special counsel. that they provided everything they need and so the president would be one piece they don't need. that's the legal argument from the president's side. alex? >> kelly o, thank you so much. straight from the phone call with rudy giuliani. joining me on the phone, "new york times" washington correspondent michael schmidt. who co-wrote this piece on the trump legal team's shifting strategy. michael, with a welcome to you. walk us through a bit more of these demands and what prompted the change in strategy? >> well, this has been going on for six months. the president's lawyers having discussions with mueller's office about an interview. and it makes you wonder what's really going on here. are they really just negotiating and trying to narrow the scope of the questions? or is this a delay tactic? to just prolong the investigation and insure that it's mueller were to write a report, that it wouldn't go to congress until after the mid term elections. >> despite the fact that they've been calling for this to wrap it up as quickly as possible. so is this potentially a pr strategy? as well?