Pool Reports of January 26, 2022

White House In-Town Pool Report #1 — checking in

Good afternoon from the White House, where the hammer jackhammers is cutting through chilly winter air from behind a fence surrounding the North Lawn fountain, and where things just got a lot busier. Your pooler is tested and awaiting notice to gather for President Biden's meeting with ten private sector CEOs and executives later today.

Here is today's schedule — and a list of those chief executives — per the White House:

1 p.m.: President Biden meets with private sector CEOs in the State Dining Room

2 p.m.: Press briefing with Jen

List of attendees (private sector):
– Mary Barra, Chair and Chief Executive Officer, General Motors
– Marc Benioff, Chair, Co-Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder, Salesforce
– Thasunda Brown Duckett, President and Chief Executive Officer, TIAA
– Jim Farley, President and Chief Executive Officer, Ford
– Barbara Humpton, President and Chief Executive Officer, Siemens Corporation
– Tom Linebarger, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Cummins
– Enrique Lores, President and Chief Executive Officer, HP
– Josh Silverman, Chief Executive Officer, Etsy
– Brad Smith, President and Vice Chairman, Microsoft
– Wendell Weeks, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Corning

List of attendees (administration):
– Secretary Gina Raimondo, U.S. Department of Commerce
– Brian Deese, Director of the National Economic Council
– Jennifer Klein, Director of the Gender Policy Council
– Gina McCarthy, National Climate Advisor
– Susan Rice, Director of the Domestic Policy Council
– Cedric Richmond, Director of the Office of Public Engagement

White House In-Town Pool Report #2 — gathering for POTUS

The pool is gathering for President Biden's event in the State Dining Room with private sector executives and — we hope — comments from the president on Justice Stephen Breyer's retirement.

White House In-Town Pool Report #3 — POTUS on Breyer

President Biden told reporters that he would have "more to say later" about Justice Breyer's retirement, but said that he was waiting for the justice's own statement.

"There has been no announcement from Justice Breyer — let him make whatever statement he wants to make, and I'm happy to talk about it later."

White House In-Town Pool Report #4 — POTUS with CEOs

President Biden went around the table with questions for the assembled CEOs about helping workers return to in-person work, investing in digital technology for exporting American goods, and how "Build Back Better" would address those issues. President Biden expressed his fondness for the new electric F150 to Ford CEO Mary Barra.

"I'm looking for a job, Mary," he said upon hearing the model's ability to accelerate from zero to sixty in 4.4 seconds.

Pool was escorted out at 1:34 p.m., after a false start before President Biden's remarks about Justice Breyer.

Otter transcript of President Biden's remarks before the roundtable here: https://otter.ai/u/6Kel4nOb4w94jv_B3OLDObyZYjA

Otter transcript of his questions: https://otter.ai/u/i2ri7aiYt5VuPRpHrj52ZiT8XE8

White House In-Town Pool Report #5 — new briefing time

The press briefing will now be at 2:30 p.m.

White House In-Town Pool Report #6 — lunch lid until 2:30

“Go eat!” as one White House staffer said.

White House In-Town Pool Report #7 — two-minute warning for the briefing

The briefing can be streamed here, as per usual: https://www.whitehouse.gov/live/

White House In-Town Pool Report #8 — briefing begins

Watch it here: https://www.whitehouse.gov/live/

White House In-Town Pool Report #9 — briefing ends

The briefing ended at 3:15 p.m.

White House In-Town Pool Report #10 — lid

A lid was called at 3:27 p.m. — it's been a pleasure being your pooler!