Pool Reports of July 16, 2024

Travel pool report #1 POTUS briefed

Hello all. Hope you're all well and safe.

It's 100 degrees in Las Vegas shortly after 11 am. We have been swept and are holding. Passing along this note from the White House:

This morning, the President received an updated homeland security briefing from the following officials:

Jake Sullivan, Assistant to the President & National Security Advisor
Liz Sherwood-Randall, Assistant to the President and Homeland Security Advisor

The following staff participated in the briefing:
Jeff Zients, Assistant to the President & Chief of Staff
Steve Ricchetti, Assistant to the President & Counselor to the President
Bruce Reed, Assistant to the President and Deputy Chief of Staff
Annie Tomasini, Assistant to the President and Deputy Chief of Staff

Travel pool report #2 rolling

At 12:18, the motorcade is rolling. We're heading to the naacp conference, according to White House schedule.

Travel pool report #3 Mandalay Bay arrival

The president's motorcade arrived at Mandalay Bay at 12:25 PM. Your pooler could not see POTUS exit the beast and enter the building.

Travel Pool report #4 Bet Interview/Photo Line

The president is taping a sit down T.V. interview with BET's Ed Gordon, according to the White House.

Also from the White House on two separate photolines with POTUS at the conference.

Participating in a photoline with the President:

Rep. Jim Clyburn (SC-06)
Rep. Nanette Barragan (CA-44)
Derrick Johnson, President of the NAACP
Shavon Arline-Bradley, President of National Council of Negro Women
Janai Nelson, President of NAACP Legal Defense Fund
April Verrett, President, SEIU 9
Lee Saunders, President, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees
George Gresham, President, SEIU Local 1199

Participating in a photoline with the President:

Administrator Michael Regan, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Acting Secretary Adrianne Todman, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
NAACP leaders and advocates

Travel Pool Report #5 POTUS speech NAACP

Biden took the stage to chants of "four more years." Apologies, we did not get a 2 minute warning. It's streaming on Whitehouse.gov.

Before POTUS spoke, a lineup of Biden administration officials took the stage to talk about the administration's agenda. Acting secretary of HUD, Adrianne Todman; Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke; and Steven K. Benjamin, senior advisor to the president all spoke. Todman spoke about Hud efforts to expand affordable housing and Clarke about police accountability

As he hyped up the crowd, Benjamin at one point brought out White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre to the stage. Many in the section closest to the stage stood and applauded. She did not speak.

NAACP president Derrick Johnson then spoke. He demanded police reform. He also spoke of the election. "There has much that has been accomplished for and by our community," Mr. Johnson. He also condemned Project 2025.

Travel Pool Report #6 Remarks done

The president wrapped his remarks at 2:40 PM. He took the stage around 2:10 PM.

He began by invoking Harry Truman, the first president to speak at the N.A.A.C.P. "You want a friend in Washington, get a dog. After the last couple weeks, I know what he means."

He spoke about the number of children in America killed by guns. "That is sick!"

Biden committed to lowering the temperature but says he will still "tell the truth." He criticized Trump for calling for the National Guard to respond to peaceful protesters after the murder of George Floyd. "What the hell is the matter with this man?"

He says Trump's approach to the pandemic "was especially devastating to Black communities."

He spoke of Project 2025.

"I need you," Biden said. "When America's failed to live up to what we say we believe you don't give up. Neither do I."

Travel Pool Report #7 rolling

The president's motorcade is rolling at 3:46 PM.

Travel pool report #8 economic forum arrival

After an uneventful ride, the president's motorcade arrived at the North Las Vegas campus of the college of southern Nevada at 4 PM. We're now sitting in the audience waiting for the roundtable to start.

Travel Pool Report #9 Biden about to take the stage

The campaign has a stream going of the remarks at the economic forum

https://x.com/joebiden/status/1813339732090245520?s=46&t=VrT_f2j0OCRur3GqjIe6hw

From the White House:

On behalf of the Biden-Harris Campaign:

President Biden is delivering remarks to community leaders at the Vote to Live Action Fund's 2024 Prosperity Summit co-hosted by CBC Chair Representative Steven Horsford (NV-04) in North Las Vegas, Nevada.

Speaking Program
Chair Horsford
The President

Travel Pool Report #10 economic summit remarks end

The president finished speaking at 4:33 PM. He spoke for roughly 14 minutes. He was introduced by Rep. Steven Horsford.

Biden detailed his own plans to expand affordable housing and and said Trump would repeal his bipartisan infrastructure law.

He prompted laughter from the crowd when he said Trump doesn't believe in climate change. "Maybe he should step out here," Biden said. "It's 120 degrees."

Biden said his plans for the first 100 days of his second term would be centered on this message: "You own more and you owe less."

Biden said he wants to make the child tax credit permanent.

After he ended his official remarks, he came back to the lectern and said "we can do this folks. We're the Democratic Party, we can do it."

Travel Pool Report #11 photo line

From the White House:

Participating in a photoline with the President:

Rep. Steven Horsford, Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus (NV-04)
Rep. Jim Clyburn (SC-06)
Rep. Bennie Thompson (MS-02)
Rep. Yvette Clarke (NY-09)
Rep. Robin Kelly (IL-02)
Rep. Nanette Barragan (CA-44)
Rep. Nikema Williams (GA-05)
Rep. Troy Carter (LA-02)
Rep. Jonathan Jackson (IL-01)
Rep. Bobby Scott (VA-03)
Rep. Gabe Amo (RI-01)

Travel pool report #12 rolling

The president's motorcade is rolling at 4:51 PM.

Travel Pool Report #13 Mario's Westside Market

At 5:08 PM, the president motorcade pulled up to Mario's Westside Market. This was not previously on the president's schedule. We're holding inside waiting on the president's arrival. Members of the congressional black caucus are here.

Travel Pool Report #14 Mario's Westside details

The president entered Mario's Westside Market at 5:15 P.M flanked by Rep. Horsford.

The president entered and immediately greeted a little boy wearing a black Michael Jordan Chicago Bulls jersey. The boy was holding a box of Little Debbie Swiss Rolls. "What's your name?" Biden asked. The boy's answer was inaudible. Biden then took off his aviators and looked around at other people waving at him before leaning in and shaking the boy's hand.

He then walked over to a little girl sitting on a takeout counter. He took multiple photographs with the little girl and other store employees. "I bet you're seven or eight," Biden said to the girl. "Nice to meet you," he said to one of the employees.

Reporters nearby asked if he had any response to reports about Adam Schiff's recent comments to donors that the Democratic party would suffer losses if he stayed in the race. Biden continued his tour without stopping.

As "Always On Time," by Ja Rule and Ashanti played on the market's speakers, Biden approached the deli counter and took more photographs with employees.

The managing partner of the market, Mario Berlanga Jr., then approached Biden and the members of Congress. Berlanga described to the public officials the investment his business received from the administration's policies. "All my colleagues voted for this," Horsford said. The rest of the conversation was hard to hear over a speaker blasting "Love You Down," by Ready for the World, just over the area where the press was gathered.

Biden did not stop to answer shouted questions about whether he was proposing changes to the Supreme Court. As the press was ushered out at 5:25 PM, he appeared to be ordering from the counter. The White House later said Biden ordered catfish, peach cobbler, chicken tenders and spaghetti.

On the way out of the market, your pooler noticed what appeared to be snipers on the roof of the market.

We're rolling at 5:45 PM.

And from the White House:

The President is stopping by Mario's Westside Market, a local Black-owned small business where he is picking up food.

Attendees
Rep. Steven Horsford, Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus (NV-04)
Rep. Jim Clyburn (SC-06)
Rep. Yvette Clarke (NY-09)
Rep. Robin Kelly (IL-02)
Rep. Nanette Barragan (CA-44)
Rep. Nikema Williams (GA-05)
Rep. Troy Carter (LA-02)
Rep. Jonathan Jackson (IL-01)
Rep. Gabe Amo (RI-01)

Travel Pool Report #15 LID

We arrived at the RON at 6 PM. And we have a LID.