WEBVTT 00:02.540 --> 00:06.350 Yes , the 00:06.840 --> 00:08.760 Yeah , there . 00:16.240 --> 00:19.250 Hi , everyone Happy Tuesday , A couple 00:19.250 --> 00:21.670 of things to update you on on the top 00:21.680 --> 00:24.520 azi we've discussed previously in this 00:24.520 --> 00:26.020 room . The president . The 00:26.020 --> 00:27.964 administration are making the case 00:27.964 --> 00:30.131 directly to the country about the need 00:30.131 --> 00:32.020 to pass the rescue plan so we can 00:32.020 --> 00:34.131 finish the job and get $2000 into the 00:34.131 --> 00:36.242 pockets of working families so we can 00:36.242 --> 00:38.464 reopen schools safely and so we can get 00:38.464 --> 00:40.687 economic relief to struggling Americans 00:40.687 --> 00:42.964 and communities . As part of that work , 00:42.964 --> 00:45.131 the president , the vice president and 00:45.131 --> 00:47.131 Treasury secretary Yellen will meet 00:47.131 --> 00:49.353 this afternoon with business leaders to 00:49.353 --> 00:51.131 discuss the vital role that the 00:51.131 --> 00:51.000 American rescue plan will play in 00:51.000 --> 00:52.760 saving our economy and getting 00:52.760 --> 00:55.040 Americans back toe work . Private 00:55.040 --> 00:57.262 sector leaders understand how important 00:57.262 --> 00:59.151 it is , and we've seen calls from 00:59.151 --> 01:01.096 across the political spectrum from 01:01.096 --> 01:03.318 leading business groups , toe labor and 01:03.318 --> 01:05.429 progressive lawmakers for Congress to 01:05.429 --> 01:07.318 act quickly in getting additional 01:07.318 --> 01:09.318 economic relief out the door . Thes 01:09.318 --> 01:11.207 calls have been echoed by leading 01:11.207 --> 01:13.429 experts and economists who have praised 01:13.429 --> 01:15.318 the plan , including top economic 01:15.318 --> 01:17.596 advisers , to the last four presidents , 01:17.596 --> 01:19.484 both Democrat and Republican . An 01:19.484 --> 01:21.651 analysis after analysis has shown that 01:21.651 --> 01:23.818 the economic cost of inaction would be 01:23.818 --> 01:25.818 incredibly painful for the American 01:25.818 --> 01:27.929 people , something we saw last Friday 01:27.929 --> 01:29.818 with the latest month of weak job 01:29.818 --> 01:31.873 numbers . But they also know that we 01:31.873 --> 01:34.040 have a way to help workers and get our 01:34.040 --> 01:36.040 economy back , bypassing the rescue 01:36.040 --> 01:37.818 plan . So a couple of pieces of 01:37.818 --> 01:40.040 economic data you all may have seen . A 01:40.040 --> 01:42.207 CBO projection last week found that it 01:42.207 --> 01:44.262 would take the economy four years to 01:44.262 --> 01:44.060 bounce back and return to full 01:44.060 --> 01:46.116 employment without the rescue plan . 01:46.116 --> 01:48.171 Studies by the Brookings Institution 01:48.171 --> 01:50.227 and Moody's Analytics found that the 01:50.227 --> 01:52.449 economy could recover from the pandemic 01:52.449 --> 01:54.616 and returned to full employment by the 01:54.616 --> 01:56.671 beginning of next year if the rescue 01:56.671 --> 01:58.727 plan is enacted . Moody's also found 01:58.727 --> 02:00.727 that passing the passing the rescue 02:00.727 --> 02:02.560 plan with double economic growth 02:02.560 --> 02:04.227 returning the economy to full 02:04.227 --> 02:06.449 employment full year faster a couple of 02:06.449 --> 02:08.504 other updates from our covert team . 02:08.504 --> 02:10.727 You may have also seen this , uh , Jeff 02:10.727 --> 02:12.838 Science . Uh , the covert coordinator 02:12.838 --> 02:14.949 made a few announcements earlier this 02:14.949 --> 02:17.171 afternoon . Uh , today we announced the 02:17.171 --> 02:19.227 launch of our federal Quality health 02:19.227 --> 02:21.504 centers , F que HC vaccination program . 02:21.504 --> 02:23.338 Community health centers provide 02:23.338 --> 02:25.393 primary care services in underserved 02:25.393 --> 02:27.760 areas , reaching almost 30 million 02:27.760 --> 02:30.190 people . Under this new program , we 02:30.190 --> 02:32.357 will begin directly sending vaccine to 02:32.357 --> 02:34.690 plot supply to community health centers , 02:34.690 --> 02:36.857 enabling them to vaccinate mawr of the 02:36.857 --> 02:38.820 people they serve alongside other 02:38.820 --> 02:40.987 efforts , like mobile health units and 02:40.987 --> 02:43.042 community vaccination centers . This 02:43.042 --> 02:44.987 announcement is another tool we're 02:44.987 --> 02:47.209 providing to state and local leaders in 02:47.209 --> 02:49.209 their work to reach underserved and 02:49.209 --> 02:51.431 hardest hit populations . Importantly , 02:51.431 --> 02:53.376 this program grew in part out of a 02:53.376 --> 02:55.653 suggestion from House committee chairs . 02:55.653 --> 02:57.876 Uh , that , uh , the president had , of 02:57.876 --> 02:59.876 course , had a meeting with them on 02:59.876 --> 03:02.042 Friday . But even discussions prior to 03:02.042 --> 03:01.980 that and he informed them during a call 03:01.980 --> 03:04.202 this morning that this program would be 03:04.202 --> 03:08.080 rolled out . Let's see last few 03:08.080 --> 03:10.370 pieces . We also announced another 03:10.370 --> 03:12.537 increase in weekly vaccine allocations 03:12.537 --> 03:14.481 to states , tribes and territories 03:14.481 --> 03:16.960 bring us up to 11 million doses . So 03:16.970 --> 03:19.310 overall , uh , this after weekly 03:19.310 --> 03:21.532 increases the past two weeks and it's a 03:21.532 --> 03:25.060 net 28% increase . Two states since we 03:25.250 --> 03:27.510 entered government thes announcements 03:27.510 --> 03:29.677 convey our steady drumbeat of progress 03:29.677 --> 03:31.732 and action by the federal government 03:31.732 --> 03:33.860 and our whole of government pandemic 03:33.870 --> 03:36.100 response . The president also will meet 03:36.100 --> 03:38.100 with members of the covert response 03:38.100 --> 03:39.933 team in the Oval office today to 03:39.933 --> 03:42.044 discuss their work and the next steps 03:42.044 --> 03:44.267 and shutting down the virus and getting 03:44.267 --> 03:46.690 American life back to normal . Last 03:46.690 --> 03:48.746 thing I've noted a number of times , 03:48.746 --> 03:50.801 and some of you have asked about our 03:50.801 --> 03:52.912 progress and efforts on confirmations 03:52.912 --> 03:54.912 were pleased to see Denis McDonough 03:54.912 --> 03:57.079 confirmed last night with 87 yes votes 03:57.079 --> 03:58.912 as the new secretary of Veterans 03:58.912 --> 04:01.134 Affairs . And he , of course , is being 04:01.134 --> 04:03.670 sworn in today . We also would just 04:03.670 --> 04:05.850 like to reiterate the importance of 04:05.940 --> 04:08.480 getting the our our nominee , the 04:08.480 --> 04:10.258 president's nominee to lead the 04:10.258 --> 04:12.091 Department of Education , Miguel 04:12.091 --> 04:14.147 Cardona confirmed . Obviously , at a 04:14.147 --> 04:16.258 time where , uh , the American people 04:16.258 --> 04:18.850 are focused on the reopening of schools , 04:18.860 --> 04:21.350 focus on focused on doing that safely . 04:21.360 --> 04:23.693 This is a step that Congress could take . 04:23.693 --> 04:25.582 He's obviously a pivotal and keep 04:25.582 --> 04:27.582 partner on ensuring we can get that 04:27.582 --> 04:30.410 done swiftly and safely with that . 04:30.420 --> 04:33.520 Alex , Let's kick it off . Ask you at 04:33.520 --> 04:35.742 the top about the attempted hacking and 04:35.742 --> 04:37.687 poisoning of the Oldsmar , Florida 04:37.687 --> 04:39.820 water supply . Um , does the White 04:39.820 --> 04:42.042 House have any details on who committed 04:42.042 --> 04:44.390 the hacking , and is there any plan for 04:44.390 --> 04:47.050 view of water supply stations across 04:47.050 --> 04:50.800 the nation or an effort to shore up the 04:50.810 --> 04:52.977 cyber security measures at the station 04:53.040 --> 04:55.540 Well , as was announced earlier today . 04:55.540 --> 04:57.818 The FBI and Secret Service , of course , 04:57.818 --> 04:59.707 are undergoing an investigation . 04:59.707 --> 05:01.818 That's something we'd certainly defer 05:01.818 --> 05:03.762 to them on any specific details of 05:03.762 --> 05:05.929 their findings of that investigation . 05:05.929 --> 05:07.984 I will say , broadly speaking , that 05:07.984 --> 05:10.040 the president , the vice president , 05:10.040 --> 05:12.151 members of our national security team 05:12.151 --> 05:14.318 are focused on elevating cybersecurity 05:14.318 --> 05:16.373 as a threat that has Onley increased 05:16.373 --> 05:18.429 over the past several years . That's 05:18.429 --> 05:20.151 why they've made it and across 05:20.151 --> 05:23.690 government focus on why he has elevated 05:23.690 --> 05:25.857 positions in the White House and other 05:25.857 --> 05:28.079 parts of our government . Can you share 05:28.079 --> 05:30.301 any details on the president's visit to 05:30.301 --> 05:32.412 the Department of Defense ? What will 05:32.412 --> 05:34.634 be discussing your very Austin ? Sure , 05:34.634 --> 05:36.746 the president will visit the Pentagon 05:36.746 --> 05:38.912 tomorrow , where he will thank the men 05:38.912 --> 05:40.801 and women serving our country and 05:40.801 --> 05:42.912 keeping the American people safe . As 05:42.912 --> 05:45.079 the first president in 40 years with a 05:45.079 --> 05:47.190 child who served in the military is a 05:47.190 --> 05:49.246 personal connection to the important 05:49.246 --> 05:51.579 role of the of the work of the military , 05:51.579 --> 05:53.690 the men and women who serve . He will 05:53.690 --> 05:55.634 also discuss the vital role of the 05:55.634 --> 05:57.746 Department of Defense in our national 05:57.746 --> 05:59.912 security . Talk about the significance 05:59.912 --> 05:59.560 of having the first African American 05:59.560 --> 06:01.782 Secretary of Defense in history leading 06:01.782 --> 06:03.949 the department . The visit has special 06:03.949 --> 06:06.060 resonance coming during Black History 06:06.060 --> 06:09.280 Month . Over 40% of active duty forces , 06:09.280 --> 06:11.336 our men and women of color . And you 06:11.336 --> 06:13.447 will hear President Biden pay special 06:13.447 --> 06:15.502 tribute to the rich history of black 06:15.502 --> 06:18.490 service members tomorrow . Any policy . 06:18.530 --> 06:21.320 Relax tomorrow . Uh , hey , will . 06:21.320 --> 06:23.610 Certainly , as I noted , talk about the 06:23.610 --> 06:25.277 important role of the Defense 06:25.277 --> 06:27.499 Department international security . But 06:27.499 --> 06:30.180 we will have more thio share about that , 06:30.190 --> 06:33.790 Um , as we got closer to his visit . Go 06:33.790 --> 06:35.901 ahead . Let's go , Jeff . Writers , I 06:35.901 --> 06:38.180 promised you go ahead . Thanks . Can 06:38.180 --> 06:41.260 you tell us how the CEOs were chosen 06:41.270 --> 06:43.214 for today's meeting with President 06:43.214 --> 06:46.670 Biden ? I see some diversity in that 06:46.680 --> 06:48.902 group , which isn't always comin at the 06:48.902 --> 06:51.124 top echelons of corporate America . Was 06:51.124 --> 06:53.402 that one of the far too uncommon ? Yes , 06:53.740 --> 06:55.962 that one of the factors And how did you 06:55.962 --> 06:58.800 go about you ? Well , first , I would 06:58.800 --> 07:00.911 expect that this is the first of many 07:00.911 --> 07:02.911 engagements the President will have 07:02.911 --> 07:05.133 directly with leaders from the business 07:05.133 --> 07:07.356 community , and this was an opportunity 07:07.356 --> 07:09.356 to speak directly with some who are 07:09.356 --> 07:11.467 major employers in the country , some 07:11.467 --> 07:14.710 who are leading the Business Roundtable 07:14.710 --> 07:17.060 or other organizational kind of 07:17.070 --> 07:19.330 business groups where they speak to 07:19.330 --> 07:21.163 many business leaders across the 07:21.163 --> 07:23.330 country . So this is an opportunity to 07:23.330 --> 07:25.386 have a , uh , smaller meeting . It's 07:25.386 --> 07:27.608 only about half a dozen , as you know , 07:27.608 --> 07:29.497 and discussion about the American 07:29.497 --> 07:31.330 rescue plan , how it will impact 07:31.330 --> 07:33.441 workers and American families and how 07:33.441 --> 07:35.608 they could work together to get people 07:35.608 --> 07:37.608 back on their feet . Specifically , 07:37.608 --> 07:39.497 Walmart Taking Morgan What is the 07:39.497 --> 07:41.386 president's ask of those types of 07:41.386 --> 07:43.608 companies ? Spirit . I wouldn't look at 07:43.608 --> 07:45.774 it through that prism , Jeff . I would 07:45.774 --> 07:47.663 look at it as a conversation with 07:47.663 --> 07:50.180 leaders who have , uh , you know , 07:50.180 --> 07:52.180 Walmart is , of course , one of the 07:52.180 --> 07:54.236 biggest employers in the country and 07:54.236 --> 07:56.458 states across the country . Obviously , 07:56.458 --> 07:58.624 Jamie Diamond is somebody who has been 07:58.624 --> 08:00.791 in the business sector for many , many 08:00.791 --> 08:02.902 years . Eso It's more of a discussion 08:02.902 --> 08:05.230 about , um , the country and the 08:05.240 --> 08:07.129 economic downturn that we've gone 08:07.129 --> 08:09.184 through . President wants to lay out 08:09.184 --> 08:11.407 all of the specifics of his plan here , 08:11.407 --> 08:13.462 feedback from them , as he has as he 08:13.462 --> 08:15.462 has with uh , many different groups 08:15.462 --> 08:17.518 over the past couple of weeks . It's 08:17.518 --> 08:19.573 one of the Yukon related questions . 08:19.573 --> 08:21.573 Did the White House ask Oh , and be 08:21.573 --> 08:23.407 director nominee Neera Tanden to 08:23.407 --> 08:25.184 apologize to Republicans in her 08:25.184 --> 08:27.351 testimony this morning ? How confident 08:27.351 --> 08:29.351 are you about that nomination now ? 08:29.351 --> 08:31.518 Well , the president wouldn't nominate 08:31.518 --> 08:33.684 anyone he wasn't confident , could get 08:33.684 --> 08:35.518 confirmed and didn't deserve the 08:35.518 --> 08:37.573 consideration and confirmation of of 08:37.573 --> 08:40.050 his of Senate Democrats and Republicans . 08:40.060 --> 08:43.090 Um , we certainly did not ask her to 08:43.100 --> 08:44.989 make any specific comments in her 08:44.989 --> 08:47.450 testimony today . Go ahead , Kristen . 08:48.240 --> 08:50.890 Couple of questions on the and the 08:50.900 --> 08:53.610 Koven package the president by this 08:53.610 --> 08:55.777 president . First UN impeachment Today 08:55.777 --> 08:57.721 there's gonna be a debate over the 08:57.721 --> 09:00.230 constitutionality off the process , 09:00.240 --> 09:02.790 whether it's constitutional to try and 09:02.790 --> 09:04.846 try to remove from office . A former 09:04.846 --> 09:07.068 president Does President Biden have any 09:07.068 --> 09:09.123 concerns that this trial could set a 09:09.123 --> 09:11.346 dangerous precedent for the institution 09:11.346 --> 09:13.280 of the presidency ? Well , uh , 09:13.290 --> 09:15.012 President Biden , we put out a 09:15.012 --> 09:17.370 statement following Thekla occlusion of 09:17.370 --> 09:19.481 the House vote just a couple of weeks 09:19.481 --> 09:21.259 ago , and he made clear in that 09:21.259 --> 09:23.203 statement that he felt the process 09:23.203 --> 09:25.750 should proceed as a Z history . Uh , 09:25.760 --> 09:28.160 you know , and and many laws pre 09:28.160 --> 09:30.520 predetermined , uh , and he is going to 09:30.520 --> 09:32.576 wait for the Senate to determine the 09:32.576 --> 09:34.631 outcome of this . But you know , his 09:34.631 --> 09:36.810 view is that his role is should be 09:36.810 --> 09:38.890 currently focused on addressing the 09:38.890 --> 09:41.057 needs of the American people , putting 09:41.057 --> 09:43.112 people back to work , addressing the 09:43.112 --> 09:45.112 pandemic . It is constitutional . I 09:45.112 --> 09:47.057 don't think that's for me or us to 09:47.057 --> 09:49.112 opine on . Obviously , he said , the 09:49.112 --> 09:51.334 process should proceed , and it's doing 09:51.334 --> 09:53.168 exactly that . Let me ask you as 09:53.168 --> 09:55.168 millions of people tune in to watch 09:55.168 --> 09:57.334 this trial , presumably throughout the 09:57.334 --> 09:59.501 week , they're going to see the former 09:59.501 --> 10:01.557 president's lawyers argue , based on 10:01.557 --> 10:03.723 the briefs that they have filed , that 10:03.723 --> 10:05.723 some Democrats have used incendiary 10:05.723 --> 10:07.668 rhetoric , they're gonna point . A 10:07.668 --> 10:09.612 representative Maxine Waters , for 10:09.612 --> 10:11.390 example , who in 2018 called on 10:11.390 --> 10:13.501 supporters at a rally to confront and 10:13.501 --> 10:15.612 at one point harassed Trump officials 10:15.612 --> 10:17.390 over their support of the child 10:17.390 --> 10:19.612 separation policy . That zero tolerance 10:19.612 --> 10:21.612 policy , Um , that's something that 10:21.612 --> 10:23.334 Cedric Richmond said she had a 10:23.334 --> 10:25.446 constitutional right to express those 10:25.446 --> 10:27.446 views . So how does the White House 10:27.446 --> 10:30.150 view that as any different look ? The 10:30.150 --> 10:32.483 president is Joe Biden is the president . 10:32.483 --> 10:34.706 He's not a pundit . He's not going to a 10:34.706 --> 10:36.872 pine on the back and forth arguments . 10:36.872 --> 10:39.094 Nor is he watching them that are taking 10:39.094 --> 10:41.317 place , Uh , in the Senate . Okay , let 10:41.317 --> 10:43.150 me ask you about the Kobe relief 10:43.150 --> 10:45.094 package . Yesterday , the Ways and 10:45.094 --> 10:47.130 Means Committee Democrats proposed 10:47.140 --> 10:50.670 limiting the $1400 direct payments to 10:50.670 --> 10:54.160 those making $75,000 or less . Is that 10:54.160 --> 10:56.493 something that President Biden supports ? 10:56.493 --> 10:58.438 And does he have any concerns that 10:58.438 --> 11:00.493 progressives might not be on board ? 11:00.540 --> 11:02.790 Well , the president has conveyed from 11:02.790 --> 11:04.901 the beginning of this discussion that 11:04.901 --> 11:07.123 he's open toe having a discussion about 11:07.123 --> 11:09.179 the threshold . Hey has been firm in 11:09.179 --> 11:12.280 his resolve that Americans should be 11:12.280 --> 11:14.447 made whole on the $2000 checks , which 11:14.447 --> 11:16.900 of course , would mean , uh , be 11:16.900 --> 11:19.100 maintaining his firmness on the $1400 11:19.100 --> 11:21.100 checks . Right . But there's been a 11:21.100 --> 11:23.322 discussion about the threshold and what 11:23.322 --> 11:25.544 those should look like , and he doesn't 11:25.544 --> 11:27.840 feel that families making over $250,000 11:27.850 --> 11:29.850 a year should be the target of this 11:29.850 --> 11:32.220 relief . But there is a scale up right , 11:32.230 --> 11:34.350 and even in the recent negotiations 11:34.350 --> 11:38.000 from the 75 from the 1 50 it's 11:38.000 --> 11:40.150 just will reach a certain top 11:40.150 --> 11:42.039 thresholds where people would not 11:42.039 --> 11:43.983 receive relief . Has he determined 11:43.983 --> 11:46.206 whether he would support that ? Does he 11:46.206 --> 11:48.428 support 75,000 is being the threshold . 11:48.428 --> 11:50.594 It's not the threshold . That's that's 11:50.594 --> 11:52.706 kind of who would receive the maximum 11:52.706 --> 11:54.928 amount . There's been a scale up beyond 11:54.928 --> 11:57.120 that . Thes negotiations are ongoing . 11:57.130 --> 11:59.750 We support certainly support the 11:59.760 --> 12:01.927 discussions as they're happening . And 12:01.927 --> 12:04.390 certainly his view is that these should 12:04.390 --> 12:06.557 be . He's open to the discussion about 12:06.557 --> 12:08.723 making them more targeted and ensuring 12:08.723 --> 12:10.890 that people who need relief relief the 12:10.890 --> 12:13.001 most received the relief . Go ahead . 12:13.001 --> 12:15.112 Um , I had a couple , but I wanted to 12:15.112 --> 12:17.168 follow up on something . Jeff Switch 12:17.168 --> 12:19.320 Jamie Diamond is among us distance , 12:19.320 --> 12:21.870 and there's been complaints book that 12:21.880 --> 12:24.910 big banks like JP Morgan have made it 12:24.920 --> 12:26.753 difficult for small businesses , 12:26.753 --> 12:28.920 minority businesses , toe access , TPP 12:28.920 --> 12:31.030 loans and lots of data that shows 12:31.040 --> 12:33.300 recently , big banks have been scaling 12:33.310 --> 12:35.840 back consumer lending and instead by 12:35.850 --> 12:38.580 government security is , um so I know 12:38.580 --> 12:40.580 that this is kind of a cheerleading 12:40.580 --> 12:42.691 event for the president's legislative 12:42.691 --> 12:44.802 package , but it's gonna raise either 12:44.802 --> 12:46.969 of those issues with Jamie Diamond the 12:46.969 --> 12:49.080 opportunity Well , um , the president 12:49.080 --> 12:51.191 does not have a litmus test that he , 12:51.191 --> 12:53.400 uh , that he gives people before he 12:53.400 --> 12:55.456 meets with them in the Oval Office . 12:55.456 --> 12:57.622 Otherwise , he would not have met with 12:57.622 --> 12:59.567 10 Republicans last week , so they 12:59.567 --> 13:01.622 don't agree with him on everything . 13:01.622 --> 13:01.460 I'm sure the business leaders would 13:01.460 --> 13:03.571 convey that to you . He doesn't agree 13:03.571 --> 13:05.682 with them on everything . But this is 13:05.682 --> 13:07.849 really a discussion about the American 13:07.849 --> 13:10.016 rescue plan . Ah , plan that will help 13:10.016 --> 13:12.238 spark economic growth , help put people 13:12.238 --> 13:14.460 back to work , help get our economy and 13:14.460 --> 13:16.404 a path to recovery . And hopefully 13:16.404 --> 13:18.571 that's something they can all agree on 13:18.571 --> 13:20.516 that I know that you guys have put 13:20.516 --> 13:19.920 together a task force to look a 13:19.930 --> 13:23.340 domestic extremism in January . But 13:23.340 --> 13:25.451 there's been a lot of reporting about 13:25.451 --> 13:27.507 the breakdowns that have happened in 13:27.507 --> 13:29.729 the government out of that coordination 13:29.729 --> 13:32.007 between DHS and FBI and Capitol Police . 13:32.007 --> 13:33.840 So I'm wondering , especially as 13:33.840 --> 13:35.951 there's chatter indicating that there 13:35.951 --> 13:38.173 might be further sort of demonstrations 13:38.173 --> 13:40.229 surrounding the election . What , if 13:40.229 --> 13:42.396 anything , the administration is doing 13:42.396 --> 13:44.507 to surrounding which which election ? 13:44.507 --> 13:46.673 Sorry , I'm just trying to follow your 13:46.673 --> 13:48.507 past one . The past one . Okay , 13:48.507 --> 13:50.340 there's been there's been online 13:50.340 --> 13:52.451 chatter that there's gonna be another 13:52.451 --> 13:52.340 demonstration of march here in 13:52.340 --> 13:54.820 Washington . My point is , is the 13:54.820 --> 13:57.180 administration doing anything Thio look 13:57.180 --> 13:59.660 a the kind of breakdown that happened 13:59.670 --> 14:01.781 within law enforcement in the federal 14:01.781 --> 14:03.892 government ahead of January 6 to make 14:03.892 --> 14:05.948 sure that it's not replicated in the 14:05.948 --> 14:07.892 future . Well , I think one of the 14:07.892 --> 14:10.114 steps we took was the president named a 14:10.114 --> 14:12.400 head of homeland security in the White 14:12.400 --> 14:14.622 House that a role that did not exist in 14:14.622 --> 14:16.678 the prior administration , who could 14:16.678 --> 14:18.844 serve in a coordinating role to ensure 14:18.844 --> 14:20.789 that we're in touch with state and 14:20.789 --> 14:22.678 local authorities and officials , 14:22.678 --> 14:24.900 something that wasn't happening at pace 14:24.900 --> 14:27.067 on bond with the level of coordination 14:27.067 --> 14:29.178 that should have happened in the last 14:29.178 --> 14:31.400 administration . We obviously came into 14:31.400 --> 14:33.511 office with the president , came into 14:33.511 --> 14:33.010 office , and our entire national 14:33.010 --> 14:35.066 security team did at at at a time of 14:35.066 --> 14:37.177 heightened alert , even on the day of 14:37.177 --> 14:39.288 the inauguration and following . So I 14:39.288 --> 14:41.454 would say we certainly are not looking 14:41.454 --> 14:43.566 to the past administration as a model 14:43.566 --> 14:45.677 on DWI air , charting our own path to 14:45.677 --> 14:47.843 make sure we do things differently . I 14:47.843 --> 14:49.954 believe the World Health Organization 14:49.954 --> 14:51.788 said today that it was extremely 14:51.788 --> 14:53.899 unlikely that the coronavirus escaped 14:53.899 --> 14:55.732 the lab and Groupon and I'm just 14:55.732 --> 14:57.843 wondering , especially now that we've 14:57.843 --> 15:00.010 sort of resumed their participation of 15:00.010 --> 15:02.010 WHL 50 . Administration agrees with 15:02.010 --> 15:03.843 that assessment . Yeah , we have 15:03.843 --> 15:06.121 obviously seen those reports as I mean , 15:06.121 --> 15:08.066 the public reporting on it . We're 15:08.066 --> 15:10.288 looking forward to receiving the report 15:10.288 --> 15:11.890 and the data from the W H O 15:11.890 --> 15:13.946 investigation . We haven't looked at 15:13.946 --> 15:16.001 the data specifically ourselves , so 15:16.001 --> 15:18.168 we'd like to do that . We've expressed 15:18.168 --> 15:20.168 our concerns regarding the need for 15:20.168 --> 15:22.390 full transparency and access from China 15:22.390 --> 15:24.279 and the W H o toe all information 15:24.279 --> 15:26.280 regarding the earliest days of the 15:26.280 --> 15:29.240 pandemic . But we weren't involved 15:29.240 --> 15:31.407 directly in the implementation of this 15:31.407 --> 15:33.573 investigation , and again , we'll just 15:33.573 --> 15:35.740 look forward to reviewing the findings 15:35.740 --> 15:37.907 in detail . Go ahead . Welcome back to 15:37.907 --> 15:39.796 kill . I'm sorry . Go ahead . Two 15:39.796 --> 15:41.684 questions on schools . You end up 15:41.684 --> 15:41.680 talking about reopening schools , 15:41.680 --> 15:43.291 something a priority for the 15:43.291 --> 15:45.013 administration . Are there any 15:45.013 --> 15:47.124 discussions within the administration 15:47.124 --> 15:49.291 of providing these kind of rapid tests 15:49.291 --> 15:51.402 that are being produced by A Loom and 15:51.402 --> 15:53.291 other companies to help that move 15:53.291 --> 15:55.569 quicker to get those tests ? The local , 15:55.569 --> 15:57.624 uh , local school systems within the 15:57.624 --> 15:59.624 states . Well , our focus really at 15:59.624 --> 16:03.010 this point in time is , um , waiting 16:03.010 --> 16:05.750 for the CDC guidelines to come out and 16:05.750 --> 16:07.639 give schools across the country , 16:07.639 --> 16:09.750 school districts across the country , 16:09.750 --> 16:11.583 the first medical and scientific 16:11.583 --> 16:13.583 recommendations and guidelines that 16:13.583 --> 16:15.750 have been given from the federal level 16:15.750 --> 16:17.972 on . Obviously , once those are put out 16:17.972 --> 16:20.350 publicly and concluded , we will look 16:20.350 --> 16:23.950 for ways Thio work with states Thio 16:23.950 --> 16:25.950 ensure that schools are getting the 16:25.950 --> 16:28.006 resources they need . That's part of 16:28.006 --> 16:30.228 why we proposed funding in the American 16:30.228 --> 16:32.394 rescue plan , but we wanna wait to see 16:32.394 --> 16:34.394 what the health and medical experts 16:34.394 --> 16:36.339 have in those guidelines to ensure 16:36.339 --> 16:35.840 we're directing those resource is in 16:35.840 --> 16:38.062 the right way or working with states to 16:38.062 --> 16:39.840 do exactly that . Secondly , on 16:39.840 --> 16:41.896 President Biden's transgender rights 16:41.896 --> 16:43.951 executive action specifically , when 16:43.951 --> 16:46.062 applies the high school sports , UH , 16:46.062 --> 16:48.062 what message with the White House ? 16:48.062 --> 16:50.284 Have trans girls insist girls , You may 16:50.284 --> 16:53.200 end up competing against each other in 16:53.210 --> 16:55.630 sparking some lawsuits and some 16:55.630 --> 16:58.740 concerns among parents . So there's 16:58.740 --> 17:00.573 administration have guidance for 17:00.573 --> 17:02.407 schools on dealing with disputes 17:02.407 --> 17:04.420 arising over trans girls competing 17:04.780 --> 17:07.950 against them with six girls . I'm not 17:07.950 --> 17:09.940 sure what your question is . The 17:09.950 --> 17:12.000 president's executive order . I'm 17:12.000 --> 17:14.167 familiar with the order , But what was 17:14.167 --> 17:16.333 your question about question is , does 17:16.333 --> 17:18.500 the president have a message for local 17:18.500 --> 17:20.667 school officials on dealing with these 17:20.667 --> 17:20.310 kind of disputes that are already 17:20.310 --> 17:23.850 starting to arise . Wait , uh , yeah . 17:24.340 --> 17:27.220 Trans girls who are competing and sis 17:27.220 --> 17:29.880 girls and a level playing field is 17:29.880 --> 17:32.102 particularly in high school sports when 17:32.102 --> 17:34.213 it leads to college scholarships . Is 17:34.213 --> 17:35.991 there any kind of messaging for 17:35.991 --> 17:38.158 clarification the White House wants to 17:38.158 --> 17:40.269 give on the executive order ? I would 17:40.269 --> 17:42.491 just say that the president's belief is 17:42.491 --> 17:44.713 that trans rights or human rights , and 17:44.713 --> 17:46.713 that's why he signed that executive 17:46.713 --> 17:48.936 order on in terms of the determinations 17:48.936 --> 17:50.769 by universities and colleges , I 17:50.769 --> 17:53.102 certainly defer to them . Go ahead . Oh , 17:53.102 --> 17:52.870 sorry , Caitlyn . Go ahead , go ahead 17:52.870 --> 17:54.981 and then we go back . Go ahead . Like 17:54.981 --> 17:57.590 what ? Call me I three quick questions , 17:57.600 --> 17:59.860 um , one on what Democrats have put 17:59.860 --> 18:02.082 forward with the stimulus checks . It's 18:02.082 --> 18:03.916 not changing the income cap . So 18:03.916 --> 18:07.110 instead of limiting it from the $75,000 18:07.110 --> 18:09.630 to get the full $1400 that's staying 18:09.630 --> 18:11.408 where it iss , Biden had said . 18:11.408 --> 18:13.408 President Biden said he was open to 18:13.408 --> 18:15.408 targeting that . Did he sign off on 18:15.408 --> 18:17.741 what the Democrats have now put forward ? 18:17.741 --> 18:19.852 You mean where the cap stops or where 18:19.852 --> 18:21.908 the threshold stops at the top . The 18:21.908 --> 18:24.050 cap stops for the full $1400 . Right 18:24.050 --> 18:27.470 now , it's $75,000 as opposed to 50,000 18:27.470 --> 18:29.581 or what others , like Joe Manchin had 18:29.581 --> 18:31.637 proposed . So did he sign off on the 18:31.637 --> 18:33.748 latest proposal from them yesterday ? 18:33.748 --> 18:37.610 His proposal was originally 75 1 18:37.610 --> 18:39.930 50 Target , and he's open to targeting 18:39.940 --> 18:42.162 which which it still will be targeted . 18:42.162 --> 18:44.273 Because it's about the question of of 18:44.273 --> 18:46.273 what the threshold goes up . Teoh , 18:46.273 --> 18:48.496 right ? Because prior , uh , in earlier 18:48.496 --> 18:50.607 proposals , it had a higher threshold 18:50.607 --> 18:52.607 where it went up to a higher income 18:52.607 --> 18:54.829 level for families where they would get 18:54.829 --> 18:57.051 some version of a check , not the $1400 18:57.051 --> 18:59.273 right , but a smaller version . So he's 18:59.273 --> 19:01.496 fine with not bringing down that cap at 19:01.496 --> 19:05.420 the $75,000 to a $50,000 he he 19:05.420 --> 19:07.590 supports that where the status of the 19:07.590 --> 19:09.701 negotiations is at this point , yes , 19:09.701 --> 19:11.479 of the $75,000 Okay , my second 19:11.479 --> 19:13.646 question is we had the acting attorney 19:13.646 --> 19:15.368 general asked all of the Trump 19:15.368 --> 19:17.368 appointed U . S attorneys to resign 19:17.368 --> 19:19.590 from their post , with the exception of 19:19.590 --> 19:21.812 to the one overseeing the beginnings of 19:21.812 --> 19:24.034 the Russia probe and the one overseeing 19:24.034 --> 19:25.979 Hunter Biden's tax probe . Can you 19:25.979 --> 19:28.201 comment on that ? A . Z You know , this 19:28.201 --> 19:30.201 has been commonplace among previous 19:30.201 --> 19:32.312 administrations on we look forward to 19:32.312 --> 19:34.534 working with the Senate to swiftly fill 19:34.534 --> 19:36.590 these openings in the coming weeks . 19:36.590 --> 19:38.757 The president has also made clear that 19:38.757 --> 19:38.740 he wants to restore the independence of 19:38.740 --> 19:40.962 the Department of Justice and to ensure 19:40.962 --> 19:43.129 it remains free of any undue political 19:43.129 --> 19:45.296 influence that will be helped when our 19:45.296 --> 19:47.573 attorney general's of course confirmed . 19:47.573 --> 19:49.518 But the decision to leave to U . S 19:49.518 --> 19:51.184 attorneys in their roles is a 19:51.184 --> 19:53.296 reflection of that commitment . So he 19:53.296 --> 19:53.210 had no conversations with the acting 19:53.210 --> 19:55.154 attorney general about the two who 19:55.154 --> 19:58.040 remained in their post . In what way 19:58.070 --> 20:00.310 Who ? Who would leave ? I didn't have 20:00.310 --> 20:02.310 any . Did he have any conversations 20:02.310 --> 20:04.477 with the acting attorney general about 20:04.477 --> 20:06.254 leaving the U . S . Attorney in 20:06.254 --> 20:08.532 Delaware and Connecticut in their post ? 20:08.532 --> 20:10.699 These were decisions that were made in 20:10.699 --> 20:12.477 order to fulfill his promise of 20:12.477 --> 20:14.588 maintaining independence and ensuring 20:14.588 --> 20:16.699 that hey , could he sent that message 20:16.699 --> 20:16.630 in every action that was taken . Okay , 20:16.640 --> 20:18.807 My last question . I know you said the 20:18.807 --> 20:20.973 president is not abundant . I think we 20:20.973 --> 20:22.640 all under agree with that . I 20:22.640 --> 20:24.751 understand that . But he is the first 20:24.751 --> 20:26.807 president to be in office and have a 20:26.807 --> 20:29.029 former president , his predecessor , go 20:29.029 --> 20:31.251 and face an impeachment trial just down 20:31.251 --> 20:33.473 the street . So how can he not weigh in 20:33.473 --> 20:35.696 on whether or not it's constitutional , 20:35.696 --> 20:37.862 given he is the current officeholder ? 20:37.862 --> 20:39.862 It you know , the questions of what 20:39.862 --> 20:42.084 precedent this sets on , whether or not 20:42.084 --> 20:44.418 he agrees that it's constitutional well , 20:44.418 --> 20:46.529 again , this is obviously a big story 20:46.529 --> 20:46.180 in the country . No one's denying that 20:46.180 --> 20:48.291 here , and there's certainly going to 20:48.291 --> 20:50.513 be a lot of attention and focus on it . 20:50.513 --> 20:52.402 But our focus and the president's 20:52.402 --> 20:54.680 focuses on putting people back to work , 20:54.680 --> 20:54.490 getting the pandemic under control . 20:54.490 --> 20:56.712 And that means we're not going to weigh 20:56.712 --> 20:58.434 in on every question about the 20:58.434 --> 21:00.546 impeachment trial , and we don't feel 21:00.546 --> 21:00.450 it's necessary or our role to do that . 21:01.540 --> 21:03.707 Go ahead a couple of topics . I'll get 21:03.707 --> 21:05.929 through quick . The CEO projecting that 21:05.929 --> 21:08.180 raising the federal minimum wage to $15 21:08.180 --> 21:10.291 an hour would lift 900,000 people out 21:10.291 --> 21:12.870 of poverty , but it would cost 1.4 21:12.870 --> 21:15.037 million jobs . That is a difference of 21:15.037 --> 21:17.203 a half a million people . What happens 21:17.203 --> 21:20.760 to them of the well . I would also say 21:20.770 --> 21:24.710 that in the CBO , uh , CBO findings , I 21:24.710 --> 21:26.710 should say , uh , that they've also 21:26.710 --> 21:28.780 concluded that 27 million American 21:28.780 --> 21:31.430 workers would , uh , millions of low 21:31.430 --> 21:33.541 wage made wage workers . I should say 21:33.541 --> 21:36.140 27 million American workers would , uh , 21:36.150 --> 21:38.550 would be able thio get would help get 21:38.550 --> 21:40.550 them out of poverty . Eso There's a 21:40.550 --> 21:42.883 huge impact of raising the minimum wage . 21:42.883 --> 21:45.050 It's That's why the president supports 21:45.050 --> 21:47.070 it . Uh , there are also many other 21:47.080 --> 21:49.302 economic studies that show that raising 21:49.302 --> 21:51.470 the minimum wage has minimal impact on 21:51.470 --> 21:53.637 employment . A study of US state level 21:53.637 --> 21:55.850 minimum wage changes over four decades 21:55.850 --> 21:58.017 found that the number of jobs remained 21:58.017 --> 22:00.017 essentially unchanged over the five 22:00.017 --> 22:02.183 years following the increased . So the 22:02.183 --> 22:04.017 president supports it because he 22:04.017 --> 22:06.183 believes that raising the minimum wage 22:06.183 --> 22:08.128 is something that American workers 22:08.128 --> 22:10.072 American families deserve and that 22:10.072 --> 22:12.294 lifting 27 million American workers out 22:12.294 --> 22:14.517 of poverty reducing inequality would be 22:14.517 --> 22:16.683 a very positive step for our country . 22:16.790 --> 22:18.901 And once there is an agreement , does 22:18.901 --> 22:20.679 President Biden support sending 22:20.679 --> 22:22.750 stimulus benefits to undocumented 22:22.760 --> 22:25.920 immigrants again ? I don't know if 22:25.920 --> 22:28.031 somebody has a Social Security number 22:28.031 --> 22:30.530 like a child or a spouse , then they 22:30.530 --> 22:32.530 would be eligible . But he supports 22:32.570 --> 22:34.540 sending benefits to people who are 22:34.550 --> 22:36.606 eligible as a part of his proposal . 22:36.606 --> 22:38.606 Okay , And then on transparency , I 22:38.606 --> 22:40.606 have a very specific question about 22:40.606 --> 22:44.110 executive order . 13891 One of the 22:44.120 --> 22:46.120 president's executive orders on the 22:46.120 --> 22:48.009 first day revoked the policy that 22:48.009 --> 22:50.170 required federal agencies supposed 22:50.540 --> 22:53.850 their guidance on a searchable database . 22:54.240 --> 22:56.462 Uh , there are questions now on Capitol 22:56.462 --> 22:58.407 Hill from some Republican senators 22:58.407 --> 23:01.800 about why that was revoked . And so now 23:01.800 --> 23:03.960 the question to you . Well , um , 23:04.340 --> 23:06.830 agencies have definitely not been told 23:06.840 --> 23:09.310 to take down databases or other public 23:09.310 --> 23:11.588 information that would be inconsistent , 23:11.588 --> 23:13.754 which I think is why you're asking the 23:13.754 --> 23:15.810 question with what The president has 23:15.810 --> 23:15.520 talked about what the vice president 23:15.520 --> 23:18.110 talked about . We want , uh , agencies 23:18.110 --> 23:20.277 to use all the tools available to them 23:20.277 --> 23:22.388 to make public policies transparent , 23:22.388 --> 23:24.499 accessible . However , this executive 23:24.499 --> 23:26.554 order was revoked because it created 23:26.554 --> 23:28.499 unnecessary hurdles and cumbersome 23:28.499 --> 23:30.610 processes for agencies that wanted to 23:30.610 --> 23:32.610 get guidance out to the public . In 23:32.610 --> 23:34.666 some cases , it was resulting in the 23:34.666 --> 23:36.666 delay of information going out more 23:36.666 --> 23:38.888 publicly by a couple of weeks , or even 23:38.888 --> 23:40.999 a couple of months . That's obviously 23:40.999 --> 23:43.054 not acceptable , and we wanted to be 23:43.054 --> 23:45.110 more efficient than that one . Quick 23:45.110 --> 23:44.860 one on conflicts of interest in some 23:44.860 --> 23:46.749 reporting that's been done by our 23:46.749 --> 23:48.693 colleagues at other networks . The 23:48.693 --> 23:50.638 president's son in law , Dr Howard 23:50.638 --> 23:53.770 Crime , was advising candidate Biden on 23:53.780 --> 23:56.570 Kobe 19 response while he was investing 23:56.600 --> 23:59.310 in companies involved with Kobe . 19 . 23:59.310 --> 24:01.510 Response Through his company , Startup 24:01.520 --> 24:04.060 Health , Dr Crying has been at the 24:04.060 --> 24:06.690 White House since three inauguration . 24:06.700 --> 24:09.140 Is he still advising the president on 24:09.150 --> 24:11.450 Cold Nights response ? Well , Dr Crane 24:11.450 --> 24:13.810 is his son in law , the president . 24:13.810 --> 24:15.921 There are questions about a potential 24:15.921 --> 24:18.088 well , and I think he was here because 24:18.088 --> 24:20.366 the president was inaugurated recently , 24:20.366 --> 24:22.588 which is understandable . The president 24:22.588 --> 24:24.643 has made clear that there will be an 24:24.643 --> 24:26.532 absolute wall between him and any 24:26.532 --> 24:28.588 businesses connected with his family 24:28.588 --> 24:30.810 members on , as he reiterated just last 24:30.810 --> 24:32.810 week , no family member is going to 24:32.810 --> 24:35.032 have an office in the White House or be 24:35.032 --> 24:34.430 involved in any government policy 24:34.430 --> 24:36.541 making that applies to his son in law 24:36.541 --> 24:38.652 and applies to every single member of 24:38.652 --> 24:40.374 his family . Just from a broad 24:40.440 --> 24:43.130 perspective , though , like the 30,000 24:43.140 --> 24:45.251 ft view of this candidate , Biden was 24:45.251 --> 24:47.310 very concerned about the last 24:47.320 --> 24:49.209 presidents potential conflicts of 24:49.209 --> 24:51.098 interest . At 1.2019 , he tweeted 24:51.150 --> 24:53.372 hosting the G seven in Trump's Hotel of 24:53.372 --> 24:55.483 President should never be able to use 24:55.483 --> 24:57.594 the office for personal gain . So how 24:57.594 --> 24:59.706 is the White House going to guarantee 24:59.706 --> 25:01.928 to members of the public that nobody in 25:01.928 --> 25:03.872 the family is using the office for 25:03.872 --> 25:05.817 personal gain ? We've put in place 25:05.817 --> 25:07.928 stringent policies in order to ensure 25:07.928 --> 25:10.094 that it is not being used for personal 25:10.094 --> 25:12.317 gain . There's not . A single member of 25:12.317 --> 25:14.539 the family who is employed at the White 25:14.539 --> 25:16.706 House will have an office in the White 25:16.706 --> 25:18.928 House or will benefit financially . And 25:18.928 --> 25:20.983 those air strict ethics requirements 25:20.983 --> 25:20.910 that have been put in place and the 25:20.910 --> 25:24.830 president has approved go ahead two 25:24.830 --> 25:27.200 questions from my one on the 25:27.210 --> 25:29.321 president's stimulus package . You've 25:29.321 --> 25:31.990 been arguing consistent leader . His 25:32.000 --> 25:34.111 goal of unity doesn't mean creating a 25:34.111 --> 25:37.030 one party on party on . You also point 25:37.030 --> 25:39.580 out that their polls supporting what 25:39.580 --> 25:41.870 he's trying toe get out there . But 25:41.880 --> 25:44.490 what is his bottom line for showing 25:44.490 --> 25:46.490 that he has really tried to unity ? 25:46.490 --> 25:48.601 Would be one Republican senator would 25:48.601 --> 25:50.546 be enough with zero be enough like 25:50.546 --> 25:52.640 Would you be happy if no Republican 25:52.640 --> 25:54.807 Senators Bill ? I guess that's what it 25:54.807 --> 25:57.200 boils down . Well , he the president is 25:57.200 --> 25:59.420 certainly hopeful that the process 25:59.420 --> 26:01.531 that's underway now the mark ups that 26:01.531 --> 26:03.364 are happening in the House , the 26:03.364 --> 26:05.531 markups well that will then proceed in 26:05.531 --> 26:07.698 the Senate will provide an opportunity 26:07.698 --> 26:09.642 for Republicans , Democrats of all 26:09.642 --> 26:11.587 different political stripes to put 26:11.587 --> 26:11.330 their ideas forward and have those 26:11.330 --> 26:13.960 ideas considered a t end of the day . 26:13.970 --> 26:17.920 His view is that urgency , uh , is his 26:17.930 --> 26:20.080 first priority here and that the 26:20.080 --> 26:22.340 American people , uh , people who are 26:22.340 --> 26:24.340 concerned about getting food on the 26:24.340 --> 26:26.618 table , one in seven American families , 26:26.618 --> 26:28.784 people who are worried about reopening 26:28.784 --> 26:28.500 schools and getting their kids back in 26:28.500 --> 26:30.556 the classroom . People worried about 26:30.556 --> 26:32.556 whether their grandmother and their 26:32.556 --> 26:34.722 cousin are gonna get vaccines . That's 26:34.722 --> 26:36.944 where his priority is . So the question 26:36.944 --> 26:39.167 really is if 70 70 74% depending on the 26:39.167 --> 26:41.056 poll of Americans , including the 26:41.056 --> 26:43.278 majority of Republicans in some polls , 26:43.278 --> 26:45.430 support this proposal , support the 26:45.430 --> 26:47.597 components of this proposal , then why 26:47.597 --> 26:49.819 aren't more Republicans supporting it ? 26:49.819 --> 26:51.819 We certainly hope they will and and 26:51.819 --> 26:54.010 welcome them , uh , to the table . Go 26:54.010 --> 26:56.840 ahead . The back . Sure , thing is 26:56.840 --> 26:58.840 literally a housekeeping question . 26:58.840 --> 27:01.030 Okay ? Literally housekeeping . Okay , 27:01.040 --> 27:03.620 okay . You're gonna say I'm very 27:03.630 --> 27:05.852 interested to hear what this is because 27:05.852 --> 27:07.908 I have the airplane question today , 27:07.908 --> 27:10.019 but I certainly am not . I've learned 27:10.019 --> 27:11.908 my lesson on that airplane on the 27:11.908 --> 27:14.460 ground . Um , President Trump , former 27:14.460 --> 27:16.682 President Trump . He broke tradition by 27:16.682 --> 27:18.650 not having his predecessors have a 27:18.660 --> 27:22.210 portrait hanged up . Mhm . But far as I 27:22.210 --> 27:24.377 understand , it was something that was 27:24.377 --> 27:26.543 considered totally the normal thing to 27:26.543 --> 27:28.710 do . Will President Biden inviting his 27:28.710 --> 27:30.654 predecessor toe hang up a portrait 27:30.654 --> 27:32.599 somewhere on will he get the Obama 27:32.599 --> 27:35.800 bombers back into finally get there the 27:35.810 --> 27:38.220 best ? Their money ? I have no portrait 27:38.230 --> 27:40.420 revealing zor portrait plans or 27:40.420 --> 27:42.630 portrait events to preview for you , 27:42.640 --> 27:44.470 but I have not been given any 27:44.470 --> 27:46.470 indication that we would break with 27:46.470 --> 27:48.581 tradition in that regard . Go ahead . 27:48.581 --> 27:51.740 Thank you . Think is distinctly not on 27:51.740 --> 27:54.080 impeachment question , but it could be 27:54.080 --> 27:56.191 an impeachment question . You can ask 27:56.191 --> 27:58.247 whatever you want . Go ahead . Thank 27:58.247 --> 28:00.358 you . Does the President believe that 28:00.358 --> 28:02.247 former President Trump engaged in 28:02.247 --> 28:04.980 insurrection as described in section 28:04.990 --> 28:08.260 three of 14 ? The President has put out 28:08.260 --> 28:10.482 multiple statements conveying that what 28:10.482 --> 28:12.970 the president did and his words and his 28:12.980 --> 28:15.840 actions were on . Of course , the 28:15.840 --> 28:19.740 events of January 6th were a threat to 28:19.740 --> 28:22.330 our democracy . But he ran against him 28:22.340 --> 28:25.070 because he was concerned that former 28:25.070 --> 28:27.237 President Trump was unfit for office , 28:27.237 --> 28:30.260 in part because of his past history of , 28:30.340 --> 28:32.680 uh , invoking violence around the 28:32.680 --> 28:34.900 country . So he's President . Trump is 28:34.900 --> 28:37.122 not here because former President Trump 28:37.122 --> 28:39.122 is not here because President Biden 28:39.122 --> 28:41.344 defeated him , the more of the American 28:41.344 --> 28:43.289 people voted for him , and now his 28:43.289 --> 28:45.400 focuses on delivering on his promises 28:45.400 --> 28:47.456 to the American people , unrelated . 28:47.456 --> 28:49.567 Now where does the president stand on 28:49.567 --> 28:52.930 effort in California Recall Avenue ? I 28:52.940 --> 28:55.051 have not . I have not spoken with the 28:55.051 --> 28:57.384 president about the reported the recall , 28:57.384 --> 28:59.607 I should say , or the efforts to recall 28:59.607 --> 29:01.829 from our governor Newsome . Obviously , 29:01.829 --> 29:03.996 he is somebody who he has been engaged 29:03.996 --> 29:06.329 with in the past . They have a range of , 29:06.329 --> 29:08.051 uh , issues . They have common 29:08.051 --> 29:10.162 agreement on from the need to address 29:10.162 --> 29:12.218 climate change to put people back to 29:12.218 --> 29:14.440 work , too . Address the cove in crisis 29:14.840 --> 29:17.560 and way remain closely engaged with him 29:17.560 --> 29:19.690 in his office . Go ahead . I've got a 29:19.690 --> 29:21.746 quick personnel question and then to 29:21.746 --> 29:24.620 follow ups about a year ago in March , 29:24.630 --> 29:27.550 President Biden said that Beto O'Rourke 29:27.560 --> 29:29.920 would be helping him when it came to 29:29.920 --> 29:32.430 his push for gun control . Does Mr 29:32.430 --> 29:34.541 Roarke have any official role here at 29:34.541 --> 29:36.652 the White House ? President discussed 29:36.652 --> 29:38.708 anyone with him . Hey , doesn't have 29:38.708 --> 29:40.708 any official role . Obviously , the 29:40.708 --> 29:42.900 president spoke that back then during 29:42.900 --> 29:44.900 the campaign , and I know still has 29:44.900 --> 29:47.122 admiration for the role . Um , that bit 29:47.122 --> 29:49.233 of work played in elevating the issue 29:49.233 --> 29:51.289 of gun violence and the need for gun 29:51.289 --> 29:53.456 safety measures , but I don't have any 29:53.456 --> 29:55.511 personnel announcements to make on . 29:55.511 --> 29:57.289 Then you talked about hopes for 29:57.289 --> 29:59.750 transparency from China , and you you 29:59.750 --> 30:01.917 talked about the need to get that data 30:01.917 --> 30:03.861 from the World Health Organization 30:03.861 --> 30:05.917 earlier in the pandemic . You know , 30:05.917 --> 30:08.028 you know , April in May , there was a 30:08.028 --> 30:10.194 lot of criticism that the World Health 30:10.194 --> 30:12.680 Organization was praising China for its 30:12.680 --> 30:15.400 transparency at a moment when China 30:15.400 --> 30:17.511 certainly wasn't . Are there any type 30:17.511 --> 30:19.622 of reforms now that the United States 30:19.622 --> 30:21.789 has rejoined the president Biden would 30:21.789 --> 30:23.678 like to see from the World Health 30:23.678 --> 30:25.789 Organization ? Well , um , you know , 30:25.789 --> 30:27.900 one of the reasons , of course , that 30:27.900 --> 30:29.844 we want to take a look at the data 30:29.844 --> 30:32.067 ourselves is because we were not , um , 30:32.067 --> 30:34.230 involved in the planning and 30:34.230 --> 30:36.341 implementation of the investigation . 30:36.341 --> 30:38.870 We also feel , of course , we support 30:38.870 --> 30:41.203 we rejoin the World Health Organization , 30:41.203 --> 30:43.314 but that it's imperative that we have 30:43.314 --> 30:45.426 our own team of experts on the ground 30:45.426 --> 30:47.648 in our embassy in Beijing and otherwise 30:47.648 --> 30:49.759 to make sure we have eyes and ears on 30:49.759 --> 30:51.926 the ground . But I don't have any more 30:51.926 --> 30:54.148 reforms or anything to announce for you 30:54.148 --> 30:56.370 at this point time and then back to the 30:56.370 --> 30:58.314 CBO report that Peter was asking a 30:58.314 --> 31:00.426 second ago , Uh , is there a specific 31:00.426 --> 31:02.900 plan for anyone who would lose their 31:02.900 --> 31:05.840 job if the minimum wage is increased ? 31:05.840 --> 31:09.020 Or is it just , ah , hope that CBO is 31:09.020 --> 31:10.964 wrong about those numbers ? Well , 31:10.964 --> 31:13.076 remember that the plan , the American 31:13.076 --> 31:15.242 rescue plan , why there was a score of 31:15.242 --> 31:17.409 any component of it would put millions 31:17.409 --> 31:19.520 of people toe work . And that is also 31:19.520 --> 31:21.631 something that outside economists and 31:21.631 --> 31:23.687 many studies have shown . And so our 31:23.687 --> 31:26.300 whole objective here is to , um , uh , 31:26.310 --> 31:28.600 make sure I should I should say , make 31:28.600 --> 31:30.322 sure we are getting people the 31:30.322 --> 31:32.489 assistance they need . Make sure we're 31:32.489 --> 31:34.267 putting vaccines in the arms of 31:34.267 --> 31:36.322 Americans . And make sure we're , um 31:36.322 --> 31:38.433 you know , reopening schools . Let me 31:38.433 --> 31:40.544 just remedy something I just said the 31:40.544 --> 31:42.711 president is going to roll out a build 31:42.711 --> 31:44.878 back . Better agenda a jobs package in 31:44.878 --> 31:46.878 the coming weeks . Hard Part of his 31:46.878 --> 31:49.211 objective is combined with this package , 31:49.211 --> 31:51.100 uh , to make sure we are not only 31:51.100 --> 31:53.100 addressing the pandemic , but we're 31:53.100 --> 31:55.156 also reinvigorating the economy . So 31:55.156 --> 31:57.156 his goal with all of these plans to 31:57.156 --> 31:59.267 work with Congress to put people back 31:59.267 --> 32:01.489 to work and the minimum wage increasing 32:01.489 --> 32:03.489 the minimum wage is a way to ensure 32:03.489 --> 32:05.822 that workers were pulled out of poverty , 32:05.822 --> 32:08.156 that millions of workers who are making , 32:08.156 --> 32:10.378 you know , doing honest work and making 32:10.378 --> 32:12.544 a , you know , making an honest living 32:12.544 --> 32:14.767 are not living on the poverty line . He 32:14.767 --> 32:16.600 thinks that's right , and that's 32:16.600 --> 32:18.711 something that should happen . But he 32:18.711 --> 32:18.680 has had no shortage of proposals to put 32:18.680 --> 32:20.791 people back to work , and part of the 32:20.791 --> 32:22.958 reason this was scored is because he's 32:23.160 --> 32:25.271 starting to put proposals for it . Go 32:25.271 --> 32:27.549 ahead . Hunts Just two questions . One , 32:27.549 --> 32:29.716 The first one . The full question from 32:29.716 --> 32:29.420 a colleague in Canada that is , that 32:29.430 --> 32:31.652 Canada's announced that it will require 32:31.652 --> 32:33.486 co vid negative tests for anyone 32:33.486 --> 32:35.374 crossing the land border into the 32:35.374 --> 32:37.374 United States . Does the US plan to 32:37.374 --> 32:39.100 reciprocate ? I don't have any 32:39.100 --> 32:41.540 additional travel restrictions to read 32:41.540 --> 32:43.596 out for you , obviously , are covert 32:43.596 --> 32:45.873 team on our health and medical experts , 32:45.873 --> 32:48.200 um , make recommendations based on what 32:48.200 --> 32:50.367 is necessary to keep people safe , and 32:50.367 --> 32:52.200 they've put in place some travel 32:52.200 --> 32:51.530 restrictions . But I don't have 32:51.530 --> 32:53.420 anything Thio preview for you or 32:53.420 --> 32:56.360 predict on the Canada land crossing 32:56.360 --> 32:58.630 front . Okay on . Then you mentioned 32:58.630 --> 33:00.463 the sort of goal . Is opening up 33:00.463 --> 33:02.630 schools swiftly and safely ? Could you 33:02.630 --> 33:04.852 help us understand what the White House 33:04.852 --> 33:06.963 is or what the president's definition 33:06.963 --> 33:08.852 of open schools is ? Does it mean 33:08.852 --> 33:10.900 teachers in classroom teaching , 33:10.900 --> 33:12.956 students in classroom ? Does it just 33:12.956 --> 33:15.122 mean kids in classroom with the remote 33:15.122 --> 33:17.380 screen help us understand ? Sure , his 33:17.380 --> 33:19.840 school that , he said , is to have the 33:19.840 --> 33:22.450 majority of school so more than 50% 33:22.460 --> 33:26.010 open by day 100 of his 33:26.010 --> 33:28.110 presidency . And that means some 33:28.110 --> 33:30.166 teaching in classrooms , so at least 33:30.166 --> 33:32.221 one day week , hopefully it's more , 33:32.221 --> 33:34.443 and obviously it is as much as his safe 33:34.443 --> 33:36.443 in each school and local district . 33:36.443 --> 33:38.554 Some teaching that you didn't use the 33:38.554 --> 33:40.554 same majority qualifier there . You 33:40.554 --> 33:42.499 just have to have some teaching in 33:42.499 --> 33:44.666 school . Some teachers in school , not 33:44.666 --> 33:46.888 the majority of teachers in school . In 33:46.888 --> 33:48.888 the majority of classrooms . Well , 33:48.888 --> 33:51.110 teaching at least one day a week . Um , 33:51.110 --> 33:53.332 in the majority of schools , by day 100 33:53.332 --> 33:55.554 that's in person . Teaching in person . 33:55.554 --> 33:57.721 Teaching . Yes , thank you . Sure , Go 33:57.721 --> 34:00.440 ahead . Uh huh . Oh , go ahead . Thank 34:00.440 --> 34:02.440 you . Another studio question . The 34:02.440 --> 34:04.440 report that came out yesterday said 34:04.440 --> 34:06.496 that the first four months of fiscal 34:06.496 --> 34:08.920 year 2021 the federal deficit rose 90% 34:08.930 --> 34:11.590 to $738 billion . Obviously , we've 34:11.590 --> 34:13.812 seen economists saying that it's better 34:13.812 --> 34:15.868 to do too much than nothing at all . 34:15.868 --> 34:18.090 But Republicans are expected expressive 34:18.090 --> 34:20.146 stare shops , so as curious what the 34:20.146 --> 34:22.201 president's plan was to decrease the 34:22.201 --> 34:24.090 deficit once the completed in the 34:24.090 --> 34:27.300 Communist stabilized . Well , one thing 34:27.300 --> 34:30.010 that could happen is that the tax cuts 34:30.010 --> 34:32.177 for the highest income could be rolled 34:32.177 --> 34:33.954 back on . But there's kind of a 34:33.954 --> 34:35.677 newfound concern about deficit 34:35.677 --> 34:37.621 reduction among some who supported 34:37.621 --> 34:40.230 those tax cuts . So , um , you know , 34:40.230 --> 34:42.490 that's one suggestion , but the reason 34:42.490 --> 34:44.601 that the president and members of his 34:44.601 --> 34:47.110 economic team feel that , Uh , a 34:47.110 --> 34:49.550 package of this size is so essential at 34:49.550 --> 34:52.650 this moment is because we are dealing 34:52.650 --> 34:54.820 with a pandemic . We're dealing with 34:54.830 --> 34:57.860 uneconomic downturn . People are 34:57.860 --> 34:59.916 suffering . The American people need 34:59.916 --> 35:02.193 assistance . And this emergency relief . 35:02.193 --> 35:04.249 It's something that , um the cost of 35:04.249 --> 35:06.416 doing nothing or the cost of doing too 35:06.416 --> 35:08.416 little is the greater risk , in his 35:08.416 --> 35:10.471 view and the view of many economists 35:10.471 --> 35:12.804 and including his secretary of treasury . 35:12.804 --> 35:15.160 Thank you . Thank you , everyone . I 35:15.160 --> 35:17.271 know you have to go Well , to do this 35:17.271 --> 35:17.960 again tomorrow , please .