Obama Fires Back At Elizabeth Warren And Trade Critics, Escalating Democratic Feud

President Barack Obama pushed back against Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Democratic critics of his trade agenda on Friday, accusing them of spreading "misinformation that stirs up the base but ultimately doesn't serve them."

Obama surprised reporters by appearing on a conference call with Labor Secretary Thomas Perez in effort to rebut criticisms from Warren and other key Democrats, who worry that his pending Trans-Pacific Partnership deal will exacerbate income inequality and undermine key regulations.

"The idea that we can shut down globalization, reduce trade … is wrong-headed," Obama said on a conference call. "That horse has left the barn."