Pool Reports of April 3, 2024

Pool report #1: Briefing at 12:30

Hi all, I'll be your pooler today. One brief scheduling update: Karine will now brief at 12:30pm.

Pool report #2: Gather for Indian Treaty Room event

We're gathering now for the President's remarks on health care costs.

Pool report #3: Health care event starting

It's being streamed live on www.whitehouse.gov/live; will send color.

Pool report #3: Lina Khan starts
[APP Note: This is Report #4. See reporter's comment in Report #5.]

First speaker was FTC Chair Lina Khan, who talked about pharmaceutical companies' "bogus patents" that keep the costs of inhalers high. The audience applauded at the max cost for asthma inhalers from three of the four top companies being $35 starting in June.

Now waiting.

Pool report #5: holding

Last note should have been labeled #4, apologies.

We're holding, staff are handing out waters to the audience and Muzak is playing.

Pool report #6: Sen. Sanders enters

Sen. Bernie Sanders entered the room and began speaking at 11:43am.

Livestream should be working now that the program has started.

Background from the White House:

The President is delivering remarks on lowering health care costs for Americans.

Attendees

Healthcare advocates and stakeholders

Pre-Program

Chair Lina Khan, Federal Trade Commission

Program

Senator Bernie Sanders (VT)

Kristopher "Kris" Garcia

The President

Pool report #7: Sanders speaks

Livestream is still not working as of 11:58am. Will update when I have confirmed it is working.

"Politicians have been talking about the high cost of prescription drugs for years, including me," Sanders said to some audience laughter.

Sanders concluded speaking at 11:58

Next speaker is Kris Garcia from Littleton, Colo., who has asthma and can't afford the $450 insurance copays for his needed inhalers, according to Sanders

Pool report #8: Livestream is up, Biden enters

Livestream is now working.

whitehouse.gov/live

President Biden entered at 12:00pm.

Pool report #9: POTUS finished speaking

"Finally, we beat big pharma," Biden said, addressing Sanders.

"Trump brags about he was the reason Roe v. Wade was overturned."

Biden finished speaking at 12:17pm. He left without answering questions about Israel.

It was tough to hear POTUS in the room. As always, check the transcript or livestream for full quotes.

Pool report #11: Sanders audio

Still no update on the briefing.

Sending the Sanders audio since the livestream wasn't working (h/t to Dan Diamond of WaPo since my phone malfunctioned). https://otter.ai/u/o0w3NNJjf9bWy9YXkIISs4oWs0I

Pool report #12: two-minute warning

[APP Note: No additional text was included in this report.]

Pool report #13: Briefing started

Briefing started at 12:58pm.

Pool report #14: Briefing ended at 1:37pm

The briefing ended at 1:37pm, Karine took questions for 37 minutes about the private iftar meeting yesterday, funding for the rebuilding in Baltimore, Ukraine funding in the House, the killing of World Central Kitchen workers in Gaza, calls for Justice Sotomayor to resign, bird flu, Uganda's anti-LGBT law, etc.

Pool report #15: Univision interview

Passing along a note from the White House:

This afternoon, the President was interviewed by Univision. This interview will air on April 9.

Pool report #16: Lid

We have a lid as of 5:12pm. Stay dry!