Pool Reports of January 12, 2025

In-Town Pool #1 lid

WH called a travel/photo lid at 11:03 am.

Have a good Sunday!

In-Town Pool #2 LA briefing

Passing along from the WH:

This afternoon, President Biden will convene key officials to receive a virtual briefing on efforts to suppress the wildfires across Los Angeles and how the Federal resources he has directed are supporting the State and local response. The Vice President will join.

Participants:

Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, Department of Homeland Security
Administrator Deanne Criswell, FEMA
Regional Administrator Bob Fenton, FEMA Region 9
Chief Randy Moore, U.S. Forest Service
White House Chief of Staff Jeff Zients
Homeland Security Advisor Liz Sherwood-Randall
Deputy Homeland Security Advisor for Resilience & Response Caitlin Durkovich

In-Town Pool #3 Calls to Taliban hostage families

Another one from the WH:

President Joe Biden spoke with the families of Ryan Corbett, George Glezmann, and Mahmoud Habibi – Americans unjustly held by the Taliban in Afghanistan since 2022 – this afternoon. The President and the families discussed the U.S. Government's continuing efforts to reunite these three Americans with their families. The President emphasized his Administration's commitment to the cause of bringing home Americans held hostage and wrongfully detained overseas. Over the last four years, President Biden has brought home over 75 Americans unjustly detained around the world, including from Burma, China, Gaza, Haiti, Iran, Russia, Rwanda, Venezuela, and West Africa – and indeed from Afghanistan, from which President Biden has brought home all Americans detained before the United States' military withdrawal in August 2021. Globally, President Biden and his team have worked around the clock, often in partnership with key allies, to negotiate for the release of Americans held hostage or unjustly detained abroad so that they can be reunited with their families, and will continue to do so throughout the remainder of the term.