technology and laws and reforms to give people more information about what the government is and make the government work better. ost: the weather doesn't look like it outside, it is sunshine week, what does that mean? yearlysunshine week is a week dedicated to principles of openness in government. come e number of groups together and have panels and etters and really discuss the importance that openness play necessary our democracy. ost: what importance does it play? guest: the idea behind democracy, government belongs to people. that works through watching media, reading, paying attention what is happening in the government and ultimately through elections and if we ation about nform what the government is doing, what is the election about afterall? host: where is it not working? where do we not have transparent accountability in government? guest: transparent is a long-term goal and constant fight. there is tension between people that have power and everyone else. so the united states, we're lucky to have strong media and of information act that gives information to documents but certainly still all kinds of secrecy about what he government does and about how power is wielded, whether influence in congress, of epolitics or the working the federal bureaucracy. host: what are your thoughts administration, president trump's approach to accountability transparent in the government? guest: so we're still finding out more about president trump's transparent, but so far we can see that some of the positions that can be trump took are carrying presidency.he he really broke the mold in terms of our expectations r candidate ction having press conferences or releasing tax returns as every candidate did for decades and decades. ome is carrying over in his presidency and some isn't. we're seeing what the word feels arent" means different under president trump compared to other modern presidents. tax what about the returns? the first two pages of the 2005 to the press yesterday. is that enough? guest: certainly not enough. the kind of power that we give is really president amazing, expansive, the leading the entire american government, a third f -- one of the three branches of government. kind of disclosure proportional that power at minimum, let's us understand the president's the , president's income, kind of financial relationships that he has and trump really mold because he's believe, expansive, we debts and incomes and corporate networks that is opaque from the outside, we don't know if he is leveraged or what kind of foreign deals he has. incomplete picture of his financial entanglements. more could there be accountability and transparent on the side of journalists to avoid anonymous sources? that ertificate of thing would lend more credibility to in the eyes of some people in this country? guest: there is always a concern way journalism works and it is always better to have sources that are on the record that are anonymous, but we united media in the states is the envy of the rest of the world. we have robust complex media that do a f people great and difficult job in the interests.ry powerful so the tact the president has media, n attacking the while often popular with presidents that are in power, really the tact that one should take, often not a credible attack to say media is full of fake news. -- all news is host: transparent in the government. phone number on the screen. middletown, new york. independent. caller: good morning. john wonderlich could offer us some commentary aspect of private contract in corporations when hey deal with governmental entitys and how that relates to sunshine law? resistance in new york state. i'm a private popular litigating matter with new york county, where they contracted for drug testing services with a private for-profit company in the commonwealth of virginia. access ained to contracts to see what the pecific terms were relating to describing what the forensic drug testing protocol was, what and cluded and so forth state and county level necessary new york, they have claimed, you and proprietary information relating to the onduct of the private for-profit actor they contracted with. in does one get around that relation to sunshine laws and how they apply to governmental entities?pal host: okay, eric. guest: what kind of functions are public and private is a rich ne in terms of access to information. over the last few decades, more and more governments, beennmental functions have privatized and the federal level there is big concern there information om of act does not apply to contractors. if you privatize the function, access to information that you -- we would have otherwise been able to access freedom of information act. there is absolutely a struggle ideological terms, what is public function or how far public know and journalists should be able to if i was in elt charge of government agency and wanted to keep things secret, first things i would do privatize everything, so people can't find out what is happening. obviously not the kind of government we want to have, this is a big concern and why perennial sites about whether whistlemroeer protection applies to contractors and how far the freedom of information act should reach. mexico, bernadette, air.crat, you are on the caller: good morning, thank you for taking my call. talking about transparent in government. you know or what could you share regarding geo-engineering? here in new mexico, we're being they'rewith aerosol and trying to tell us it is from different in e is comtrail and kem trail. comtrail will dissipate, kem last for hours. no one seems to know what is happening or what is being sprayed. host: john wonderlich, maybe the question is, how does a person find out what is happening. what is your advice to folks trying to seek transparent from local government? guest: one of the best things official is seek out sources, whether that is the best quality reporting you have reputable newspaper or from a government agency that is esponsible for the kind of issue that you're concerned about. there's a wealth of information library, often a great place to start if you have uestions about a local issue, good chance a librarian in your town will be able to help you start.lot of places to host: can you file under the freedom of information act as a receive information from the government? guest: yes, freedom of act gives us power a lot of people don't realize they have. ou can request document from the federal government or every single u.s. state also has of information act and if you request a document, the is to give it to you, that the basic right freedom of information act gives us. now privacye exceptions for or if there is an investigation that has to do with police or there are curity, common sense objections, but as request ter, if you information, document that the government has, they have to even if you are in prison or if you are not an american, it is a broad right government ignores you, you can sue them and the court can force them to give over the information. this is a very powerful tool that we're lucky to have and a journalism important relies on. host: what other tools do journalists have? guest: in addition to freedom of information act, a lot of govern how government agencies work. there are information policy how, for govern example, administrative procedure act says when new rule is written that governs regulations that has to go period, notice and comment, where draft of the rule is posted for everyone to then you can comment on it. there are a lot of different how transparent works. also, if new law is passed in the congress, there are the law be available online and that people can read and understand. really the entirety of our democracy and how power is shared is a question of who gets to know what and when, so the power of public knowledge is our y shot throughout entire government process. host: frank from hollywood, florida, on the line for republicans, good morning. ing.er: good morng i'd like to make an observation, that is all. by n tell right away listening this is gentleman, he talks like democrat trying to believe he is middle of the road, which is a lie. democrat, even looks like a democrat and the way he stutters is like a democrat. want to see his name with a "d" for democrat, next to it, like all congressmen who come on show. it is not fair to the american ublic to have somebody masquerading as an independent or bipartisan person. host: okay. john wonderlich, did the obama administration do a good job and transparent accountability? not always, there were times we were deeply critical of clinton and retary the e-mails, we were critics of that. work with democrats and republicans and have arguments and agreements with both, so have a republican president, so there will be more discussion of that republican but it is anyone that wants to get things done in capable n needs to be of agreeing and disagreeing with members of both parties. foundations sinlight funded? uest: funded from a number of largely through foundations and the chair of the board, mike our largest donor over the years, we're called sunlight sunlight , go to foundation.comand look up our ngo's, our funding is actually transparent. host: okay. lakeland, minnesota, independent. caller: yes, good morning. question, quick statement and question. you said, our journalism is the envy of the world. a lot of obviously we've propaganda over the last few years and it is only getting worse. seeing, walter cronkite award was won yesterday by not a not a journalist. i want to comment from that. but i have a question. is, when our senators and congressmen go to paid to n and they're represent us and yet they are representing their party because did a special on how much time they spend fundraising. on how manysunlight time they are spending on the party business versus constituent business? thank you. guest: thank you. so this is a really serious over the olarization last especially the last decade of congress are further and further apart. there is less agreement between parties and we see this in ights like health care or budget, almost never passed through regular order anymore, members of f that, congress spend upward of 20 to 30 hours per week on the phone wealthy people from districts and throughout the country asking for money. who like me has had a job in the past telemarketing chang the wayit you think to be on the phoneor talking eriod of time about their concerns. it is hard to knowledge members of congress don't change the way approach their jobs and their positions after talking to ealthy contributors for a lot of their time. this is a serious problem both in terms of their ability to terms of just the polarization that we're facing capitol, it is a serious concern. an easy hink there is way to wave the magic wand and make congress less partisan, but we have to think differently about what it means o pass budget or deal with challenge like health care reform. host: there is the issue of branches ofin other government, i want to show viewers what vermont senator leahy had to say about sunshine week when he was on the floor monday. we note during sunshine week, constitution provides for of the press, because withouty cannot survive it. the press serves critical check on the government. light on corruption, exploitation and excess. my parents owned a weekly before they started their printing business. i was brought up to believe in importance of the first amendment. emphasis on eek transparency won't just be this the you continue into hearings next week. least reme court transparent part of our government and only one of the for american ty people to get a glimpse into the constitution and protects most essential rights. here are real questions about the kind of justice neil gorsuch needs to answer them openly and honestly. i think he realized he could not with the kind of dodges nd misrepresentation we've heard from other nominees. leahy senator patrick talking about the hearings coming up next week, march 20, 22, with the president's pick to serve on the supreme neil gorsuch, saying there are not cameras in the court, next week's hearings are americans to get a glimpse, idea of this judge that could potentially serve on the court. way, also want to let the viewers know c-span has been cameras in the court for years and we have a c-span.org, dedicated to that. go there and listen to the current justices and what they this.said about john wonderlich? guest: yes, so it is pretty in 2017 we don't have cameras in the courts. not like it is a technical hallenge, not like it is expensive. of course? institutions are more traditional than others and worry this will cause grandstanding, but on public interest in what exactly happens with the supreme court could not be as saesht leahy said, of institution protects people's rights, it absolutely makes sense for people to andrstand what is happening be able to watch. imagine what a public education being e would get from able to tune in to supreme court nd watch the arguments as they happen. host: they release oral arguments, something we see on full, as leased in well, and air those. we will be there with our week, when the judiciary committee hears from neil gorsuch, nominee to serve on the supreme court. and is monday, tuesday wednesday, it could go longer, look for coverage on c-span.org. lynn, in wonderlake, illinois, republican. there. caller: good morning. are you familiar with the article that came out yesterday, nss in obama final year pent $36 million in record lawsuits and one paragraph says that the administration set for outright denial of quickly files, consider request described as newsworthy. so spent that much money denying citizens of this country and instead, the press seems to be more interested in taxes president trump is paying, let's look at what really been as sunshine and from the organization, this will be interesting. thank you. es tha you. so uer obama, there was a lot f regressive moves on the foyia. the example, i mean, there are tories how much it cost in litigation when they oppose releasing or opposed releasing information. me, another example is the freedom of information act foya reform act, so bill that we worked on with many allies to get through the hill. administration opposed that law codifying many reforms champion in the executive branch. they opposed that law and did it only understood the way necessary which they were opposing that law when of information act let us see the memos circulating on how what alking about the problems could be with this bill. rhetoric of the openness was certainly played strong role in his presidency, of that was heartfelt, sometimes they were opposed to foya is ncy and on the place where they were. ost: i want to read from that associated press story the caller referenced. t says he did, the obama administration in final year of office spent record $36.2 legal cost defending refusal to turn over federal ecord under freedom of information act according to associated press analysis of new poor also showed performance measuring transparent in government for econd consecutive year, obama administration set record for times federal employees told citizens and journalists despite searching, couldn't find a single page of files requested. the government acknowledged when wrong to initially refuse to turn over all or parts f records and more that are one-third of such cases, highest in in six years, courtrooms, the number of my "new york times" and the associated press. britain, connecticut, independent. caller: yes, hi, good morning. taking my call. two questions, well, one question and summation of something. one, i know what the congressional pay is and i know what the senator pay is and i people who have ran for both offices and they weren't wealthy. it that they end up becoming millionaires? all of these lawyers, this would have to be lawyers, who run for congress, or they run for $175,000 or 225,000, how do they become millionaire? where did they get montow become millionaires? ann, take your question, john wonderlich? guest: while members of congress general outperform the public in the stock market and make gains, i don't think it is people come to congress and then become extremely ealthy, although there may be cases. i think members of congress tend wealthy. you need to prove to infrastructure you can raise money. are wealth and he have wealthy friends probably excel as fundraisers who can the few million it takes to get the attention of the infrastructure that can support you and help you run a professional campaign. my predecessor, allen miller used to call this the first thatry, the money primary, filter being applied to elections is responsible for aving congress that is primarily composed of wealthy people. host: what is your take on this headline in politico, white house selectively blocked media outlets with off-camera briefing with the white house about press secretary? guest: it's been interesting to see how the trump administration the president trump and the trump campaign propensity or is the a the press enemy. it's been a talking point, it's een a police of political rhetoric, the president uses it to get out of accusations or to news stories he doesn't like. and there were a lot of presidency en the started, would they have press conferences? continue?t tradition would the white house press have access to the president? counts, ot of those we've seen the white house sort f testing its boundarys and seeing what it can get away with and how much public outreach is.re and there was really strong the idea pushback on the white house would pick and choose when media outlets would access to to have press briefings. while that is not completely unprecedented, it is something that media outlets were to start to boycott the meetings if they weren't let in together. tried interesting they that, i think i demonstrates anti-press position, but i think pushback from the white house press pool at large was of gh to prevent that kind thing from continuing. host: indiana, joe, republican, air.are on the caller: hi. mr. john wonderlich, i didn't answer to one of your democrat or not. i was dialing in, i didn't -- i heard somebody say that you had said our ournalists are the envy of the world, while if that is true, trouble.d is in real when president clinton said to that depends on what your definition is, it been making fools of all of them for years. i wonder how you would compare trump's ability to do that to president clinton ecause president clinton was a master. host: okay. question, on the first sunlight is nonpartisan organization, we have great allies from both parties. whether they are private administration officials or members of congress, we're proud to have those relationships. in terms of the press, i stand by that comment. think if you travel the world and follow the media and other there is i think strong reason to have great pride in the kind of information and access we have in this the role the media and outlets like c-span, what do are watching now, everyday. that doesn't mean that though.nts don't lie, there's no media access that prevepts politicians from being dishonest. think that is probably a permanent aspect of our olitical landscape and as to comparing the death of the lies, the trump in presidency and i'll let other people decide who is more how.nest and host: rand paul write necessary "u.s.a. today," disclosure are patriotic. what have we learned from whistleblowers snowden or other? we know the government views ourth amendment as mere suggestion rather than a constraint on its actions. whistleblowers a good thing? guest: we're very lucky that whistleblowers exist, that brave people are willing to stand up information about waste or abuse or illegal activity. of really important feature our democracy is that decent can when you are en bureaucrat in a sensitive position. now that said, not all whistleblowing is created equal and i'm not sure that i would tsong as a whistleblower. wikiles, the organization is role like e of a laundering, and journalism called generalize grief about wikileaks because of the role they are playing. manning, i think there can be debate about what they did, they are clearly whistleblowers. i think assange is laundering for a tion leaks political purpose. host: fort worth, texas, independent. for my call. you what can we do about the fact we have a health insurance industry is profit s, that making and rewards stockholders nd executives rather than a healthcare system, just the a er day, paul ryan was at meeting lobbying meeting for the blue cross insurance company for fundraising, what is answer to this? easy so, i don't have an answer, this is fascinating part of political debate in the question ght now, the about the future of the health care industry or how we care for americans or however you want to phrase it. to be re certainly going fights about transparenceinforms hrgh congress or access toon o fundamentally than about what the government is for and who for what. so that is really the one of the of politics and fascinating to watch. host: john wonderlich, thank your time in this discussion this morning, appreciate it. guest: thank you, pleasure. host: we'll take a short break and come back and open up the phone lines. whatever is in with on your mind pertaining to public policy or politics, there numbers on your screen. we'll be right back. >> anyone working at any hedge fund involved in short-term coming, meaning everyday in and trade nothing and out of stock, all people want edge, the is a common term in industry, they want edge. there is white edge, there is the gray zone and black edge, inside clearly information. hedge fund manager, steven cohen and sac capital. the book "block edge," the the most ring down wanted man on wall street. >> the two central characters at areheart of the story, they central characters in my book, two former portfolio managers cohen's fund, matthew and michael steinburg. artoma is serving fairly lengthy prison sentence, although his case is on appeal, was convicted,rg but his conviction was later verturned after an appeals court made a ruling that made it harder to convict someone for insider trading. sunday night, 8 p.m. eastern q&a.span continues. journal" host: we are back here in open phones this morning, taking on any public policy or politics issue you'd like to discuss, before we get to

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