>> where did the three hours ago? good news, we get three tomorrow. >> friday tomorrow. >> if you have time, if you have to run from the tv run to the radio brian kilmeade show. >> go team usa. >> bill: morning everybody. at this hour it's the super bowl of conservative politics now underway, the annual conservative political action conference outside washington, d.c. we're awaiting a big speech by mike pence and a very busy "newsweek." good morning, i'm bill hemmer inside of "america's newsroom." >> sandra: good morning to you, bill. i'm sandra smith. vice president mike pence will address the cpac audience 90 minutes from now. president trump will be there tomorrow. cpac which features a pro second amendment message comes amid the renewed debate over guns. >> bill: we start with team fox

coverage. kevin corke at the white house, republican marsha blackburn standing by for what's next. we begin with peter doocy live at cpac. good morning. how much will we hear about gun laws at this event? hello. >> we'll hear a lot about it, bill. i was inside the ballroom where all the headlineing speakers will be appearing on stage and when the nra was announced as a partner of cpac there was loud cheering and applause from the folks who are here very early for the start of it. additionally, the nra ceo is going to speak at this event and his national rifle association has a booth right here in the corner of the hallway at the convention center that looks out. so far the organizers haven't told us what time or day he wants to speak. if somebody was going to show up to protest his remarks they might have to wait around a little while and may have to pay a pretty penny.

student tickets start at $85. there has been a gold package that goes up to $5,000 a pop. in addition to the nra's involvement there are going to be a pair of panels about protecting the second amendment. the focus there is going to be on the decade old heller supreme court decisions for citizens to own handguns. you can see that people are starting to file into the ballroom over to our right. there is very, very heavy security at this event which has a very young crowd. there are police officers everywhere and also tsa agents going through everybody's bags, a custom any time that the vice president or the president are going to appear at an event. >> bill: which other speakers are getting the most attention? we'll hear from a lot of them. >> it's a pair of populist politicians from europe, bill. you got france's la pen, the runner up in the presidential race there and farage from

great britain. a dozen members from the trump cabinet and started with an upbeat intro video. things are underway here in maryland. >> bill: we'll cover mike pence next hour. >> sandra: we're awaiting another big meeting at the white house. president trump will be sitting down with state and local officials this morning on protecting our nation's schools. this after yesterday's emotional listening session at the white house. the president listening very closely as he listened to grieving students and parents. >> president trump: we are going to do something about this awful situation that is going on. we'll figure it out together. we'll have a very serious talk about what is going on with school safety. >> it doesn't make sense, fix it. should have been one school shooting and we should have fixed it. i'm pissed. my daughter i'm not going to see again.

>> this is america, this is every student and every city and everywhere. it's everybody. >> there needs to be significant change in this country because this has to never happen again. and people should be able to feel when they go to school they can be safe. >> sandra: the president tweeting, quote, i will be strongly pushing comprehensive background checks with an emphasis on mental health. raise age to 21 and end sale of bump stocks. congress is in a mood to finally do something on this issue i hope. white house correspondent kevin corke is live on the north lawn this morning. what is the white house's plan to build upon yesterday's strong dialogue? >> strong indeed. it was truly emotional, gripping and cathartic for the nation to listen to the conversation yesterday. the work continues with another listening session today, sandra, a very important one. as you pointed out earlier it's state, local and law

enforcement officials who have had to deal with this circumstance previously. the president yesterday suggested it may be worth considering having trained, armed personnel to help keep our kids safe at school. he tweeted this. history shows that a school shooting lasts on average three minutes. it takes police and first responders approximately 5 to 8 minutes to get to the site of the crime. highly trained, gun adept teachers/coaches would solve the problem instantly before police arrive. great deterrent. yesterday's conversation was a chance not only to hear from the victims sharing their feelings. it was also an opportunity for the president to listen to hear and to think about possible solutions. >> president trump: i really believe that if these cowards knew that was -- that the school was well guarded from the standpoint of having pretty much professionals with great training, i think they wouldn't go into the schools to start off with. i think it could solve the

problem. >> nothing that horrible should ever have to happen to you. >> i was lucky enough to come home from school. maybe compromise on some solution so this never -- no child, in person in this world will ever have to go through something so her i horrific. >> it was really tough to watch at times. not a dry eye in the building. that conversation continues today. >> sandra: what can you tell us about this morning's listening session? how will it differ from yesterday's? >> listen, on its face it will be basically the same, sharing of ideas and having important conversation. but i think what you'll find differently here, when you're dealing with actual stakeholders from the safety perspective they will have some strong ideas. don't forget the president last week had a very important conversation with local law enforcement down there in florida. we were down there at mar-a-lago. he met with sheriffs there. a chance to unpack some of those important ideas and keep

moving forward. we'll have live coverage later today, sandra. for now back to you. >> sandra: thank you. >> bill: for more on all this and what's next tennessee republican marsha blackburn running for the u.s. senate in tennessee. good morning and thank you for your time here. what do you support on the list of things that were mentioned yesterday at the white house in terms of changing laws? >> well, first of all i hope that when we go back that the senate catches up with the house on the action we have taken to fix the nix system and also to -- >> bill: which is the reporting system for the background be it mental health or criminal record, is that right? >> that's exactly right, bill. i think you have to break this issue apart and say let's look at these mental health issues, let's talk about next of kin having visibility into those mental health treatments and the aware n*etion for those

patients. let's talk about what will happen with increased background checks and hardening our schools. and also we have to have a discussion about what is going on in the culture. that is vitally important. you have these video games, you are earning points for killing people, you have the glorfication of villains on media. you have this glorified in music. we have to deal with these issues. so culturally, looking at mental health, looking at law enforcement and making certain that we harden these schools and that they are protected. >> bill: on the issue of mental health, a social worker met with this disturbed young man and deemed that he was low risk. so if you are looking for a mental health flag warning, that would likely not even be in the system. am i right about that in this case? >> you're right about that. but when you have had interventions 39 times, when

you've had law enforcement to a home 39 times, when you have had this type of interaction between educators and those that are working in the mental health field, yes, there needs to be a flag warning there. and that does need to be visible through the background check system. i don't know what all the answers are going to be on this but i do know that it is time to have a discussion of looking at these mental health issues. the president brought it up yesterday. >> bill: how much opposition will he get from conservatives in congress do you think? >> there is going to be a good discussion, i think, on all sides of this issue. and it is time for us to talk about these mental health issues. we passed a mental health bill. folded it into 21st century cures last year. as a mom, as someone who has been a room mother for children

that were in school, with grandchildren in school now, all of these situations are heartbreaking. and just as the church shooting here in tennessee, it is absolutely heartbreaking. but i will tell you this, many of our churches have said you know, we understand we're targets and i was talking to someone who is a deacon in a church yesterday and he said marsha, i can tell you who in the narthex is carrying a gun. i can tell you who in the choir has a gun. i can tell you who is passing the offering plate and has a gun. and we have decided that it is important that we be prepared to protect ourselves. let's talk about how we protect these precious children in these schools and we do not see this happening. >> bill: laws take time. you can do that immediately. thank you for your time today. tender moment for the country we agree on that. thank you for your time. republican out of tennessee. a lot more coverage coming up. >> sandra: so many parents so

thankful this conversation is continuing this morning. coming up honoring the life of america's evangelist pastor. the nation preparing to say goodbye to the reverend billy graham. archbishop timothy cardinal dolan will join us live in studio. >> bill: looking forward to that. nancy pelosi suggesting the solution to border security is not a wall but better landscaping. we'll play what she said as our panel takes that up in a moment. >> sandra: president trump says arming some teachers could make schools safer. some districts are already doing just that. >> my answer to them is i understand that you are concerned. i understand that you don't like us having a firearm in the school building. however, on the flip side we will protect your child. with those we love,

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>> billy graham ever reminded us to look to the ancient truths of god's word asking with the psalmist when i look at the heavens, the moon and the stars, what is man that you are mindful of him? >> bill: vice president mike pence remembering the life and legacy of billy graham who died yesterday at the age of 99. with me now is timothy cardinal

dolan, the arch bishop of new york. great to have you back on this program during this lenten season. >> i was going to ask you what you gave up. they offered me a donut up there. >> bill: i'm off food for 47 days. >> no wonder you look crabby. in 1954 billy graham was in london and said the following. i'm going to preach the gospel not of despair but of hope. hope for the individual, for society and for the world. what did he mean to the word of god? what did he mean to the life of jesus? >> i was 4 years old when he would have said that and i can't remember that episode, bill, but i can remember him often preaching and i can remember watching him and what is -- you were wise to mention those three words, the word of god. when he preached, bill, did you see tell prompters? no. did you see notes? no. what did you see? he was always holding the

inspired word of god, the bible, all right? pure biblical teaching all rooted in god's holy word in the bible. a return to that was what he always encouraged. wise he was in his strategy because he knew the bible of course even from a human point of view, much more from a divine, was the most influential work of literature and writing ever, okay? he also knew, bill, that the bible spontaneously and innately resonates in the heart of his american audience because we are -- i know there is a lot of contradictions and exceptions to this -- but we're basically a biblical people and when he preached biblical truth, it would resonate with the american people of any religion or none at all. he was a very effective preacher because of his utter dependence upon the bible. god's inspired word. >> bill: he talked about the scripture and everything

surrounded the scripture and how he carried his life. the last interview he did with us at fox news seven years ago what he talked about what he wish he would not have done in life. he would have done less speeches and on the road less. would have spent more time in prayer and more time in meditation. what do you think of that? >> i think he is right. his buddy, sheen, that sort of the catholic billy graham used to say that our sermons have to be in the heart before they are on the lips. billy graham would have given sheen a standing ovation. when you are constantly speaking you have to tend to what's inside and gives rise to that. you see, bill, it was his earnestness and sincerity that came through immediately. when you listen to billy graham there is no theatrics here, this guy means it. an utter sincerity. he was shrewd enough to know i have to nurture the spring

inside from which the water comes. >> bill: i think his level of optimism and hope is something people needed to hear and i think we need to hear it now frankly. you think about our country right now. we are a good country and we are a good people, and we are left to wrestle with the disgust and the horror and the sorrow of a week ago in broward county, florida. how then do we -- how do you talk to those parents and those students when they are trying to understand the satanic hand that has been put before them? >> it is wise you mention that. i said yesterday and a couple of people that were kind enough to interview me. you think of last wednesday, ash wednesday when this tragedy happened. who would have been the first person we went to? we would have gone to reverend billy graham. he was able never denying the utter cruelty and die boll i can nature of the sin, hatred and violence we saw. he would be able to find some

light, some reason for hope in all of that. and that's what made him so effective, right? he would always point to jesus on the cross. he would also tell the stories from the old testament where god would bring good from defeat and death and setback. and i think that was his ability to find that light in darkness. that, of course, is the story of revelation. that's the story of passover. that's the story of easter that we're preparing for, right? good friday leads to the resurrection of easter, right? you are correct we need to hear that. >> bill: i could listen to you all day. some people have. [laughter] you have thought about certainly what message you are going to deliver on the first of april, which is easter sunday. in light of all these events, look at those parents' faces in the white house yesterday and you think about their anguish

and he was a pastor. what do you say to them? >> when i teared up was the morning after on the front page of one of the newspapers was the mom embracing her son and she had the ashes on because she had -- she was catholic and had been to mass. i thought here is a woman who has experienced not only outwardly but inwardly the sorrow and adversity and the setback of the cross but a woman reaching out with a loving embrace in gratitude to her son and i thought boy, that's good friday and easter. i think there is my homily there. don't tell anybody. i might use that on easter. way to go, bill. thank you for the invite. thank you for your good work. >> bill: thank you. >> sandra: breaking news coming into our newsroom attacker targeting a u.s. embassy overseas. details on that straight after the break. ers.

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>> bill: a day late but worth the wait. falcon 9 rocket blasting off in california. here is what it looked like before the sun came up. >> sandra: the rocket is carrying a spanish defense satellite as well as two prototype satellites to deliver high-speed broadband internet from space. this launch was supposed to happen yesterday but was delayed due to high winds. not making -- >> bill: what elon musk is doing before our eyes. keep going to higher things. that happened in california. >> sandra: he has us watching. north korea is sending a hard line general to lead a delegation in the winter olympics opening ceremony this

weekend set to meet with south korean president moon and on the u.s. side ivanka trump, the president's daughter, will be leading the u.s. delegation. we're live in seoul, south korea with the latest. >> that's right. north korea causing a stir again sending that tough general to head their delegation to the weekend closing ceremony of the olympics here. he has been black listed for his ties to the north's missile and nuclear programs and allegedly ordering deadly attacks against the south and yes, on the american side ivanka trump arrives on friday the white house saying she won't meet with north korean officials. you might recall last fall a north korean soldier made a break for it along the dmz between north and south korea. we got rare access to the site of that nasty incident. take a look at what we saw and heard.

>> the sign of the tense times that remain here along the dmz, bullet holes left in a wall shot by north korean soldiers over there shooting at one of their own. a defector coming across the border huddling along this wall. he was rescued. you folks got in there and saved him. >> they did. very bravely, too, because they weren't sure what the response was going to be by the north koreans if they came after what was essentially one of their defectors. >> we're told the defector is recovering from multiple gunshot wounds and some nasty parasites and simply living in north korea. otherwise when we were there things were relatively peaceful. north korea turning down the volume a bit on its propaganda broadcast that it pipes into south korea. sandra, we were told by u.s. military officers yes, there is calm now but won't relax. the olympic games over on sunday. it could all start again.

back to you. >> sandra: greg palkot. thank you. >> bill: fox news alert. one of the biggest questions out of the latest deadly school shooting, should we arm teachers in school? some parents were affirmative. >> there are plenty of teachers already licensed to core firearms. have them raise their hands to volunteer for the training. when something like this starts, the first responders are already on campus. >> bill: in a moment how one town is already training teachers to fire back in the event of a shooting. we'll take you a little more inside that debate coming up here. >> sandra: parkland students marching on the state capitol where legislators voted down a debate on gun control. we'll talk to state representative matt caldwell on why he voted against that motion while his face finds

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fast like stop staring atcaps help youthe clock fast,st, like stop worrying about your boss fast, like wow, you're already asleep fast. when life keeps you up... zzzquil helps you fall asleep in as little as 20 minutes. >> sandra: this is a fox news alert. a live look at the 2018 conservative political action conference underway outside of washington vice president mike pence is expected to speak at 10:30 eastern time. the highlight of the four-day event will surely be the president who will be speaking at cpac for the second year in a row tomorrow. we'll bring you vice president pence's remarks live when he begins. >> bill: also awaiting a meeting between president trump and local officials about protecting our schools after

the emotional white house listening session how to prevent school shootings. one idea being floated by the president and others is arming teachers in school. >> if a tragedy strikes, can we wait for the first responders to get to the campus four or five or six or seven minutes later? and one possible solution, which may not be very popular, would be to have people in the school, teachers, administrators who have volunteered to have a firearm safely locked in the classroom. >> bill: two neighboring school districts in the state of ohio arming some of their teachers. matt flynn is live in chicago. what did you find out at these schools? >> we spent nearly two days in these school districts and found they are not without controversy. it took years for them to get up and running but today the district officials stand by

their decision to arm their staff. >> two school districts near dayton, ohio trained a confidential list of teachers and faculty to fire back in the event of an active shooter. >> our staff members are trained to go and address the threat. not to run away. >> these school districts have guns hidden in saves opened only by staff that are part of the armed response team. the district interviewed and picked each member who are required to have a license to carry and attend rigorous monthly training. most students seem to support the idea. >> to have people inside the school who know what they are doing and who can protect us is amazing. i don't really think there is any room for complaints. >> when we're inside the four walls they're our safety. it's our safety for the day. >> each district faces opposition. >> let the teachers teach and let law enforcement take care of the laws. >> the police chief says he is not against the school's

program but worries it could interfere with first responders. >> nouf you take away the possibility of one or two people with guns to six or seven people with guns without us having assurance who is the good guy or bad guy. >> the armed guard at sidney middle school says he considers each armed teacher a well-trained backup. >> i would not do this by myself without the teachers. i've been in enough situations that i know how long it takes to get backup to me. >> the state of ohio has already designated taxpayer dollars for school districts to train their staff for emergency situations and both of these districts have taken advantage of that money. >> bill: matt, thank you. >> sandra: president trump calling for gun reform tweeting i will be strongly pushing comprehensive background checks with an emphasis on mental health. raise age to 21 and end sale of bump stocks. congress is in a mood to finally do something on this issue, i hope. let's bring in florida state

representative matt caldwell running for commissioner of agriculture and voted against allowing the gun debate in his state legislature. representative. thank you for coming on with us this morning. how do you explain why you voted no to have that debate? >> well first of all it was a procedural motion. pulling the bill out of committee and getting to the substance of the bill. it would have banned all guns essentially. you get down to the definition of the bill it is not something that's a serious proposal. how you go about actually attacking this issue is to take it seriously, work collaboratively, bipartisan manner. let's bring a bill out of committee hopefully this next week. we're waiting for the governor to give us his recommendations. we'll look at those, digest those and see how we can move forward. what we have to do is address the problem. these attackers are lone wolf terrorists and you had your previous segment about school districts in ohio that identified people who can fight back.

we've accepted that we have air marshals who are armed on our flights because we know there is a terrorist risk. that's the exact same thing we need to be thinking about in identifying these people. my wife is a teacher, daughter attends public schools. what i don't want to do is push forward a so-called solution and ultimately it ends up not making any difference. >> sandra: interesting to get your perspective. we saw at the town hall debate yesterday where marco rubio was the only elected gop official to accept an invitation there and he broke with the president on that, on arming teachers. here is his explanation as to why that is a bad idea. >> the middle of this crisis and the swat team comes into the building and there is an adult with a weapon in their hands and the swat team doesn't know who is who and we have an additional tragedy that was unnecessary. and so i understand how some people are saying that and i'm not belittling them, as a father and someone who talked to plenty of teachers including the three in my family and

assistant principal in my family i don't think that would be a good idea. >> sandra: what did you think? >> i respect senator rubio and his position on that. let's make this a district by district decision. we have 67 school districts. let them decide who can and can't carry in terms of the school. we have programs in some of our counties where they do what they have done in ohio, identify specific people. we also have two million citizens in florida that already have a concealed weapons permit. they're the safest in society. when you walk around anywhere outside of a school and select few other places we've designated as gun-free zones you're likely walking next to somebody concealed carry. those challenges and how to deal with the situation is true no matter where you are in the state of florida. >> sandra: the country is anxious to see this debate continue and see if any real change will be made particularly the father of one of the girls that was killed in that high school last week. andrew pollack.

his daughter meadow was 18 years old and killed in that florida school. he appeared at the listening session with an emotional plea. listen. >> should have been one school shooting and we should have fixed it. and i'm pissed. because my daughter i'm not going to see again. she is not here. she is not here. >> sandra: representative, we're getting some word this morning as we continue to hear parents like him speak out that there is some sort of moving forward. the report this morning a sweeping bill that responds to the shooting. what can you tell us ats@ar getting together right now? is something happening on that front? >> yes, as i indicated the governor had his workshops on tuesday listening to people across the spectrum, law enforcement, school officials, parents.

he will bring his recommendations. the house and senate we've been talking about different things that we can really achieve in a bipartisan manner. school safety provisions and some of those are allowing school districts to be able to identify people to protect themselves. but also long-term solutions. what are you going to do about the breakdown that we had in this situation? an individual that more than 30 times was identified by either law enforcement or the district or the local police that he was a danger to himself and to others. they didn't talk to each other or identify him. that's where i get back to we need to recognize what this is. these are lone wolf terrorists. they're inspired by a twisted view of fame and what they can get an opportunity to be on tv but they plan, practice, strategize, lay out a goal and then they execute that goal with deadly force. we need to be able to identify those individuals. >> sandra: i haven't had a chance to go through the entire details that have been laid out by republican leaders as to the

particulars of this bill but in there we're learning that they may also enact a waiting period for rifle purchases and raise the legal limit from 18 to 21. florida now has a three-day waiting period for handguns. is that something you are going to support? >> that is certainly something that is being discussed. we do have a constitutional provision that restricts handgun purchases until the age of 21 and three-day waiting period unless you are one of the concealed weapon permit holders. you have to be 21 to get that there florida and demonstrate that you have proficiency and understand and gone through training and go through a background check in order to receive that concealed weapons permit. that is being discussed in regard to certain weapons. we're waiting to see what the governor brings us and see how we can work collaboratively in a bipartisan manner. we have republicans and democrats serious about this discussion and try to work together to get to a solution that will make a difference long-term. it will have to focus on school

safety and getting people in a position to defend themselves in my mind. >> sandra: and so much emotion still around this subject just a little over one week out from that shooting in your state. representative caldwell. thank you for coming on this morning. >> bill: 18 minutes before the hour. nancy pelosi top democrat in the house has dropped a whopper. is mowing the grass a better option than building a wall? what's that all about? context on her comments coming up. >> sandra: top democrat adam schiff says democrats' rebuttal memo could be released this week. is this the week? what's in it? we'll check, next.

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>> where a more serious structure might be necessary where fencing will do, mowing the grass so people can't be smuggled through the grass. >> bill: new ideas for border security. get out the lawnmower.

that comment in arizona suggesting that mowing grass could be a better option than a wall. and that adds to a string of comments that republicans plan to use against democrats this fall. here is karl rove. >> i don't care if nancy pelosi never makes another campaign appearance. she will be a huge present on the campaign trail. the poster child of the democratic attitude on tax reform. she has achieved the impossible. less popular than any other major public figure in washington >> bill: jessica tarlov and jessica and charlie hurt and fox news contributor. jess, the floor is yours if you would like. >> okay. so what i think is progress here is that she is actually talking about some border security measures. i don't know how much spin there is there. listen, mowing grass doesn't seem like a really logical fix to this. president trump has been clear about the fact it's a wall

system. so it is not how this originally began where he basically seemed like he wanted to build a wall everywhere even though you can't in certain parts. so i guess the sliver of hope here is that at least democrats would be open to talking about increased security. >> bill: she talked about levies and technology and personnel is what she said in her comment. charlie, she despises based on that comment the physical presence of a wall. that's what she is against. >> and i think it points up an interesting thing about donald trump and his insistence on the wall. from the very beginning the first time he ever mentioned the wall everybody in washington on both sides of the aisle say their response is you can't really mean a wall. you don't really want to build a wall. that's always the response from washington any time somebody proposes actually sealing the border along the southern border. their immediate reaction is oh

no, you don't really mean that. you can't possibly mean that you actually want to stop illegal immigration across the border. and i think that's why donald trump has always doubled down and said no, i'm talking about a wall. that word was very important to him throughout the campaign. the wall, the wall, the wall. it was like -- kind of like rubbing a dog's nose in the carpet after they go to the bathroom. congress wants to give amnesty and everything with immigration. they don't want a wall. >> bill: a wall means a victory for president trump and that's what i read in her comments and you don't disagree with that. the rove point using all this against her, you couple that with the crumbs comment and couple that with this comment the other day from two days ago about the tax plan when she was heckled. this happened. >> most people have to struggle -- >> how much are you worth, nancy? >> we aren't talking about that.

>> bill: yeah. a lot to defend. >> nancy pelosi isn't the only wealthy politician out there. the president has some denomination of billions of dollars. a saw a tweet in my feed from someone who lives in pennsylvania with a special election where connor lamb running as a moderate democrat and distanced himself from nancy pelosi is showing up in ads over and over again with her. that's a huge challenge to democrats. if you say i don't support nancy pelosi for leadership, republicans can put you there. >> bill: quickly charlie. >> a big difference between nancy pelosi and trump. he has a pulse of the people. nancy pelosi could not be more removed and sort of in her own world. >> bill: that pulse was evident during the white house meeting that we'll talk more about. thank you, jessica. charlie, nice to see you.

>> sandra: we're awaiting remarks from vice president mike pence addressing the conservative political action conference. dana loesch is at the podium now. >> bill: roll this, wow. a heart stopping win for team usa. how the american women came through in the clutch. what an awesome gold medal victory. >> sandra: go usa. time to bask... in low prices!

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>> bill: live from cpac.

dana loesch is about to introduce the ceo of the nra. his first public comments since the shooting in florida. we'll carry it live when it begins. we have gold to talk about. >> sandra: we do indeed. the u.s. women's olympic hockey team bringing home the gold. the women defeated team canada in a game for the ages that ended in a shoot-out with team usa winning 3-2. america's gold snapped canadian women's streak of four straight olympic gold medals. joining me now, what a win it was, carly. >> all you could say is america is definitely believing in miracles again today. this is such a satisfying win for team usa. the fifth time in six consecutive winter olympics the two teams have played each other, like you said. canada winning four gold medals in a row and so appropriately this game ends in a tie.

it goes to overtime. a tie at the end of that. then a shoot-out and finally team usa pulls it off. this is what movies are made of and why the olympics are so special. everybody waits for these magical moments and this is definitely one of them. it's some of the best stories to come out of the olympics. this is the best story so far. >> sandra: history in the making. the americans won the inaugural women's gold medal back in 1998 but hadn't beaten canada in the olympics since. >> it must have felt surreal for the players. things went blurry as her teammates were rushing toward her and we saw team canada. a lot of them in tears and one of the players even ripped off the silver medal in disappointsment. a big win for team usa that people are so happy about. >> sandra: the coach saying it was unreal at the end. finally a very special guest appearance for the closing ceremonies from our country is.

>> vice president mike pence went to the opening ceremonies. ivanka trump will be headed for the closing ceremonies. a big south korean newspaper reported that they are going to roll out the red carpet for her. scheduled to have a dinner with the south korean president and apparently they will be showering her with gifts for her children. who knows if that's true? she will be getting special treatment. >> sandra: scheduled to host a dinner for her in seoul and they will attend the closing ceremonies. >> that will be good. and the press secretary is also going to be flying with her. >> sandra: thank you, carly. >> bill: so jacked up for the women to win that. canada a great year, great team. a lot of viewers in canada. we're cool with them, too. well done.

don't move, right back after this.

>> sandra: breaking news this hour we're awaiting two big speeches at cpac. the head of the national rifle association expected in moments and vice president mike pence will address the hall in about 30 minutes. welcome to a brand-new hour of "america's newsroom." i'm sandra smith. >> bill: good morning to you. nice blue today, right? >> sandra: thank you very much. >> bill: i'm bill hemmer, good morning. president trump will deliver the keynote address tomorrow. you'll see that live tomorrow. right now it's about the two big speeches, the head of the nra will make his first remarks since the florida shooting. >> sandra: a lot of interest in his words. we'll go to him when he begins. fox news politics editor chris stirewalt joins us now. he is entering the stage. this is the first time we'll hear from him, chris. actually he will begin now. let's listen. >> i appreciate this opportunity.

we have serious discussions ahead and serious issues that impact each and every one of us. just a week ago, we were all horrified by another terrible tragedy at an american school. each and every member of the national rifle association mourns the loss of the innocent and continues to keep their families and that community in our prayers. we share a goal of safe schools, safe neighborhoods, and a safe country. as usual, the opportunists wasted not one second to exploit tragedy for political gain. saul linskey would have been proud. the calls for more gun control laws and the breathless

national media eager to smear the nra. think about that. in the midst of genuine grief and a very understandable passion as millions of americans search for meaningful solutions, what do we find? chris murphy, nancy pelosi and more cheered on by the national media eager to blame the nra and call for even more government control. they hate the nra. they hate the second amendment. they hate individual freedom. in the rush of calls for more government, they've also revealed their true selves. the elites don't care one witt about school children. if they truly cared what they would do is protect them.

for them, it's not a safety issue. it is a political issue. they care more about control and more of it. their goal is to eliminate the second amendment and our firearms freedoms so they can eradicate all individual freedoms. [applause] what they want are more restrictions on the law abiding. think about that. their solution is to make you, all of you less free. they want to sweep right under the carpet the failure of school security, the failure of family, the failure of america's mental health system. and even the unbelievable failure of the f.b.i. [applause]

they fantasize about more laws stopping what other laws fail to stop. the truth is, laws succeed only when people obey them. that's what the law abiding majority in this country practices. but once again, so many existing laws were ignored. their laws don't stop illegal criminals from crossing our borders every single day. their laws don't stop the scourge of gang violence and drug crime that savages baltimore, chicago, and every major american community. their laws haven't stopped the plague of opioids and chinese fentanyl from mexico that floods american streets and kills victims every single day in this country. no wonder law-abiding americans

all over this country revere their second amendment freedom to protect themselves more than ever. they don't care if their laws work or not. they just want to get more laws to get more control over people. but the nra, the nra does care. [applause] we at the nra are americans who continue to mourn and care and work every day at contributing real solutions to this very real problem. real practical action to truly protect our children. think about it. it's a bizarre fact that in this country our jewelry stores all over this country are more important than our children.

our banks, our airports, our nba games, our nfl games, our office buildings, our movie stars, our politicians, they are all more protected than our children at school. does that make any sense to anybody? [applause] do we really love our money and our celebrities more than we love our children? can we answer that question honestly, any of us, can we answer that question honestly knowing that we surround and protect so much with armed security, while we drop our kids off at schools that are so-called gun-free zones that are wide open targets for any crazy madman bent on evil to

come there first. in every community in america, school districts, ptas, teachers unions, local law enforcement, moms and dads, they all must come together to implement the very best strategy to harden their schools, including effective trained armed security that will absolutely protect every innocent child in this country. [cheering and applause] and that has to happen now. evil walks among us and god help us if we don't harden our schools and protect our kids. the whole idea from some of our opponents that armed security makes us less safe is completely ridiculous.

if that's true, and just think about this. if that's true, armed security makes us less safe? let's just go ahead and remove it from everywhere. let's remove it from the white house, from capitol hill, and remove it from all of hollywood. [applause] any american school that needs immediate professional consultation and help with organizing and defining these solutions should call the national rifle association school shield program. [applause] and we will provide immediate assistance and we will also provide it absolutely free to any school in america. [applause]

i'll tell you this, that's more than anybody at the national democratic committee or nbc news or the "washington post" is offering. [applause] but you know what? the shameful poll itization of tragedy is a classic strategy right out of the playbook of a poisonous movement. in my three decades of leading the nra, i've had the pleasure of working with a number of democrats who believe america to be the greatest country in the world because of our free market capitalism and because of our individual liberties. but during the last decade, the obama decade, many of those leaders have been forced out as a tidal wave of new

european-style socialists seize control of the democratic party. obama promised a fundamental transformation of our country. and you know what? it began with his own national party. a party that is now infested with saboteurs who don't believe in capitalism, don't believe in the constitution, don't believe in our freedom, and don't believe in america as we know it. obama may be gone, but their utopian dream marches on. and president trump's election, while crucial, can't turn away the wave of these new european-style socialists bearing down upon us. i'm not just talking about bernie sanders. i mean, he is near the end of his career.

but how about kamala harris, elizabeth warren. christopher murphy, cory booker and keith ellison? they're not democrats in the mold of john f. kennedy or tip o'neil. they hide behind labels like democrat, left wing, and progressive to make their socialist agenda more palatable and that is terrifying. [applause] that should terrify every citizen who values the american ideal in this country of individual liberty. they politicize the department of justice, they weaponize the internal revenue service, the epa. perhaps cripple the f.b.i. and

intelligence community and seize an embedded leadership in all of them to advance their agenda. absolute control in every corner of our government is their ultimate dream. they think they're smarter than the rest of us and better than we are. they truly believe it, and you know it. the privileged and the powerful, they think they deserve to be in charge of every lever of power. but you know what? the united states constitution makes it absolutely clear that they are not in charge. we, the people, are in charge of this country. [applause]

but washington, oh my gosh, this city, it likes to ignore that. our intelligence community shrouds everything in secrecy driving into darkness every dirty memo, and every dirty institutional secret, and memory in the name of national security. but when the leaks come, as so often occurs in the light of day it reveals nothing about the security of our country and it reveals everything about the corruption of those in power. [applause] that's because in a captive society the loss of transparency results in the loss of truth. they also eliminated internal resistance in wrongdoing in their institutions.

there is no stronger supporter of our law enforcement than the national rifle association. my gosh, we're one of the largest law enforcement organizations in the united states if you look at our membership. [applause] and we're proud of that. everywhere i go i get a police officer coming up to me thanking me and saying i'm a member of your organization. keep up what you're doing. and there are tens of thousands of incredible men and women at the f.b.i. these are honorable, decent, hard-working people and they are dedicated to keeping our country safe every single day. and we're proud of them and we thank them. but as we've learned in recent months, even the f.b.i. is not free of its own corruption and its own unethical agents. look, and i know you probably all share this sentiment and i

get people telling me from coast to coast and they shake their heads when they say it to me. i can understand a few bad apples in an organization as large as the f.b.i., but what is hard to understand is why no one at the f.b.i. stood up and called b.s. on its rogue leadership. [applause] i mean, really, where was the systemic resistance and repulsion that should protect every powerful institution that serves us? the lowest ranking marine knows to resist an unlawful order. the rank and file in every powerful institution must police its own leadership. but still, too much of today's washington no one speaks out. no one challenges authority. everyone keeps their mouth

closed and their heads down, and that's exactly how socialistic societies function. when leaders do whatever they want, when resistance and repercussion disappears, and when the fundamental concept of moral behavior is expunged, the state rules the day. and anyone who attempts to resist is smeared right into submission. yep. you know it. [applause] oh, yes, the art of the smear. we do live in the socialistic age of the art of the smear. doesn't have to be true. it just has to stick somewhere, anywhere. it's designed to degrade, destroy, and it is all over the national media to serve their agenda. and socialism is a movement that loves the smear.

racist, misogynist, sexist, this is what they scream to permanently hang on their targets and create a growing segment of victims because socialism feeds off manipulated victims. you name the group, and they will find a way to turn them into victims. they keep their movement growing by finding someone to be offended by something every minute of every day. from the occupy movement to black lives matter to antifa, they agitate the offended, promote uncivil discourse, and ignore any sense of due process and fairness to destroy their enemies.

the elimination of due process is the very gold standard of the socialist state. imagine this, and this happened and it's true. imagine telling an elderly couple that because they sought help to do their taxes, that they could no longer exercise their fundamental second amendment right. that's exactly what obama did. his administration proposed to some social security recipient who granted financial authority to a family member, friend or financial professional, was banned from purchasing a firearm. no questions asked. just like that. good, law abiding people were automatically and unjustly declared mentally incompetent and put on a new government

list. and oh how socialists love to make lists and especially lists that can be used to deny citizens their basic freedoms. and now some people are calling for a new list of anyone -- anyone who has sought mental healthcare to deny them their second amendment rights. look -- and this is really important and you never hear this on the national media so i want to say it to all of you now and i need your help in telling all of america this because it's the truth. the national rifle association originated the national instant check system. it was our bill. no one on the prohibited persons' list should ever have access to a firearm. no killer, no felon, no drug dealer. [applause]

and anyone adjudicated as mentally incompetent ordaining rouse to society should be prevented from getting their hands on a gun. but -- watch what i released three years ago and the media machine all over the country they so callously and completely ignored it. watch this. >> here is what the media won't tell you. the nra has fought for 20 years to put the records of thoefs adjudicated mentally incompetent into the national instant check system. until the politicians demand that they are submitted, killers who are legally prohibited from owning firearms will walk into gun stores and pass every background check they take. so if they really wanted to make a difference, the media would lead every newscast with a reminder that the names of

millions of violent fell ons, criminal gang bangers and adjudicated mentally incompetent and dangerous people are missing from the background check system. but no one gets ratings by telling the truth about how to stop mass killers. so they don't report that 38 states submit less than 80% of their felony convictions to the system leaving more than 7 million felony convictions in the dark. they don't tell you the truth. instead, the only thing the average american has heard about background checks is the absolute fallacy that what we need is more. the system is only as good as the records within it. and the records only get submitted if the politicians demand it. what of the oregon killer? the charleston church killer? the santa barbara killer? the maryland mall killer? the l.a. airport killer?

the d.c. navy yard killer? the a aurora movie theater killer? the tucson killer? the virginia tech killer? and both fort hood killers have in common? every single one of them passed a background check. if you cast a net and the fish swim through the holes you don't need a bigger net, you need tighter holes. but when it comes to background check system that is missing the names of millions of prohibited people, the politicians don't want to fix it. the best kept secret is that the national instant check system wouldn't exist at all if it weren't for the nra. it's true. back in the 90s, president clinton forced passage of a mandatory waiting period on every handgun purchased in america. not a background check, a wait. but nra said as soon as the technology was available, their wait had to be replaced by an instant background check done

by the dealer at the point of sale. nra supported it, nra got the votes, and nra got it passed. we demanded an honest system that was supposed to make sure good people can purchase firearms as quickly as possible. a system that catches violent felons, adjudicated mentally incompetent and dangerous and every other prohibited person right at the point of sale where they would be prosecuted for a federal felony. but they aren't. what has happened instead is one of the greatest failures in the history of american leadership. in 2010 rough le80,000 prohibited people committed a felony by trying to buy a gun. just 44 were prosecuted for it. does that sound like a good number to anybody? so when you hear politicians who won't fix the broken system talk about expanding it, don't

buy it. demand what works. put armed security in every school. fix the broken mental health system. enforce the federal gun laws against every criminal thug on the street. prosecute dangerous people when they show up to buy a gun. and for god's sake put every prohibited person into the system. that's what common sense gun laws look like. [cheering and applause] the whole discussion of the second amendment and the gun issue in this country has become so dishonest in the national media and so dishonest among the politicians that you can barely stand it. that's not a new video, as i said. i've said for years -- i've said for years and i've been

ignored by the same opportunists who don't give a damn, yet you see them on tv every day whining away. here is what i said on cbs way back in 1993. that was 25 years ago. >> let me ask you this are you in favor of computerizeing the mental health records of people into a national computer bank? >> you bet i am. >> bill: can we join hands and go to capitol hill right now? >> the real tragedy. charles schumer shook my hand to get all the mental health records into the system and then he went back to capitol hill and you know what he did? absolutely nothing. how many lives might have been saved if he had just kept his promise? they are liars to the core and i'll make this prediction right now. a year from today, many of those records may still not be in the system. not if some of these whining

for television politicians and their media enablers have their way. instead, what they will do is they'll keep coming after the nra and when another monster slips through the cracks, the very cracks that they've enabled in the system as the records of prohibited persons remain out of the database, it will happen again. but here is something we must be careful of as we go forward. we all have to be careful that this doesn't become a runaway train. what if all of your medical records, perhaps your conversations with your doctor, your prescription information, do we really want all that on a government list and in a government database? here is another one. a military vet comes -- goes to

his or her local v.a., and tells the doctor they are having trouble sleeping at night or anyone who shares nightmares, their nightmares with a medical professional. they all become potential triggers that somebody somewhere could define as a mental health barrier to owning a firearm. i even heard a television pundit recently suggesting that people seeking to buy a firearm should be interviewed first. i mean, interviewed first? who is going to conduct that interview? and what will they ask? that is the challenge we as a free society face. how do we create a step along the way called due process that protects the innocent law-abiding people of this country from being falsely accused, politically abused, and permanently stigmatized

unjustly? come on, socialists oppose all of our most fundamental freedoms enshrined in the bill of rights. they don't like free speech any more than they like the second amendment. they like only limited speech, controlled speech, controlled by them through safe speech zones where they can shame the outspoken or riot to shut them up. if you still think we have full first amendment freedom in this country, try going right now out to berkeley and speaking out in favor of conservative causes or even the second amendment. [applause] this growing socialist state dreams of manipulating school children to squeeze and squeeze information about their parents. they will be asking your kids if mommy and daddy spank them. or what mommy and daddy feed

them for dinner. they'll want to know what tv shows you watch, what magazines, newspapers you read. and oh, yes, do mommy and daddy own a gun. and all that private information will be entered into that ultimate list that cloud of data storage that couldn't care less about due process and constitutional freedom and your privacy as an american citizen. and then it's just a short hop to the systematic destruction of our most basic freedoms in this country. and you all know what they are but let me say them. family, faith, individual responsibility, and self-destiny. a free market economy, patriotism, respect for our national flag and national anthem, personal liberty, and justice for all.

[applause] going back a decade or more, these essential freedoms and these essential values have been increasingly and sadly ridiculed and disrespected and diminished in this country. and it won't take long if we stay on the path we're on to erase them completely. that's the real consequence of this new socialist wave in america. you know, i hear a lot of quiet in this room and i sense your anxiety. and you should be anxious. and you should be frightened. if they seize power, if these so-called european socialists take over the house and the senate and god forbid they get the white house again, our american freedoms could be lost

and our country will be changed forever. and the first to go will be the second amendment of the united states constitution. history proves it. every time in every nation in which this political disease rises to power, its citizens are repressed, their freedoms are destroyed, and their firearms are banned and confiscated. it is all backed in this country by the social engineering and the billions of people like george sorros, michael bloomberg, tom stieer and more and gleefully promoted by those who have risen to power in the so-called national news media and seize control of social media to spread their propaganda.

they don't tell us news and you all know it and people know it all over the united states. they say it to me every day. they don't tell us news. they tell us what we need to think. that's the way it is these days. on college campuses a communist manifesto is one of the most frequently assigned texts. karl marx is now the most assigned economists and young democratic socialists of america and students are earning academic credit for promoting socialist causes. in too many classrooms all over the united states. i know you think about this when you decide where you will send your kids to school and your kids think about it, too. the united states constitution is ignored, united states history is perverted, and the second amendment freedom in this country is despised.

you know, some people out there think the nra should just stick to its second amendment agenda and not talk about all of our freedoms. but real freedom requires protection of all of our rights. and a second amendment isn't worth its own words in a country where all of our other individual freedoms are destroyed. [applause] so i promise you this, the nra will not only speak out, we will speak out louder and we will speak out stronger than ever before. [cheering and applause] we will do it through nra tv and our media operations which will expand to reach a growing audience of americans that are looking all over this country

for the truth. we will do it with strong voices like dana loesch and others who are engaging in new programming to make our message just as accessible as nbc, "the new york times," and the rest of the so-called national news media. let's be clear, we are never talking about an armed resistance against the socialist corruption of our government. we are always talking about a resistance armed with the united states constitution and the bill of rights in our country. [cheering and applause] the genius of those documents, the brilliance of america, of

our country itself is that all of our freedoms in this country are for every single citizen. and there is no greater personal individual freedom than the right to keep and bear arms, the right to protect yourself, and the right to survive. [applause] it's not bestowed by man, but granted by god to all americans as our american birthright. [applause] so i call right now today on every citizen who loves this country and who treasures this freedom to stand and unflinchingly defend the second amendment, the one freedom that

protects us all in this country. [applause] and i refuse to leave this stage until i say one more time that we must immediately harden our schools. every day -- [applause] every day young children are being dropped off at schools that are virtually wide open, soft targets for anyone bent on mass murder. it should not be easier for a madman to shoot up a school than a bank or a jewelry store or some hollywood gala. schools must be the most

hardened targets in this country. and evil must -- [applause] and evil must be confronted immediately with all necessary force to protect our kids. [applause] i said five years ago, after that horrible tragedy in newtown, and i wish -- oh, god, i wish more had heeded my words. so lean in, listen to me now, and never forget these words. to stop a bad guy with a gun, it takes a good guy with a gun. [cheering and applause] thank you very much. thank you.

>> sandra: you've been listening to the head of the rifle association speaking just outside of washington, d.c. at cpac 2018. he said real freedom requires protection of all our rights. we share a goal of safe schools, safe neighborhoods and a safe country. fox news politics editor chris stirewalt has been standing by. your thoughts? >> well, one thing that occurred to me as i was listening, you would think from hearing him that the republicans were not in charge of both houses of congress or that a president who was the earliest endorsement that the nra ever made. this is their president in the realist sense. this is the challenge that the president and the republicans face. they run the town. they've got the senate, they've got the house and the white house. the nation wants an answer. they want responses.

maybe it is increased school safety and armed teachers and any number of things. this gop better get busy. it won't be enough for them to come out and blame democrats. >> sandra: urging more security at schools. the airports and nfl games are more protected than children at our own school. you mentioned the politics and boy did he go after democrats and naming names. listen to this. >> but how about kamala harris, elizabeth warren, bill deblasio, andrew comeau, cory booker, christopher murphy and keith ellison? they are not democrats in the mold of john f. kennedy or tip o'neil. they hide behind labels like democrat, left wing, and progressive to make their

socialist agenda more palatable and that is terrifying. >> sandra: his words eliciting a response from the crowd there. >> fear was his focus. he mentioned that the people in the audience should be nervous and afraid. this is really the key for the nra at this point. when the pressure is on, as it is now after a slaughter like the one that took place in florida the pressure is on. he needs for his members, his core to be scared. they are coming for all your guns. that's how they got through after newtown and got through after las vegas. that's how they get through these things is they circle the wagon, say we better be scared because they'll come take all your guns and how they have prevented changes really in the wake of these most recent killings. >> sandra: the president will be speaking at this cpac 2018 tomorrow and he tweeted during the words support for the nra saying they're great people and great american patriots. chris stirewalt. thank you. >> bill: one of the biggest

messages harden our schools is what he came to say today. in a moment we'll hear the vice president, mike pence. he is in the room and speak moments away. we're keeping an eye on this and we'll bring you there after a quick commercial break here. back in a moment after this.

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don't worry - i know what a lug wrench is, dad. is this a lug wrench? maybe? you can leave worry behind when liberty stands with you™. liberty stands with you™. liberty mutual insurance. >> if that's true, armed security makes us less safe, let's just remove it from everywhere. let's remove it from the white house, from capitol hill, and remove it from all of hollywood. >> bill: it was a fiery speech 25 minutes in length. now we await the vice president mike pence on stage in a matter of moments. as we await that david bossie chairman for citizens united and fox news contributor worked with the trump team during the campaign. welcome back to "america's newsroom." let me get to the vice president's message in a moment

here but you were listening to wayne lopaire. how do you think the message was received quite well fwh n that room. he was selling the idea of the nra and he said anyone who is a danger to society should not get a gun. how do you see this debate unfolding when you saw the president talk about raising the age possibly at the state level, and banning certain -- increasing background checks. something that wayne lopaire says he has been working on for 25 years and caught in a national debate and trying to see through to it. what do you see? >> we've been in this conversation for a long time and wayne's points are spot on. we as a nation need to uphold the laws that are currently there. and that background check, what wayne lopaire was talking about was the background check is not strong enough. the information flow is not

getting there because of politicians just -- they don't want felons to be put in. they don't want the mentally ill to be put in there. we don't understand why. let's solve those problems that we can fix fairly quickly. but while that conversation is going on, bill, i want schools to be safe and secure for my children and all america's children. i got to tell you, armed guards, we can do virtually overnight and i think between volunteers meaning retired police officers and former military members or paid where it needs to be. it is vital that we harden these schools. that we put people, good guys with guns to fight bad guys with guns. >> bill: i don't know if a better background system would have stopped what happened in florida a week ago yesterday. social worker went to his home and apparently he was interviewed and he was deemed not to be a danger. so far as i can tell based on

florida law, he did not break any laws, david. so i don't know where we're left with that system. >> we'll need to focus -- that's one of the reasons that this takes time. this conversation about the background checks and about mental stability takes time. what doesn't take time is arming our schools, okay? putting people with guns in our schools. i have four children in three different schools at all levels and i have to tell you, that's what i want. i want a good guy to protect my kids and that's what i think all americans. it's a very logical thing to get done and accomplished very quickly. however, we need to look at the social program of the social worker. we need to look at the f.b.i.'s failure to heed the warnings, to send that material, that information to the miami field office. there was many failures that should have been able to stop this person. to getting the gun. >> bill: we are looking at matt schlapp right now introducing

the vice president. would you be willing as a supporter of the second amendment to look harder at state law in florida? in other words, you'll get in this debate now, david, how you can send an 18-year-old to baghdad and give him an automatic weapon but when they come home to broward county under a new law such as that he or she would not be able to possess or own that firearm. how do you reconcile that? >> i think that's a very, very good question, bill. i don't know today sitting here this morning how to reconcile that in a state law or federal law that passes constitutional muster. that's what this is about. and that's why i say, bill, if that takes time. good legislation, thoughtful legislation, takes a little bit of time. well, our children don't have time. our children need to be protected today. and so i think that there is a

multi-step process we must go through. one of the first must be to -- >> bill: laws take time and i agree with you on that. you're picking up on what the president said yesterday and what the father of the 15-year-old i believe her name was meadow. that was his position as well. you can move security in immediately and that's what the sheriff did in broward county as of yesterday morning to arm deputies at the school system throughout the county. >> school systems are saying enough is enough. i hope and pray that more parents will stand up and tell their school districts this is a priority and we must do it today. >> bill: we'll see the vice president in a moment. normally you don't associate him with -- you can talk about the second amendment with mike pence but you connect him to being a religious leader with his religious background and part of the reason he was named to this ticket in the first place. you know him quite well. what do you expect his message to be, david? >> the vice president is a

tremendous, tremendous man. i have known him when he served in congress and as a governor. he came to this ticket because he had a wide breadth of knowledge and experience and is just a tremendous american that puts family and faith first. and as somebody who is a defender of our constitution and our bill of rights. so i look for him to have a very positive message, an uplifting message to these people sitting at cpac but also across this country of what this first year has done for america. that america first is a policy that is making america strong again, at home and abroad. that america first is bringing jobs home, getting our unemployment numbers down, getting our economy revved up. look, he will talk about neil gorsuch and the tax reform and tax cut package. he will talk about these amazing things that have happened because of deregulation and the power of

president trump's pen. this is an amazing one year that he has to talk to the people of cpac about. i'm excited to hear his message today. i think it will be positive and uplifting. >> bill: the president's wife doing the introduction following matt schlapp. david you listed a number of things there. i see mike pence everywhere. one day he is in south korea, the next week back in washington he is down in florida, he is all over the country and by the president's side. what has he meant to this administration through the first 13 months do you believe? what has he brought president trump, maybe that's a better way to ask that question. >> first of all, other than president trump he is the hardest working man in the administration. and those two are working 24 hours a day seven days a week to make american great again. that is why you see vice president pence all over the

world representing this great nation. whether it is at home or abroad and being a forward-looking face of what we can do as americans together. he talks about his faith, he talks about his family. he talks about the important issues of the day wherever he is in such a reflective way. it is incredibly uplifting to somebody like me who i consider him a friend of mine but it's an honor and privilege to know him and work near him during the campaign. i have to tell you, nobody better to be around. >> bill: he was at the white house yesterday and i'm certain you saw that listening session. i have not heard what you think about that or thought about that but it was gripping. your impression of what happened there. >> it was -- that is a heart wrenching thing for any american to watch. any person. but as somebody with four kids, you know, in schools, it is hard to imagine being one of

those parents or siblings that were in that room and the president and the vice president sitting there with them listening to their incredibly powerful stories and wanting the american people to know about their loved one and what needs to be done in the future to protect our children. it was gripping. and i would urge the president to do more of that in these coming days and weeks. and i would urge him to sit with governors and to get governors on the phone every day to talk to them about -- to talk to -- >> bill: he will do that next week with the governors. >> those are the types of things, bill, that he is so good at and understanding from experts, meaning the governors who are on the ground in their states and know their states much better than anybody in washington and he can reflect what they are telling him in what the

white house does in the future from a public policy side on these important issues. especially when it comes to how to solve these mental health issues that i think we're all so desperately trying to get our arms around. >> bill: david. thank you. the introduction continues there with karen pence, we'll see the vice president in the moment. listing the five things you need to know about her husband. very proud wife here. she is on number two. as we await that. >> sandra: we're watching this with you and waiting to hear the vice president to begin speaking at cpac. we'll take you there live when he begins. we'll be right back. don't we need that cable box to watch tv? nope. don't we need to run? nope. it just explodes in a high pitched 'yeahhh.'

yeahhh! try directv now for $10 a month for 3 months. no satellite needed. searching one topic. that will generate over 600 million results. and if you've been diagnosed with cancer, >> sandra: mike pence taking the stage at cpac 2018 after his wife just did his introductory remarks as she introduces him on the stage there. this is following a fiery wayne lopaire from the nra a few moments ago. the president tweeted his support for the national rifle association. mike pence is expected to cover a wide range of topics there. speaking to an audience eager to hear what he has to say on this thursday morning just outside of washington, d.c. let's listen. the vice president. [cheering and applause]

>> bill: thank you to my wonderful wife, karen. isn't she something? [applause] a teacher, an artist, a marine corps mom, and the second lady of the united states. would you give karen one more round of applause for all that she does for the cause and the country? [applause] it is great to be back at cpac 2018. the largest gathering of conservatives in america every single year. thank you all for being here. [applause] before i begin to talk about the progress we've made, allow me to take a moment to address what i know is on all of our hearts this morning. the terrible attack that claimed the lives of 17

americans and injured more last week in parkland, florida. in america, we mourn with those who mourn and grieve with those who grieve. yesterday president trump and i met with the family of meadow pollack and other students and families reeling from the attack in parkland. we also met in the white house with families from other communities who have experienced the same violence firsthand. as the president said, we'll never forget them. we prayed with them, we listened to them as they poured out their hearts. as the president has said, no child, no teacher should ever be in danger in an american school. [applause] earlier this week president trump called on congress to strengthen background checks

and to days ago he directed the department of justice to expedite the regulation of bump stocks. later this week when the president meets with the nation's governors in our nation's capitol we'll make the safety of our nation's schools and our students our top national priority. [cheering and applause] i can assure you all of this, president trump and our entire administration will continue to take strong action to make our schools safe and give law enforcement and our families the tools they need to deal with those struggling with dangerous mental illness. [applause] so as we move forward, we'll continue to work and we'll continue with all of you to pray for god's grace and comfort for all the families impacted by this terrible

attack. and we'll pray for god's wisdom that all of us in positions of authority might find a way to come together with american solutions to confront and end this evil in our time. [applause] so thank you. it is great to be back at cpac. [cheering and applause] i stand here today with profound gratitude to say that because of all of you, because of the conservative majorities in congress that you helped elect, and because of the strong leadership of the president, you put in the white house 2017 was the most

consequential year in the history of the conservative movement. [cheering and applause] and tomorrow you'll hear first-hand from the man who galvanized that movement. [cheering and applause] you know, i spoke to him on the phone this morning and i can tell you he can't wait to get here. [cheering and applause] the man who won a historic election, the man who has been delivering on the promises that he made every day since, the 45th president of the united states of america, president donald trump. [cheering and applause] you know, i'm here because i stand with president trump. i'm here because we stand with