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Anyone else pumped for the first White House Press Briefing in four years that won't double as a moment of national shame?
Jen PSAKI has taken the stage for her first White House Press Briefing!
"There will be times when we see things differently in this room...that's okay. That's part of our democracy. And rebuilding trust...will be central to our approach in the press office and the White House."
"There will be times when we see things differently in this room...that's okay. That's part of our democracy. And rebuilding trust...will be central to our approach in the press office and the White House."
Press Sec diving right into the 15 major Day One actions @JoeBiden has taken since taking the oath:
- Mask mandate on fed. property
- Returns the U.S. to the WHO
- Returns the U.S. to Paris Accords
- Extending freeze on evictions
- Extending freexe on student loan payyments
- Mask mandate on fed. property
- Returns the U.S. to the WHO
- Returns the U.S. to Paris Accords
- Extending freeze on evictions
- Extending freexe on student loan payyments
- Rolls back environmentally damaging regulatory reversals championed by Trump cronies
- "Whole of government effort" to pursue racial equity
- Preserves and fortifies DACA protections
- Halted all funding of the Trump Wall
- Sent an immigration reform bill to Congress
- "Whole of government effort" to pursue racial equity
- Preserves and fortifies DACA protections
- Halted all funding of the Trump Wall
- Sent an immigration reform bill to Congress
Psaki takes her first question, about whether she represents Biden or the American people.
PSAKI: "I have deep respect for the role of a free and independent press in a democracy...[Biden] would say he works for the American people, and I work for him."
PSAKI: "I have deep respect for the role of a free and independent press in a democracy...[Biden] would say he works for the American people, and I work for him."
Biden's first call with a foreign leader as president will be with Canada's PM Justin Trudeau, per the White House. Psaki emphasizes Biden's first calls with be with "friends and allies" -- a subtle slap at Trump's habit of meeting with anti-American dictators.
There's a Q about the letter Trump sent to Biden, and whether Biden will be calling Trump.
"This is a letter that was private...it was both generous and gracious. I wouldn't take it as an indication of a pending call with the former president."
"This is a letter that was private...it was both generous and gracious. I wouldn't take it as an indication of a pending call with the former president."
Q: "How do you and Biden plan to combat disinformation?"
A: "Accurate information, and truth, and data, and sharing information even when it is hard to hear. Even when it is not meeting the expectations of people at home."
A: "Accurate information, and truth, and data, and sharing information even when it is hard to hear. Even when it is not meeting the expectations of people at home."
Psaki says we can expect a return of public Coronvirus Task Force meetings, this time led by scientists instead of a ranting, pandemic-denying nutcase.
Question now about when Biden expects to have his Cabinet in place.
PSAKI: "We've prioritized getting our national security team in place...we're eager for those to move forward...ideally tomorrow, by Friday."
PSAKI: "We've prioritized getting our national security team in place...we're eager for those to move forward...ideally tomorrow, by Friday."
Q: "Has Biden invited Congressional leaders to discuss his #COVID19 proposals?"
PSAKI: "He's been discussing it with D's and R's long before he was sworn in. Today he had conversations about working together, getting his team in place."
PSAKI: "He's been discussing it with D's and R's long before he was sworn in. Today he had conversations about working together, getting his team in place."
"Soon," Psaki says when asked when Biden will meet with Hill leaders in person to get action on #COVID19 economic stimulus.
"He will be very involved. He will not be the only one, we have a whole team of senior staff here."
"He will be very involved. He will not be the only one, we have a whole team of senior staff here."
More Q's on how Biden will get @GOP support for more #COVID19 spending.
PSAKI: "We hope and we expect Republicans and Democrats will support assistance to the people they represent...[Biden's] clear preference is a bipartisan bill" but notes they'll pass it alone if needed.
PSAKI: "We hope and we expect Republicans and Democrats will support assistance to the people they represent...[Biden's] clear preference is a bipartisan bill" but notes they'll pass it alone if needed.
White House reporters are already worrycasting about the cost of Biden's #COVID19 stimulus plan.
"What are you going to cut? Funding for vaccinations? Funding for unemployment insurance?" Psaki hits back. "Funding for opening schools?"
"What are you going to cut? Funding for vaccinations? Funding for unemployment insurance?" Psaki hits back. "Funding for opening schools?"
Really remarkable how tough questions about how we'll pay for ambitious government proposals only resurfaced with a Democrat in the White House.
Q on the ANWR drilling temporary moratorium and whether Biden wants to go broader.
"The leases will be reviewed," Psaki says. "All of our EO's were reviewed by career staff...we went through that process in advance, that took a great deal of work."
"The leases will be reviewed," Psaki says. "All of our EO's were reviewed by career staff...we went through that process in advance, that took a great deal of work."
Q: What are the next steps with Iran? Will Biden rejoin the nuclear deal?
PSAKI: "The U.S. should look to lengthen and strengthen nuclear constraints" on Iran. Psaki says Biden will likely be discussing next steps on Iran with America's international partners.
PSAKI: "The U.S. should look to lengthen and strengthen nuclear constraints" on Iran. Psaki says Biden will likely be discussing next steps on Iran with America's international partners.
Question on how Biden is doing tonight.
"He felt like he was coming home," Psaki says, describing Biden as "calm" and "asking questions about policy and #COVID19 and what's next."
"He felt like he was coming home," Psaki says, describing Biden as "calm" and "asking questions about policy and #COVID19 and what's next."
I'm not judging Jen Psaki against her immediate predecessor, but against how every Press Secretary has performed on their first outing.
By that standard, Psaki is definitely handling herself and the press better than a lot of her predecessors.
By that standard, Psaki is definitely handling herself and the press better than a lot of her predecessors.
Asked if Biden will file for re-election today as Trump did on this day in 2016, Psaki says Biden isn't "thinking about politics" right now, and that thoughts on a second term will come at some point down the road.
Psaki gets a Q on what Biden will do with the Hyde Amendment and the Mexico City Policy, anti-abortion policies beloved by the @GOP.
"[Biden] is a devout Catholic. He started his day attending church with his family. I don't have anything more for you on that."
"[Biden] is a devout Catholic. He started his day attending church with his family. I don't have anything more for you on that."
When is the part where Biden storms into the briefing room and tells Americans to try injecting bleach into their veins?
Good Q just now on what actions Biden will take to back up his lofty words about national unity.
"He's going to venture to do that in every policy he pursues. If we do that, he thinks we'll be a stronger country." A pretty decent pirouette away from the question.
"He's going to venture to do that in every policy he pursues. If we do that, he thinks we'll be a stronger country." A pretty decent pirouette away from the question.
Q: "Does President Biden believe President Trump needs to be held accountable for the Capitol insurrection?" and what does that look like?
"[Biden] is going to leave it to members of Congress to carry out their constitutional duty."
"[Biden] is going to leave it to members of Congress to carry out their constitutional duty."
Q: Is Biden being updated on the progress of the FBI investigation into the insurrection? Does Biden trust Wray?
Yes, Biden is being kept up to date. "I have not spoken to him specifically about Director Wray, but I'll report back if there's something to convey."
Yes, Biden is being kept up to date. "I have not spoken to him specifically about Director Wray, but I'll report back if there's something to convey."
Jen Psaki is living proof that you can effectively dodge questions without resorting to lies, personal grievance, or manufactured victimhood. You do that by...being good at media relations.
Imagine that!
Imagine that!
Question on what Biden's biggest global priority is.
"His first goal globally is rebuilding our partnerships and alliances around the world" and getting America back to the big table.
"His first goal globally is rebuilding our partnerships and alliances around the world" and getting America back to the big table.
"Let's do this again tomorrow!"
And @jrpsaki is DONE with her first outing as White House Press Secretary! A long, long, long overdue return to normalcy and integrity from a White House looking to lead by example.
And @jrpsaki is DONE with her first outing as White House Press Secretary! A long, long, long overdue return to normalcy and integrity from a White House looking to lead by example.
It shouldn't be so surprising that Jen Psaki, a professional, prepped herself for this major moment. But after four years of Press Secretaries who seemed completely lost behind the podium, even core competency is jarring.
And unlike most press conferences over the past four years, I actually came away from Psaki's first presser with some handle on what is going on in the White House. Bless.
