CNN host Jake Tapper derided the mild effort mounted by President Barack Obama to persuade Congress to reauthorize the Patriot Act allowing data collection and surveillance programs aimed at thwarting terrorism.
"I don't want us to be in a situation in which, for a certain period of time, those authorities go away, and suddenly we're dark," Obama said after a meeting with Attorney General Loretta Lynch.
"Heaven forbid we've got a problem where we could have prevented a terrorist attack or apprehended someone who is engaged in dangerous activity, but we didn't do so simply because of inaction in the Senate."
Tapper, interviewing CNN correspondent Jim Sciutto, bluntly remarked: "These provisions are set to expire Sunday night. I have covered President Obama since he was Senator Obama,. I have seen him campaign for himself. I have seen him campaign for other people, I have seen him campaign for legislation.
"This is the selling job for something he says is vital to protect the American people? A pool spray on Friday afternoon?"
The Washington Free Beacon posted video of Tapper's comments onto YouTube.
Story continues below video.
Sciutto agreed, noting the White House "talking points" on the surveillance program claiming 50 terror plots had been thwarted under the program "disappeared."
"Some of these should be easing selling points," Sciutto said about the surveillance anti-terror programs.
"They have the tools," Tapper added, and yet Obama administration officials have not been touting them.
"All these people could be on television all day, all week, talking about the needs for these programs, and I haven't seen them," he scoffed.
The president is urging passage of the USA Freedom Act, which would need to be approved by 8 p.m. Sunday in order for law enforcement agencies to keep the surveillance programs running without any lapses.
The House-passed bill would have made changes in the bulk collection program and rolled back some government authority.
But the Senate wasn't able to take it up, or even short-term extensions of the current law, after some lawmakers, led by Kentucky Republican Sen.
Rand Paul, blocked the measures from coming to the floor.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.