on that? 1728 01:17:04,786 --> 01:17:08,586 And is there no chance of a pardon of Secretary 1729 01:17:08,590 --> 01:17:11,590 Clinton for any possible offenses or anything that 1730 01:17:11,593 --> 01:17:14,633 the Trump administration might go after her for? 1731 01:17:14,629 --> 01:17:18,029 Mr. Earnest: Well, Fred, I did get asked about this 1732 01:17:18,033 --> 01:17:18,803 last week or the week before. 1733 01:17:18,800 --> 01:17:24,470 And the point is that there's a long tradition 1734 01:17:24,473 --> 01:17:27,473 in the United States of ensuring that we separate 1735 01:17:27,476 --> 01:17:30,846 criminal investigations from politics. 1736 01:17:30,846 --> 01:17:32,686 And there are a lot of good reasons for that. 1737 01:17:32,681 --> 01:17:37,491 Primarily the reason for it is to make sure that 1738 01:17:37,486 --> 01:17:39,486 people aren't left somehow with the impression that 1739 01:17:39,488 --> 01:17:40,718 they'll be treated differently in our 1740 01:17:40,722 --> 01:17:42,262 criminal justice system based on their 1741 01:17:42,257 --> 01:17:45,257 political affiliation. 1742 01:17:45,260 --> 01:17:49,160 Our tradition in this country is that everybody 1743 01:17:49,164 --> 01:17:51,704 is treated equally under the law, and that's a 1744 01:17:51,700 --> 01:17:54,840 tradition that's worth upholding. 1745 01:17:54,836 --> 01:18:01,146 And in the case of Secretary Clinton, her use 1746 01:18:01,143 --> 01:18:03,383 of a private email system was thoroughly 1747 01:18:03,378 --> 01:18:07,018 investigated by career investigators at the 1748 01:18:07,015 --> 01:18:09,115 Department of Justice and the FBI. 1749 01:18:09,117 --> 01:18:13,257 And what the FBI Director concluded is that in the 1750 01:18:13,255 --> 01:18:15,225 context of the investigation that no 1751 01:18:15,223 --> 01:18:17,363 reasonable prosecutor would move forward in 1752 01:18:17,359 --> 01:18:19,199 seeking charges against her. 1753 01:18:19,194 --> 01:18:21,164 That was a recommendation that he forwarded to 1754 01:18:21,163 --> 01:18:22,833 officials at the Department of Justice, and 1755 01:18:22,831 --> 01:18:24,871 officials at the Department of Justice 1756 01:18:24,866 --> 01:18:27,636 agreed with his recommendation. 1757 01:18:27,636 --> 01:18:32,376 So given that the FBI Director is somebody who 1758 01:18:32,374 --> 01:18:34,874 was a registered Republican, who served in 1759 01:18:34,876 --> 01:18:37,676 the senior Department of Justice position in a 1760 01:18:37,679 --> 01:18:41,319 Republican administration, somebody who was confirmed 1761 01:18:41,316 --> 01:18:44,556 with strong majorities in the United States Senate 1762 01:18:44,553 --> 01:18:46,493 by Democrats and Republicans, I think it's 1763 01:18:46,488 --> 01:18:50,188 an indication that politics did not play a 1764 01:18:50,192 --> 01:18:51,962 factor into their conclusion. 1765 01:18:51,960 --> 01:18:55,760 And that's a good thing. 1766 01:18:55,764 --> 01:18:58,404 The Press: So for what Trump might do later if he 1767 01:18:58,400 --> 01:19:00,400 does try to launch an investigation, or his 1768 01:19:00,402 --> 01:19:02,842 Justice Department would, you don't think there 1769 01:19:02,838 --> 01:19:05,208 would be a need for the President to pardon 1770 01:19:05,207 --> 01:19:06,207 her before leaving? 1771 01:19:06,208 --> 01:19:08,148 Mr. Earnest: Well, again, I think I'd just refer you 1772 01:19:08,143 --> 01:19:10,043 to what the FBI Director had to say, which is that 1773 01:19:10,045 --> 01:19:12,445 no reasonable prosecutor would seeks 1774 01:19:12,447 --> 01:19:13,717 charges against her. 1775 01:19:13,715 --> 01:19:17,055 The Press: -- federal help in Tennessee, Josh? 1776 01:19:17,052 --> 01:19:18,752 Mr. Earnest: Well, I can tell you, Kevin, I 1777 01:19:18,753 --> 01:19:19,623 appreciate you asking. 1778 01:19:19,621 --> 01:19:21,791 Obviously, the folks in Tennessee are dealing with 1779 01:19:21,790 --> 01:19:24,560 a quite serious wildfire situation there right now. 1780 01:19:24,559 --> 01:19:27,229 I can tell you that FEMA has already responded by 1781 01:19:27,229 --> 01:19:29,399 providing a fire management assistance 1782 01:19:29,397 --> 01:19:31,897 grant to the state of Tennessee to help them 1783 01:19:31,900 --> 01:19:34,100 mobilize the resources that are necessary 1784 01:19:34,102 --> 01:19:35,402 to fight the fire. 1785 01:19:35,403 --> 01:19:37,373 The one piece of good news that we have is that 1786 01:19:37,372 --> 01:19:39,872 meteorologists are predicting some rain in 1787 01:19:39,875 --> 01:19:43,145 the area in the next 24 to 48 hours. 1788 01:19:43,145 --> 01:19:45,185 That obviously would be a welcome development and 1789 01:19:45,180 --> 01:19:47,380 would hopefully hasten 1790 01:19:47,382 --> 01:19:49,922 the extinguishing of that fire. 1791 01:19:49,918 --> 01:19:50,388 Thanks, everybody. 1792 01:19:50,385 --> 01:19:51,185 We'll see you tomorrow.