Channel 1 Los Angeles
1/25/2021
There’s important work already underway across the inter-agency in countering DVE. And we need to understand better its current extent and where there may be gaps to address so we can determine the best path forward. The third will be coordinating relevant parts of the federal government to enhance and accelerate efforts to address DVE. This considered, NSC convened process will focus on addressing evolving threats, radicalization, the role of social media, opportunities to improve information sharing, operational responses, and more. Just a couple more items. As you all know, right now, the president and vice president are having lunch. This is something they look forward to doing every week. There’ll be discussing their agenda, particularly getting relief to working families and containing the COVID crisis. And I’m sure they’ll talk about the last 48 hours as well. Later today, the president will speak with Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau. We’ve confirmed that earlier this week. He’ll also speak with President of Mexico Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.
Jen Psaki:
We’ll have readouts of both of those calls when they happen. Yesterday evening, the First Lady held a virtual event to honor and show gratitude for the hard work of educators across the country, especially during this difficult time of COVID-19. She was accompanied by the presidents of both the American Federation of Teachers and National Education Association. Over 11,000 educators attended the virtual meeting. Today, she will tour the Whitman Walker clinic in Washington, DC to highlight and promote support services for cancer patients and caregivers.
Jen Psaki:
And while I know that was in our guidance, we want to use this platform here to also share with you information about both the vice-president and the first lady moving forward. One more item as well. Earlier this morning or late this morning, I should say the president called General Daniel Hokinson, who is the head of the National Guard to thank him for not just his work of the last few weeks, but the work of the National Guard over the last several years. He talked about his own personal commitment and connection to the National Guard, given his son had served previously. And he offered assistance, any assistance needed of both the government, but also on a personal level and asked him to reach out if there was anything that he ever needed. I will stop there. Just a few updates. So why don’t you kick us off?
Speaker 3:
Thank you. I know this has been asked of you several times, but now that there is an impeachment trial imminent, does President Biden have an opinion on whether former President Trump should be convicted? And then secondly, with how this is going, you’re now getting a little bit of momentum on confirmations. You have all that you need to get going on coronavirus, on the economy and so forth. Is this just going to slow everything down and does it also take away from the ability to unify?
Jen Psaki:
Well, first remarkably at this moment in history, we have some recent precedent of the Senate conducting an impeachment trial while also doing the business of the American people. And when the trial was being conducted last January, there were also hearings that were happening nearly on a daily basis. And we expect that type of work to continue. I’ll also note purely on an operational level, the House can also proceed and continue to do the work on the American Rescue Plan, move that forward. And we certainly expect and hope that they will do that. But what the president’s view is what can not be delayed through this process is his proposal to get relief to the American people at this time of crisis. So he remains confident after serving decades in the Senate, that the Senate, members of both parties can walk into gum at the same time and can move forward with the business of the American people.
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