President Obama spoke from the briefing room today. Here's are recaps from Los Angeles Times and Politico email alerts:

President Obama said today that he had spoken by telephone with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, the first such direct contact between the presidents of the two countries since 1979.

"I do believe there is a basis for resolution" of the standoff over Iran’s disputed nuclear program, Obama said in the White House briefing room, reiterating two points that have been crucial to Iran.

"I've made clear that we respect the right of the Iranian people to access peaceful nuclear energy in the context of Iran meeting its obligations," the president said, adding that an agreement on the issue could lead to "relief" from international sanctions that have harmed Iran's economy.

For the latest information go to www.latimes.com.

And via Politico:

President Barack Obama on Friday called on the House to approve the government funding bill passed earlier in the day by the Senate, warning that failure to do so would force a government shutdown but would not stop the implementation of his health care law.

"If Congress chooses not to pass a budget by Monday, the end of the fiscal year, they will shut down the government along with many vital services that the American people depend on," he said from the White House briefing room. The Senate "acted responsibly" by passing its bill, he said, and "now it's up to the Republicans in the House of Representatives to do the same."

He asked Republicans "to think about who you're hurting" by letting the government shut down, and said "it would throw a wrench into the gears of our economy at a time when those gears have gained some traction."

Even "many Republican senators and many Republican governors have urged Republicans to knock it off, pass a budget and move on. Let's get this done," Obama said.

He also made clear that a government shutdown wouldn't stop the Affordable Care Act from being implemented. "That's not going to happen. More than 100 million Americans currently already have new benefits and protections under the law. On Tuesday, about 40 million more Americans will be able to finally buy quality affordable health care just like anybody else."

For more information... http://www.politico.com