Pool Reports by Laura Barrón-López, Politico
| Sent: | Reports: |
| December 8, 2021 08:08 |
In-town pool report 1 POTUS moving Morning, it’s a cold and dreary 38 degrees. POTUS motorcade is rolling to undisclosed location at 8:06am |
| December 8, 2021 08:21 |
In town pool report #2 church POTUS arrived at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Georgetown at 8:18am POTUS waved to some children and adults who were waiting outside as he walked into church. There’s a Holy Trinity school attached to church. |
| December 8, 2021 21:05 |
In-town pool report 3 Rolling POTUS exited Holy Trinity Catholic church at 9:01am with a mask on and waved to the press pool before getting into motorcade Today, Dec 8, is a holy day of obligation observed by Catholics as the Feast of the Immaculate Conception Motorcade is rolling at 9:02am |
| December 8, 2021 09:14 |
In-town pool report #4 back at WH POTUS arrived back at the White House at 9:12am |
| December 8, 2021 09:58 |
In-town pool report #5 breakfast lid Breakfast lid till 10:20am |
| December 8, 2021 11:07 |
In-town pool report #6 Departure, POTUS gaggle POTUS exited Oval Office at 10:57am and took off his mask as he walked over to press pool. There's some good news this morning that the vaccine Pfizer lab report "That's the lab report…that's very very encouraging" "The meeting with Putin I was very straightforward. ..I made very clear if in fact he invaded Ukraine there will be severe consequences" mentioned economic consequences. "Made clear we would provide defensive capability to Ukrainians" He hopes soon to announce meetings with NATO to discuss bringing down temperature along eastern front. Q: Are you ruling out putting US troops on the ground in Ukraine? Biden: That's not on table Will send full quotes shortly POTUS departed the White House in Marine One at 11:06am Per WH, Traveling with the President on Marine One: Bruce Reed, Assistant to the President & Deputy Chief of Staff |
| December 8, 2021 11:39 |
In-town pool report #7 More POTUS gaggle Biden approached pool and before taking questions said: Reporter: "what have you achieved by talking with Putin yesterday?" Biden, smiling: "He asked about you a lot he talked about you a lot." "He knows. His immediate response was he understood that. And I indicated I knew he would respond but beyond that if in fact we will probably also be required to reinforce our presence in NATO countries to reassure particularly those in the eastern front. In addition to that I've made it clear that we would provide the defensive capabilities to the Ukrainians as well." "The good news is, the good news. The positive news is that thus far our teams have been in constant contact. We hope by Friday we're gonna be able to say, announce to you we're having meetings at a higher level, not just with us, but with at least four of our major NATO allies, and Russia to discuss the future of Russia's concern relative to NATO writ large and whether or not we could work out any accommodations as it relates to bringing down temperature along the eastern front. Reporter asked about placing troops on ground in Ukraine. Asked if it was ruled out. Couldn't hear full question in audio. Biden: "That is not on the table. We have a moral obligation and a legal obligation to our NATO allies if they were to attack under article 5, it's a sacred obligation. That obligation does not extend to NATO, I mean to Ukraine. But it would depend upon what rest of the NATO countries were willing to do as well. But the idea that the United States is going to unilaterally use force to confront Russia invading Ukraine is not on, in the cards right now. What will happen is there will be severe consequences." Reporter: "Are you confident [Putin] got the message?" Biden: "I have absolute confidence he got the message" Check against transcript. Thanks all. |
| December 8, 2021 13:02 |
In-town pool report #8 AF1 gaggle starting Principal Deputy press Secretary Karine Jean Pierre gaggle starting now |
| December 8, 2021 19:57 |
In-town pool report #9 arrival and lid POTUS exited Marine One on South lawn at 7:54pm ET and removed his mask President Biden waves at press pool and entered the White House without responding to shouted and likely inaudible questions about Meadows suing Pelosi and Putin And White House called a travel/photo lid at 7:55pm Per White House, Traveling with the President on Marine One: Bruce Reed, Assistant to the President & Deputy Chief of Staff |
Pool Reports below by Geoff Earle, Daily Mail
| Sent: | Reports: |
| December 8, 2021 11:22 EST |
Travel pool 1, Dec 8, 2021 Greetings all from JBA for POTUS’ trip to KC. Marine One landed at 11:15 am on a chilly overcast day. Potus exited at 11:18. He didn’t respond to shouted questions about Ukraine and NATO, after speaking briefly at the WH. We’re soon wheels up for KC. Per the White House: Upon arrival to Joint Base Andrews, the President will be greeted by Col. Matthew Getty, 89th Operations Group Commander. Traveling with the President to Kansas City, Missouri: Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (MO-05) |
| December 8, 2021 13:00 CST |
Travel pool No. — KC arrival AF1 landed at KC International Airport at 12:38 pm local time. Potus deplaned at 12:50, greeted by Gov. Parson and KC Mayor Lucas. Cleaver and Davids followed and joined. Potus has his short overcoat on. It’s sunny and 48 degrees. They spoke warmly for 7 minutes. Karine Jean-Pierre gaggled in flight, touching on such topics as Ukraine, SCOTUS, the rebranded Build a Better America, Saule Omarova and other matters. There should have been a live-stream. For dicey questions on the US military posture with Russia she read back POTUS’s comments verbatim from earlier. Motorcade is rolling. Per WH: Greeting the President upon arrival to Kansas City International Airport: Missouri Governor Mike Parson Info below about Missouri provided by the WH (apologies on formatting) BACKGROUND MEMORANDUM Impact of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) on Missouri The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will deliver for Missourians by rebuilding roads and bridges, upgrading public transit, replacing water infrastructure, and creating good-paying union jobs The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will deliver for Missourians by rebuilding roads and bridges, upgrading public transit, replacing water infrastructure, and creating good-paying union jobs • In Missouri, there are 2,190 bridges and over 7,570 miles of highway in poor • Missouri has multiple bridges in need of repair, including the Buck O’Neil Bridge in Kansas City. • Missourians who take public transportation spend an extra 80% of their time commuting, and non-White Households are 10 times more likely to commute via public transportation. Nearly a third of transit vehicles in Missouri are past useful life. Based on formula funding alone, Missouri would expect to receive $674 million over five years to improve public transportation options across the state. • Kansas City has taken on an ambitious zero emission/zero fare plan to reduce emissions and increase opportunity by providing free public transit and transitioning its bus fleet to electric buses. Water: • Currently, up to 10 million American households and 400,000 schools and child care • Kansas City is working to upgrade its old and overwhelmed combined sewer system. This is one example of how the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will support Kansas City’s residents. The Kansas City Area Transportation Authority (KCATA) and The Kansas City Streetcar Authority Two transit agencies serve the city: the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority (KCATA), which provides regional bus services and the Kansas City Streetcar Authority, which provides a new streetcar service in the downtown area. KCATA operates 78 local bus routes in Kansas and Missouri and the Metro Area Express (MAX) bus rapid transit service. It serves 14 million riders each year with approximately 34,000 trips each day. In 2019, Kansas City was the first major American metropolitan city to make all public transportation fare-free. This zero-fare program saves the average transit rider $1,500 to $2,000 per year. Three quarters of KCATA riders report annual incomes of less than $30,000 and nearly two-thirds of riders depend on public transit to get to work, school, medical appointments, or other tasks. Buses are currently only free within Kansas City, MO, but KCATA is working with Rep. Sharice Davids (D-KS-03) and local leaders to expand the free service to Kansas communities, which they believe will be possible thanks to the additional transit funding provided in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. KCATA also has four battery-electric buses in operation and committed to only purchase zero- emission buses until the entire fleet is zero-fare and zero-emissions. The Kansas City Streetcar Authority opened in 2016 and is free to riders. Both capital and operating costs are supported by a special tax assessment and one cent sales tax collected within the downtown district. The Streetcar has served as a catalyst for the revitalization of downtown Kansas City, spurring more than $3 billion in economic development. It currently has more riders per vehicle hour than any other streetcar system in the country. In January, the Federal Transit Administration provided $174 million to extend the streetcar an additional 3.5 miles south to the University of Missouri Kansas City campus. Construction began in August and service for the extension is anticipated to begin in 2025. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law includes a total of $89 billion for transit over five years, including an additional $5.6 billion for transit agencies to purchase low- and no-emission transit vehicles and an additional $8 billion above baseline appropriations for the Capital Investment Grants program at the Department of Transportation, which funds the current extension project and could be the source for an east-west extension project. |
| December 8, 2021 13:53 CST |
Travel Pool report No. 3 – pool is holding Pool is holding inside the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority, which operates the city's public transit system. It's basically a large, windowless bus depot, but it has advance potential. There is a big blue banner that says "Building a Better America" – the new catch phrase the WH was flagging in flight. It also includes that new web address, BUILD.GOV. There is a podium with a prompter, with a "Route 46" sign for the 46th president that will be in the shot. There's also bunting, a big flag, and a couple street signs, which instead of pointing to locales contain slogans like "Building a Better America." Next up is a briefing with POTUS and local officials. Per the WH: Participating in a photoline with the President:
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| December 8, 2021 14:00 CST |
Travel pool 4 Pool is now in the bus body shop as we await the event. It’s where the KC buses come when they get wrecked, an electrical technician tells pool. Davids, Cleaver, and the mayor are now here. Per WH: Briefing the President on the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority:
Also in attendance for the briefing:
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| December 8, 2021 14:55 CST |
Travel Pool No. 5, briefing POTUS was briefed by local transit and union officials inside the body shop. There were two shiny blue electric city buses nearby, as well as various repair equipment (like spare upper wipers for a bus). Not much news, and no Q&A. Before it began, Mayor Lucas spoke a bit about the fare free program when called over by the pool. He said the goal was to make it permanent, and he thanked Rep. Cleaver for funds in the bill for it. He says next of is trying to expand the program regionally into Kansas. Biden began by escorting the head of the transit authority, Robbie Makinen, whose sight is impaired, into the room. Then he greeted the officials. Biden took his black mask off a couple times when trying to make a point and be heard by the group. A union official told Biden funds would provide funding for training new electric bus drivers. He touted the new order to bring to make the government fleet carbon-neutral, mentioning the 2030 goal. He was most emotive when talking about battery technology and cars. "Right now, the Chinese are ahead of us," he said. "We got a whole lot of money for electric batteries … battery capacity" in the bill, Biden said. One of the briefers drove electric busses. The conversation naturally turned to electric cars, and Biden referenced his recent test drives. "And by the way – quick," he said, turning to car talk. One more point on those metal "46" and other traffic-style signs, which have the look of real street signs, and serve as a backdrop for the speech. A source tells pool that local officials at the Public Works Department were able to make them last night, and that Biden signed a few of them earlier. POTUS speech event is starting, and remarks are streaming. |
| December 8, 2021 15:34 CST |
Travel pool No. 6 - speech wrapped Potus wrapped at 3:27 pm, speaking for about 38 minutes. Speech was streamed. He honored son of Russell, Kan. Bob Dole and KC Monarchs great Buck O’Neill. Pool is about to roll. Potus is working the crowd of about 170, per WH. It includes frontline workers and union members. |
| December 8, 2021 15:45 CST |
Travel pool 7 - Zelensky preview, Bucharest Nine Per the WH: Tomorrow, President Biden will speak with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy to discuss Russia’s military build-up on Ukraine’s borders. He will then convene a call with the leaders of the Bucharest Nine group of our eastern flank NATO Allies to brief them on his call with President Putin, hear their perspectives on the current security situation, and underscore the United States’ commitment to Transatlantic security. For reference, the B9 consists of Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, and Slovakia. |
| December 8, 2021 16:09 CST |
Travel pool 8 - motorcade rolling Motorcade started rolling at 4. Potus looked to be on the phone inside The Beast. He worked the room inside until the bitter end. Pool drove by some thumbs down protesters, Eritrea, Ethiopia signs. Earlier there was a Let's Go Brandon. Evidently there are pro-Biden supporters with signs at another locale. Despite the mayor saying during his speech that potus "has an appointment" with some KC BBQ, there is no indication of a stop at Gates or the renamed Kansas City Joe's, which is unfortunate. Heading toward the airport. |
| December 8, 2021 16:33 CST |
Travel pool 9 - departing Pool arrived just in time to see potus wave at the top of the stairs boarding AF1. Also, Rep. Davids was able to clarify that there was in fact a spider on the podium during her intro remarks, with Rep. Cleaver stepping in to brush it away. Thanks to Aurelia End of AFP for all the assists. We are taxiing. |
| December 8, 2021 19:42 EST |
Travel pool 10 - Andrews AF1 was wheels down at Andrews at 7:24 EDT. Potus exited at 7:35, saluted and walked to Marine One, which lifted off at 7:41. During the flight, a Secret Service Agent who is retiring came back for a brief OTR / farewell visit. Thanks again to Aurelia End and to all the readers. Handing off to in-town pool. Good night! |
Joseph R. Biden, Jr., Pool Reports of December 8, 2021 Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, The American Presidency Project https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/node/353694