Thank you for listening to Depictures Media Radio. Welcome to Policy and Rights,
the show about the government, policy and human rights. Welcome back to Policy
Rights. Here in Depictions Media Radio, I'm your host, Michael Cloggs.
You know, there's a lot going on out there, and there's a lot
of agendas, and each government seems to have one of those agendas going and
there are things that each president tries to fix, each Prime minister tries to
fix, and they try to get it through this system as best as they
possibly can. And immigration is is a big hot button for a lot of
countries because in some respects, while innocent is as it may be, that
illegal immigrants can actually deplete resources away away from citizens. Well, of course,
that that is the thought and and everything that legitimate citizens quote unquote feed
into the government system and they ensure that things are going to go go the
right way, and illegal immigrants they deplete the system, they take resources away,
they take food, they take jobs, and all that sort of stuff.
Well, there are some arguments for and some against that. One of
the arguments, of course, that that is being used for it is the
reason why we keep seeing the revamping of immigration laws and border patrols in order
to stop illegal immigrants from coming into the country, to have immigrants and refugees
come into the country a certain way so that they can be tagged and printed,
given social Security cards and numbers, all those sort of things that the
government wants them people to have so that they can be taxed according to the
amount of income that they actually make. So we're going to hear in this
next press conference from the White House about how President Joe Biden has been trying
to fix the immigration and the United States, especially those coming from South America
and through Arizona, Texas, California. Okay, we're also going to hear
about out Another agenda, of course, is weapons that Vladimir Putin is using
against the Ukraine and how they because they can't get it from more prominent sources.
They can't get weapons from from Germany, Europe, Canada, all all
all of the normal countries that they would get the weapons from that they are
reverting to other countries like North Korea and other places like that that that we
also say are actually promoting terrorism around the world. So, and this is
in reference to a missile test by the Koreans to show, of course that
Hey, true putin we have missiles, you can buy them from us,
and we don't care if you fire on Ukraine. We don't fire. We
don't care if you fire on any other innocent country. It's just as long
as you keep buying missiles from us and you don't use our own missiles against
us. So a couple of agendas, you know, the normal government agendas
that we hear about. But let's hear what the White House represent press representative
actually had to say about these particular topics and other topics that are happening around
the world. We don't Good afternoon, everyone, one. Apologies for the
late start. The administrator was meeting with the President giving the President an update
and we wanted to make sure we had her with us before we came out
given the day. So again, good afternoon everyone. This morning, hurricaney
Dahlia made landfall in Florida as a major hurricane. Our administration is prepared to
support any needs that may arise as Idalia moves through Florida and into Georgia.
Personnel and resources from across the federal government and from our voluntary and nonprofit partners
are ready to assist. Later today, the American people will hear directly.
They will look directly from the President. He will speak about our efforts to
respond to her to hurricaney Dallia, and our ongoing commitment to help the residence
of Maui recover after the tragic wildfires earlier this month as well. But before
I turn it over to the FEMA administrator for an update on hurricaney Dahlia,
we want to make sure all of those experiencing the effects of Idalia are or
are on the path to make sure that they are staying safe. If you're
experiencing hurricane wind storm surge and don't venture outside, listen to warnings of local
officials and shelter in place. Do not enter floodwaters since there can be chemicals
and debris. If you are in the projected path of the hurricane, please
remain alert, closely monitoring any changes in it to its path. Listen to
local and state officials for guidance and evacuation notices, and finish your preparedness.
The President and our entire administration. Our entire administration are committed to supporting all
communities impacted by the hurricane. We will be with you every step of the
way, as we have been when we have where you have to deal with
these types of disastrous situation, hurricanes, extreme weather. This is an administration
that will be with this community from before it started, as you all know
from what you heard from the President earlier this week, and also the administrator
an administrator after it hits, and we will be there until they are able
to rebuild with that administrator cour as well. Welcome back. All right,
good morning everybody in Thanks Karren, and I'll just jump right in. I
did just have an opportunity to brief the President on our current response efforts for
Hurricane Delia, which, as all of you know, made landfall early this
morning. While we were in there, the President contacted Governor to Santis to
let him know that the federal family continues to be there to support him.
The governor expressed that all of his needs are met currently. The President reiterated
that if anything is needed from the federal government, we will be able to
support, and we have over a thousand personnel currently deployed prepared to support not
just Florida, but all of our states that are in the path as needed.
While I was in there, the governor also or the President also directed
me to travel immediately into the area, and I will be traveling later this
afternoon to join Governor to Santis tomorrow to do assessments and see firsthand what the
impacts from this storm are, and I can be able to report back to
the President exactly what I see, what we think the needs might be,
and where the federal family can continue to assist. Before I touched more on
Hurricane Eydalia, I also want to address on the second reason that I am
here at the White House today. Today I will also join President Biden alongside
his cabinet and agency officials who are supporting the response and the recovery efforts on
the ground in Hawaii as we continue to help the people of Maui rebuild and
recover over the long term. This whole of government approach is what is needed
to get the right resources to the people of Maui, the resources and the
assistance that they need and that they deserve. Now back a little bit to
what we know so far on Hurricane Idalium. While it is still too soon
to assess the total damages, we know that the storm made landfall as a
Category three, which means over one hundred and twenty mile per hour winds,
and up to ten inches of rain in some areas peak storm surge in some
places along the coast. It has peaked right now, but it could surpass
once they measure over fifteen feet of storm surge, and we'll get exact numbers
as they're able to go in and assess what the total storm surge was.
And in fact, Adalia is the strongest storm to hit this part of Florida
to make landfall in this part of Florida in over one hundred years. But
FEMA and the entire Biden Harris administration, we were prepared and we were ready
to support the needs of this storm. As I mentioned, we have actually
over fifteen hundred federal responders that are on the ground in the affected area.
This includes over three hundred personnel from FEMA as well as over five hundred urban
search and rescue personnel ready to support any of the state's requests as of seven
thirty this morning, and I know these numbers are dynamic and fluid, but
as of seven thirty this morning, there are nearly three hundred thousand customer outages
for power in Florida, and we do expect those numbers to continue to rise
as the storm passes through and goes into Georgia, and we'll see power outage
numbers for Georgia, South Carolina, and perhaps North Carolina. Our partners at
the US Army Corps of Engineers are prepositioned to support power restoration and they have
over thirty generators that are pre staged. Additionally, the utilities are preparing for
storm impacts, including pre staging crews and equipment outside of the projected storm track,
and the state anticipates a total of about thirty thousand to forty thousand linemen
in Florida to begin to assist in the power restoration efforts. People that are
still in the storm's path, however, as you heard from Korean, they
should not venture out into the storm and remain sheltering in place if your local
officials are telling you to do so. However, if you are in trouble
and you need immediate assistance, please call nine one one. As you do
go out, do not wade in the water, Do not drive through flooded
roads streets. Just remember, turn around, don't drown. Unfortunately, we
see so many fatalities after the storm passes. We want to make sure that
everybody is taking the right precautions to keep themselves safe, and as always,
please continue to listen to your local officials. As this storm continues to pass
over Georgia currently and into South Carolina. Please check on your friends and your
family and your loved ones, especially older adults and people living with disabilities,
to see if they have any needs. In closing, I just want to
remind people that this is still very much an active situation. Remnants of the
storm are still affecting Florida as we speak. The storm is over Georgia and
moving into South Carolina. People there and in the Carolinas will continue to experience
impacts throughout the day today and possibly into the weekend. Again. FEMA is
well postured with our federal partners to support Floridians during this time of need and
stands ready to support other affected states as needed. With that, I can
take any questions. Thank you, administrator. What are you most concerned about
over the next day or two, since you just said it's too early right
now to assess the extent of damage Florida. Yeah, my biggest concern is
those people who chose not to evacuate, and I know that our local first
responders, the heroes that are out there in those local communities are doing amazing
job already of going into the areas where people did not evacuate and helping to
get them to safety. I think that is our priority through the day today,
is to make sure that everybody is safe after this storm has passed.
As we go into the next few days, we're going to want to assess
what the total amount of damages and see what immediate needs need to be put
forth in order to help support and start the recovery process. Administrate Chriswell,
thank you so much. Could you just take us a little bit into that
briefing that you had with the president today? What is he most concerned about?
What was he most focused on? Any other direction he gave to you
other than supply down to Florida. And then secondly, you said that Governors
de Santis is satisfied with the federal response, doesn't need anything additional. Is
there anything else discussed on that goal? Yeah, the President's main concern is
making sure that we are bringing everything that we have into support these states as
they're having an immediate response and life saving needs or beginning to start their assessment
and their recovery process. I think it's incredibly important that our governors know that
we are ready, impostured to bring in all federal resources to support any of
their life saving and their life sustaining needs in the very near future. The
conversation with Governor De Santis was that, you know, reiterating the fact that
we already have over fifteen hundred personnel they're in the area to be able to
support, and the governor currently has no unmet needs. But as we begin
to assess, right as the governor assesses, and as I get on the
ground tomorrow to assess, we'll see what additional needs might be there, and
if any of those resources need to be employed, or we need to move
more into the area residents yet with the governors of Georgia or South Carolina as
well, or any plans for that's happening. I believe he was preparing to
contact them after I left. How I could come to this breefing good YEA
thank you administrator. To what extent do you attribute climate change as a cause
of this storm and the other weather events that we're seeing over the last weeks
and months. Yeah, you know, I'm not going to attribute the cause
of the storm, but what I can say is that we are seeing an
increase in the number of severe weather events. And what we saw with this
storm, as we have seen with several of our hurricanes over the last few
years, is that they are intensifying more rapidly due to the elevated heat of
the water temperature in the Gulf or in the Pacific, or whether it's in
the Atlantic. These storms are intensifying so fast that our local emergency management officials
have less time to warn and evacuate and get people to safety. This is
something that we have to take into consideration as we build our prepared plans,
as our local communities build their preparedness plans on how they're going to communicate and
prepare their communities for the types of storms that they're going to face in the
future. More specifically, on this storm, do you have any sensors And
too early now to say what the cost of recovery will require will be.
Yeah, it's far too early to even estimate what the cost is. It's
still unsafe in many parts to even go out. That's what's going to happen
over the next several days is to really get a good understanding, an initial
estimate of what we think the costs will be and what the amount of impact
to these communities has been. That's a lot just to follow on that with
what you've seen so far. How long do you think it will take to
get that full assessment and how long will it take to understand the costs of
recovery efforts? And we have rapid assessment teams that have been prepositioned, ready
to go out as soon as it's safe to do so, and so those
are personnel that will integrate in with the state personnel to go see what the
damages are. But we also use technology, right We use aerial imagery and
satellite technology, and we use our geospatial information to get a better idea,
so we don't have to physically put people out there, and it allows us
to make these types of decisions much quicker than we've been able to in the
past. And so again, it will take several days to get a full
understanding of what the initial assessment a damage assessment is, but it will take
longer to get the full picture of the total amount of impact to these communities.
In yesterday you had said that famous disaster of really fund was running row.
With what we've seen from this storm so far, there's also the Maui
fires. Do you think there's enough funding? Are you confident there's enough that
there's another extreme weather event in the next month. Yeah, So yesterday,
as I announced, I directed my personnel to implement what we call immediate needs
funding, and that prioritizes the remaining funding within the Disaster Relief Fund to support
those life saving efforts. I believe through this effort, we have plenty of
funding to be able to support our ongoing efforts in Maui as well as this
event to include Florida, Georgia, South Carolina as needed. But we are
monitoring it very closely. Right every day, we are looking at what the
cost of these storms are as we approach the end of this fiscal year,
and if we have another storm, we're going to have to closely monitor what
impact that's going to have in any other actions we might have to take.
Minis right. Thank you for being here as we do approach the end of
the fiscal year. As you just noted, just getting a little bit down
the road, these take weeks months to recover FEMA's involvement. We'll go on
for quite a long time. Back in twenty thirteen, when there was a
government shutdown, FEMA had to furlough it's non essential staff. Right now,
what potential impact would a government shutdown as lawmakers have considerations about whether the fund
of the government have on FEMA's ability to care for those in both Maui and
in Florida. I mean, we always want to take account to what our
personnel are doing and in how rents. A government shutdown does not impact our
personnel that are funded through the Disaster Relief Fund and so they're able to continue
operating and supporting all of the immediate efforts and life saving efforts that continue to
go on. And we also for our other staff, I can designate our
emergency personnel to support any life saving efforts. And so we have plans in
place as we have gone through this before and how we would staff our our
agency to continue to support those efforts. Follow about the critical needs assistance that
was provided to those in Maui seven hundred dollars in payments to individuals they are
given the cost of living in Hawaii, specifically in the behind a community.
Is anything being done right now? Are their considerations or efforts being made to
try to raise that cap that seven hundred dollars figure for those who are there.
Yeah, the seven hundred dollars figure of critical needs assistance is really just
that amount of funding for some of the very immediate needs that individuals have.
Every year. The main part of our assistance, which is our individual and
household program, adjusts annually based on inflation. This year, it's forty one
thousand dollars of a cap that individuals can get that will get raised after the
fiscal year. I don't know what that number is yet, but we do
adjust that main portion of the funding that goes to individuals annually based on inflations
seven hundred for now, and then they can pursue those other moneys going for
it. But if people have run through that money right now, they're on
their own until they get access to the further assistance company. Yeah, and
we already have. I think it was twelve thousand individuals that registered for assistance
in Maui and somewhere over fifteen million dollars that's out on the street. That
number could be higher right now from that other program, that's right. I
know that you and the governor and local sufficials, state officials have all told
people that they get out of the way of this storm. So my first
question is are you satisfied that people heated those calls, both from you and
local and state officials. And then secondly, you mentioned the search and recovery
teams that are sort of deployed and ready to go. What's your assessment so
far on what those needs look like if people are sort of stranded right now?
Yeah, So on the first question, I think many people did heed
the warning, but unfortunately many did not. Right We're already getting reports of
people that chose to stay, and they're getting calls into the local first responders
to come in and assist them. And if anybody needs assistance, they should,
they should call nine to one one and those first responders will come in
and help. As far as the entire footprint of those resources that are available,
it's a combined effort recognizing the capability that the state already has with all
of their resources, and we have additional resources that are integrated in with that
operation. So if we need to immediately augment, we have resources that are
ready to deploy. I'm as soon as requested, without hesitation and without interruption.
Is it clear yet how many people may be stranded? Oh? I
don't have a number on how many you know from the initial assessment, What
would you say are the most damaged areants and what was the response from the
population in those areas to the government's distructions. I would say that initial reports
are in that Big Bend area that have had the greatest impact. They have
experienced the greatest amount of storm surge, they experienced the greatest wind speeds,
and so when we do get out to start assessments, that would be my
anticipation of where we would experience the greatest amount of damage and impact across Florida.
How do people respond in those areas? Again, I think many people
did heed the warnings, and there was a lot of public messaging that went
out there to let people understand that the danger is not just the cone of
the hurricane, but it's the storm surge and the water which is creating and
causing the most fatalities in these events. But again, many people did not.
As we are hearing about our first responders going in to support rescuing people
from their homes that are now stranded, Okay, we're going to we'll have
it up the way the back and then educate Danes on the immediate needs finding.
I'm curious if you have recognized the potential long term ongoing recovery efforts that
could be at risk here. So if I understand the long term recovery efforts
based on right now or what it looks like going into the next fiscal year,
going into the next fiscal year, or which ones are at risk here
if you do not get the funding up. Yeah, So what immediate needs
funding does is the work does not stop, right the projects continue to go
underway. Our longer term recovery projects for the variety of disasters that we've experienced
over the year, the obligation or the reimbursement of the funding for those is
delayed into the next fiscal year. If it gets delayed into the next fiscal
year, then that just starts us out at a smaller balance of what we
had anticipated our needs would be for fiscal year twenty four. There any ongoing
efforts though that you've identified that would be at risk if it comes to that.
Again, the funding or the work itself does not stop. It's the
funding that just gets delayed into the next fiscal year. Last question, what
think you, FAI Administrator, Because there's still a lot of questions among officials
in Maui and the high and across the wife, But who was in charge
in the hours as the fires burned and then the hours after. You're a
veteran local emergency management official, state of emergy managed official, non federal level,
how do you assess how officials there responded? Are there lessons to be
learned perhaps for other communities? And is your agency prepared to work with Congressional
Republicans if they launched investigations as they say they will. Again, I was
not there during the response, and so I would be out of line to
assess how they responded during the time because I did not experience what they were
experiencing. What the federal government does is we come in and we support their
efforts. And that's exactly what we did, and we will continue to support
their recovery and their rebuilding efforts as they moved forward. Would you be properly
brief fight femal authorities in Hawaii that would have been working with those officials?
What I was briefed on throughout the time as my regional administrator, Bob Fenton,
happened to be in Oahu for another meeting and he was engaging with the
team and giving us updates as to the spread of the fire and what the
population was impacted, and what the potential federal resources would be needed to come
help support the initial response in the ongoing recovery efforts and progression. Republican is
one you or other agency officials to testify hour went on in Hawaii. I'm
happy to testify on what the federal role was in this process. All right,
thanks everybody, Thank you so much. Right, thank you most tomorrow,
thank you. All right, one thing before we continue, Thank again
the Administrator for coming today and yesterday to provide all of you an update.
So, as Acting Labor Secretary Sue announced today, the Department of Labor is
supporting one of the basic tenants of binomics that a hard's day work should lead
to a fair day's pay. This proposed rule would deliver on the tenant by
restoring and extending overtime protections to three point six million salaried workers. The Biden
Harris administration recognizes the benefits of a growing economy are only broadly shared when you
have politics that empower workers. We'll continue working to build an economy that works
for working families. The President and the Vice President are committed to ensuring that
all workers are paid fairly for their hard work. With that, darling,
you want to kick us off, yes, thank you. Two questions.
First, on Africa. The President had promised him December that he would visit
this year. It's now September, a trip has not been announced. Just
wondering if today's ku and the bond, their recent Kumana Jaire and others in
recent years make it any less likely that people visit. How will those destabilizing
events factor into whether he ultimately goes or not. So as you ask me
about if there's any US concerns domino effect potentially as we're seeing what's happening over
the last couple of months or so. Look, we remain focused on working
with our African partners and the people to address challenges and support democracy. That
is something that the President is stepfast on, which is also the best foundation
for development, social cohesion, and stability in Africa. President by And has
been clear about the United States commitment to deepen and expand our partnership between the
United States and African countries, institutions, and people as well. We stand
with the African people in working towards these goals. I don't have anything to
announce about a potential scheduled trip for this year. The President is still very
much committed to going to the continent. As you know, the Vice President
has been there, the first lady has been there, so you've seen a
commitment throughout and also other secretaries clearly in this administration. So you've seen a
commitment from us of the for the continent. We had a very successful,
as you all know, meeting with African leaders just last winter that went very
well, and that commitment continues. As soon as we have a date and
a location clearly laid out, we certainly will share that with all of you.
But a second question close to her home. Will the President's stay in
Washington this weekend given what's going on in Florida. We don't know the extent
of damage the week had had him leaving on Friday, as you just heard
directly from the administrator. We do not have an assessment. Obviously, she's
going to be going to Florida tomorrow at the President's direction, and she will
be with the Governor DeSantis throughout the day. I can confirm before coming out
here, the President did connect with Governor Kemp of the governor of Georgia,
obviously, and so that conversation did happen. She's also going to try and
connect with the governor South Carolina. So, as the administrator said, the
situation is still very dynamic. I don't have any changes or any additions to
the president travel. You're going to hear from the President directly, who's going
to speak about They continued efforts to prepare and respond to her Kady Dalia.
Following those remarks, as you all know, he's going to be meeting with
his cabinet and agency officials to continue our coordination of federal response. So that
will happen. He will always continue to be engaged directly with local elected officials.
I just we just mentioned that he spoke to the governor of Florida,
spoke to the governor of Georgia. He's going to reach out to certainly other
elected officials to ensure they have what they need on the ground, the resources
that they need to deal with the impacts the certainly the aftermath of this particular
hurricane, when when we are able to assess and see what and they are
able to see what their needs are. You here say this often you've heard
it from the administrative you've heard is from from US. We this president is
committed to being there for the community, for the people who are certainly have
been impacted by this hurricane h you know, today, tomorrow, as long
as it takes to help them all get back on their feet. So that
will not change obviously, catcha it's great, two four pouncy questions. They
Kremlin acknowledged today that the plane crash that killed for sure may have been a
deliberate as the White House, I have a response to that. So,
I mean, I was, you know, kind of asked this question yesterday.
I don't have any new assessment or anything to share with what the Kremlin
or Russia the government may have shared. Uh, what we what I have
said yesterday continues to be the case. It pre It seems pretty evident what
happened here. Uh you know, as the President said recently, and I'll
quote him, there's not much that happens in Russia that Putin is not is
not behind. And that was not just predictable, but it was predicted,
very same words I used yesterday. So we all know that Kremlin has a
long history in killing its opponents. We know, how how forthcoming and and
if you if you, if I will out forth right progojin was uh in
the in in these past past several weeks or a couple of months. Uh,
and so this is not surprising. I just don't have any new assessment,
regardless of what the Gremlin or the government of Russia wants to share,
what I carry at least rated a g gave wedding and arrested sixty seven people
there today. Let me get the White House is tracked that as a preaction.
So this is the first time hearing of that. I haven't spoken to
our teams here about that particular that particular incident. Look, you know,
we've been very clear the President when it comes to l GPTQ community is he
has been an ally and supports that community. He will continue to do so.
He will always speak out when it comes to any type of humanitarian you
know, mistreatment even across the globe, and he has always been very forthright
and talking to leaders about that. As it releases this particular event, I
just don't have a comment for you at this time. Thanks Green. There's
a report in Bloomer that the President sorry that the Assistant Secretary of Health has
recommended rescheduling marijuana as a Schedule three drug. I'm wondering if the President would
support that move. And secondly, just where does the President currently stand the
issue of decriminalizing Maryland. So, look, the President actually asked the Secretary
of HHS and also the Attorney General to initiate the administrative process to review how
marijuana is scheduled. As you know, the administration process is an independent process
led by HHS, led by the Department of Justice, and guided by evidence.
So so not going to comment on that. We're going to let that
process move forward. And again it's going to be an independent process that's led
by HHS and DOJ. So any specifics on that, I would refer you
to HHS. We're broadly on the question of decriminalizing, which can be going
further than this. I mean, well, he's asking HHS and DOJ to
to take a look at it, to do an initial administrative kind of process
or review, if you will. It's going to be an independent process,
they're going to certainly use the evidence that it's going to be guided by evidence,
and so I'm going to leave it to HHS and DOJ to to move
that process. And so We're just not going to comment Speci Presidence about or
a week away from the heading off to India for the G twenty he's scheduled
to being rob at this weekend. Given all of those scheduling concerns, how
likely is it that the president would make it down to Florida before heading abroad.
Is that a goal of his that you would like to try and get
down there before he goes out of the country. So don't have any schedule
additions or travel to add at this time or to share it at this time.
Clearly, as you just heard, the Administrator is going to go there
tomorrow, is going to be with the governor, and that is at the
President's direction when it comes to any type of travel as it relates to certainly
these types of unfortunate disasters, the President doesn't want to take away clearly from
what's going on on the ground. As you know, the President has a
big footprint when he travels, So we want to make sure that the community,
the elected officials or local leaders, certainly the people have and get what
they need in this time after it is we have the assessment and we see
the aftermath of Hurricane Idalia. So don't have anything to share something that So
the President always looks forward and always wants to be there for the people who
are affected by these types of disasters, and certainly you've seen him in many
different states be there and talk directly to Americans who are who are there and
living through this moment. But we just want to be incredibly mindful. This
is a dynamic situation and we want to make sure they have everything that they
need at this time. Okay, obviously lots of issues facing president presidency this
week, but two others that sort of gauge the sense of presidential awareness or
involvement. You were asked yesterday about the situation in Guatemala. I noticed the
Secretary State reiterated support for the results. There is that something that's reached the
President's attention and who has expressed a lot of concern about democracy versus autocracies in
the world. This is a situation two norths down from the United States,
see aware of it, and would he be willing to meet with mister Rablow
where he to come to Washington before becoming president. So the President obviously is
kept up up to date by his National Security Council and his foreign policy advisors.
And all of any dynamic or any situations globally. Clearly that is something
that the president is is kept kept abreast. I just don't have anything to
share on any future upcoming meeting at this time. As you know, we
congratulated the new leader, uh and uh and clearly all his election was confirmed
by by the certified vote results. Uh. And so just don't have anything
to share or anything to announce about a potential meeting. You were also as
yesterday about potential White House involvement or at least awareness of the UAW labor situation.
How about the Writers Guild Screen Actors Guild negotiations we're about day one hundred
and twenty plus or the writers forty seven plus with SAGAFTRAU. These are members
and these are companies that have close at least political ties to this president.
I'm just curious if he's been briefed at all or talk to anybody involved in
those in the administration. I mean, look, regardless of political ties,
right, this is a president that has been that has been called by many
labor folks right that he is the most pro union president ever. Uh.
And so this is a president that believes in collective bargaining. Uh. This
is a president that believes certainly of the right of workers to strike. We've
been very clear about that. And as it relates to the writers and also
the actors, we believe they have the right to to be able to to
to you know, to ask for fair wages and fair benefits. That's why
collective bargaining is so important, and we have seen it worked over even the
past several years while this president has been president during his tenure. So that's
what the President is going to continue to call for, for folks to come
to the table in good faith, have those conversations, do that collective bargaining
that the President supports. UH. And so I don't have anything else beyond
to share. But again, this is the most pro union president and this
is a he is incredibly proud of that. Records in the hours and days
ahead, how frequently just President Biden intend to get briefed off the storm regularly,
daily, multi multiple times a day. You're going to hear from him
in a few minutes. You heard that the administrator was here today briefing him.
He was here, She was here yesterday in person briefing him. This
is something that the President is keeping a very close eye on as all of
you are following this very closely. This is important. It doesn't matter if
we are in a this is not about politics. We should take politics out
of any type of disaster that we see that the American people are having to
suffer or deal with. And so this is not about politics. This is
for the president. This is about being a president president for all Americans,
and so he is going to be closely watching this, getting updated regularly to
make sure that the people in Georgia, in South Carolina, in Florida are
getting exactly what they need. And so that's going to be the presents focus.
Thanks. I wanted to ask about a possible government shutdown. Some conservatives
have been on the hill. I've been talking about it not being a big
deal, all that no one will really notice. Can you talk a little
bit specifically about what would continue to work during a shutdown and what would stop
so aday, I appreciate the question. I'm not going to get into hypotheticals.
Here's what we know, and here's what I have said when I have
been asked this question. It is that there's no reason, there's absolutely no
reason at all for Congress to shut down the government. There isn't and this
is a question for a Congress to answer. This should not be happening,
and they should fund these vital, vital government programs that the American people rely
on, and these are critical needs we've requested. When you think about what
we've requested and asked for when it comes to emergency funding, right when it
comes to what we came to the table for when it comes to the budget
agreement, this was a bipartisan agreement from both sides. And so there's no
reason, no reason at all that Congress should be should be going down the
path of shutting down this government. Can you confirm the at least that federal
and criminal proceedings would continue in a shutdown, including those involving the former prestice?
That would you would have to ask the Speaker of the House and Congress
on that question. That is not something that I can speak to to hear
you. You would have to reach out to Department of Justice. You would
have to reach out to Congress. Whatever it is that they're doing on that
side. That is something for the Department of Justice to speak to. That
is not something for me to speak to. But I will say that when
it as it relates to the engagement that we have been having with the Hill
on whether it's the whether it is government funding or any kind of legislative process.
Look, we have our OMB Director, shelanda Young, our Legislative Affairs
Office, have been in regular contact with them. We are engaging with Congressional
members on the Hill, and that's going to certainly continue. Ask quickly the
President. President Biden awarded the Presidential Citizens Medal to Fulton County election workers Rudy
Freeman and Shay Moss in the past. Federal judge today ruled in favor of
those women who had sued Rudy Giuliani for defamation, ordering that the attorney that
Giuliani pay sanctions. Just your thoughts on this now that it has been completed,
it's no longer in the hands of the courts. The judge has delivered
her ruling. What do you make of that? I'm just not going to
comment on that at this time. Thanks Green. Senate Minority Leader mister McConnell
had another episode in which he froze walked answering questions today. Another president spoke
to him. The last time it has happened and when he has had previous
health issues. Do you know if the President is aware of this and now
or not he's what. I haven't going to the president, so I don't
know if he's aware of this. And then secondly, on Labor Day,
I wanted to hollow up and see if there are any announcements for a power
presdent's going to mark Labor dayship And just just to step back on your question
about Center McConnell, Clearly we wish him well a speed of recovery. As
you know, the two of them are are have have worked together and have
known each other for some time. But I can't speak to a call or
a conversation. I just haven't asked the President about that. As it relates
to a Labor Day, Clearly that's a day that the President and enjoys a
celebrating as it it's an important day for the labor community. I just don't
have anything to share once we get closer to that to that date, certainly
will lay out what the President plans to do at the beginning of June and
right out and nounced the Education Department a kenity of appointing a coordinator to address
book bands. I asked the Education Department for status update and you couldn't get
an answer. So I'm okay, since we've got students returning to the classroom,
now, can you give us an update on when this effage is going
to start? So that is something for the Department of Education to speak to
it. I don't have an update for you at on that particular question.
But again that's something for the Department of Education. I know they're going to
announce somebody. I just don't have it right this time. So they are
going to be announcing someone I just don't have I know they said that that
was announced that there was going to be a bookstor I just don't have anything
for you at this time. Be a puzzle. At some point you get
a description of what this coordinator has done, what schools I've reached out to,
what that outreaches apply. Again, that's for something for the Department of
Education to speak too directly. Good Karen York Governor Kathy Hopell's meeting the chief
of STAF Jeff's Science today to discuss migration. Can you tell us a little
bit more about that meeting? And I have a follow off to that.
Yea. So, as you just mentioned, we are hosting Governor Hockel today
here at the White House to continue our close collaboration and to underscore all the
ways in which this administration has supported communities who are who are hosting asylum seekers
and ways we are working together to increase access to work authorization. So we'll
have more to share about the meeting later today. But yes, she is
indeed here and is going to be meeting with members of the President's team.
Had another vault, but will there be a readout of that from the White
House. We will have more to share later today on the meeting. I
just don't have anything specific on how that's going to look like. Hocol and
other Democrats have been pushing the administration to expedite work authorizations for a silent seekers
who are already here. Does the administration see that as a viable solution to
getting people out of shelters faster? So I'm not going to get ahead of
the conversation that they're going to have. I do want to say that DHS
met recently with state and local This is the assessment team that you've you've heard
us announced not too long ago, and they met with local and state officials
and to outline and they outline nearly two dozen ways of recommendations to strengthen certainly
that their operations. The administration across several departments and agencies identified a number of
federal sites across New York State for housing. Additionally, the Department of Interiors
negotiating a lease of Floyd Bennett Field with the city and state. So that
conversation that continues to happen again, that happened, I believe on Monday.
When it comes to the work authorization with this administration has led the large expansion
as it relates to pathways, lawful pathways in decades, and we are committed
to building a humane and safe and orderly immigration system. Those who arrive through
those lawful pathways are immediately eligible to request an employment authorization document. That's how
that process works. As it relates to this particular conversation and what has been
requested by New York. I'm just not going to get ahead of the meeting
that they're going to have today. A couple of follow ups on the spending
questions that you've got. Lawmakers are already sort of talking about a proposal that
perhaps would be a cr in the December kind of shorter term deal. Is
that acceptable to the president, would be okay with? That is something I'm
not going to get into hypocotheticals. That is something that Congress Congress should kind
of decide on on the length of a continue continuing resolutions. That's not something
that I differ to them. And then related to that, I know you
said that the Administration Director Young others are already engaged with the lawmakers or is
there been an expression of sort of red lines, sort of priorities or cuts
or provisions that would be unacceptable to the President Biden that would not get signed
in the law. So, as I said, we have had continued calls
with them, continued engagement with members of Congress to lay out the urgency and
the important nature of making sure that we do not shut down and we continue
funding the government that's going to continue. I'm not going to get into red
lines. I'm not going to get into hypotheticals from here. There is no
reason for Congress to shut down the government. And well we've continued to be
very very clear about that. Good, Thank you very much. Does any
put becoming the last politician insight? Joy Jerry Bidens, Why I have travel
for America's future. The Guardian has excerpts today saying the President is told eight
in private that he felt tired, and that explains why there are so few
events before ten am. So two questions, is this why we're seeing brunch
lids in recent weeks? To day we had a breakfast lie and how's the
president admitted to You will see that last part. So is that why we
had a breakfast lib this morning? I mean the book there was a break
breakfast lid came to the press for the first time. I think we've had
some brunch lits in recent weeks as well. So I question is that we've
had those because of this excerpt. Oh, the book is suggesting the President
tells ads tired, but that's in the expert. Yeah, and that that's
why there've been so few public events before ten am. I mean, that's
a ridiculous assumption to make. I mean, that's a ridiculous Oshington to make
gap here, Thank you, Eric Adams. The New York Mirror is saying
about the migrants in New York City, any plan that does not include stopping
the flow at the border is a failed plan. So why aren't you guys
stopping the flow at the border. We are stopping the flow at the border.
If anything, what the President has been able to do on his zone
without the help of Republicans in Congress, something that he had to do on
his own. Again, because Republicans refuse to give the funding necessary to deal
with a situation broken immigration system that has been broken for decades. They choose.
What they choose to do is play politics. But the President has put
a plan that is indeed, the data showing is that it is indeed stopping
slowing down the flow of unlawful migration. And that is because of the work
that this president continues to do without without the help of Republicans. Okay,
and it seems like the hurricane response so far is robust. Did you guys
realize that the initial Hawaii wildfire response was not that good or is it just
easier for people to get held from the White House when the President is not
on vacation. So the premise of your question and the way you posed your
question, I disagree, just for the record. So if you talked to
if you were to do your reporting and speak to the governor of Hawaii,
the senators of Hawaii, the folks on the ground. They would say that
the President reacted in record time when it came to dealing with the wildfires,
when it came to dealing and making sure that they got everything that they need
on the federal level to deal with what was going on on the ground.
Let's not forget there were more than six hundred federal employees on the ground already
to assist with the wildfires in Maui. So your question is is wrong?
Is flawed in many many ways? And would I would? I would advise
you to go speak to the governor and the local and state officials in Hawaii.
Okay, it's thanks, say. And Putin is supposed to visit China
in October, this since the first visit, if it's happened since the first
visit, after a warrant of his arrest has been issued, where do you
make of that. I'm just not going to speak to Putin's travels. I
was kind of asked this question yesterday. It doesn't change. I'm not going
to speak to his travels. More question on Russia. I know, if
I understand you don't multiplement on Egosian and late incident, But many US officiates
who went on that record and said having him rush toward more school it was
a sign of weakness. Now killing him doesn't that reflects a sign off stand
in your assessment. I mean, I've answered the question. I mean the
President basically said there's not much that happens in Russia that Putin is not behind.
I mean, you know this is uh, this was not just predictable,
but it was predicted. We have said we know that when the Kremlin
has a long history, if long history, and killing its opponents. So
I think we've been very clear here about our thoughts. I'm just not going
to I don't have any new assessments. I don't have assessment to make,
but there's a history here, so I'll leave it there. Good. Thanks,
Cream. I wanted to go back to the question that or what you're
answering about legal pathways for migrants and the work authorizations. When I've spoken to
advocate people who work with paroles when they arrive in the United States sponsors,
the number one thing may say is how long it takes to get work authorization.
I didn't hear you talk about necessarily what you're doing to speed that up,
given that you've opened these pathways so that people can come here temporarily from
such countries. So just give a little bit of how this works. The
process for applying for asylument applying for employment authorization based on asylum applications is established
under current immigration laws and can only be changed by Congress. That's how this
process works. The law establish one hundred and fifty day waiting period to apply
for work of authorization and an additional thirty days to be eligible for approval.
That's how the process works. Again, this is something that Congress put forth
and the only way that it can change is with through Congress. And if
you ask Congress to work on her. Well, we've had asked Congress to
help us just revamp and deal with or broken in many different ways, including
this. To help us revamp and actually fix a broken system, we have
asked Congress to do that from day one. Remember, the President put forth
a comprehensive immigration reform legislation. So this is something that the President has made
a priority. The first piece of legislation that he put forward, we've dealt
with the immigration system. Again, this is something that this is when it
comes to this system, the President wants to do this in a humane way,
and he has taken actions to work on this issue on his own without
the help, certainly from Republicans and Congress. I also wanted to ask you,
in Strator Christwell, when she was very yesterday talked about and again today
about the rise of extreme weather and this idea of FEMA having to deal with
a non precedent and work cloth. Is the President thinking about it all outside
of your funding requests to Congress, Any changes in structures within the White House,
any changes within agencies that would help support what we're seeing, which is
more extreme weather and more often more people needing help. I mean, I
don't have I don't have anything to share about structure within the administration, but
I would say this, or look, I'll say this. Uh, we've
asked for twelve billion dollars, right, FEMA has asked for for FEMA to
continue to doing its work. That conversation is going to continue, obviously,
she the administrator, laid out what that means for her work as it relates
to extreme weather. One of the reasons the President has called the climate change
a crisis and done the work historic work that he's done on dealing with climate
change is because of that, right, is because we're seeing this change of
pattern we're seeing how rapidly and how quickly this extreme whether hurricanes are coming about.
That's what the Administrator just said. And so look, there's a lot
of work to do. The President has taken this very very seriously. That's
why the Inflation Reduction Act was so critical and important, the biggest investment in
dealing with climate change. That's why the by person the by person Infrastructure Law
is so important. So this is work that the President is going to continue
to do to deal with an issue that is a crisis not just here but
globally as it relates to any changes within the administration. I don't have anything
for you on that, but right behind you, Gidayu, the an Anna
Stand withdrawal ended two years ago this week. Does President Iden plan to commemorate
the events and the people who were killed and left behind as that happened.
So, as you know, the President put had a statement recently when it
came to the anniversary of Abbygate. So just want to state this as it
was stated in the President's statement that we all forever honor the memory of the
thirteen service members who were stolen far too soon from their families, loved ones
and brothers and sisters in arms while performing a noble mission on behalf of our
nation and the first Lady. Certainly, the President and our entire nation will
always support those families. And so look, the President has said on many
occasions that ending our longest war after twenty years was the right thing to do.
He refused to send another generation. You've heard him say this of Americans
to fight a war that should have ended a long time ago. America is
no longer is no longer there. Obviously, it is on a stronger footing,
more capable to meet our security needs around the world because we are not
fighting a ground on the ground, a ground war in Afghanistan. And we
continue to put our assurer to put pressure on al Qaida and I says k
while also focusing on terrorist threats elsewhere. And so that's going to be the
President's focused to make sure that our homeland is protected, that Americans are protected,
and that's what the President's focus is going to continue to be. I
have one more question, good question about North Korea the missile launch earlier this
morning. Anything you can say about that, and then also we heard about
increased cooperation between the Russians and the North Koreans with respective weapons for the Russians,
and wondering if the president would consider meeting with Kim Jong un because of
this increased cooperation, and he can't seem to get a response from the North
Koreans. So a couple of things, and I know my colleagues spoke to
spoke to this is Russia and North Korea just recently during a gaggle, So
just to reiterate what he said, is in part due to the success of
US sanctions and export controls, you know, Russia has been forced to turn
to rogue regimes like the DPRK to try to obtain weapons and equipment to support
its military operations in Ukraine. We have previously warned that Russia is actively seeking
to acquire additional munitions from the DPRK. Today, as my colleagues shared,
we shared new information that arms negotiations between Russia and dprkao actively advancing. Russia's
Minister of Defense recently traveled to the DPRK to try to convince Panyang to sell
artillery ammunition to Russia, and our conformation indicates that following that visit, another
group of Russian officials traveled travel there for follow up on discussions about potential arms
deals. Any arms deal between the DPRK and Russia would directly violate a number
of UN Security Councils resolutions. We urge the Deep RAKA to cease its arms
negotiations with Russia, and we are taking action directly to exposing and sanctioning individuals
and entities working to facilitate armed deals between Russia and the Deep r K.
So we will continue to identify, exposed and counter Russia attempts to acquire military
equipment for the DPRK or any other states that is prepared to support its support
its war in Ukraine. As it relates to initial we condemn. We've been
very clear about this. Condemned the DPRK's latest of ballistic missile launch. This
launch is in violation of multiple United Nations Security Council resolutions and possesses a threat
to the DPRK's neighbors and international community. We remain committed to a diplomatic approach
to the DPRK and call on DPRK to engage in dialogue, as we have
for some time now. Our commitment to the defense of the Republic of Korea
Japan remains iron clan. Any specifics on that, I would refer to Indo
Pakam and for any additional comment and just don't have anything else to add on
that. It's your calls for engagement with the president consider a meeting. I
just don't have a meeting to speak to at this time. But look,
we are. We just don't have anything to share on that at this time.
What I can say is that we are. We are. Our lines
of communication is open. We've been very clear on that. I just don't
have anything to share on a potential meeting with that. I'll see you guys.
Thank you for listening today. You've been listening to policy and writes your
in Depictions media radio. I've been your host, Michael cloggs. We just
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