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1 00:00:02,836 --> 00:00:04,376 Mr. Earnest: It's Friday. 2 00:00:04,371 --> 00:00:07,371 Cheer up, everybody. 3 00:00:07,374 --> 00:00:10,944 There's plenty of news to report. 4 00:00:10,944 --> 00:00:12,544 Plenty of news to report. 5 00:00:12,545 --> 00:00:13,915 The Press: You're in good cheer. 6 00:00:13,913 --> 00:00:15,653 Mr. Earnest: I am, I am. 7 00:00:15,648 --> 00:00:17,348 Let me explain to you why. 8 00:00:17,350 --> 00:00:19,290 Two reasons. 9 00:00:19,285 --> 00:00:23,255 The first is, today we were pleased to see a bipartisan 10 00:00:23,256 --> 00:00:25,256 majority come together in the House of Representatives 11 00:00:25,258 --> 00:00:27,798 to support trade promotion authority, and there were 12 00:00:27,794 --> 00:00:30,864 many people in this room rightly skeptical, as 13 00:00:30,864 --> 00:00:33,404 recently as two or three months ago, about whether or 14 00:00:33,400 --> 00:00:35,400 not Democrats and Republicans would be able to 15 00:00:35,402 --> 00:00:38,142 come together on such a significant legislative 16 00:00:38,138 --> 00:00:40,808 priority of the President's, but also on a policy issue 17 00:00:40,807 --> 00:00:42,807 that I think everybody acknowledges is really 18 00:00:42,809 --> 00:00:46,509 complicated and politically fraught. 19 00:00:46,513 --> 00:00:49,613 But we're obviously gratified that we were able 20 00:00:49,616 --> 00:00:51,886 to advance that piece of legislation with 21 00:00:51,885 --> 00:00:53,315 bipartisan support. 22 00:00:53,319 --> 00:00:55,819 I would also note that we had 28 House Democrats who 23 00:00:55,822 --> 00:00:58,092 voted for that bill. 24 00:00:58,091 --> 00:01:00,861 That significantly over-performs expectations. 25 00:01:00,860 --> 00:01:03,860 Again, there was a lot of skepticism about how much 26 00:01:03,863 --> 00:01:05,863 Democratic support the President would succeed 27 00:01:05,865 --> 00:01:06,835 in building. 28 00:01:06,833 --> 00:01:10,633 And getting the support of 28 House Democrats is a good 29 00:01:10,637 --> 00:01:14,237 sign of the kind of bipartisan majority that the 30 00:01:14,240 --> 00:01:16,380 President was seeking to build. 31 00:01:16,376 --> 00:01:18,976 Now, at the same time, as many of you have also 32 00:01:18,978 --> 00:01:24,518 written about already, I also feel a little like 33 00:01:24,517 --> 00:01:26,117 Yogi Berra. 34 00:01:26,119 --> 00:01:28,559 I'm tempted to walk out here and say it's dĂŠjĂ vu all 35 00:01:28,555 --> 00:01:30,055 over again. 36 00:01:30,056 --> 00:01:32,356 Many of you who are frequent visitors of this briefing 37 00:01:32,358 --> 00:01:36,198 room will recall back on May 12th I walked out here 38 00:01:36,196 --> 00:01:39,566 prepared to answer your questions about how the 39 00:01:39,566 --> 00:01:42,306 Democratic Leader of body of Congress had handed the 40 00:01:42,302 --> 00:01:46,572 President a substantial legislative defeat on a 41 00:01:46,573 --> 00:01:49,173 significant policy priority that the President 42 00:01:49,175 --> 00:01:51,475 had identified. 43 00:01:51,478 --> 00:01:55,918 And I'm walking out here on June 12th prepared to answer 44 00:01:55,915 --> 00:02:00,655 your questions about your perception that the 45 00:02:00,653 --> 00:02:03,853 Democratic Leader of a body of Congress has handed the 46 00:02:03,857 --> 00:02:07,697 President a legislative defeat on a priority. 47 00:02:07,694 --> 00:02:10,664 At the time, you'll recall that I colorfully described 48 00:02:10,663 --> 00:02:14,563 the situation as a legislative procedural snafu. 49 00:02:14,567 --> 00:02:19,537 And to the surprise of very few, another procedural 50 00:02:19,539 --> 00:02:22,179 snafu has emerged. 51 00:02:22,175 --> 00:02:24,545 These kinds of entanglements are endemic to the 52 00:02:24,544 --> 00:02:26,344 House of Representatives. 53 00:02:26,346 --> 00:02:29,416 And I say that as somebody who does not have a lot of 54 00:02:29,415 --> 00:02:32,555 experience in watching the floor of the House. 55 00:02:32,552 --> 00:02:37,392 But the President is determined -- and I think as 56 00:02:37,390 --> 00:02:42,730 was evident from his visit to Capitol Hill this morning 57 00:02:42,729 --> 00:02:47,129 -- to build a bipartisan majority to make sure that 58 00:02:47,133 --> 00:02:51,073 we're living up to our commitment as Democrats to 59 00:02:51,070 --> 00:02:53,470 fight for middle-class families. 60 00:02:53,473 --> 00:02:56,113 That's the reason the President is in this office. 61 00:02:56,109 --> 00:02:58,509 As the President pointed out rather forcefully in the 62 00:02:58,511 --> 00:03:01,111 Democratic caucus today, he wasn't elected by the 63 00:03:01,114 --> 00:03:04,484 Chamber of Commerce; he wasn't endorsed by the NFIB. 64 00:03:04,484 --> 00:03:08,684 The President is the President of the United 65 00:03:08,688 --> 00:03:11,758 States today because of his commitment to fight for 66 00:03:11,758 --> 00:03:14,158 working families and to expand the economic 67 00:03:14,160 --> 00:03:16,160 opportunity for middle-class families. 68 00:03:16,162 --> 00:03:18,162 That's the reason he got this job in the first place. 69 00:03:18,164 --> 00:03:20,164 That's the reason he was reelected into this office 70 00:03:20,166 --> 00:03:21,406 three years ago. 71 00:03:21,401 --> 00:03:23,441 And it's what he's going to continue to keep at the top 72 00:03:23,436 --> 00:03:25,436 of his agenda for the next 18 months. 73 00:03:25,438 --> 00:03:27,438 And if we're going to walk the walk when it comes to 74 00:03:27,440 --> 00:03:29,780 those progressive values, then it's going to be 75 00:03:29,776 --> 00:03:32,746 important for Democrats and Republicans to come together 76 00:03:32,745 --> 00:03:35,085 around trade adjustment assistance. 77 00:03:35,081 --> 00:03:40,351 This is a program that will lapse on September 30th. 78 00:03:40,353 --> 00:03:42,953 That's a problem because Republicans have 79 00:03:42,956 --> 00:03:45,596 traditionally opposed trade adjustment assistance, and, 80 00:03:45,592 --> 00:03:47,592 as everybody knows, Republicans enjoy 81 00:03:47,594 --> 00:03:49,934 significant majorities in both the House and the Senate. 82 00:03:49,929 --> 00:03:53,399 So if Democrats want to make sure that we're looking out 83 00:03:53,399 --> 00:03:55,399 for the interest of middle-class families, we 84 00:03:55,401 --> 00:03:58,701 need to make sure that trade adjustment assistance 85 00:03:58,705 --> 00:03:59,905 doesn't lapse. 86 00:03:59,906 --> 00:04:01,906 The good news is we're not just going to extend the 87 00:04:01,908 --> 00:04:04,678 program, we're going to significantly expand it. 88 00:04:04,677 --> 00:04:06,677 The proposal that's before the House right now would 89 00:04:06,679 --> 00:04:10,179 nearly double that program in size. 90 00:04:10,183 --> 00:04:12,423 And according to an analysis that's been put out by the 91 00:04:12,418 --> 00:04:15,418 White House today, this is actually a program that will 92 00:04:15,421 --> 00:04:19,661 benefit 100,000 American workers each year for the 93 00:04:19,659 --> 00:04:21,299 next six years. 94 00:04:21,294 --> 00:04:25,794 That is a substantial benefit to middle-class 95 00:04:25,798 --> 00:04:28,598 families that are willing to go and make sure that they 96 00:04:28,601 --> 00:04:30,601 can get the training and skills that they need to go 97 00:04:30,603 --> 00:04:32,643 and compete for good middle-class jobs. 98 00:04:32,639 --> 00:04:34,639 That's always been at the top of the President's 99 00:04:34,641 --> 00:04:36,271 domestic policymaking agenda. 100 00:04:36,275 --> 00:04:37,275 It is today. 101 00:04:37,276 --> 00:04:39,776 And we're going to continue to make that case in the 102 00:04:39,779 --> 00:04:43,349 House to build a bipartisan majority in the House for 103 00:04:43,349 --> 00:04:44,849 that legislation. 104 00:04:44,851 --> 00:04:46,951 That was a slightly longer windup than I intended. 105 00:04:46,953 --> 00:04:50,393 But why don't we go to your questions now. 106 00:04:50,390 --> 00:04:51,420 Nedra, do you want to start? 107 00:04:51,424 --> 00:04:52,594 The Press: Since you brought her up, let's start with 108 00:04:52,592 --> 00:04:56,332 Leader Pelosi. 109 00:04:56,329 --> 00:04:58,569 How disappointed is the President that she turned 110 00:04:58,564 --> 00:05:01,064 against this legislation after remaining uncommitted 111 00:05:01,067 --> 00:05:04,737 for so long, after he made a personal appeal to her? 112 00:05:04,737 --> 00:05:05,937 What happened there? 113 00:05:05,938 --> 00:05:10,648 Mr. Earnest: Well, the President has enjoyed a very 114 00:05:10,643 --> 00:05:16,713 long, warm, productive relationship with Nancy Pelosi. 115 00:05:16,716 --> 00:05:20,186 As the Speaker of the House, she helped shepherd in one 116 00:05:20,186 --> 00:05:23,326 of the most substantial, progressive legislative 117 00:05:23,322 --> 00:05:27,492 agendas in history. 118 00:05:27,493 --> 00:05:30,363 That on her watch, working closely with President 119 00:05:30,363 --> 00:05:36,003 Obama, we prevented a second Great Depression; we 120 00:05:36,002 --> 00:05:41,212 reformed the health care system in a way that has -- 121 00:05:41,207 --> 00:05:43,877 the benefits of which are becoming clearer every day 122 00:05:43,876 --> 00:05:46,676 and bigger every day. 123 00:05:46,679 --> 00:05:49,279 She presided over a House of Representatives that voted 124 00:05:49,282 --> 00:05:53,422 to reform Wall Street to make sure that taxpayers 125 00:05:53,419 --> 00:05:55,959 would not be on the hook for bailing out big banks that 126 00:05:55,955 --> 00:05:58,255 make risky bets. 127 00:05:58,257 --> 00:06:01,757 She worked legislatively with the administration to 128 00:06:01,761 --> 00:06:04,601 end "don't ask, don't tell." And these are all 129 00:06:04,597 --> 00:06:07,397 achievements that the President is quite proud of 130 00:06:07,400 --> 00:06:12,210 -- legislative achievements that required the skillful 131 00:06:12,205 --> 00:06:16,075 leadership of then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi. 132 00:06:16,075 --> 00:06:18,915 Since that time, there have been other important -- 133 00:06:21,714 --> 00:06:24,384 there's been additional important progress on other 134 00:06:24,383 --> 00:06:26,683 priorities the President has identified -- from the 135 00:06:26,686 --> 00:06:28,426 fiscal cliff and making sure that those at the top of the 136 00:06:28,421 --> 00:06:31,321 income scale were paying their fair share, to 137 00:06:31,324 --> 00:06:35,264 protecting the President's ability to prevent Iran from 138 00:06:35,261 --> 00:06:36,631 obtaining a nuclear weapon. 139 00:06:36,629 --> 00:06:39,469 I don't know if anybody wants to talk about the Iran 140 00:06:39,465 --> 00:06:42,965 negotiations today, but if they do, one of my points of 141 00:06:42,969 --> 00:06:45,969 emphasis will be to remind you that because of a letter 142 00:06:45,972 --> 00:06:50,272 that was written and signed by just about every Democrat 143 00:06:50,276 --> 00:06:52,116 in the House of Representatives, the 144 00:06:52,111 --> 00:06:55,251 President feels confident that he'll be able to use 145 00:06:55,248 --> 00:06:57,318 diplomacy to prevent Iran from obtaining and 146 00:06:57,316 --> 00:06:58,416 nuclear weapon. 147 00:06:58,417 --> 00:07:00,517 There has been an active effort by some in Congress 148 00:07:00,520 --> 00:07:02,520 to try to interfere with that ability. 149 00:07:02,522 --> 00:07:05,392 But because House Democrats have signaled that they're 150 00:07:05,391 --> 00:07:07,961 prepared to stand strong with the President, we think 151 00:07:07,960 --> 00:07:09,560 we can accomplish that goal. 152 00:07:09,562 --> 00:07:11,562 And I don't think there's anybody who's suggested that 153 00:07:11,564 --> 00:07:14,334 that priority is going to be threatened just because we 154 00:07:14,333 --> 00:07:16,333 might have a disagreement over this particular issue. 155 00:07:16,335 --> 00:07:18,935 Now, what's also true is we're going to continue to 156 00:07:18,938 --> 00:07:21,638 make an aggressive case to all the House Democrats, 157 00:07:21,641 --> 00:07:24,781 including Leader Pelosi, about why it's important for 158 00:07:24,777 --> 00:07:27,547 them to support trade adjustment assistance. 159 00:07:27,547 --> 00:07:30,047 The Press: Given the resounding defeat today on 160 00:07:30,049 --> 00:07:32,449 trade assistance, what's the President going to do to try 161 00:07:32,451 --> 00:07:34,391 to turn that around with the next vote? 162 00:07:34,387 --> 00:07:36,827 Mr. Earnest: Well, the President has spent a lot of 163 00:07:36,823 --> 00:07:40,093 time talking to members of Congress about these issues 164 00:07:40,092 --> 00:07:41,632 being a priority. 165 00:07:41,627 --> 00:07:45,167 And the fact is, as I mentioned at the top, making 166 00:07:45,164 --> 00:07:48,234 sure that workers have access to trade adjustment 167 00:07:48,234 --> 00:07:51,304 assistance is a top priority of the President's. 168 00:07:51,304 --> 00:07:53,774 The truth is, it's a top priority of every Democrat too. 169 00:07:53,773 --> 00:07:55,773 The last time that it was on the floor of the House of 170 00:07:55,775 --> 00:07:58,375 Representatives, it wasn't just a situation that many 171 00:07:58,377 --> 00:08:00,047 Democrats voted for it. 172 00:08:00,046 --> 00:08:02,916 Every Democrat voted for it, including 125 members of 173 00:08:02,915 --> 00:08:08,185 Congress -- Democrats -- who are still in office. 174 00:08:08,187 --> 00:08:10,057 And as I mentioned earlier, we're not suggesting that 175 00:08:10,056 --> 00:08:12,056 they should merely renew what they voted for three 176 00:08:12,058 --> 00:08:13,058 years ago. 177 00:08:13,059 --> 00:08:15,299 We're suggesting -- or four years ago. 178 00:08:15,294 --> 00:08:19,034 We're suggesting that they should actually support a 179 00:08:19,031 --> 00:08:22,071 legislative package that would significantly enhance it. 180 00:08:22,068 --> 00:08:25,338 It would almost double the size of the cap, freeing up 181 00:08:25,338 --> 00:08:27,338 additional funds to help workers. 182 00:08:27,340 --> 00:08:30,240 It would allow 17,000 workers, who over the last 183 00:08:30,243 --> 00:08:32,643 18 months have had their eligibility for trade 184 00:08:32,645 --> 00:08:34,715 adjustment assistance denied, to allow them to 185 00:08:34,714 --> 00:08:37,184 have their applications reconsidered again. 186 00:08:37,183 --> 00:08:41,753 So that's an indication that this particular program can 187 00:08:41,754 --> 00:08:43,754 do a lot for middle-class families. 188 00:08:43,756 --> 00:08:45,756 And we know that there are a lot of Democrats in the 189 00:08:45,758 --> 00:08:48,598 House of Representatives who ran for that job 190 00:08:48,594 --> 00:08:52,464 specifically to benefit middle-class families and to 191 00:08:52,465 --> 00:08:54,465 make sure that they had a voice and somebody fighting 192 00:08:54,467 --> 00:08:57,067 for them in Washington, D.C. And that's why we feel 193 00:08:57,069 --> 00:08:59,069 like we've got a strong case to make in terms of trying 194 00:08:59,071 --> 00:09:01,671 to build a bipartisan majority for trade 195 00:09:01,674 --> 00:09:02,774 adjustment assistance. 196 00:09:02,775 --> 00:09:05,645 The Press: The voting today was a little confusing, so 197 00:09:05,645 --> 00:09:07,615 if you could help us out a little bit on what happens 198 00:09:07,613 --> 00:09:10,213 if TAA can't pass. 199 00:09:10,216 --> 00:09:12,416 Does the Senate get back involved? 200 00:09:12,418 --> 00:09:14,418 Or what does the strategy become then? 201 00:09:14,420 --> 00:09:16,420 Mr. Earnest: Well, this will be the subject of a lot of 202 00:09:16,422 --> 00:09:19,162 conversations between White House officials and maybe 203 00:09:19,158 --> 00:09:22,298 even the President today and over the weekend, and 204 00:09:22,295 --> 00:09:24,265 possibly even into early next week. 205 00:09:24,263 --> 00:09:27,003 So figuring out the legislative procedure and 206 00:09:26,999 --> 00:09:28,999 the path forward will principally be the 207 00:09:29,001 --> 00:09:31,701 responsibility of members of the legislature. 208 00:09:31,704 --> 00:09:33,804 But the White House, as we have been in the past, will 209 00:09:33,806 --> 00:09:36,346 certainly be involved in those conversations because 210 00:09:36,342 --> 00:09:39,912 this is a priority that the President has identified. 211 00:09:39,912 --> 00:09:40,952 Julia. 212 00:09:40,947 --> 00:09:41,477 The Press: Thanks. 213 00:09:41,480 --> 00:09:43,320 Is the President concerned that his meeting with 214 00:09:43,316 --> 00:09:46,156 Democrats on the Hill this morning backfired in any way? 215 00:09:46,152 --> 00:09:48,752 Some Democrats leaving that meeting said they felt 216 00:09:48,754 --> 00:09:52,554 insulted, said that the President tried to impugn 217 00:09:52,558 --> 00:09:55,328 their integrity when he told them to "play it straight" 218 00:09:55,328 --> 00:09:56,398 on the TAA vote. 219 00:09:56,395 --> 00:09:58,995 Is he worried that he may have frayed relations going 220 00:09:58,998 --> 00:10:01,798 into what might be another vote on TAA next week? 221 00:10:01,801 --> 00:10:02,801 Mr. Earnest: Not at all. 222 00:10:02,802 --> 00:10:06,802 The President had a productive visit with the 223 00:10:06,806 --> 00:10:07,936 House Democratic caucus today. 224 00:10:07,940 --> 00:10:12,610 And he delivered a very strong case about helping 225 00:10:12,611 --> 00:10:17,321 those members of Congress understand precisely why he 226 00:10:17,316 --> 00:10:20,586 was strongly supportive of making sure that we are 227 00:10:20,586 --> 00:10:22,956 expanding economic opportunity for every 228 00:10:22,955 --> 00:10:25,325 American by opening up access to overseas markets 229 00:10:25,324 --> 00:10:27,324 for American goods and services. 230 00:10:27,326 --> 00:10:31,796 He explained how, as a young man, he left New York and 231 00:10:31,797 --> 00:10:36,807 traveled to the South Side of Chicago where he tried to 232 00:10:36,802 --> 00:10:41,712 help a community deal with the closing of steel plants. 233 00:10:41,707 --> 00:10:43,707 And he talked about all the work that he'd done in the 234 00:10:43,709 --> 00:10:46,409 community there to try to help that community confront 235 00:10:46,412 --> 00:10:50,082 the powerful forces of globalization. 236 00:10:50,082 --> 00:10:52,082 He went on to talk about how, as a candidate for the 237 00:10:52,084 --> 00:10:54,384 United States Senate, he traveled to Galesburg, 238 00:10:54,387 --> 00:10:57,027 Illinois with then-Congressman -- 239 00:10:57,023 --> 00:10:59,863 Democratic Congressman Lane Evans. 240 00:10:59,859 --> 00:11:02,099 And while in Galesburg, the President spent a lot of 241 00:11:02,094 --> 00:11:05,134 time with citizens in that community who are dealing 242 00:11:05,131 --> 00:11:08,171 with the closure of the Maytag plant there. 243 00:11:08,167 --> 00:11:11,207 That's a plant that moved to Mexico. 244 00:11:11,203 --> 00:11:13,473 And he talked about the impact that that had on the 245 00:11:13,472 --> 00:11:15,472 community and on middle-class families in 246 00:11:15,474 --> 00:11:16,774 that community. 247 00:11:16,776 --> 00:11:19,616 And the President said that he ran for this office 248 00:11:19,612 --> 00:11:21,712 determined to go and fight for the people that he 249 00:11:21,714 --> 00:11:23,714 fought for as a community organizer on the South Side 250 00:11:23,716 --> 00:11:25,886 of Chicago, and determined to fight for the people that 251 00:11:25,885 --> 00:11:28,185 he met in Galesburg, Illinois. 252 00:11:28,187 --> 00:11:34,397 And this strategy of passing the most progressive trade 253 00:11:34,393 --> 00:11:36,433 promotion authority bill that's ever been considered 254 00:11:36,429 --> 00:11:40,069 by the Congress is an important part of that strategy. 255 00:11:40,066 --> 00:11:43,706 It doesn't, however, eliminate the need for 256 00:11:43,702 --> 00:11:46,842 Congress to make progress on the wide variety of other 257 00:11:46,839 --> 00:11:49,079 economic priorities the President has identified, 258 00:11:49,075 --> 00:11:51,315 from raising the minimum wage, to passing early 259 00:11:51,310 --> 00:11:54,450 childhood education, to investing in infrastructure, 260 00:11:54,447 --> 00:11:56,447 to getting immigration reform done. 261 00:11:56,449 --> 00:11:58,449 Those are all -- those all continue to be important 262 00:11:58,451 --> 00:12:00,451 priorities because they will also benefit 263 00:12:00,453 --> 00:12:01,453 middle-class families. 264 00:12:01,454 --> 00:12:03,454 And the President is confident that he continues 265 00:12:03,456 --> 00:12:05,956 to have loyal partners in the Democratic caucus when 266 00:12:05,958 --> 00:12:07,858 it comes to those issues. 267 00:12:07,860 --> 00:12:09,860 But the fact is we haven't seen cooperation from 268 00:12:09,862 --> 00:12:12,762 Republicans on those priorities, but on this one 269 00:12:12,765 --> 00:12:13,865 we have. 270 00:12:13,866 --> 00:12:18,206 And the President strongly encouraged Democrats to make 271 00:12:18,204 --> 00:12:21,344 up their own mind, and when they did, to play it straight. 272 00:12:21,340 --> 00:12:22,840 The Press: Okay. 273 00:12:22,842 --> 00:12:26,742 Actually stepping away from trade quickly, Secretary 274 00:12:26,745 --> 00:12:29,245 Kerry was released from the hospital today and went home 275 00:12:29,248 --> 00:12:31,148 to his home in Boston. 276 00:12:31,150 --> 00:12:33,590 Do you have any updates on when Secretary Kerry is 277 00:12:33,586 --> 00:12:35,926 expected to come to Washington, and whether or 278 00:12:35,921 --> 00:12:39,291 not he's still expected to participate in talks over 279 00:12:39,291 --> 00:12:43,531 Iran's nuclear capabilities by the end of the month? 280 00:12:43,529 --> 00:12:45,699 Mr. Earnest: I don't have an update in terms of Secretary 281 00:12:45,698 --> 00:12:46,698 Kerry's schedule. 282 00:12:46,699 --> 00:12:50,039 You can check with the State Department; they may have 283 00:12:50,035 --> 00:12:51,035 some more details. 284 00:12:51,036 --> 00:12:53,506 Obviously, we're very pleased to see that 285 00:12:53,506 --> 00:12:56,206 Secretary Kerry is slated to be discharged from the 286 00:12:56,208 --> 00:12:58,208 hospital today, if he hasn't been already. 287 00:12:58,210 --> 00:13:01,780 I think that is an indication that he is living 288 00:13:01,780 --> 00:13:08,020 up to his reputation as someone who is determined to 289 00:13:08,020 --> 00:13:11,620 get back into his office and determined to get back on 290 00:13:11,624 --> 00:13:12,624 the job. 291 00:13:12,625 --> 00:13:15,195 And Secretary Kerry is tough. 292 00:13:15,194 --> 00:13:17,864 The truth is, he probably benefitted from a little 293 00:13:17,863 --> 00:13:19,863 rest when he was in the hospital; he's been working 294 00:13:19,865 --> 00:13:21,835 himself so hard over the last several weeks. 295 00:13:21,834 --> 00:13:26,334 And I think he, more than anybody, understands the 296 00:13:26,338 --> 00:13:28,338 long list of priorities that are awaiting when he gets 297 00:13:28,340 --> 00:13:30,640 back to his desk, and we certainly are looking 298 00:13:30,643 --> 00:13:32,943 forward to him getting back on the job and wish him very 299 00:13:32,945 --> 00:13:34,945 well as he continues to recover from surgery. 300 00:13:34,947 --> 00:13:36,947 The Press: But contingency plans at this 301 00:13:36,949 --> 00:13:38,949 point about sending someone in his place or possibly 302 00:13:38,951 --> 00:13:40,951 changing the location of the talks? 303 00:13:40,953 --> 00:13:42,953 Mr. Earnest: Nothing at this point. 304 00:13:42,955 --> 00:13:44,925 It's not clear exactly whether or not that will be 305 00:13:44,924 --> 00:13:46,924 necessary, but additional scheduling updates will come 306 00:13:46,926 --> 00:13:48,156 from the State Department. 307 00:13:48,160 --> 00:13:49,330 Jim. 308 00:13:49,328 --> 00:13:52,498 The Press: So you came out with that Midwest optimism, 309 00:13:52,498 --> 00:13:56,138 but in reality, when you look at it, was it really a 310 00:13:56,135 --> 00:13:57,205 good day for the President? 311 00:13:57,203 --> 00:14:00,743 He does not have anything on his desk to sign, and he has 312 00:14:00,739 --> 00:14:06,049 an uphill battle -- has to get two votes on Tuesday to 313 00:14:06,045 --> 00:14:09,315 get something to his desk, is my understanding. 314 00:14:09,315 --> 00:14:13,385 And the vote today was overwhelming. 315 00:14:13,385 --> 00:14:16,185 It was an overwhelming defeat by his own party. 316 00:14:18,757 --> 00:14:21,127 Isn't your optimism a little misplaced? 317 00:14:21,126 --> 00:14:24,566 Mr. Earnest: I don't think so, Jim, primarily because 318 00:14:24,563 --> 00:14:29,403 there was a lot of healthy, well-informed skepticism 319 00:14:29,401 --> 00:14:32,001 about the ability of the United States Congress to 320 00:14:32,004 --> 00:14:37,474 work in bipartisan fashion to pass something like trade 321 00:14:37,476 --> 00:14:41,816 promotion authority that is so complicated and so 322 00:14:41,814 --> 00:14:45,384 fraught with a lot of toxic politics. 323 00:14:45,384 --> 00:14:49,024 And based on a lot of good work in the Senate and some 324 00:14:49,021 --> 00:14:55,431 bipartisan work in the House, those odds were overcome. 325 00:14:55,427 --> 00:14:57,297 The Press: But they didn't really pass it, Josh. 326 00:14:57,296 --> 00:14:58,396 Mr. Earnest: Well, sure they did. 327 00:14:58,397 --> 00:15:01,667 They did with 28 Democratic votes, and TPA has passed. 328 00:15:01,667 --> 00:15:03,507 That was actually going to be the hard one. 329 00:15:03,502 --> 00:15:06,172 The broad assumption in here I think -- I don't want to 330 00:15:06,171 --> 00:15:07,871 speak for all of you; I've done that three or four 331 00:15:07,873 --> 00:15:10,943 times today -- but I think many people, whether they're 332 00:15:10,943 --> 00:15:13,743 in here or not, assumed that it would be easier to pass 333 00:15:13,746 --> 00:15:16,116 trade adjustment assistance than it would be to pass 334 00:15:16,115 --> 00:15:18,015 trade promotion authority. 335 00:15:18,017 --> 00:15:21,557 So the fact is the hard part has gotten done. 336 00:15:21,553 --> 00:15:23,553 When it comes to making the case to Democrats about why 337 00:15:23,555 --> 00:15:26,025 they should support trade adjustment assistance, we've 338 00:15:26,025 --> 00:15:28,025 got a really strong case to make. 339 00:15:28,027 --> 00:15:30,697 If they don't act on it as early as next week, it's 340 00:15:30,696 --> 00:15:32,696 going to expire at the end of September. 341 00:15:32,698 --> 00:15:34,698 This is a program that Democrats believe in; they 342 00:15:34,700 --> 00:15:37,340 unanimously supported it last time it was on the floor. 343 00:15:37,336 --> 00:15:39,936 So we've got a strong case to make here because we're 344 00:15:39,938 --> 00:15:42,708 not just talking about preventing this program from 345 00:15:42,708 --> 00:15:45,348 lapsing, we're talking about significantly expanding it. 346 00:15:45,344 --> 00:15:49,314 The Press: But the opponents of the trade fast track bill 347 00:15:49,315 --> 00:15:54,655 did what they wanted to do, which was undercut it by 348 00:15:54,653 --> 00:15:57,553 defeating the trade assistance bill. 349 00:15:57,556 --> 00:16:00,156 That's what they designed -- was designed to happen, and 350 00:16:00,159 --> 00:16:01,459 it happened. 351 00:16:01,460 --> 00:16:03,530 Mr. Earnest: Well, I think that's what they designed -- 352 00:16:03,529 --> 00:16:06,099 that's what they tried to do in the United States Senate, 353 00:16:06,098 --> 00:16:11,208 and there was at one point in time a procedural snafu 354 00:16:11,203 --> 00:16:13,403 that prompted a delay. 355 00:16:13,405 --> 00:16:16,605 And we're seeing a similar dynamic in the House right now. 356 00:16:16,608 --> 00:16:19,008 In some ways, the one in the House is actually easier to 357 00:16:19,011 --> 00:16:21,181 resolve -- again, because we're talking about a piece 358 00:16:21,180 --> 00:16:23,680 of legislation that the last time it was voted on got the 359 00:16:23,682 --> 00:16:25,552 unanimous support of Democrats. 360 00:16:25,551 --> 00:16:28,291 And there are a substantial number of Republicans that 361 00:16:28,287 --> 00:16:30,027 voted for it today. 362 00:16:30,022 --> 00:16:32,192 I think it's -- I certainly wouldn't rule out the 363 00:16:32,191 --> 00:16:35,761 ability of the Speaker of the House to convince even 364 00:16:35,761 --> 00:16:39,601 more Republicans to vote for trade adjustment assistance. 365 00:16:39,598 --> 00:16:42,438 We certainly believe that we can convince more Democrats 366 00:16:42,434 --> 00:16:44,804 to vote for a program that many of them have previously 367 00:16:44,803 --> 00:16:49,573 supported, and that our economists can demonstrate 368 00:16:51,844 --> 00:16:54,714 significantly benefit middle-class families all 369 00:16:54,713 --> 00:16:55,713 across the country. 370 00:16:55,714 --> 00:16:57,714 The Press: My colleague asked you about the 371 00:16:57,716 --> 00:17:02,256 President's reaction to Leader Pelosi going against 372 00:17:02,254 --> 00:17:03,394 the President today. 373 00:17:03,389 --> 00:17:05,559 I'd like to ask you about what it felt like to have 374 00:17:05,557 --> 00:17:08,127 John Boehner bail out the President today with 375 00:17:08,127 --> 00:17:10,227 procedural moves. 376 00:17:10,229 --> 00:17:12,469 Mr. Earnest: Well, I'm not sure I would characterize it 377 00:17:12,464 --> 00:17:13,464 that way. 378 00:17:13,465 --> 00:17:15,465 I think that what you have seen over the last -- 379 00:17:15,467 --> 00:17:17,467 certainly over the last week, and the ground work 380 00:17:17,469 --> 00:17:19,939 has been laid in recent months, [is] effective 381 00:17:19,938 --> 00:17:23,008 coordination between the White House and the 382 00:17:23,008 --> 00:17:26,948 Speaker's office to make progress on a shared priority. 383 00:17:26,945 --> 00:17:29,985 This is the kind of bipartisan effort that the 384 00:17:29,982 --> 00:17:31,682 President has long envisioned. 385 00:17:31,683 --> 00:17:33,683 And unfortunately, we haven't seen nearly enough 386 00:17:33,685 --> 00:17:35,785 of it, but in this case you've got to give some 387 00:17:35,788 --> 00:17:37,828 credit where it's due -- to the Speaker of the House, 388 00:17:37,823 --> 00:17:40,493 who, despite his many ideological differences with 389 00:17:40,492 --> 00:17:42,492 the President, has said let's put aside our 390 00:17:42,494 --> 00:17:44,564 differences and figure out how we can work together to 391 00:17:44,563 --> 00:17:49,973 build a bipartisan majority for a policy that we both 392 00:17:49,968 --> 00:17:52,968 believe will benefit our economy and will benefit 393 00:17:52,971 --> 00:17:54,841 middle-class families across the country. 394 00:17:54,840 --> 00:17:56,240 The Press: But you don't see the irony here, with Pelosi 395 00:17:56,241 --> 00:17:57,741 on one side, and Boehner on the other side 396 00:17:57,743 --> 00:18:00,743 with the President? 397 00:18:00,746 --> 00:18:02,616 Mr. Earnest: Well, what I see is I see that there is a 398 00:18:02,614 --> 00:18:05,254 bipartisan majority in the House of Representatives 399 00:18:05,250 --> 00:18:07,250 that's standing with the President. 400 00:18:07,252 --> 00:18:09,252 Yes, that means a substantial number of Republicans. 401 00:18:09,254 --> 00:18:11,254 And I think that's a testament to the President's 402 00:18:11,256 --> 00:18:13,256 leadership ability too, that he's willing to set aside 403 00:18:13,258 --> 00:18:15,258 his own differences with them to try to find common 404 00:18:15,260 --> 00:18:16,260 ground on this. 405 00:18:16,261 --> 00:18:19,161 And again, I think the country is very well served 406 00:18:19,164 --> 00:18:22,734 by that kind of bipartisan spirit, and hopefully this 407 00:18:22,734 --> 00:18:25,974 will serve as a template not just for eventually passing 408 00:18:25,971 --> 00:18:28,541 trade adjustment assistance, but also making progress on 409 00:18:28,540 --> 00:18:31,010 some other bipartisan priorities that have been 410 00:18:31,009 --> 00:18:33,009 identified, including investments in 411 00:18:33,011 --> 00:18:34,981 infrastructure, criminal justice reform and some 412 00:18:34,980 --> 00:18:36,150 other things. 413 00:18:36,148 --> 00:18:37,418 Mike. 414 00:18:37,416 --> 00:18:39,656 The Press: So help me understand then -- as I 415 00:18:39,651 --> 00:18:42,491 understand it, many of the Democrats that opposed the 416 00:18:42,488 --> 00:18:46,788 TAA today did so -- and I think the former Speaker 417 00:18:46,792 --> 00:18:49,392 said this in her final remarks as well -- they did 418 00:18:49,394 --> 00:18:53,804 so as a way of stopping TPA, which they don't like. 419 00:18:53,799 --> 00:18:59,539 So if TPA has now passed with 219, and so the only 420 00:18:59,538 --> 00:19:02,908 thing standing in the way of TPA from actually getting to 421 00:19:02,908 --> 00:19:08,648 the President's desk is now keeping TAA dead, don't 422 00:19:08,647 --> 00:19:11,287 those Democrats all have even more incentive to 423 00:19:11,283 --> 00:19:14,883 continue to be opposed to it next week, if you guys bring 424 00:19:14,887 --> 00:19:16,157 it up again, than they do now? 425 00:19:16,154 --> 00:19:18,824 So you have a bigger hill to climb. 426 00:19:18,824 --> 00:19:20,824 I mean, how can you possibly say that you are going to 427 00:19:20,826 --> 00:19:24,596 convince more Democrats to vote for it now when it's 428 00:19:24,596 --> 00:19:28,096 even more important for them to remain opposed to it? 429 00:19:28,100 --> 00:19:30,100 Mr. Earnest: Well, because the case that we'll make to 430 00:19:30,102 --> 00:19:33,772 them, Mike, is that they may have -- they've registered 431 00:19:33,772 --> 00:19:35,342 their objections with TPA. 432 00:19:35,340 --> 00:19:38,180 They hoped to block the passage of TPA, and it 433 00:19:38,176 --> 00:19:39,176 didn't work. 434 00:19:39,177 --> 00:19:41,347 TPA did pass with a bipartisan majority. 435 00:19:41,346 --> 00:19:44,516 And now we're going to go and make the case to them 436 00:19:44,516 --> 00:19:49,026 that they should support a policy that they have 437 00:19:49,021 --> 00:19:50,491 strongly supported in the past. 438 00:19:50,489 --> 00:19:53,759 And in fact, if they don't, we're going to see that 439 00:19:53,759 --> 00:19:56,399 policy that they strongly support lapse. 440 00:19:56,395 --> 00:19:58,395 Instead, they actually had the opportunity not just to 441 00:19:58,397 --> 00:20:01,437 make sure that -- not just to prevent its lapse, but 442 00:20:01,433 --> 00:20:04,073 actually to significantly expand it -- almost double 443 00:20:04,069 --> 00:20:06,069 it in size when it comes to the amount of money that can 444 00:20:06,071 --> 00:20:08,071 be spent on job training programs. 445 00:20:08,073 --> 00:20:10,073 The Press: But then that means caving on their bigger 446 00:20:10,075 --> 00:20:12,845 goal, which is keeping TPA from going forward, right? 447 00:20:12,844 --> 00:20:14,844 Mr. Earnest: Well, the TPA has already passed. 448 00:20:14,846 --> 00:20:16,846 And so now they have a question about are they 449 00:20:16,848 --> 00:20:21,658 going to support a policy that previously earned the 450 00:20:21,653 --> 00:20:24,123 unanimous support of Democrats, and are they 451 00:20:24,122 --> 00:20:26,892 going to seek to expand it and make sure that they're 452 00:20:26,892 --> 00:20:30,192 not in a position where they're essentially -- make 453 00:20:30,195 --> 00:20:32,195 sure that they're in a position where they can 454 00:20:32,197 --> 00:20:34,737 offer support to those workers that are dealing 455 00:20:34,733 --> 00:20:36,733 with the challenges of globalization. 456 00:20:36,735 --> 00:20:39,135 The Press: But if TA doesn't pass, then TPA is 457 00:20:39,137 --> 00:20:40,137 dead, right? 458 00:20:40,138 --> 00:20:42,578 I mean, if ultimately you can't get it passed, it's -- 459 00:20:42,574 --> 00:20:47,844 Mr. Earnest: Well, what's true is the President shares 460 00:20:47,846 --> 00:20:49,416 -- I mean, look, this is true. 461 00:20:49,414 --> 00:20:51,454 The President agrees with Democrats that TAA 462 00:20:51,450 --> 00:20:52,450 is a priority. 463 00:20:52,451 --> 00:20:53,921 That's the thing here. 464 00:20:53,919 --> 00:20:56,059 I would acknowledge that there are some differences 465 00:20:56,054 --> 00:20:58,594 of opinion, but there are far more areas where we 466 00:20:58,590 --> 00:20:59,960 agree than where we disagree. 467 00:20:59,958 --> 00:21:02,528 And I think this is the hallmark of a legislative 468 00:21:02,527 --> 00:21:04,097 procedural snafu. 469 00:21:04,096 --> 00:21:06,066 I think we know it when we see it now. 470 00:21:06,064 --> 00:21:07,604 (laughter) 471 00:21:07,599 --> 00:21:11,399 And clearly, that's what we have before us today. 472 00:21:11,403 --> 00:21:12,573 So, Jim. 473 00:21:12,571 --> 00:21:14,611 The Press: So to quote Yogi Berra, "It's not over till 474 00:21:14,606 --> 00:21:15,436 it's over"? 475 00:21:15,440 --> 00:21:16,780 Is that what you're saying? 476 00:21:16,775 --> 00:21:19,445 Mr. Earnest: We can do a lot of that today, couldn't we? 477 00:21:19,444 --> 00:21:22,684 The Press: But to Mike's point, I just want to put a 478 00:21:22,681 --> 00:21:23,951 fine point on this. 479 00:21:23,949 --> 00:21:27,249 The President will not sign TPA without TAA? 480 00:21:27,252 --> 00:21:29,252 Mr. Earnest: Well, the President has made clear -- 481 00:21:29,254 --> 00:21:31,254 the President has made clear that trade adjustment 482 00:21:31,256 --> 00:21:35,226 assistance is a strong priority, and that if we are 483 00:21:35,227 --> 00:21:39,267 going to take steps that the President believes is good 484 00:21:39,264 --> 00:21:42,434 for our economy and good for middle-class families to 485 00:21:42,434 --> 00:21:44,434 expand access to overseas markets, that one thing we 486 00:21:44,436 --> 00:21:48,676 also need to do is make a similar investment in those 487 00:21:48,674 --> 00:21:51,874 workers who are negatively affected by broader trends 488 00:21:51,877 --> 00:21:54,047 -- by broader globalization trends. 489 00:21:54,046 --> 00:21:57,746 And what we know is we actually know how to 490 00:21:57,749 --> 00:21:58,749 do this now. 491 00:21:58,750 --> 00:22:05,020 And this is the thing that Secretary Perez wrote to 492 00:22:05,023 --> 00:22:06,123 members of Congress yesterday. 493 00:22:06,124 --> 00:22:08,094 He wrote a long letter, and I can get you a copy of that 494 00:22:08,093 --> 00:22:10,093 letter if you haven't had a chance to see it. 495 00:22:10,095 --> 00:22:12,495 But essentially described what the benefits are of 496 00:22:12,497 --> 00:22:14,497 this trade adjustment assistance proposal. 497 00:22:14,499 --> 00:22:18,469 This is essentially a package of job training 498 00:22:18,470 --> 00:22:24,040 grants, and other funding that allows workers who can 499 00:22:24,042 --> 00:22:26,682 successfully petition to the Department of Labor to get 500 00:22:26,678 --> 00:22:28,918 access to job training programs that will ensure 501 00:22:28,914 --> 00:22:30,984 that they get the skills they need to actually get 502 00:22:30,982 --> 00:22:32,282 another job. 503 00:22:32,284 --> 00:22:34,584 So this package is a very -- is a significant one. 504 00:22:34,586 --> 00:22:38,526 It's a significant expansion of the package that's poised 505 00:22:38,523 --> 00:22:40,523 to expire at the end of September. 506 00:22:40,525 --> 00:22:43,165 This will expand -- make trade adjustment assistance 507 00:22:43,161 --> 00:22:45,061 available for six years. 508 00:22:45,063 --> 00:22:47,663 It would nearly double the program in size. 509 00:22:47,666 --> 00:22:50,806 It would allow 17,500 workers, who over the last 510 00:22:50,802 --> 00:22:53,942 18 months have had their eligibility denied, to allow 511 00:22:53,939 --> 00:22:56,379 them to have their applications reconsidered. 512 00:22:56,374 --> 00:23:00,074 And it would provide -- make available to workers 130 513 00:23:00,078 --> 00:23:04,418 weeks of what's called trade readjustment allowance benefits. 514 00:23:04,416 --> 00:23:06,386 Essentially, that means -- if you're doing the math -- 515 00:23:06,384 --> 00:23:08,384 that means that that is enough assistance to go 516 00:23:08,386 --> 00:23:10,826 through a two-year training program; to go and get some 517 00:23:10,822 --> 00:23:13,722 really good skills that you know you can then use to go 518 00:23:13,725 --> 00:23:15,725 and get a good middle-class job. 519 00:23:15,727 --> 00:23:17,827 So these kinds of programs we know make a real 520 00:23:17,829 --> 00:23:19,969 difference in the lives of middle-class families. 521 00:23:19,965 --> 00:23:21,965 And that's the case that we're going to 522 00:23:21,967 --> 00:23:22,867 make to Democrats. 523 00:23:22,868 --> 00:23:24,098 We're not -- this is -- 524 00:23:24,102 --> 00:23:25,702 The Press: But no TP without TAA? 525 00:23:25,704 --> 00:23:26,474 I mean, just -- 526 00:23:26,471 --> 00:23:27,911 Mr. Earnest: This is not a situation where we have to 527 00:23:27,906 --> 00:23:30,976 persuade Democrats to hold their nose and 528 00:23:30,976 --> 00:23:31,976 vote for something. 529 00:23:31,977 --> 00:23:33,977 This is an opportunity for Democrats to support the 530 00:23:33,979 --> 00:23:36,319 expansion of a program that they previously have 531 00:23:36,314 --> 00:23:38,314 indicated they strongly support. 532 00:23:38,316 --> 00:23:40,316 The Press: I think that's a non-answer. 533 00:23:40,318 --> 00:23:42,318 I don't think you're answering that question. 534 00:23:42,320 --> 00:23:42,850 Mr. Earnest: Okay. 535 00:23:42,854 --> 00:23:43,754 I don't mean to give a non-answer. 536 00:23:43,755 --> 00:23:45,795 The Press: So the President will not sign TPA without TAA? 537 00:23:45,791 --> 00:23:47,321 Both of these have to be passed and packaged 538 00:23:47,325 --> 00:23:48,695 together, isn't that correct? 539 00:23:48,693 --> 00:23:50,663 Mr. Earnest: Well, as matter of legislative 540 00:23:50,662 --> 00:23:52,832 procedure, that's true. 541 00:23:52,831 --> 00:23:54,831 The House of Representatives can't just send -- based on 542 00:23:54,833 --> 00:23:58,273 their vote today -- they can't just send the TPA bill 543 00:23:58,270 --> 00:24:00,270 to the President's desk and hope that the 544 00:24:00,272 --> 00:24:02,212 TAA bill follows. 545 00:24:02,207 --> 00:24:04,477 Procedurally that won't work. 546 00:24:04,476 --> 00:24:07,246 Again, this is why I would describe this as 547 00:24:07,245 --> 00:24:08,685 procedural snafu. 548 00:24:08,680 --> 00:24:11,550 We have a situation where we have got a clear bipartisan 549 00:24:11,550 --> 00:24:13,750 majority in the House; we just have to work our way 550 00:24:13,752 --> 00:24:15,752 through the procedures so that it can make its way to 551 00:24:15,754 --> 00:24:16,754 the President's desk. 552 00:24:16,755 --> 00:24:18,755 The Press: And why did the President wait until the 553 00:24:18,757 --> 00:24:22,057 last minute to go up to Capitol Hill, to go schmooze 554 00:24:22,060 --> 00:24:23,900 lawmakers at the congressional baseball game 555 00:24:23,895 --> 00:24:25,295 last night? 556 00:24:25,297 --> 00:24:28,197 And what do you say to people in this town who 557 00:24:28,200 --> 00:24:30,200 believe that's just too little too late? 558 00:24:30,202 --> 00:24:33,142 Mr. Earnest: If that were all the President did, I 559 00:24:33,138 --> 00:24:34,268 would agree with them. 560 00:24:34,272 --> 00:24:36,272 But the fact is, the President held -- the 561 00:24:36,274 --> 00:24:40,114 President personally had dozens of conversations with 562 00:24:40,111 --> 00:24:44,321 Democrats in the House and in the Senate to make the 563 00:24:44,316 --> 00:24:46,516 case for this proposal. 564 00:24:46,518 --> 00:24:48,518 And those are conversations that took place over the 565 00:24:48,520 --> 00:24:50,520 course of months. 566 00:24:52,157 --> 00:24:55,957 Often, in the course of the skeptical questions about 567 00:24:55,961 --> 00:24:59,031 whether trade could ever get done in the Congress, people 568 00:24:59,030 --> 00:25:01,170 would ask, "well, what's the President trying to do to 569 00:25:01,166 --> 00:25:02,166 get it passed?" 570 00:25:02,167 --> 00:25:04,907 And I made reference to the fact that the President was 571 00:25:04,903 --> 00:25:06,903 regularly engaged in conversations. 572 00:25:06,905 --> 00:25:08,975 And that typically was small meetings that the President 573 00:25:08,974 --> 00:25:12,074 would convene with three or four members, sometimes in 574 00:25:12,077 --> 00:25:14,477 the private dining room off the Oval Office having 575 00:25:14,479 --> 00:25:15,579 these conversations. 576 00:25:15,580 --> 00:25:17,250 The Press: Meetings we didn't know about that 577 00:25:17,249 --> 00:25:17,979 weren't read out to us? 578 00:25:17,983 --> 00:25:21,553 Mr. Earnest: Right, that weren't previously announced. 579 00:25:21,553 --> 00:25:23,853 The Press: Why weren't those announced? 580 00:25:23,855 --> 00:25:26,355 Why not tell the public that he's having these meetings? 581 00:25:26,358 --> 00:25:28,198 Mr. Earnest: Well, because the President wanted to have 582 00:25:28,193 --> 00:25:30,563 an opportunity to have a private conversation with them. 583 00:25:30,562 --> 00:25:32,762 And I think were some members of Congress who did 584 00:25:32,764 --> 00:25:37,234 come out and say that they had had conversations with 585 00:25:37,235 --> 00:25:38,235 the President about this. 586 00:25:38,236 --> 00:25:40,236 That was often in the context of announcing their 587 00:25:40,238 --> 00:25:42,608 support for the bill. 588 00:25:42,607 --> 00:25:44,907 There are other more high-profile settings where 589 00:25:44,910 --> 00:25:46,910 you saw the President make his case. 590 00:25:46,912 --> 00:25:48,912 For example, there were four members of Congress who flew 591 00:25:48,914 --> 00:25:50,914 with the President to Germany when he took his 592 00:25:50,916 --> 00:25:53,086 trip to the G7 just last weekend. 593 00:25:53,084 --> 00:25:54,084 It seems like a month ago. 594 00:25:54,085 --> 00:26:00,355 The Press: But to jump ahead, when you see stories 595 00:26:00,358 --> 00:26:03,498 written over the next 48 hours that say that this 596 00:26:03,495 --> 00:26:07,965 vote that occurred on Friday contributed to the 597 00:26:07,966 --> 00:26:11,106 President's lame duck status; when White House 598 00:26:11,102 --> 00:26:14,072 Press Secretary Josh Earnest is quoted in those stories, 599 00:26:14,072 --> 00:26:15,072 he says what? 600 00:26:15,073 --> 00:26:17,413 Mr. Earnest: He says the President successfully - 601 00:26:17,409 --> 00:26:18,409 (laughter) 602 00:26:18,410 --> 00:26:20,410 -- is it awkward for me to refer to myself in the 603 00:26:20,412 --> 00:26:26,252 third person? 604 00:26:26,251 --> 00:26:28,391 What I would do is I would simply observe that there is 605 00:26:28,386 --> 00:26:33,026 healthy skepticism across the United States Capitol, 606 00:26:33,024 --> 00:26:35,224 and across the country, about whether or not 607 00:26:35,226 --> 00:26:37,226 Democrats and Republicans would actually be able to 608 00:26:37,228 --> 00:26:40,228 work together in bipartisan fashion to pass Trade 609 00:26:40,231 --> 00:26:42,001 Promotion Authority. 610 00:26:42,000 --> 00:26:44,000 And because of the President's leadership and 611 00:26:44,002 --> 00:26:46,002 because of the effective leadership of Republicans on 612 00:26:46,004 --> 00:26:48,004 the other side of the aisle that were willing to 613 00:26:48,006 --> 00:26:50,176 coordinate and cooperate with the President and his 614 00:26:50,175 --> 00:26:53,715 team, the President succeeded in that priority. 615 00:26:53,712 --> 00:27:00,182 There is still a procedural snafu to work through, but 616 00:27:00,185 --> 00:27:02,855 that's in the same spirit that has contributed to our 617 00:27:02,854 --> 00:27:07,364 success in passing TPA through the Senate, TAA 618 00:27:07,359 --> 00:27:10,399 through the Senate, TPA through the House. 619 00:27:10,395 --> 00:27:12,395 We're going to use the same strategy to pass TAA through 620 00:27:12,397 --> 00:27:13,867 the House, too. 621 00:27:13,865 --> 00:27:14,895 April. 622 00:27:14,899 --> 00:27:18,099 The Press: Josh, when it comes to TAA and even TPP, 623 00:27:18,103 --> 00:27:20,873 many Democrats felt it was really a matter of survival 624 00:27:20,872 --> 00:27:23,812 for many middle-income Americans who could lose 625 00:27:23,808 --> 00:27:25,608 their jobs to globalization. 626 00:27:25,610 --> 00:27:27,950 What do you say about the issue of survival as you're 627 00:27:27,946 --> 00:27:31,386 trying to marry this globalization in trade with 628 00:27:31,383 --> 00:27:37,093 people that you're wanting to enhance TAA in case there 629 00:27:37,088 --> 00:27:39,328 is a job loss for some of these people? 630 00:27:39,324 --> 00:27:41,324 Mr. Earnest: And this was the nature -- this was a 631 00:27:41,326 --> 00:27:44,196 significant part of the presentation that the 632 00:27:44,195 --> 00:27:47,365 President made to House Democrats today. 633 00:27:47,365 --> 00:27:52,875 It is impossible to completely insulate the 634 00:27:52,871 --> 00:27:56,111 United States of America and the American people from the 635 00:27:56,107 --> 00:27:58,747 broader economic forces of globalization. 636 00:27:58,743 --> 00:28:01,643 It's just impossible to do so. 637 00:28:01,646 --> 00:28:05,086 And so the question is: How are the leaders of this 638 00:28:05,083 --> 00:28:08,323 country going to prepare our economy and the American 639 00:28:08,319 --> 00:28:11,919 people to weather those forces? 640 00:28:11,923 --> 00:28:16,633 There are some who advocate trying to shut the United 641 00:28:16,628 --> 00:28:19,268 States out from the rest of the world. 642 00:28:19,264 --> 00:28:22,004 The President has zero confidence in that strategy. 643 00:28:22,000 --> 00:28:24,900 The President believes that our economy and our people 644 00:28:24,903 --> 00:28:27,873 are best served if we actually try to engage the 645 00:28:27,872 --> 00:28:31,842 world, and engage the world in a way where we enter into 646 00:28:31,843 --> 00:28:37,083 agreements whereby they commit to respecting basic 647 00:28:37,082 --> 00:28:42,492 intellectual property laws, raising labor standards, 648 00:28:42,487 --> 00:28:46,357 adopting higher environmental standards, 649 00:28:46,357 --> 00:28:49,627 respecting and protecting basic human rights. 650 00:28:49,627 --> 00:28:51,867 That if we can get them to commit to doing all of that 651 00:28:51,863 --> 00:28:54,063 in exchange for doing business in the United 652 00:28:54,065 --> 00:28:56,205 States, well, what the United States is essentially 653 00:28:56,201 --> 00:28:58,301 doing is leveling the playing field, and we can go 654 00:28:58,303 --> 00:29:00,303 do business in all those countries, too. 655 00:29:00,305 --> 00:29:02,305 And when I say all those countries, we're talking 656 00:29:02,307 --> 00:29:06,077 about some of the most economically dynamic 657 00:29:06,077 --> 00:29:07,077 countries in the world. 658 00:29:07,078 --> 00:29:09,078 These are the countries that have some of the 659 00:29:09,080 --> 00:29:11,080 fastest-growing economies on the plant. 660 00:29:11,082 --> 00:29:13,082 And giving American businesses and American 661 00:29:13,084 --> 00:29:15,084 workers the opportunity to do business in those 662 00:29:15,086 --> 00:29:17,726 countries with the more level playing field is 663 00:29:17,722 --> 00:29:19,292 tremendous opportunity. 664 00:29:19,290 --> 00:29:22,530 And that is the right way for us to respond to the 665 00:29:22,527 --> 00:29:27,337 challenging forces of a globalized economy. 666 00:29:27,332 --> 00:29:29,932 The Press: When you say that it's impossible to insulate 667 00:29:29,934 --> 00:29:32,504 the American people from this globalization in trade 668 00:29:32,504 --> 00:29:35,074 deal that you're doing, when you're in their rooms 669 00:29:35,073 --> 00:29:38,443 calculating the positives and the negatives, 670 00:29:38,443 --> 00:29:43,313 realistically what is this White House expecting when 671 00:29:43,314 --> 00:29:46,014 the trade bill goes through -- the numbers of jobs and 672 00:29:46,017 --> 00:29:47,717 the numbers of people who could lose their jobs 673 00:29:47,719 --> 00:29:49,959 because of globalization over the next six years, as 674 00:29:49,954 --> 00:29:51,454 you said, with TAA? 675 00:29:51,456 --> 00:29:52,456 Mr. Earnest: You mean how soon do we expect this 676 00:29:52,457 --> 00:29:53,457 legislation to pass? 677 00:29:53,458 --> 00:29:54,058 Is that what you're asking? 678 00:29:54,058 --> 00:29:54,588 The Press: No. 679 00:29:54,592 --> 00:29:56,162 I'm asking -- no. 680 00:29:56,161 --> 00:29:58,631 I'm asking realistically, in numbers, when you calculate 681 00:29:58,630 --> 00:30:03,430 the positives of TPA and the losses of globalization, 682 00:30:03,434 --> 00:30:05,234 realistically over the next six years, when you have 683 00:30:05,236 --> 00:30:08,536 this trajectory if TAA were to come to place, how many 684 00:30:08,540 --> 00:30:11,740 people realistically in this nation are you looking at 685 00:30:11,743 --> 00:30:16,553 that could realistically not be insulated, lose their 686 00:30:16,548 --> 00:30:18,718 jobs because of TPA? 687 00:30:18,716 --> 00:30:19,916 Mr. Earnest: Well, let me see if we can get you some 688 00:30:19,918 --> 00:30:21,388 economic analysis from the CEA. 689 00:30:21,386 --> 00:30:27,096 What I would merely say to you is that the United 690 00:30:27,091 --> 00:30:30,391 States, our economy and our people will be much worse 691 00:30:30,395 --> 00:30:33,695 off if we just lock in the status quo, if we 692 00:30:33,698 --> 00:30:36,298 don't do anything. 693 00:30:36,301 --> 00:30:38,501 The President believes -- and there is some evidence 694 00:30:38,503 --> 00:30:42,003 to back this up -- that if we do enter into these trade 695 00:30:42,006 --> 00:30:44,876 agreements that seek to level the playing field with 696 00:30:44,876 --> 00:30:46,876 other countries, particularly those countries 697 00:30:46,878 --> 00:30:50,978 in the most economically vibrant regions in the 698 00:30:50,982 --> 00:30:54,722 world, that that will create jobs right here in the 699 00:30:54,719 --> 00:30:55,719 United States. 700 00:30:55,720 --> 00:30:57,720 That was the reason the President traveled to the 701 00:30:57,722 --> 00:30:59,722 Nike headquarter six or eight weeks ago -- that 702 00:30:59,724 --> 00:31:00,924 that's exactly what Nike said. 703 00:31:00,925 --> 00:31:04,565 Nike is a company with a history of investing in 704 00:31:04,562 --> 00:31:07,862 other countries, taking advantage of the economic 705 00:31:07,865 --> 00:31:10,735 opportunity that exists in other countries. 706 00:31:10,735 --> 00:31:13,805 And what Nike said was they said, if you pass this TPP 707 00:31:13,805 --> 00:31:18,645 deal and we get other countries to start to raise 708 00:31:18,643 --> 00:31:20,643 their labor standards and raise their environmental 709 00:31:20,645 --> 00:31:22,985 standards, and respect basic intellectual property 710 00:31:22,981 --> 00:31:25,181 rights, that what we're going to do is we're 711 00:31:25,183 --> 00:31:27,183 actually going to invest in creating jobs right here 712 00:31:27,185 --> 00:31:28,185 in America. 713 00:31:28,186 --> 00:31:30,156 Because we know, right here in America, we've got the 714 00:31:30,154 --> 00:31:31,154 best workers. 715 00:31:31,155 --> 00:31:33,425 We've got the best colleges and universities. 716 00:31:33,424 --> 00:31:37,264 We've got the most clever innovators. 717 00:31:37,262 --> 00:31:39,262 We've got the most ambitious entrepreneurs. 718 00:31:39,264 --> 00:31:42,234 And that's an environment that Nike wants to be a part of. 719 00:31:42,233 --> 00:31:47,003 So they recognize that, by engaging in the world, we 720 00:31:47,005 --> 00:31:49,675 can actually expand economic opportunity right here at home. 721 00:31:49,674 --> 00:31:50,604 The Press: Okay. 722 00:31:50,608 --> 00:31:52,178 And on another subject -- Cleveland. 723 00:31:52,176 --> 00:31:56,986 The judge finds that the police officers who shot and 724 00:31:56,981 --> 00:32:00,551 killed 12-year-old Tamir Rice, there is cause for 725 00:32:00,551 --> 00:32:01,551 murder charges. 726 00:32:01,552 --> 00:32:04,052 What does the White House feel about that after we 727 00:32:04,055 --> 00:32:08,895 watched this -- after the situation in Ferguson and in 728 00:32:08,893 --> 00:32:10,693 New York, and then there was Cleveland? 729 00:32:10,695 --> 00:32:11,495 What do you say to that? 730 00:32:11,496 --> 00:32:12,196 Mr. Earnest: My understanding at this point, 731 00:32:12,196 --> 00:32:14,236 April, is that this is a case that's now in the hands 732 00:32:14,232 --> 00:32:17,502 of a local prosecutor. 733 00:32:17,502 --> 00:32:20,072 And that local prosecutor will take a look at the facts. 734 00:32:20,071 --> 00:32:22,071 I'm confident that that individual will consider the 735 00:32:22,073 --> 00:32:23,073 ruling of the judge. 736 00:32:23,074 --> 00:32:25,544 But ultimately, this is a decision for the federal 737 00:32:25,543 --> 00:32:27,543 prosecutor -- for the local prosecutor to make. 738 00:32:27,545 --> 00:32:32,215 The Department of Justice has obviously been engaged 739 00:32:32,216 --> 00:32:35,586 with the city of Cleveland to help them implement some 740 00:32:35,586 --> 00:32:38,686 of the reforms that they felt were needed there. 741 00:32:38,690 --> 00:32:40,330 But as it relates to the specific case, I wouldn't 742 00:32:40,325 --> 00:32:43,225 have any direct comment on it. 743 00:32:43,227 --> 00:32:43,827 Kristen. 744 00:32:43,828 --> 00:32:46,598 The Press: Did Leader Pelosi tell President Obama that 745 00:32:46,597 --> 00:32:48,967 she was not going to support TAA before she went to the 746 00:32:48,966 --> 00:32:51,266 House floor? 747 00:32:51,269 --> 00:32:53,039 Mr. Earnest: Kristen, what I will tell you is that prior 748 00:32:53,037 --> 00:32:56,207 to addressing the House Democratic caucus on Capitol 749 00:32:56,207 --> 00:32:58,777 Hill today, the President did have an opportunity to 750 00:32:58,776 --> 00:33:02,016 huddle with the House Democratic leaders, not just 751 00:33:02,013 --> 00:33:05,083 Leader Pelosi, but with the other members of the 752 00:33:05,083 --> 00:33:07,323 Democratic leadership. 753 00:33:07,318 --> 00:33:09,418 They had a private conversation before the 754 00:33:09,420 --> 00:33:13,120 President addressed the broader Democratic caucus. 755 00:33:13,124 --> 00:33:16,064 And that was a private conversation that they had, 756 00:33:16,060 --> 00:33:18,860 and so I'm not going to be in a position to talk about 757 00:33:18,863 --> 00:33:20,103 the details of that conversation. 758 00:33:20,098 --> 00:33:21,568 The Press: But just to clarify, was it his 759 00:33:21,566 --> 00:33:24,606 impression, based on that meeting, that Leader Pelosi 760 00:33:24,602 --> 00:33:26,472 was not going to support TAA? 761 00:33:26,471 --> 00:33:27,741 Is that what you're saying? 762 00:33:27,739 --> 00:33:28,969 Mr. Earnest: What I'm saying is that they had an 763 00:33:28,973 --> 00:33:30,743 opportunity to discuss this at some length this morning, 764 00:33:30,742 --> 00:33:32,742 and I'm not prepared to talk about the details of 765 00:33:32,744 --> 00:33:33,744 that conversation. 766 00:33:33,745 --> 00:33:35,745 The Press: And was he anticipating that he was 767 00:33:35,747 --> 00:33:37,747 going to support it leaving that meeting? 768 00:33:37,749 --> 00:33:38,749 We saw them come out. 769 00:33:38,750 --> 00:33:39,750 They seemed to be all smiles. 770 00:33:39,751 --> 00:33:41,751 What was his impression leaving that meeting? 771 00:33:41,753 --> 00:33:43,753 Mr. Earnest: Well, the reason they're all smiles is 772 00:33:43,755 --> 00:33:45,755 because that have a warm, constructive relationship 773 00:33:45,757 --> 00:33:46,757 that has yielded a lot of 774 00:33:46,758 --> 00:33:48,758 benefits for the American people. 775 00:33:48,760 --> 00:33:50,760 And there is so much of what the President has 776 00:33:50,762 --> 00:33:52,762 accomplished that wouldn't have been possible without 777 00:33:52,764 --> 00:33:54,134 somebody like Leader Pelosi. 778 00:33:54,132 --> 00:33:55,502 But again, I'm not going to get into the details of 779 00:33:55,500 --> 00:33:56,400 their conversation. 780 00:33:56,401 --> 00:33:57,671 The Press: Let me put it this way: Was he surprised 781 00:33:57,668 --> 00:34:01,168 by Leader Pelosi going out on the floor and opposing TAA? 782 00:34:01,172 --> 00:34:02,542 Mr. Earnest: I don't know that the President watched 783 00:34:02,540 --> 00:34:04,340 her specific floor speech. 784 00:34:04,342 --> 00:34:06,442 The President had an opportunity to speak to her 785 00:34:06,444 --> 00:34:07,744 before the caucus meeting. 786 00:34:07,745 --> 00:34:09,215 The Press: Did he watch the vote? 787 00:34:09,213 --> 00:34:10,613 Mr. Earnest: I don't believe that he did. 788 00:34:10,615 --> 00:34:11,515 He certainly is aware of it. 789 00:34:11,516 --> 00:34:12,586 (laughter) 790 00:34:12,583 --> 00:34:13,923 The Press: You described his relationship with -- 791 00:34:13,918 --> 00:34:16,658 Mr. Earnest: At the risk of underplaying it, he's - 792 00:34:16,654 --> 00:34:18,594 (laughter). 793 00:34:18,589 --> 00:34:21,289 The Press: You're describing his relationship with 794 00:34:21,292 --> 00:34:23,762 Democratic lawmakers as warm and constructive. 795 00:34:23,761 --> 00:34:26,161 I have to go back to this question and the perception 796 00:34:26,164 --> 00:34:28,564 that some of them had coming out of that meeting. 797 00:34:28,566 --> 00:34:30,306 Congressman DeFazio -- I'm just going to read you his 798 00:34:30,301 --> 00:34:31,171 exact quote. 799 00:34:31,169 --> 00:34:32,969 He said, "The President tried to both guilt people 800 00:34:32,970 --> 00:34:35,740 and then impugn their integrity, and I don't think 801 00:34:35,740 --> 00:34:37,440 it was a very effective tactic." 802 00:34:37,442 --> 00:34:40,482 I know you were arguing just the opposite, that you felt 803 00:34:40,478 --> 00:34:42,778 as though the President's tactic was effective. 804 00:34:42,780 --> 00:34:45,120 But clearly his message didn't get through. 805 00:34:45,116 --> 00:34:47,416 Does he need to change his strategy and his message? 806 00:34:47,418 --> 00:34:49,588 Mr. Earnest: Now, Kristen, consider we succeeded in 807 00:34:49,587 --> 00:34:51,627 passing TPA through the United States Senate with 808 00:34:51,622 --> 00:34:52,962 bipartisan support. 809 00:34:52,957 --> 00:34:55,527 We succeeded in passing TAA through the Senate with 810 00:34:55,526 --> 00:34:57,126 strong bipartisan support. 811 00:34:57,128 --> 00:34:59,428 We succeeded in passing TPA through the House with 812 00:34:59,430 --> 00:35:00,500 strong bipartisan support. 813 00:35:00,498 --> 00:35:01,968 The Press: But, ultimately, today you failed. 814 00:35:01,966 --> 00:35:02,996 Mr. Earnest: It's a pretty clear indication to me that 815 00:35:03,000 --> 00:35:03,940 our strategy is clear. 816 00:35:03,935 --> 00:35:04,865 The Press: Overall, you failed, Josh. 817 00:35:04,869 --> 00:35:06,469 The President didn't win today. 818 00:35:06,471 --> 00:35:08,871 Mr. Earnest: Kristen, I don't think that that's an 819 00:35:08,873 --> 00:35:10,643 accurate assessment of what happened. 820 00:35:10,641 --> 00:35:12,411 The fact is, six months ago, and I think even in the last 821 00:35:12,410 --> 00:35:15,080 couple of months, we could find questions from you, 822 00:35:15,079 --> 00:35:18,249 asking skeptically -- and rightfully so -- about the 823 00:35:18,249 --> 00:35:20,589 capacity of the United States Congress and the 824 00:35:20,585 --> 00:35:22,585 ability of the President to work with Republicans in the 825 00:35:22,587 --> 00:35:24,287 Congress to try to pass TPA. 826 00:35:24,288 --> 00:35:26,288 And yet that's exactly what happened today. 827 00:35:26,290 --> 00:35:28,290 There were also some skeptical questions about 828 00:35:28,292 --> 00:35:30,062 how much Democratic support the President would be able 829 00:35:30,061 --> 00:35:33,361 to build for this priority; that there are some who are 830 00:35:33,364 --> 00:35:35,534 saying, well, are you going to call it a win if you can 831 00:35:35,533 --> 00:35:37,733 only 15 or 18 Democrats? 832 00:35:37,735 --> 00:35:39,735 We got 28 Democrats to support it. 833 00:35:39,737 --> 00:35:42,607 So from that standpoint, I think that is -- I think if 834 00:35:42,607 --> 00:35:44,847 you consider the results, that's a strong endorsement 835 00:35:44,842 --> 00:35:45,842 of our strategy. 836 00:35:45,843 --> 00:35:48,083 But clearly, what I would concede is that our work is 837 00:35:48,079 --> 00:35:49,079 not done yet. 838 00:35:49,080 --> 00:35:51,080 The Press: Do you worry that his message is not getting 839 00:35:51,082 --> 00:35:53,922 through when you hear that type of feedback from Democrats? 840 00:35:53,918 --> 00:35:56,718 Mr. Earnest: No, I don't worry about that at all. 841 00:35:56,721 --> 00:35:57,191 The Press: Okay. 842 00:35:57,188 --> 00:35:58,628 And more broadly, just to follow up on Jim's question, 843 00:35:58,623 --> 00:36:01,763 he asked is this too little too late. 844 00:36:01,759 --> 00:36:03,759 Some Democrat lawmakers say if the President had begun 845 00:36:03,761 --> 00:36:06,761 to foster relations with them years ago, that he 846 00:36:06,764 --> 00:36:10,504 would have had more success on a key piece of 847 00:36:10,501 --> 00:36:12,741 legislation that he's fighting so hard for. 848 00:36:12,737 --> 00:36:13,737 What's your reaction to that? 849 00:36:13,738 --> 00:36:15,738 Mr. Earnest: I find it hard to believe that the 850 00:36:15,740 --> 00:36:17,780 President's attendance at the 2014 congressional 851 00:36:17,775 --> 00:36:20,575 baseball game would have in any way contributed to the 852 00:36:20,578 --> 00:36:21,578 vote count today. 853 00:36:21,579 --> 00:36:24,379 The Press: But, Josh, not just the 2014 baseball game -- 854 00:36:24,382 --> 00:36:25,052 Mr. Earnest: Well, that's the prospect that some have 855 00:36:25,049 --> 00:36:25,779 raised, right? 856 00:36:25,783 --> 00:36:27,283 The Press: -- but having more outreach on a more 857 00:36:27,285 --> 00:36:27,755 consistent basis -- 858 00:36:27,752 --> 00:36:28,322 Mr. Earnest: That's the prospect that some have 859 00:36:28,319 --> 00:36:29,189 raised -- that, oh, if the President had just gone to 860 00:36:29,186 --> 00:36:30,886 the congressional baseball game before, that this kind 861 00:36:30,888 --> 00:36:31,718 of thing wouldn't happen. 862 00:36:31,722 --> 00:36:33,462 The Press: But having a more robust outreach on a more 863 00:36:33,457 --> 00:36:34,957 consistent basis. 864 00:36:34,959 --> 00:36:35,829 Mr. Earnest: To be honest with you, Kristen, I think 865 00:36:35,826 --> 00:36:38,566 that the President takes much more seriously members 866 00:36:38,563 --> 00:36:41,003 of Congress and their concerns than some people -- 867 00:36:40,998 --> 00:36:44,538 than some analysts do when they're considering how they 868 00:36:44,535 --> 00:36:50,005 make decisions about significant policy issues. 869 00:36:50,007 --> 00:36:50,907 Mark. 870 00:36:50,908 --> 00:36:53,608 The Press: Josh, did the White House know in advance 871 00:36:53,611 --> 00:36:56,851 that there would be a vote on TPA even though TAA 872 00:36:56,847 --> 00:36:58,547 was defeated? 873 00:36:58,549 --> 00:37:01,519 Mr. Earnest: Well, what I'll say is I think there was 874 00:37:01,519 --> 00:37:05,359 some indication that that was a possibility today. 875 00:37:05,356 --> 00:37:09,966 But I think, again, just in the short period of time 876 00:37:09,961 --> 00:37:13,101 that I have been observing activity on the floor of the 877 00:37:13,097 --> 00:37:15,897 House of Representatives, you don't know exactly 878 00:37:15,900 --> 00:37:18,240 what's going to happen until it happens. 879 00:37:18,235 --> 00:37:21,175 But there was some indication, based on private 880 00:37:21,172 --> 00:37:23,172 conversations we'd had with Republican leaders, that 881 00:37:23,174 --> 00:37:24,914 that was a possibility. 882 00:37:24,909 --> 00:37:27,849 The Press: Well, since TAA was defeated, were you 883 00:37:27,845 --> 00:37:30,585 surprised that TPA was passed? 884 00:37:30,581 --> 00:37:32,881 Mr. Earnest: Well, to be blunt, no. 885 00:37:32,883 --> 00:37:35,983 There was confidence that there was a bipartisan 886 00:37:35,987 --> 00:37:40,657 majority that had been built to pass TPA through the 887 00:37:40,658 --> 00:37:41,658 House of Representatives. 888 00:37:41,659 --> 00:37:43,659 The Press: And at last night's game, did the 889 00:37:43,661 --> 00:37:47,401 President actually bring up trade in glad-handing 890 00:37:47,398 --> 00:37:49,398 members of Congress on the field? 891 00:37:49,400 --> 00:37:52,500 Mr. Earnest: I wasn't there, so I didn't overhear any of 892 00:37:52,503 --> 00:37:55,573 the conversations that he may have had with members on 893 00:37:55,573 --> 00:37:56,573 the field. 894 00:37:56,574 --> 00:37:58,574 I think mostly they were there to have a good time. 895 00:37:58,576 --> 00:38:00,576 I don't know if he had a chance to twist any arms, 896 00:38:03,948 --> 00:38:06,888 but, again, I think that's a pretty good illustration 897 00:38:06,884 --> 00:38:08,884 that goes back to what Kristen was asking. 898 00:38:08,886 --> 00:38:10,886 I don't know if there were any members of Congress who 899 00:38:10,888 --> 00:38:12,888 would say that the President's visit to 900 00:38:12,890 --> 00:38:14,890 National's Park last night changed their vote 901 00:38:14,892 --> 00:38:15,892 on this issue. 902 00:38:15,893 --> 00:38:18,693 The Press: There was already a lid for the day when it 903 00:38:18,696 --> 00:38:21,536 was announced, or it was hinted that the President 904 00:38:21,532 --> 00:38:23,232 was going to the game. 905 00:38:23,234 --> 00:38:25,004 Can you tell us how he decided, you know, I ought 906 00:38:25,002 --> 00:38:26,642 to go to the game? 907 00:38:26,637 --> 00:38:28,037 Mr. Earnest: Well, I think the President did view it as 908 00:38:28,039 --> 00:38:30,379 an opportunity to get out of the White House, which is 909 00:38:30,374 --> 00:38:32,714 something that he looks for the chance 910 00:38:32,710 --> 00:38:34,480 to do periodically. 911 00:38:34,478 --> 00:38:36,478 But I do think that he also thought it would an 912 00:38:36,480 --> 00:38:39,280 opportunity for him to sort of show some solidarity with 913 00:38:39,283 --> 00:38:41,583 members of Congress, even as they were out having a good 914 00:38:41,585 --> 00:38:43,585 time on the baseball diamond; that he could also 915 00:38:43,587 --> 00:38:47,897 sort of demonstrate that he's paying close attention 916 00:38:47,892 --> 00:38:49,892 to the important work that they're considering on the 917 00:38:49,894 --> 00:38:51,894 floor of the House of Representatives these days. 918 00:38:51,896 --> 00:38:53,866 The Press: Clearly, it was a hastily made decision, no? 919 00:38:53,864 --> 00:38:55,864 Mr. Earnest: It was, on relatively short notice. 920 00:38:55,866 --> 00:38:58,806 But thanks to the agility of your colleagues in the press 921 00:38:58,803 --> 00:39:01,403 corps, we got most members of the White House press 922 00:39:01,405 --> 00:39:04,775 pool into the van in time to go. 923 00:39:04,775 --> 00:39:05,205 Peter. 924 00:39:05,209 --> 00:39:06,679 The Press: Doug. 925 00:39:06,677 --> 00:39:07,147 Mr. Earnest: Doug. 926 00:39:07,144 --> 00:39:08,384 I'm sorry, Doug. 927 00:39:08,379 --> 00:39:09,249 The Press: That's all right. 928 00:39:09,246 --> 00:39:09,946 Mr. Earnest: I apologize. 929 00:39:09,947 --> 00:39:11,087 The Press: That's all right, no problem. 930 00:39:11,082 --> 00:39:13,082 Changing subjects to the cyber intrusion, the cyber 931 00:39:13,084 --> 00:39:16,384 espionage at the Office of Personnel and Management. 932 00:39:16,387 --> 00:39:18,527 I think it was earlier in the week you said it was 4.1 933 00:39:18,522 --> 00:39:21,062 former and present federal employees who were 934 00:39:21,058 --> 00:39:23,828 potentially subject to this intrusion. 935 00:39:23,828 --> 00:39:27,368 I think the AP reported today that the number may be 936 00:39:27,364 --> 00:39:28,664 much higher. 937 00:39:28,666 --> 00:39:30,666 So I think two people who had been briefed on the 938 00:39:30,668 --> 00:39:32,668 matter -- as high as 14 million. 939 00:39:32,670 --> 00:39:33,670 Can you confirm that? 940 00:39:33,671 --> 00:39:35,671 Mr. Earnest: Doug, at this point, I don't have 941 00:39:35,673 --> 00:39:37,843 additional details about the ongoing investigation into 942 00:39:37,842 --> 00:39:39,442 this particular matter. 943 00:39:39,443 --> 00:39:42,913 You will recall that our law enforcement professionals 944 00:39:42,913 --> 00:39:45,753 did make an announcement at the end of last week about 945 00:39:45,750 --> 00:39:49,950 their preliminary knowledge that they had accumulated so 946 00:39:49,954 --> 00:39:54,824 far about the scope of this particular intrusion. 947 00:39:54,825 --> 00:39:58,795 But that investigation continues. 948 00:39:58,796 --> 00:40:00,796 The thing that I mentioned yesterday in talking about 949 00:40:00,798 --> 00:40:04,068 this is that sometimes our investigators are reluctant 950 00:40:04,068 --> 00:40:06,638 to talk publicly in much detail about what exactly 951 00:40:06,637 --> 00:40:11,977 they have learned because it can give some helpful 952 00:40:11,976 --> 00:40:16,676 insight to our adversaries, frankly, about what kinds of 953 00:40:16,680 --> 00:40:20,180 techniques are used to investigate and mitigate and 954 00:40:20,184 --> 00:40:23,124 even deter these kinds of intrusions. 955 00:40:23,120 --> 00:40:27,960 So I know that our investigators are, however, 956 00:40:27,958 --> 00:40:30,958 committed to making sure that those who have been 957 00:40:30,961 --> 00:40:35,101 affected by this particular intrusion are advised as 958 00:40:35,099 --> 00:40:37,969 soon as possible, and that they get the resources and 959 00:40:37,968 --> 00:40:40,138 information that they need to make sure that they can 960 00:40:40,137 --> 00:40:41,137 protect themselves. 961 00:40:41,138 --> 00:40:43,938 The Press: I've had a couple cybersecurity experts tell 962 00:40:43,941 --> 00:40:47,341 me that this is the biggest cyber intrusion since the 963 00:40:47,344 --> 00:40:49,014 Edward Snowden affair. 964 00:40:49,013 --> 00:40:54,923 And I'm curious, just given the massive size and scope 965 00:40:54,919 --> 00:40:57,859 of the federal bureaucracy and the cumbersome nature of 966 00:40:57,855 --> 00:41:01,455 turning around an aircraft carrier this size, whether 967 00:41:01,458 --> 00:41:03,928 the federal government is nimble enough to address 968 00:41:03,928 --> 00:41:08,298 these kinds of attacks when they can be changed so 969 00:41:08,299 --> 00:41:10,499 quickly, yet the federal government cannot with its 970 00:41:10,501 --> 00:41:14,801 procurement policies have competitive bidding on 971 00:41:14,805 --> 00:41:16,805 protection for these kinds of things. 972 00:41:16,807 --> 00:41:18,807 Mr. Earnest: Doug, you're right that this -- that 973 00:41:18,809 --> 00:41:22,679 protecting the computer networks of the federal 974 00:41:22,680 --> 00:41:25,250 government is a daunting challenge, and it does 975 00:41:25,249 --> 00:41:29,889 require the federal government to be nimble -- 976 00:41:29,887 --> 00:41:31,887 something that's difficult when you're talking about an 977 00:41:31,889 --> 00:41:34,529 organization that's this large. 978 00:41:34,525 --> 00:41:36,495 There are a number of steps that this administration has 979 00:41:36,493 --> 00:41:38,493 taken to try to address those concerns. 980 00:41:38,495 --> 00:41:40,935 We can get you a pretty good rundown of those things. 981 00:41:40,931 --> 00:41:43,531 But clearly, there's more that needs to get done. 982 00:41:43,534 --> 00:41:46,904 These are the kinds of challenges -- this challenge 983 00:41:46,904 --> 00:41:49,404 that's facing the federal government is not dissimilar 984 00:41:49,406 --> 00:41:52,176 from the challenge that's facing the private sector, 985 00:41:52,176 --> 00:41:54,846 and large organizations in the private sector, as well. 986 00:41:54,845 --> 00:41:58,315 And that's one of the reasons that we have been 987 00:41:58,315 --> 00:42:01,055 pretty forceful in calling on Congress to pass 988 00:42:01,051 --> 00:42:03,091 cybersecurity legislation that the President has 989 00:42:03,087 --> 00:42:04,727 already sent up to Congress. 990 00:42:04,722 --> 00:42:10,032 There are some steps that we could implement that require 991 00:42:10,027 --> 00:42:13,397 congressional authorization that could make not just the 992 00:42:13,397 --> 00:42:15,767 federal government but also the private sector more 993 00:42:15,766 --> 00:42:17,866 nimble and more effective in communicating with one 994 00:42:17,868 --> 00:42:21,438 another to make sure that we're doing everything we 995 00:42:21,438 --> 00:42:26,108 can to protect the computer networks and the data of the 996 00:42:26,110 --> 00:42:27,650 American people. 997 00:42:27,645 --> 00:42:29,145 Let me give you one example of that, and I'll do this 998 00:42:29,146 --> 00:42:32,416 quickly, is one of the priorities when it comes to 999 00:42:32,416 --> 00:42:35,556 dealing with these matters -- and in being nimble -- is 1000 00:42:35,552 --> 00:42:36,592 information sharing. 1001 00:42:36,587 --> 00:42:39,457 That one of the things that we can do is if one private 1002 00:42:39,456 --> 00:42:43,996 sector entity has been the victim of an intrusion or 1003 00:42:43,994 --> 00:42:47,064 even an attempted intrusion, sharing information about 1004 00:42:47,064 --> 00:42:51,774 how that intrusion was attempted with other 1005 00:42:51,769 --> 00:42:55,309 industries and with the federal government can be an 1006 00:42:55,306 --> 00:42:57,306 effective way of making sure that other computer 1007 00:42:57,308 --> 00:42:59,308 networks, including the federal government's 1008 00:42:59,310 --> 00:43:03,880 computer networks, can be shored up to protect against 1009 00:43:03,881 --> 00:43:04,881 a similar intrusion. 1010 00:43:04,882 --> 00:43:07,982 So that's one of the reasons that we are aggressively 1011 00:43:07,985 --> 00:43:10,925 advocating Congress to pass this piece of legislation, 1012 00:43:10,921 --> 00:43:14,361 and it would have a tangible impact on the ability of 1013 00:43:14,358 --> 00:43:17,328 this country to protect the data of the American people. 1014 00:43:17,328 --> 00:43:20,268 The Press: Since we know that the Chinese probably 1015 00:43:20,264 --> 00:43:22,764 have access to background checks and security 1016 00:43:22,766 --> 00:43:27,936 clearances now, they therefore know who American 1017 00:43:27,938 --> 00:43:31,708 contacts are in China with Chinese people, friends, 1018 00:43:31,709 --> 00:43:35,549 family, associates, confidants in that country. 1019 00:43:35,546 --> 00:43:38,546 Do you think it might be necessary to remove people 1020 00:43:38,549 --> 00:43:41,589 from embassy positions in China who have close 1021 00:43:41,585 --> 00:43:44,185 contacts on the outside who are themselves Chinese? 1022 00:43:44,188 --> 00:43:47,128 Mr. Earnest: Well, Doug, we have not discussed publicly 1023 00:43:47,124 --> 00:43:51,464 what we know right now about the extent of this 1024 00:43:51,462 --> 00:43:52,762 cyber intrusion. 1025 00:43:52,763 --> 00:43:56,833 We have acknowledged that, potentially, sensitive data 1026 00:43:56,834 --> 00:44:00,934 about a substantial number of federal employees was 1027 00:44:00,938 --> 00:44:03,938 breached, or is at least now at risk. 1028 00:44:03,941 --> 00:44:06,981 But we haven't talked publicly about the details 1029 00:44:06,977 --> 00:44:08,117 of that. 1030 00:44:08,112 --> 00:44:11,712 I'm not aware that the State Department has made the 1031 00:44:11,715 --> 00:44:15,955 decision to take any actions in response to this 1032 00:44:15,953 --> 00:44:17,153 specific matter. 1033 00:44:17,154 --> 00:44:19,754 But if they have, you should ask them about it. 1034 00:44:19,757 --> 00:44:21,757 The Press: And quickly, one last question on this. 1035 00:44:21,759 --> 00:44:25,259 Would people as high as Cabinet-level officers have 1036 00:44:25,262 --> 00:44:28,262 that data stored at OPM -- background check 1037 00:44:28,265 --> 00:44:29,935 information, clearance? 1038 00:44:29,933 --> 00:44:31,433 Mr. Earnest: I don't know the answer to that. 1039 00:44:31,435 --> 00:44:33,435 I know that there is a substantial amount of data 1040 00:44:33,437 --> 00:44:34,837 that is maintained at OPM. 1041 00:44:34,838 --> 00:44:36,878 We'll see if we can get you some more details about 1042 00:44:36,874 --> 00:44:37,874 what's there. 1043 00:44:37,875 --> 00:44:40,175 We will not at this point be able to discuss in much 1044 00:44:40,177 --> 00:44:43,917 detail about which data or how much data may 1045 00:44:43,914 --> 00:44:47,914 potentially be affected in this particular incident. 1046 00:44:47,918 --> 00:44:49,288 Jerome. 1047 00:44:49,286 --> 00:44:50,986 The Press: Thank you, Josh. 1048 00:44:50,988 --> 00:44:52,728 A Muslim Brother delegation was in town this week. 1049 00:44:52,723 --> 00:44:54,763 And I understand they hadn't had a chance to meet either 1050 00:44:54,758 --> 00:44:58,198 people from State or here at the White House. 1051 00:44:58,195 --> 00:45:01,035 Have you decided to cut all ties with this organization? 1052 00:45:01,031 --> 00:45:02,501 Mr. Earnest: No. 1053 00:45:02,499 --> 00:45:04,469 Jerome, there has been no change in our policy with 1054 00:45:04,468 --> 00:45:07,568 respect to the Muslim Brotherhood. 1055 00:45:07,571 --> 00:45:11,411 The Obama administration and the United States routinely 1056 00:45:11,408 --> 00:45:13,608 engage with representatives from across the political 1057 00:45:13,610 --> 00:45:16,710 spectrum in all countries around the world. 1058 00:45:16,713 --> 00:45:19,153 And members of the Obama administration have in the 1059 00:45:19,149 --> 00:45:22,819 past met with Muslim Brotherhood representatives 1060 00:45:22,820 --> 00:45:25,690 including as recently as earlier this year. 1061 00:45:25,689 --> 00:45:28,389 So it is true that no one from the White House or from 1062 00:45:28,392 --> 00:45:31,092 the administration met with the current delegation, but 1063 00:45:31,095 --> 00:45:33,665 that does not reflect any change in our policy toward 1064 00:45:33,664 --> 00:45:35,764 the Muslim Brotherhood. 1065 00:45:35,766 --> 00:45:37,436 The Press: Why is that then? 1066 00:45:37,434 --> 00:45:42,804 Mr. Earnest: Well, again, I don't have a detailed 1067 00:45:42,806 --> 00:45:44,946 explanation to share with you, other than to say that 1068 00:45:44,942 --> 00:45:48,412 we're going to choose when is the appropriate time to 1069 00:45:48,412 --> 00:45:52,852 meet with these foreign interlocutors. 1070 00:45:52,850 --> 00:45:54,590 And we have obviously met with the Muslim Brotherhood 1071 00:45:54,585 --> 00:45:57,055 in the past, as recently as early this year. 1072 00:45:57,054 --> 00:45:59,824 But on this visit, no one from the administration will 1073 00:45:59,823 --> 00:46:01,823 be meeting with them. 1074 00:46:01,825 --> 00:46:02,825 Olivier. 1075 00:46:02,826 --> 00:46:06,796 The Press: Back on the OPM hack, Harry Reid has said 1076 00:46:06,797 --> 00:46:08,997 that the Chinese were behind this hack. 1077 00:46:08,999 --> 00:46:11,499 Do you dispute that characterization? 1078 00:46:11,502 --> 00:46:14,702 Mr. Earnest: Well, Olivier, we have declined to offer 1079 00:46:14,705 --> 00:46:19,245 our own official assessment about who may be responsible 1080 00:46:19,243 --> 00:46:20,643 for this particular intrusion. 1081 00:46:20,644 --> 00:46:24,544 So I don't have any information to share with 1082 00:46:24,548 --> 00:46:25,448 you on that. 1083 00:46:25,449 --> 00:46:26,449 The Press: Okay. 1084 00:46:26,450 --> 00:46:29,390 It wasn't that long ago that the President made new 1085 00:46:29,386 --> 00:46:31,986 policy by green-lighting the use of economic sanctions 1086 00:46:31,989 --> 00:46:36,759 against people tied to cyber intrusions, such as this 1087 00:46:36,760 --> 00:46:38,760 one, potentially -- though obviously it was announced 1088 00:46:38,762 --> 00:46:39,762 before this. 1089 00:46:39,763 --> 00:46:42,403 How close are you to announcing -- if you plan to 1090 00:46:42,399 --> 00:46:44,769 announce -- retaliatory steps targeting either 1091 00:46:44,768 --> 00:46:47,008 individuals or nation states at this point? 1092 00:46:47,004 --> 00:46:51,804 Mr. Earnest: It's correct, Olivier, the President did 1093 00:46:51,808 --> 00:46:54,348 sign an executive order earlier this year 1094 00:46:54,344 --> 00:46:57,244 authorizing the Secretary of Treasury to make some 1095 00:46:57,247 --> 00:47:00,947 decisions about designating for sanctions individuals 1096 00:47:00,951 --> 00:47:03,791 who may be responsible for specific cyber intrusions or 1097 00:47:03,787 --> 00:47:08,727 just merely benefit from those cyber intrusions. 1098 00:47:08,725 --> 00:47:11,065 In talking about sanctions in the past, you know that 1099 00:47:11,061 --> 00:47:14,901 we have often said that it is not in our interest to 1100 00:47:14,898 --> 00:47:19,308 telegraph in advance any decisions that we may be 1101 00:47:19,303 --> 00:47:23,603 making related to sanctions, primarily because it gives 1102 00:47:23,607 --> 00:47:27,007 those who may be targeted the opportunity to move 1103 00:47:27,010 --> 00:47:30,450 around their assets to try to escape these sanctions. 1104 00:47:30,447 --> 00:47:32,617 So I don't have much insight to share with you, 1105 00:47:32,616 --> 00:47:34,686 unfortunately, about where we are in that 1106 00:47:34,685 --> 00:47:36,825 decision-making process other than to confirm for 1107 00:47:36,820 --> 00:47:41,120 you that this newly available option is one that 1108 00:47:41,124 --> 00:47:42,124 is on the table. 1109 00:47:42,125 --> 00:47:44,095 The Press: A few more on the same subject, and I'll try 1110 00:47:44,094 --> 00:47:45,124 to keep it quick. 1111 00:47:45,128 --> 00:47:48,028 First, how concerned are you that this is going to chase 1112 00:47:48,031 --> 00:47:51,231 qualified people out of government, or dissuade 1113 00:47:51,235 --> 00:47:54,375 qualified people from joining government if they 1114 00:47:54,371 --> 00:47:56,771 worry that their confidential information -- 1115 00:47:56,773 --> 00:47:59,673 and some of these forms get into a lot of detail, and 1116 00:47:59,676 --> 00:48:01,676 they're very personal information -- 1117 00:48:01,678 --> 00:48:02,378 if this is compromised? 1118 00:48:02,379 --> 00:48:03,879 How concerned are you about that? 1119 00:48:03,880 --> 00:48:06,680 Mr. Earnest: Well, Olivier, I think the reason I'm not 1120 00:48:06,683 --> 00:48:09,483 particularly concerned about that matter is that this is 1121 00:48:09,486 --> 00:48:12,056 a challenge that is facing the private sector as well. 1122 00:48:12,055 --> 00:48:14,125 And I know that those individuals who are being 1123 00:48:14,124 --> 00:48:16,924 recruited by private sector entities also have to turn 1124 00:48:16,927 --> 00:48:21,637 over significant amounts of personal information. 1125 00:48:21,632 --> 00:48:26,642 And the need and the strategy for protecting that 1126 00:48:26,637 --> 00:48:31,237 information is something that both private sector 1127 00:48:31,241 --> 00:48:34,641 experts and federal government experts grapple with. 1128 00:48:34,645 --> 00:48:37,315 In fact, the President spent a lot of time encouraging 1129 00:48:37,314 --> 00:48:40,514 those in the private sector to coordinate with federal 1130 00:48:40,517 --> 00:48:42,517 government experts so that they can share knowledge and 1131 00:48:42,519 --> 00:48:45,319 best practices and devise strategies that will bolster 1132 00:48:45,322 --> 00:48:48,262 the defenses of both public and private computer systems. 1133 00:48:48,258 --> 00:48:51,958 So trying to facilitate that kind of coordination we 1134 00:48:51,962 --> 00:48:54,362 believe will benefit everybody. 1135 00:48:54,364 --> 00:48:56,634 But there's no doubt that this is a significant 1136 00:48:56,633 --> 00:48:59,433 challenge and one that is a priority for many private 1137 00:48:59,436 --> 00:49:00,976 sector companies. 1138 00:49:00,971 --> 00:49:05,241 It's also a priority for the President and every federal 1139 00:49:05,242 --> 00:49:06,782 government agency that he's responsible for. 1140 00:49:06,777 --> 00:49:08,207 The Press: Last one for you. 1141 00:49:08,211 --> 00:49:12,281 A lot of federal employees have received emails telling 1142 00:49:12,282 --> 00:49:14,122 that their information was compromised and offering 1143 00:49:14,117 --> 00:49:18,217 them support with credit monitoring. 1144 00:49:18,221 --> 00:49:20,061 Have you received that message, and have you 1145 00:49:20,057 --> 00:49:22,057 availed yourself of that service? 1146 00:49:22,059 --> 00:49:24,059 Mr. Earnest: I have not received that message at 1147 00:49:24,061 --> 00:49:25,061 this point. 1148 00:49:25,062 --> 00:49:27,062 My understanding is that the notification process, 1149 00:49:27,064 --> 00:49:29,164 though, is one that is a rolling one. 1150 00:49:29,166 --> 00:49:29,996 Toluse. 1151 00:49:30,000 --> 00:49:31,700 The Press: Thanks, Josh. 1152 00:49:31,702 --> 00:49:35,172 Just one on OPM before I have another question on trade. 1153 00:49:35,172 --> 00:49:38,912 On the OPM hack, it sounds like you're not willing to 1154 00:49:38,909 --> 00:49:42,149 give a number in terms of -- we're hearing as high 1155 00:49:42,145 --> 00:49:42,915 as 14 million. 1156 00:49:42,913 --> 00:49:44,753 But if you're not -- if you don't want to go that far, 1157 00:49:44,748 --> 00:49:47,188 are you at least willing to say that during the 1158 00:49:47,184 --> 00:49:51,824 investigation, the FBI has expanded beyond the initial 1159 00:49:51,822 --> 00:49:55,292 estimates and that you actually believe that it's 1160 00:49:55,292 --> 00:49:58,292 broader than what it was when you first announced? 1161 00:49:58,295 --> 00:50:00,165 Mr. Earnest: Toluse, I don't have any details to share 1162 00:50:00,163 --> 00:50:02,263 with you about the investigation at this point. 1163 00:50:02,265 --> 00:50:06,135 That as our investigators at the FBI and DHS gather more 1164 00:50:06,136 --> 00:50:09,476 information, and if they're comfortable -- if they reach 1165 00:50:09,473 --> 00:50:11,473 a point where they're comfortable sharing more 1166 00:50:11,475 --> 00:50:13,645 information, I'm confident that they will. 1167 00:50:13,643 --> 00:50:15,643 But that information will come from them first, not 1168 00:50:15,645 --> 00:50:17,645 from me, because they'll be making the decisions 1169 00:50:17,647 --> 00:50:19,787 consistent with what they believe is in the best 1170 00:50:19,783 --> 00:50:21,783 interest of the ongoing investigation. 1171 00:50:21,785 --> 00:50:22,855 The Press: So the 4 million number that we heard last 1172 00:50:22,853 --> 00:50:25,853 week, is that the number that you're sticking to? 1173 00:50:25,856 --> 00:50:26,686 Is that a -- 1174 00:50:26,690 --> 00:50:28,060 Mr. Earnest: Well, that is the latest number that was 1175 00:50:28,058 --> 00:50:29,658 announced by the Department of Homeland Security, I 1176 00:50:29,659 --> 00:50:31,859 believe, and I don't have any updates for you beyond that. 1177 00:50:31,862 --> 00:50:35,032 The Press: And then also, last week you were asked 1178 00:50:35,031 --> 00:50:37,301 about whether or not federal contractors were a part of 1179 00:50:37,300 --> 00:50:39,100 this, and you said you didn't think so. 1180 00:50:39,102 --> 00:50:41,242 Is there any update to that? 1181 00:50:41,238 --> 00:50:42,778 Mr. Earnest: I actuall don't know the answer to 1182 00:50:42,773 --> 00:50:44,373 that question. 1183 00:50:44,374 --> 00:50:47,014 We'll see if we can get you an answer to that. 1184 00:50:47,010 --> 00:50:49,010 The other thing you can do is actually contact OPM and 1185 00:50:49,012 --> 00:50:51,012 see if they can get you an answer too. 1186 00:50:51,014 --> 00:50:53,014 But if both of us try that, maybe we'll get you an answer. 1187 00:50:53,016 --> 00:50:56,486 The Press: And on trade, the TAA issue came up actually I 1188 00:50:56,486 --> 00:51:00,656 think back on Monday or Tuesday with the Medicare fix. 1189 00:51:00,657 --> 00:51:03,427 And it seemed like Speaker Pelosi -- Leader Pelosi 1190 00:51:03,427 --> 00:51:04,727 was on board. 1191 00:51:04,728 --> 00:51:08,228 She worked out a deal with John Boehner to fix that and 1192 00:51:08,231 --> 00:51:11,371 take that off the table, and then it ended up that she 1193 00:51:11,368 --> 00:51:12,668 voted against it. 1194 00:51:12,669 --> 00:51:16,339 Were you surprised that after being on board she 1195 00:51:16,339 --> 00:51:19,039 switched -- seemed to come out against it? 1196 00:51:19,042 --> 00:51:22,912 And should the White House have done more to attack the 1197 00:51:22,913 --> 00:51:25,653 TAA issue since you knew about this much earlier in 1198 00:51:25,649 --> 00:51:27,789 the week and the President didn't show up on the Hill 1199 00:51:27,784 --> 00:51:30,924 until Friday to take on this issue specifically? 1200 00:51:30,921 --> 00:51:33,561 Mr. Earnest: Well, Toluse, a couple things about that. 1201 00:51:33,557 --> 00:51:35,297 The President has been engaged in having a number 1202 00:51:35,292 --> 00:51:38,692 of telephone conversations and in-person conversations 1203 00:51:38,695 --> 00:51:44,205 over the last several weeks on this issue. 1204 00:51:44,201 --> 00:51:47,271 So I'm not sure anybody can question the President's 1205 00:51:47,270 --> 00:51:50,410 commitment to engaging on this issue to build 1206 00:51:50,407 --> 00:51:52,977 important bipartisan support for a legislative priority 1207 00:51:52,976 --> 00:51:53,976 of his. 1208 00:51:53,977 --> 00:51:56,447 And I think there is tangible evidence to 1209 00:51:56,446 --> 00:51:58,546 indicate that that strategy was successful because of 1210 00:51:58,548 --> 00:52:03,218 the passage with a bipartisan majority of 1211 00:52:03,220 --> 00:52:04,620 TPA legislation. 1212 00:52:04,621 --> 00:52:09,061 We obviously have additional work to do on the TAA bill. 1213 00:52:09,059 --> 00:52:13,399 When we were discussing this earlier this week, I 1214 00:52:13,396 --> 00:52:16,536 complimented both Leader Pelosi and Speaker Boehner 1215 00:52:16,533 --> 00:52:19,403 for effectively coordinating to resolve some concerns 1216 00:52:19,402 --> 00:52:23,242 that some Democrats had raised about the pay-for of 1217 00:52:23,240 --> 00:52:25,310 the TAA bill. 1218 00:52:25,308 --> 00:52:28,848 And in the days ahead -- again, I hope that Democrats 1219 00:52:28,845 --> 00:52:32,415 and Republicans will summon a similar bipartisan spirit 1220 00:52:32,415 --> 00:52:35,415 to build a bipartisan majority for this 1221 00:52:35,418 --> 00:52:38,688 legislation that, again, in the past, has earned strong 1222 00:52:38,688 --> 00:52:41,888 support from Democratic members of the House of 1223 00:52:41,892 --> 00:52:44,232 Representatives -- unanimous support last time it 1224 00:52:44,227 --> 00:52:45,827 was considered. 1225 00:52:45,829 --> 00:52:47,829 There also is ample reason for Republicans to consider 1226 00:52:47,831 --> 00:52:49,831 voting for this piece of legislation. 1227 00:52:49,833 --> 00:52:51,133 We saw a substantial number of Republicans vote for it 1228 00:52:51,134 --> 00:52:55,374 today, including the Speaker of the House. 1229 00:52:55,372 --> 00:53:00,482 And we're hopeful that House Republicans will continue to 1230 00:53:00,477 --> 00:53:03,417 lend support to a program that the President believes 1231 00:53:03,413 --> 00:53:06,183 is critically important to supporting middle-class 1232 00:53:06,182 --> 00:53:10,052 families, particularly those that are dealing with the 1233 00:53:10,053 --> 00:53:12,093 challenging forces of globalization. 1234 00:53:12,088 --> 00:53:14,928 The Press: So does your strategy on trade sort of 1235 00:53:14,925 --> 00:53:19,165 shift now to a new strategy specifically focused on TAA? 1236 00:53:19,162 --> 00:53:25,172 And if so, what is the new tactic that you're going to use? 1237 00:53:25,168 --> 00:53:27,008 Are you mostly going to focus on getting Democrats 1238 00:53:27,003 --> 00:53:30,543 to I guess be fearful that this program is going to end 1239 00:53:30,540 --> 00:53:31,680 in September? 1240 00:53:31,675 --> 00:53:34,575 Or are you going to try to get Republicans to change 1241 00:53:34,578 --> 00:53:37,378 their position and get the total package passed? 1242 00:53:37,380 --> 00:53:39,220 Mr. Earnest: Well, I think what has served us well in 1243 00:53:39,215 --> 00:53:43,555 this process so far in terms of successfully passing TPA 1244 00:53:43,553 --> 00:53:46,023 through the Senate and passing TAA through the 1245 00:53:46,022 --> 00:53:49,892 Senate in bipartisan fashion, again, passing TPA 1246 00:53:49,893 --> 00:53:53,563 through the House in bipartisan fashion today -- 1247 00:53:53,563 --> 00:53:56,133 that's an indication that our strategy has worked. 1248 00:53:56,132 --> 00:53:58,832 And we obviously have more work to do, but our strategy 1249 00:53:58,835 --> 00:54:01,935 has been to make the case to both Democrats and 1250 00:54:01,938 --> 00:54:05,808 Republicans about why they should support 1251 00:54:05,809 --> 00:54:06,979 this legislation. 1252 00:54:06,977 --> 00:54:10,217 Now, there are certain arguments that Republicans 1253 00:54:10,213 --> 00:54:12,053 find more persuasive, and there are other arguments 1254 00:54:12,048 --> 00:54:14,388 that Democrats find more persuasive. 1255 00:54:14,384 --> 00:54:16,084 I actually would just submit that that means that there 1256 00:54:16,086 --> 00:54:18,356 are a whole lot of reasons to support TPA. 1257 00:54:18,355 --> 00:54:23,225 The same applies when it comes to TAA. 1258 00:54:23,226 --> 00:54:26,326 And again, this also is not about trying to 1259 00:54:26,329 --> 00:54:28,069 scare people. 1260 00:54:28,064 --> 00:54:30,464 This is actually about raising a legitimate concern. 1261 00:54:30,467 --> 00:54:33,907 The fact is, this is a piece of legislation, a program 1262 00:54:33,903 --> 00:54:36,673 that previously was supported by every single 1263 00:54:36,673 --> 00:54:38,913 Democrat in the House of Representatives that is set 1264 00:54:38,908 --> 00:54:41,178 to expire at the end of September. 1265 00:54:41,177 --> 00:54:44,717 And what the President has advocated doing is not just 1266 00:54:44,714 --> 00:54:47,954 preventing the lapse of that program; the President has 1267 00:54:47,951 --> 00:54:50,821 actually put forward a specific proposal with a 1268 00:54:50,820 --> 00:54:53,720 specific pay-for that was worked out between Leader 1269 00:54:53,723 --> 00:54:57,063 Pelosi and Speaker Boehner to significantly expand that 1270 00:54:57,060 --> 00:55:00,060 program in a way that would double the amount of money 1271 00:55:00,063 --> 00:55:03,603 that's available every year, and in a way that would 1272 00:55:03,600 --> 00:55:07,300 allow 17,000 people who over the last 18 months have 1273 00:55:07,303 --> 00:55:09,643 previously seen their applications rejected, to 1274 00:55:09,639 --> 00:55:12,909 allow them to have their applications reconsidered. 1275 00:55:12,909 --> 00:55:17,949 These are 17,000 workers who are in need right now. 1276 00:55:17,947 --> 00:55:21,487 And if the House will pass this bill, we can set about 1277 00:55:21,484 --> 00:55:24,454 the work of trying to consider their eligibility 1278 00:55:24,454 --> 00:55:26,454 again, under a different set of circumstances. 1279 00:55:26,456 --> 00:55:31,096 That is going to open up access to these important 1280 00:55:31,094 --> 00:55:35,034 benefits to many more people, and that is entirely 1281 00:55:35,031 --> 00:55:38,171 consistent with the kind of progressive values that the 1282 00:55:38,168 --> 00:55:40,568 President has long championed and that we know 1283 00:55:40,570 --> 00:55:43,370 are strongly supported by members of -- Democratic 1284 00:55:43,373 --> 00:55:45,373 members of the House of Representatives, and even 1285 00:55:45,375 --> 00:55:46,675 some Republicans. 1286 00:55:46,676 --> 00:55:47,206 Cheryl. 1287 00:55:47,210 --> 00:55:49,610 The Press: So a little bit to follow up on that. 1288 00:55:49,612 --> 00:55:52,652 When Leader Pelosi was on the floor, she was talking 1289 00:55:52,649 --> 00:55:56,749 about trying to get a better deal for workers. 1290 00:55:56,753 --> 00:56:00,623 Has she asked you, or is seeking more money, or a 1291 00:56:00,623 --> 00:56:02,923 greater package? 1292 00:56:02,926 --> 00:56:04,896 Is there something you can offer her? 1293 00:56:04,894 --> 00:56:07,494 Mr. Earnest: Well, I'm not aware of any specific 1294 00:56:07,497 --> 00:56:10,037 requests that Leader Pelosi may have made, but again, 1295 00:56:10,033 --> 00:56:12,473 this has been part of the conversations that she's had 1296 00:56:12,469 --> 00:56:15,069 with Speaker Boehner. 1297 00:56:15,071 --> 00:56:17,811 And it's possible that there may be some requests that 1298 00:56:17,807 --> 00:56:21,547 have been made of the White House. 1299 00:56:21,544 --> 00:56:23,884 But again, I think the case that we would make would be 1300 00:56:23,880 --> 00:56:27,120 focused on the amount of benefits that are included here. 1301 00:56:27,117 --> 00:56:30,087 And again, I wouldn't -- we'll send you the letter 1302 00:56:30,086 --> 00:56:32,756 from Secretary Perez that he sent to the Hill yesterday, 1303 00:56:32,756 --> 00:56:35,926 the detailing, the extensive assistance that would be 1304 00:56:35,925 --> 00:56:38,295 offered in this legislation, and explaining how this 1305 00:56:38,294 --> 00:56:42,094 isn't just a renewal of a previously passed package, 1306 00:56:42,098 --> 00:56:45,898 but actually is a significant expansion of it. 1307 00:56:45,902 --> 00:56:46,502 Jordan. 1308 00:56:46,503 --> 00:56:47,933 The Press: Thanks, Josh. 1309 00:56:47,937 --> 00:56:49,907 I just wanted to bring your attention to something that 1310 00:56:49,906 --> 00:56:51,906 Congressman Jim Himes said; he's one of your supporters 1311 00:56:51,908 --> 00:56:52,908 on trade. 1312 00:56:52,909 --> 00:56:54,549 He said today's vote on TAA 1313 00:56:54,544 --> 00:56:56,544 "hobbled the Democratic President." 1314 00:56:56,546 --> 00:56:59,846 So I'm just wondering how you square the claim that 1315 00:56:59,849 --> 00:57:02,619 the strategy is working when even your allies are saying 1316 00:57:02,619 --> 00:57:04,859 -- or suggesting that the President's powers of 1317 00:57:04,854 --> 00:57:06,824 persuasion are perhaps diminished here. 1318 00:57:06,823 --> 00:57:08,823 Mr. Earnest: Well, again, all I would do -- and I 1319 00:57:08,825 --> 00:57:10,825 would say this to Congressman Himes too -- is 1320 00:57:10,827 --> 00:57:12,827 I would just encourage him to consider the track record 1321 00:57:12,829 --> 00:57:15,829 here; that over the last month, we've seen that the 1322 00:57:15,832 --> 00:57:18,872 Senate came together and beat the odds and built a 1323 00:57:18,868 --> 00:57:21,108 bipartisan majority to pass TPA. 1324 00:57:21,104 --> 00:57:23,244 The Senate came together, built a bipartisan majority 1325 00:57:23,239 --> 00:57:24,979 to pass TAA. 1326 00:57:24,974 --> 00:57:26,944 Just today, the House of Representatives came 1327 00:57:26,943 --> 00:57:29,543 together, built a bipartisan majority, even in the face 1328 00:57:29,546 --> 00:57:31,546 of some pretty intense skepticism inside the 1329 00:57:31,548 --> 00:57:34,088 Beltway, and passed TPA. 1330 00:57:34,083 --> 00:57:36,083 The remaining stumbling block, one that I 1331 00:57:36,085 --> 00:57:38,185 acknowledge remains, is when it comes to trade 1332 00:57:38,188 --> 00:57:39,188 adjustment assistance. 1333 00:57:39,189 --> 00:57:41,989 But I think as I've done a number of times here already 1334 00:57:41,991 --> 00:57:44,661 today, we've got a very strong case to make to 1335 00:57:44,661 --> 00:57:47,261 Democrats about how middle-class families all 1336 00:57:47,263 --> 00:57:50,403 across the country would benefit significantly from 1337 00:57:50,400 --> 00:57:54,240 the proposed expansion of trade adjustment assistance. 1338 00:57:54,237 --> 00:57:56,237 And we're going to make the case that they should 1339 00:57:56,239 --> 00:57:58,909 support it, and we'll keep doing that. 1340 00:57:58,908 --> 00:57:59,908 Sarah. 1341 00:57:59,909 --> 00:58:00,909 The Press: Thanks, Josh. 1342 00:58:00,910 --> 00:58:02,910 I think after today's vote and floor statements it's 1343 00:58:02,912 --> 00:58:04,912 fair to say that all the current leaders of the 1344 00:58:04,914 --> 00:58:06,914 Democratic Party have come out and taken a 1345 00:58:06,916 --> 00:58:07,916 position on trade. 1346 00:58:07,917 --> 00:58:09,857 Hillary Clinton is the frontrunner right now to be 1347 00:58:09,853 --> 00:58:12,093 the future leader of the Democratic Party. 1348 00:58:12,088 --> 00:58:15,258 She would benefit from fast-track authority if she 1349 00:58:15,258 --> 00:58:17,458 became President. 1350 00:58:17,460 --> 00:58:21,200 How would it affect things in the House if she came out 1351 00:58:21,197 --> 00:58:22,567 and took a position? 1352 00:58:22,565 --> 00:58:26,365 And is President Obama satisfied with the 1353 00:58:26,369 --> 00:58:29,109 leadership being shown right now from one of his 1354 00:58:29,105 --> 00:58:31,005 potential successors? 1355 00:58:31,007 --> 00:58:33,147 Mr. Earnest: We would be very concerned about the 1356 00:58:33,142 --> 00:58:37,082 position of Secretary Clinton if she had a vote in 1357 00:58:37,080 --> 00:58:39,480 the House of Representatives. 1358 00:58:39,482 --> 00:58:42,582 I assure you that if she did, she would be subject to 1359 00:58:42,585 --> 00:58:45,285 a pretty aggressive lobbying campaign by the 1360 00:58:45,288 --> 00:58:47,588 President on down. 1361 00:58:47,590 --> 00:58:50,890 And we would be optimistic about the persuasive case we 1362 00:58:50,894 --> 00:58:52,794 would be able to make. 1363 00:58:52,795 --> 00:58:55,265 Unfortunately, however, she does not have a vote in the 1364 00:58:55,265 --> 00:58:56,265 House of Representatives. 1365 00:58:56,266 --> 00:58:59,266 She's doing what she's supposed to be doing right 1366 00:58:59,269 --> 00:59:02,209 now, which is focused on running a presidential campaign. 1367 00:59:02,205 --> 00:59:03,845 And -- 1368 00:59:03,840 --> 00:59:04,610 The Press: So you don't think she'd be influential? 1369 00:59:04,607 --> 00:59:05,237 Sorry to cut you off. 1370 00:59:05,241 --> 00:59:06,511 But you don't think she's be influential to 1371 00:59:06,509 --> 00:59:09,479 these House members? 1372 00:59:09,479 --> 00:59:11,279 She would potentially be at the top of the ticket in the 1373 00:59:11,281 --> 00:59:13,421 reelections that they're concerned about. 1374 00:59:13,416 --> 00:59:15,886 Mr. Earnest: Well, I think it is entirely possible that 1375 00:59:15,885 --> 00:59:19,185 -- she is obviously a significant figure in the 1376 00:59:19,188 --> 00:59:21,588 Democratic Party, and people care a lot about what she 1377 00:59:21,591 --> 00:59:22,591 has to say. 1378 00:59:22,592 --> 00:59:27,062 But she's focused on running her campaign right now, and 1379 00:59:27,063 --> 00:59:29,603 is not focused on whipping votes in the House of 1380 00:59:29,599 --> 00:59:31,639 Representatives, one way or the other. 1381 00:59:31,634 --> 00:59:33,604 And that means that she's got her priorities straight 1382 00:59:33,603 --> 00:59:34,603 right now. 1383 00:59:34,604 --> 00:59:38,204 The Press: As others have mentioned, there is this 1384 00:59:38,207 --> 00:59:40,947 perception that throughout the President's term, that 1385 00:59:40,944 --> 00:59:44,514 he hasn't really engaged very much with members of 1386 00:59:44,514 --> 00:59:47,314 Congress, and you have contested that perception. 1387 00:59:47,317 --> 00:59:51,657 But why is that so widespread if it's not the case? 1388 00:59:51,654 --> 00:59:54,754 Mr. Earnest: Well, frankly, I don't know. 1389 00:59:54,757 --> 00:59:58,657 I think that what the President has pursued is a 1390 00:59:58,661 --> 01:00:02,601 strategy that has sought to engage members of Congress 1391 01:00:02,598 --> 01:00:04,598 on important legislative priorities. 1392 01:00:04,600 --> 01:00:06,840 And I think that's been on full display not just in the 1393 01:00:06,836 --> 01:00:10,276 last 24 hours or so, but over the last several weeks, 1394 01:00:10,273 --> 01:00:13,013 particularly on this particular trade issue. 1395 01:00:13,009 --> 01:00:15,049 And it served us very well in terms of the success 1396 01:00:15,044 --> 01:00:17,344 we've had in passing these legislative priorities 1397 01:00:17,347 --> 01:00:18,347 through the Senate. 1398 01:00:18,348 --> 01:00:21,288 We've got some additional work to do in the House, but 1399 01:00:21,284 --> 01:00:23,284 we're pleased with the important progress that 1400 01:00:23,286 --> 01:00:26,226 we've already made so far. 1401 01:00:26,222 --> 01:00:28,222 Fred, I'll give you the last one, and we'll do the 1402 01:00:28,224 --> 01:00:29,224 week ahead. 1403 01:00:29,225 --> 01:00:32,795 The Press: Something that has come up in the course of 1404 01:00:32,795 --> 01:00:37,035 the debate is something that Paul Ryan had addressed this 1405 01:00:37,033 --> 01:00:41,673 week, is whether TPA might down the road allow the 1406 01:00:41,671 --> 01:00:45,741 President to implement climate rules or 1407 01:00:45,742 --> 01:00:47,242 immigration rules. 1408 01:00:47,243 --> 01:00:50,983 One Republican during the House debate said that his 1409 01:00:50,980 --> 01:00:52,750 concerns about that were satisfied. 1410 01:00:52,749 --> 01:00:55,189 I wanted to ask, from the White House perspective, 1411 01:00:55,184 --> 01:00:58,624 would the White House or would the administration 1412 01:00:58,621 --> 01:01:01,091 ever consider using future trade deals if TPA is put 1413 01:01:01,090 --> 01:01:04,290 into place for climate or immigration? 1414 01:01:04,293 --> 01:01:05,663 Mr. Earnest: My understanding, Fred, is 1415 01:01:05,661 --> 01:01:07,631 there's actually specific language that's included in 1416 01:01:07,630 --> 01:01:09,630 the legislation that prohibits that. 1417 01:01:09,632 --> 01:01:13,632 This, I think, is a pretty good example of where there 1418 01:01:13,636 --> 01:01:15,636 are significant disagreements between 1419 01:01:15,638 --> 01:01:19,208 Democrats and -- between Republicans and this President. 1420 01:01:19,208 --> 01:01:23,648 And we've made clear that we believe that immigration 1421 01:01:23,646 --> 01:01:27,416 reform is a priority because of the economic benefits it 1422 01:01:27,417 --> 01:01:30,987 would shower on our economy. 1423 01:01:30,987 --> 01:01:32,987 We've also made clear that dealing with climate change 1424 01:01:32,989 --> 01:01:34,259 is a top priority. 1425 01:01:34,257 --> 01:01:37,297 But the fact is, the President has sought very 1426 01:01:37,293 --> 01:01:40,093 aggressively to make progress in those areas, and 1427 01:01:40,096 --> 01:01:43,036 he didn't need TPA to do it. 1428 01:01:43,032 --> 01:01:47,442 So the President is going to continue to advocate dealing 1429 01:01:47,437 --> 01:01:50,077 with the causes of climate change, and the President is 1430 01:01:50,073 --> 01:01:52,073 going to continue to implement many of the 1431 01:01:52,075 --> 01:01:54,145 executive actions that he announced at the end of last 1432 01:01:54,143 --> 01:01:57,013 year to reform our broken immigration system. 1433 01:02:00,316 --> 01:02:02,516 So that's what the President's focus is on. 1434 01:02:02,518 --> 01:02:03,518 Let's do the week ahead. 1435 01:02:03,519 --> 01:02:05,159 The Press: That's TWA. 1436 01:02:05,154 --> 01:02:06,654 Mr. Earnest: I'm sorry? 1437 01:02:06,656 --> 01:02:07,486 The Press: "The Week Ahead" -- TWA. 1438 01:02:07,490 --> 01:02:09,590 Mr. Earnest: (laughs) Ah, yes, it is. 1439 01:02:09,592 --> 01:02:10,262 Yes it is. 1440 01:02:10,259 --> 01:02:11,259 The Press: TPA -- 1441 01:02:11,260 --> 01:02:13,200 Mr. Earnest: There has been a lot of acronyms todays. 1442 01:02:13,196 --> 01:02:16,196 A lot of acronyms. 1443 01:02:16,199 --> 01:02:18,699 On Monday, the President will attend the graduation 1444 01:02:18,701 --> 01:02:22,771 ceremony for participants in the 2015 White House 1445 01:02:22,772 --> 01:02:25,712 Mentoring and Leadership Program. 1446 01:02:25,708 --> 01:02:27,848 On Tuesday, the President will attend meetings here at 1447 01:02:27,844 --> 01:02:29,014 the White House. 1448 01:02:29,011 --> 01:02:31,311 On Wednesday, the President will deliver remarks at an 1449 01:02:31,314 --> 01:02:33,354 investiture ceremony for Attorney General Loretta 1450 01:02:33,349 --> 01:02:37,249 Lynch over at the Warner Theatre. 1451 01:02:37,253 --> 01:02:39,123 On Wednesday evening, the President will, here at the 1452 01:02:39,122 --> 01:02:41,122 White House -- this should be interesting -- host a 1453 01:02:41,124 --> 01:02:42,124 picnic for members of Congress. 1454 01:02:42,125 --> 01:02:44,265 So that'll be fun. 1455 01:02:44,260 --> 01:02:46,130 (laughter) 1456 01:02:46,129 --> 01:02:49,899 On Thursday, the President will travel to the Los 1457 01:02:49,899 --> 01:02:53,039 Angeles, California area to attend a handful of 1458 01:02:53,035 --> 01:02:54,035 DNC events. 1459 01:02:54,036 --> 01:02:56,036 And the President will spend Thursday night 1460 01:02:56,038 --> 01:02:57,408 in Los Angeles. 1461 01:02:57,406 --> 01:02:59,846 On Friday, the President is scheduled to travel to San 1462 01:02:59,842 --> 01:03:02,242 Francisco, California -- or at least the Bay Area -- to 1463 01:03:02,245 --> 01:03:04,245 deliver remarks at the Annual Meeting of the United 1464 01:03:04,247 --> 01:03:07,787 States Conference of Mayors, as well as attend DNC and 1465 01:03:07,783 --> 01:03:09,283 DCCC events. 1466 01:03:09,285 --> 01:03:11,285 We'll have additional details about the 1467 01:03:11,287 --> 01:03:13,527 President's trip to California early next week. 1468 01:03:13,523 --> 01:03:15,963 The Press: Anything this weekend we should know about? 1469 01:03:15,958 --> 01:03:16,858 Mr. Earnest: No, I don't have any details about the 1470 01:03:16,859 --> 01:03:19,259 President's schedule this weekend. 1471 01:03:19,262 --> 01:03:21,062 The Press: Will trade be the weekly address subject? 1472 01:03:21,063 --> 01:03:23,303 Mr. Earnest: I don't yet know what the subject of the 1473 01:03:23,299 --> 01:03:25,299 weekly address will be, but we'll have it in your 1474 01:03:25,301 --> 01:03:26,301 inboxes shortly, I hope. 1475 01:03:26,302 --> 01:03:27,302 Thanks, everybody. 1476 01:03:27,303 --> 01:03:28,303 Have a great weekend.