GEOFF BENNETT: President Trump's shifting# deadlines on Iran and his renewed threats## today are raising fresh questions# about his messaging on the war.

To discuss that and more, we turn now# to our Politics Monday duo.

That's## Amy Walter of The Cook Political Report# With Amy Walter and Tamara Keith of NPR.

It's always great to see you.

TAMARA KEITH, National Public Radio: Hello... GEOFF BENNETT: So, Amy, .. What stood out to you from President# Trump's press conference.. AMY WALTER: Yes, if you were looking for# that press conference to help answer the## question where are we going in the Iran# war, you would not have gotten an answer.

I know, in Liz's piece, she pulled out the# quote, which I think really said it all,## asking, are we ramping up or are we# backing off?

And the president said,## I don't know.

We don't really# know where we're going on this.

I do think it is also telling that here# we are, what is this now, a month... TAMARA KEITH: More than a month.

AMY WALTER: More than a month.

And I## think what voters really want to know, what# Americans really want to understand is, w.. are we going to decide that we have made either a# deal or an off-ramp or have completed the mission?

The president said in that press conference today# Iran will not become a nuclear power, but did not## answer the question about how we will ensure that# will be the case.

Does that involve having troops## on the ground to take the nuclear material# or will it be through a process of diplomacy?

GEOFF BENNETT: And, Tam, did he say anything## that clarified a broader strategy in# Iran, such that a strategy ex.. TAMARA KEITH: No.

He did say that he has a strategy, he has a plan,# but he is not going to tell.. is, because, if he did, then -- but that can# be a tell more than anything else.

This was## the second time in two weeks that President# Trump used the trappings of the presidency,## a solo press conference in the Briefing# Room last week and an address to the nation.

These are sort of the big tools of the bully# pulpit of the presidency.

And both times,## we came away wondering, why exactly# did he do this?

What was the point of## it?

And part of it is that, before the# war, he didn't really do that buildup,## didn't sell it to the American people, and some of# that is now attempting to happen after the fact.

But I think truly what today was about,# he wasn't there to talk about strategy,## he wasn't there to talk about what's next.# He was there to wrap himself in the glory## of that incredible rescue mission# of those two airmen.

And that was## really his focus.

That's why he had the# military leaders there with him in the## Briefing Room.

That's what he was there to# talk about.

And he did so in great detail.

GEOFF BENNETT: And, Amy, when it comes to the## polling, we are seeing signs of# softness even among Republicans.

AMY WALTER: Yes.

GEOFF BENNETT: How significant is that?

AMY WALTER: Yes.

Well, the presid.. he is now at the sub-40 percent approval rating# mark, which is the lowest of his presidency.

And## how he got there isn't that Democrats don't# like him anymore.

They never have liked him.

Independents have soured on him a little bit# more.

But what you're seeing is a softening## among Republicans.

I don't think this means# that Republicans are saying, oh, I can't wait## to go support Democrats now.

What it is saying# is that they too are feeling this frustration.

What are we doing in Iran?

How come# gas is so expensive?

And, P.S.,## I thought we were going to talk about the economy# and making lives, our lives more affordable.

And,## as such, those things really aren't happening.# I think the president also said during this## press conference that Americans would# be willing to endure higher gas prices## as long as it meant that Iran does not have# any more ability to produce nuclear weapons.

I don't know that the American public has# been told that that's what they should expect.

GEOFF BENNETT: Yes.

And gas is# now above $4 a gallon nationally.

How does that#change the political calculus here?

TAMARA KEITH: Right, $4 a gallon is a lot.# Just to put that into perspective, I was on## vacation this past week.

I was in California,# where it's even higher, rented a minivan,## filled up the minivan.

It was more than $100 --# or it was just about $100 to fill up that minivan.

So that's something that Americans# are experiencing.

When you cross that## threshold where it's -- now it's $75 to fill# up your car, it's $100 to fill up your car,## that is a big emotional and mental barrier for# people.

It makes everything feel more expensive.

And literally there are spillover effects, where# things do get more expensive with delivery costs,## airlines are charging surcharges, all of# these things.

It really does build up.

And the problem for President Trump and his# party is that the part of the president's## affordability agenda that he was most animated# about, the thing that he cared about the most,## that he would talk about at length without even# being asked was $2-a-gallon gas is going to be## the thing that brings down your costs.

We're# going to get that gas, drill, baby, drill.

Yes, drill, baby, drill, but it's a global# market.

And right now that market is being## crushed by what's happening in the Strait of# Hormuz.

And at that press conference today,## there was no additional clarity about# how he's going to get that strait open.

AMY WALTER: That's right.

GEOFF BENNETT: And.. at the#same time as the White House,## the administration, they're# cutting domestic programs.

AMY WALTER: Right.

GEOFF BENNETT: H.. AMY WALTER: That's right.

I mean, I have b.. and they will both tell you this campaign# is about one thing.

It is about the cost of## living.

And both sides want to focus on that# and deliver a message that says to Americans,## we're concerned about this and# here's what we're doing about it.

But there are plenty of things that the# president has been doing beyond just the## Iran war, but then submitting a budget that# increases the military budget to $1.5 trillion,## cuts $73 billion in domestic spending,# that does not suggest one that says## affordability to people.

That's# cutting domestic spending.

And then there was that private Easter lunch# speech that he gave that was uploaded on to## video where he said, when we're fighting# wars, we can't take care of day care.

That## is the kind of message that is going to give# Democratic ad makers a whole lot of material.

GEOFF BENNETT: Finally, Tam, you have# covered the White House for more than## a decade now for NPR.

You're getting# a new assignment.

Tell us about it.

TAMARA KEITH: Yes, I am now NPR's senior# political correspondent.

What that means is,## I am not going to be tied to this# one building.

And I'm going to get## out into the country more, talk# to voters even more regularly.

I have a big project plan, talking# to swing voters, and have a bunch of## races I'm looking forward to covering, and# still going to sit right here on Monday.

GEOFF BENNETT: Congratulations on your new role.

TAMARA KEITH: Thank you.

GEOFF BENNETT: G..