I was watching the WH Press Conference and a reporter asked Press Sec for comment. Clearly evident due to the long pause before his response, Josh Earnest Press Sec had not yet heard the news.
It appears the White House staff doesn’t have current terrorism events as an important item on which they need to stay informed.
In the video distributed Tuesday and entitled “A Second Message to America,” Sotloff appears in a similar jumpsuit before he is beheaded by an Islamic State fighter.
http://www.newser.com/article/f4871129936345eeaf22a3f6706ea500/internet-video-purports-to-show-beheading-of-us-reporter-steven-sotloff-by-islamic-state-group.html
“...White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest was taken by surprise when a reporter asked him about the video during a regular Tuesday press briefing. The initial reports had surfaced, President Obama’s chief spokesman suggested, while he was already speaking to reporters.
‘This may have just happened in the last few minutes while I’ve been standing up here,’ Earnest said.
‘This is something that the administration has obviously been watching carefully since this threat against Mr. Sotloff’s life was originally made a few weeks ago,’ he added. ...”
You called it.