Dana Perino shares how she secretly pushed back at reporters during White House briefings

What happened: Dana Perino said she secretly made an obscene gesture at combative reporters while smiling during White House briefings under President George W. Bush, using a cup of water to hide her hand. Key numbers: She served as press secretary from 2007 to 2009 and published the story in her 2015 memoir. Why it matters: Perino said the gesture gave her a sense of defiance and confidence, and she argued social media has made reporter pressure for memorable moments worse.

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