Pool Reports by Christian Datoc, Washington Examiner
| Sent: | Reports: |
| April 12, 2022 10:35 EDT |
Travel pool report #1 — POTUS briefed on NYC Subway shooting Passing along ahead of our gather... a note from WH regarding today's shooting in NYC "President Biden has been briefed on the latest developments regarding the New York City subway shooting. White House senior staff are in touch with Mayor Adams and Police Commissioner Sewell to offer any assistance as needed." |
| April 12, 2022 11:04 EDT |
Travel pool report #2 — in the vans … as of 11:01am ET Pool has not gotten a glimpse of POTUS, who's scheduled to depart for JBA at 11:15am |
| April 12, 2022 11:32 EDT |
Travel pool report #3 — rolling Motorcade pulled out of the WH gates at 11:32am ET. Pool did not see POTUS enter the Beast or SUV but is assuming he's with us. |
| April 12, 2022 11:42 EDT |
Travel pool report #4 — secure call with UK PM Passing along from the WH: "President Biden held a secure call with Prime Minister Boris Johnson of the United Kingdom today from 10:34 – 11:12 AM EDT." |
| April 12, 2022 11:45 EDT |
Travel pool report #5 — greeter/AF1 travelers Passing along from the WH: Traveling with the President to Des Moines, Iowa: Annie Tomasini, Assistant to the President & Director of Oval Office Operations Greeting the President upon arrival at Joint Base Andrews: Col. William "Chris" McDonald, Vice Commander, 89th Airlift Wing |
| April 12, 2022 11:54 EDT |
Travel pool report #6 — arrival, JBA Motorcade pulled through the gates at Andrews at 11:51am and onto the tarmac one minute later. A couple of notes from the short ride… POTUS traveled via motorcade as WH staff had already started setting up for Monday's Easter Egg Roll on the South Lawn (h/t Bloomberg's Justin Sink) The perfect weather brought tourists out in force, with hundreds waving to the president and filming the motorcade en route to I-395. Pool did not spot any protesters. |
| April 12, 2022 12:00 EDT |
Travel pool report #7 — no questions, wheels up shortly POTUS exited The Beast and walked up the stairs of AF1 at 11:57am. He did not answer a shouted question about the shooting this morning in NYC. Pool is now boarding and we'll be wheels up shortly for Des Moines. A reminder that Press Secretary Jen Psaki is scheduled to gather with pool at 12:45pm ET. You can stream the audio here: |
| April 12, 2022 13:18 CDT |
Travel pool report #8 — wheels down/greeters AF1 touched down at Des Moines International Airport at 1:16pm CT. Our 2 hour and 20(ish) minute flight ended with turbulence during the landing. It's currently 59 degrees, overcast, and very windy on the ground. Passing along the following from WH: Greeting the President upon arrival at Des Moines International Airport: Representative Cindy Axne (IA-03) |
| April 12, 2022 13:31 CDT |
Travel pool report #9 — back in the motorcade POTUS, wearing a Royal Navy suit and matching tie, deplaned at 1:26pm CT and briefly spoke with Representative Axne and Mayor Cownie before jumping in the Beast at 1:28pm. Pool is back the vans, and motorcade departed for the POET plant at 1:30pm. It's a 45-50 minute drive. Also, pool has been informed the gaggle audio was spotty… will send an Otter link in a later report |
| April 12, 2022 13:48 CDT |
Travel pool report #10 — POET background Passing along from the WH: Background on POET: POET is the largest producer of first-generation (corn) ethanol in the country. The POET biofuels facility in Menlo, IA was acquired by POET on June 1, 2021. This state-of-the-art bioethanol production facility produces 150 million gallons of bioethanol annually and is one of six facilities recently acquired, bringing POET's annual production capacity to 3 billion gallons of bioethanol (total US annual production is ~15 billion gallons). POET is headquartered in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, with 33 bioprocessing facilities across eight states and more than 2,200 team members. POET focuses on producing plant-based alternatives to petrochemicals, like Dakota Gold and NexPro distiller grains, Voila corn oil, renewable biofuel, biogenic CO2 and dry ice, purified alcohol, and JIVE asphalt rejuvenator. They have committed to net zero bioprocessing facilities by 2050. POET has a long history of research and development partnership with DOE and the National Labs, with 5 funded projects from 2003 to present, headlined by a decade-long project for an integrated cellulosic biorefinery (Project LIBERTY in Emmetsburg, Iowa) to produce ethanol from corn stover (the stalks and leaves leftover from harvesting). DOE has invested more than $100 million in the project and, while this project experienced challenges and delays, it represents a major step forward for the cellulosic ethanol industry. The facility began production in 2016 and by 2017 it had reached production efficiency goals. |
| April 12, 2022 14:14 CDT |
Travel pool report #11 — gaggle audio/transcript … as promised. Sorry for the delay. Cell service on IA highways is not great, and it might not be finished processing yet but here's a link for when it's ready: |
| April 12, 2022 14:28 CDT |
Travel pool report #12 — arrival, POET Motorcade arrived at POET at 2:25pm CT A little color from the ride… 4 onlookers waved to motorcade and filmed as we exited the airport. At exit 101 on highway 5, a small convoy of Trump supporters greeted the motorcade with the usual signs and flags including "TRUMP 2020/2024" "F*** BIDEN" "LGB" and a thin blue line flag. Driving through Menlo, pool encountered a few dozen more onlookers. No visible signs to gauge political ideology, but many waved and were filming as pool drove past. Pool spoke too soon… one pickup truck with a pair of teenagers filmed the motorcade and were flying a giant Trump flag just outside the plant grounds. A second cluster of clearly identifiable Biden supporters was also near the plant entrance. Co-pooler Aurelia End also noticed one older gentleman holding a handmade "CROOKED HILLARY" sign |
| April 12, 2022 14:45 CDT |
Travel pool report #13 — tour POTUS had entered the POET facility by the time pool exited the motorcade, but he linked back up with press for the beginning of his walking tour at 2:42pm CT POTUS was speaking with Congresswoman Axne and Jack Mitchell, Regional Vice President, POET Bioprocessing at the first stop, but pool literally could not hear any words exchanged due to extreme noise at the plant and nearby silos. Passing along background from WH about the stops The tour has three stops: Participating in the tour of POET Bioprocessing – Menlo with the President: |
| April 12, 2022 15:05 CDT |
Travel pool report #14 — fashion note… more from the tour POTUS had donned a navy Beau Biden Foundation hat for the outdoor portions of the tour and carried it with him to the additional stop at the Fermentation Chamber indoors. Again, pool could not make out any words exchanged over the machinery, though POTUS did put his hand on Mitchell's shoulder during the explanation and waved to pool on his way out of the plant. Pool is heading to the filing center for remarks as of 3:04pm CT |
| April 12, 2022 15:13 CDT |
Travel pool report # 15 — 2 min warning to remarks Congresswoman Axne is now speaking. POTUS will take the stage soon, per WH A reminder that you can stream the president's remarks here: |
| April 12, 2022 15:28 CDT |
Travel pool report #16 — the scene POTUS is speaking in a large barn with plenty of props. The podium is positioned in front of two tractors and a large American flag. A CAT combine sits to the right of the stage, and a gigantic, growing pile of cornmeal takes up the majority of the room to his left. Signage includes "LOWERING COSTS FOR FAMILIES" emblazoned on WH banners and a piece of green equipment your pooler doesn't recognize More to follow… |
| April 12, 2022 15:33 CDT |
Travel pool report #17 — run of show Passing along from WH: Speaking program: In attendance for the President's remarks are approximately 40-50 local elected officials and community leaders. |
| April 12, 2022 15:43 CDT |
Travel pool report #18 — remarks conclude … at 3:42pm CT. More to follow… |
| April 12, 2022 13:52 CDT |
Travel pool report #19 — airport bound Pool loaded back into vans at 3:44pm and is Oscar Mike as of 3:50pm. Pool did not get a glimpse POTUS getting back in the Beast but would be shocked to find out he was left behind at the plant. |
| April 12, 2022 16:02 CDT |
Travel pool report #20 — giant pile of cornmeal Pool has been informed that the White House's stream didn't properly show the grandeur of the cornmeal pile. Passing along for the history books: https://twitter.com/tocradio/status/1513985345150410752?s=21&t=K0EiAMlUp... |
| April 12, 2022 16:48 CDT |
Travel pool report #21 — Des Moines International Motorcade rolled back onto the tarmac at 4:43pm CT. Pool is moving under wing before POTUS boards. More to follow… |
| April 12, 2022 16:49 CDT |
Travel pool report #22 — photo line participants Passing along from WH: The President is participating in a photo line with elected officials and local leaders, including: Representative Cindy Axne (IA-03) |
| April 12, 2022 17:29 CDT |
Travel pool report #23 — boarding, "yes" to genocide POTUS finished his photo line and headed out onto the tarmac at 5:22pm CT He stopped to answer questions, confirming "yes" he intentionally used "genocide" during todays remarks. We're wheels up soon but here's audio: https://otter.ai/u/heTvDnj5Mol1OftA8DfBSX4baRc Q: have you seen enough evidence to declare genocide? "It's become clearer and clearer that Putin is trying to wipe out the idea of being Ukrainian. The evidence is mounting. It looks different than last week. More evidence is coming out literally of the horrible things that the Russians have done in Ukraine. And we're gonna only learn more and more about the devastation and we'll let the lawyers decide internationally whether or not it qualifies but it sure seems that way to me" |
| April 12, 2022 20:20 EDT |
Travel pool report #24 — wheels down, JBA AF1 touched down at 8:14pm ET. Pool is deboarding ahead of POTUS. More to follow… |
| April 12, 2022 20:27 EDT |
Travel pool report #25 — rolling/no questions/greeters POTUS deplaned at 8:23pm and hopped directly into the Beast. He did not respond to a question about potential chemical attacks in Ukraine. Pool loaded into vans at 8:24pm and we're rolling back to the White House as of 8:27pm And passing along from the WH: Greeting the President upon arrival at Joint Base Andrews: Col. William "Chris" McDonald, Vice Commander, 89th Airlift Wing |
| April 12, 2022 20:54 EDT |
Travel pool report #26 — arrival AND lid Motorcade drove back onto the WH grounds at 8:51pm. Throngs of tourists filmed POTUS' return. Pool was dropped off at North Lawn and saw POTUS enter the WH at 8:52pm. Travel/photo lid called immediately after… have a great evening, y'all! |
Joseph R. Biden, Jr., Pool Reports of April 12, 2022 Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, The American Presidency Project https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/node/355429