The Morning Brew: George W. Bush comments on Trump's take on media, calls free press "indispensable"

by Juliana Keeping

Published: Tue, February 28, 2017 5:00 AM Updated: Tue, February 28, 2017 8:11 AM

Tuesday will be a news day. Here are a few headlines to get you started:

Former President George W. Bush disses Trump

Former President George W. Bush spoke to the "Today" show, where he offered his views on recent events.

According to Today, it's the first interview the former president has given since President Trump took office.

Trump declared the media the "enemy of the American people," but Bush offered support to the press.

"We need an independent media to hold people like me to account," Bush told TODAY'S Matt Lauer.

"Power can be very addictive and it can be corrosive, and it’s important for the media to call to account people who abuse their power."

Regarding the controversy over whether Trump advisers may have communicated with Russian hackers who tried to intervene in the election, Bush said,

"“I think we all need answers,” he said, going to on praise North Carolina Senator Richard Burr, the head of the U.S. Senate intelligence committee. “I’m not sure the right avenue to take. I am sure, though, that question needs to be answered."

On Trump's travel ban on individuals from predominantly Muslim countries, Bush said,

"I am for an immigration policy that is welcoming and upholds the law."

(Story continued below...)

The rare public appearance followed the release of a book of portraits by the former president. Proceeds from "Portraits of Courage," a collection of paintings and stories, will benefit the George W. Bush Institute, CNN reported. The think tank works on veterans issues.

File - In this April 25, 2013 file photo, former President George W. Bush speaks during the dedication of the George W. Bush Presidential Center in Dallas. Bush has successfully undergone a heart procedure after doctors discovered a blockage in an artery. Bush spokesman Freddy Ford says a stent was inserted during a procedure Tuesday, Aug 6, 2013 at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez, Pool, File) ORG XMIT: TXKJ101

Read the "Today" story and watch the video:

#ICYMI

Read more Morning Brew

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100 headstones toppled at Jewish cemetery in Philadelphia

Northeast Philadelphia Police Detective Timothy McIntyre, center, dusts for fingerprints one of the headstones that were knocked down as Detective Nick McReynolds, left, looks on at Mount Carmel Cemetery in Philadelphia on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2017. More than 100 headstones have been vandalized at the Jewish cemetery in Philadelphia, damage discovered less than a week after similar vandalism in Missouri, authorities said. (Michael Bryant/The Philadelphia Inquirer via AP)

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Last sips

Fancy a ride around the moon?

SpaceX is set to fly two space tourists around the moon in 2018, according to CNN, which quoted a company blog on the endeavor.

How much will that set each tourist back?

CNN reported the moon tourists are "likely paying millions for the adventure," but doesn't name an exact figure.

Related Photos

Trainer Bob Harper, “The Biggest Loser” ORG XMIT: 0909081343584136

Jim McReynolds, center, from the Philadelphia Police northeast detectives unit, places items from the scene in a bag for further investigation Monday, Feb. 27, 2017, at Mount Carmel Cemetery in Philadelphia. More than 100 headstones have been vandalized at the Jewish cemetery in Philadelphia, damage discovered less than a week after similar vandalism in Missouri, authorities said. (AP Photo/Jacqueline Larma)

Damaged headstones are seen at Mount Carmel cemetery Monday, Feb. 27, 2017, in Philadelphia. More than 100 headstones have been vandalized at the Jewish cemetery in Philadelphia, damage discovered less than a week after similar vandalism in Missouri, authorities said.(AP Photo/Jacqueline Larma)

Volunteers from the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community survey damaged headstones at Mount Carmel Cemetery on Monday, Feb. 27, 2017, in Philadelphia. More than 100 headstones have been vandalized at the Jewish cemetery in Philadelphia, damage discovered less than a week after similar vandalism in Missouri, authorities said. (AP Photo/Jacqueline Larma)

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<figure><img src="//cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/r960-a417b2cb0a556c6937d6af7003839100.jpg" alt="Photo - Trainer Bob Harper, “The Biggest Loser” ORG XMIT: 0909081343584136" title="Trainer Bob Harper, “The Biggest Loser” ORG XMIT: 0909081343584136"><figcaption>Trainer Bob Harper, “The Biggest Loser” ORG XMIT: 0909081343584136</figcaption></figure><figure><img src="//cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/r960-ee8d070bc3b4008489197a9ee5cc9e8b.jpg" alt="Photo - File - In this April 25, 2013 file photo, former President George W. Bush speaks during the dedication of the George W. Bush Presidential Center in Dallas. Bush has successfully undergone a heart procedure after doctors discovered a blockage in an artery. Bush spokesman Freddy Ford says a stent was inserted during a procedure Tuesday, Aug 6, 2013 at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez, Pool, File) ORG XMIT: TXKJ101" title="File - In this April 25, 2013 file photo, former President George W. Bush speaks during the dedication of the George W. Bush Presidential Center in Dallas. Bush has successfully undergone a heart procedure after doctors discovered a blockage in an artery. Bush spokesman Freddy Ford says a stent was inserted during a procedure Tuesday, Aug 6, 2013 at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez, Pool, File) ORG XMIT: TXKJ101"><figcaption>File - In this April 25, 2013 file photo, former President George W. Bush speaks during the dedication of the George W. Bush Presidential Center in Dallas. Bush has successfully undergone a heart procedure after doctors discovered a blockage in an artery. Bush spokesman Freddy Ford says a stent was inserted during a procedure Tuesday, Aug 6, 2013 at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez, Pool, File) ORG XMIT: TXKJ101</figcaption></figure><figure><img src="//cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/r960-de5430f24c7a2f8656f346e2638689db.jpg" alt="Photo - Jim McReynolds, center, from the Philadelphia Police northeast detectives unit, places items from the scene in a bag for further investigation Monday, Feb. 27, 2017, at Mount Carmel Cemetery in Philadelphia. More than 100 headstones have been vandalized at the Jewish cemetery in Philadelphia, damage discovered less than a week after similar vandalism in Missouri, authorities said. (AP Photo/Jacqueline Larma)" title="Jim McReynolds, center, from the Philadelphia Police northeast detectives unit, places items from the scene in a bag for further investigation Monday, Feb. 27, 2017, at Mount Carmel Cemetery in Philadelphia. More than 100 headstones have been vandalized at the Jewish cemetery in Philadelphia, damage discovered less than a week after similar vandalism in Missouri, authorities said. (AP Photo/Jacqueline Larma)"><figcaption>Jim McReynolds, center, from the Philadelphia Police northeast detectives unit, places items from the scene in a bag for further investigation Monday, Feb. 27, 2017, at Mount Carmel Cemetery in Philadelphia. More than 100 headstones have been vandalized at the Jewish cemetery in Philadelphia, damage discovered less than a week after similar vandalism in Missouri, authorities said. (AP Photo/Jacqueline Larma)</figcaption></figure><figure><img src="//cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/r960-8aeac11fff381088b0369dcfa0b26757.jpg" alt="Photo - Damaged headstones are seen at Mount Carmel cemetery Monday, Feb. 27, 2017, in Philadelphia. More than 100 headstones have been vandalized at the Jewish cemetery in Philadelphia, damage discovered less than a week after similar vandalism in Missouri, authorities said.(AP Photo/Jacqueline Larma)" title="Damaged headstones are seen at Mount Carmel cemetery Monday, Feb. 27, 2017, in Philadelphia. More than 100 headstones have been vandalized at the Jewish cemetery in Philadelphia, damage discovered less than a week after similar vandalism in Missouri, authorities said.(AP Photo/Jacqueline Larma)"><figcaption>Damaged headstones are seen at Mount Carmel cemetery Monday, Feb. 27, 2017, in Philadelphia. More than 100 headstones have been vandalized at the Jewish cemetery in Philadelphia, damage discovered less than a week after similar vandalism in Missouri, authorities said.(AP Photo/Jacqueline Larma)</figcaption></figure><figure><img src="//cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/r960-613df8eede32cc108f94ff2b160b1fb2.jpg" alt="Photo - Volunteers from the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community survey damaged headstones at Mount Carmel Cemetery on Monday, Feb. 27, 2017, in Philadelphia. More than 100 headstones have been vandalized at the Jewish cemetery in Philadelphia, damage discovered less than a week after similar vandalism in Missouri, authorities said. (AP Photo/Jacqueline Larma)" title="Volunteers from the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community survey damaged headstones at Mount Carmel Cemetery on Monday, Feb. 27, 2017, in Philadelphia. More than 100 headstones have been vandalized at the Jewish cemetery in Philadelphia, damage discovered less than a week after similar vandalism in Missouri, authorities said. (AP Photo/Jacqueline Larma)"><figcaption>Volunteers from the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community survey damaged headstones at Mount Carmel Cemetery on Monday, Feb. 27, 2017, in Philadelphia. More than 100 headstones have been vandalized at the Jewish cemetery in Philadelphia, damage discovered less than a week after similar vandalism in Missouri, authorities said. (AP Photo/Jacqueline Larma)</figcaption></figure><figure><img src="//cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/r960-150153ee7afe4fb89c724e0018cefcb3.jpg" alt="Photo - Northeast Philadelphia Police Detective Timothy McIntyre, center, dusts for fingerprints one of the headstones that were knocked down as Detective Nick McReynolds, left, looks on at Mount Carmel Cemetery in Philadelphia on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2017. More than 100 headstones have been vandalized at the Jewish cemetery in Philadelphia, damage discovered less than a week after similar vandalism in Missouri, authorities said. (Michael Bryant/The Philadelphia Inquirer via AP)" title="Northeast Philadelphia Police Detective Timothy McIntyre, center, dusts for fingerprints one of the headstones that were knocked down as Detective Nick McReynolds, left, looks on at Mount Carmel Cemetery in Philadelphia on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2017. More than 100 headstones have been vandalized at the Jewish cemetery in Philadelphia, damage discovered less than a week after similar vandalism in Missouri, authorities said. (Michael Bryant/The Philadelphia Inquirer via AP)"><figcaption>Northeast Philadelphia Police Detective Timothy McIntyre, center, dusts for fingerprints one of the headstones that were knocked down as Detective Nick McReynolds, left, looks on at Mount Carmel Cemetery in Philadelphia on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2017. More than 100 headstones have been vandalized at the Jewish cemetery in Philadelphia, damage discovered less than a week after similar vandalism in Missouri, authorities said. (Michael Bryant/The Philadelphia Inquirer via AP)</figcaption></figure>

Juliana Keeping

Juliana Keeping is on the enterprise reporting team for The Oklahoman and NewsOK.com. Keeping joined the staff of The Oklahoman in 2012. Prior to that time, she worked in the Chicago media at the SouthtownStar, winning a Peter Lisagor Award... Read more ›

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The Morning Brew: George W. Bush comments on Trump's take on media, calls free press "indispensable"