combative, the reporters were also performing, there was this live reality tv -- >> performing by asking tough questions of the white house? >> yes, combat. this live combat, it seemed like every day, going on. and i guess performing -- maybe performing is an exaggeration but this intense combat going on every day between the press and the white house and they wanted to try and sort of cool that off. it was becoming a distraction, you know, spicer's profile was getting too high. and it was taking away -- you know, sort of taking away from issues. so that's what i was told the stra strategy was behind it to lower the temperature in the room around these press briefings a little bit and they were hoping taking them off camera could do that and now it's created its own drama and people rightfully so asking questions about that. >> let's not lose the bigger political point here, which is what this is what got trump to this point. wear all talking about how odd it is. this is the man who said in the campaign that he could shoot someone in the streets to have new york and get someone