Pool Reports of April 19, 2023

WH pool report 1 -- checking in, overview of the day

Bonjour on a tres magnifique morning at the White House, where the view outside your pooler's window is bright green leaves and a deep blue sky.

The only public item on the schedule at this point is the president's visit to Accokeek, Maryland, where he is to speak about the economy at a union training center at 1430.

Those needing fresh "MAGA Republican" quotes for their debt ceiling stories should probably tune in. The event is open press (but pooled for TV) and will be streamed from the WH web site.

Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre's briefing is set for 1215.

WH pool report 2 -- 2-minute warning for press briefing

Call just went out on the loudspeakers at 1223.

WH pool report 3 -- daily press briefing starts

Press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre took the podium at 1227.

It is being livestreamed at the WH web site:

https://www.whitehouse.gov/live/

WH pool report 4 -- briefing ends

Press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre wrapped up at 1307..

One announcement of note: The "Tennessee Three" have been invited to the White House on Monday.

Pool is now gathering for the president's motorcade trip to Maryland.

WH pool report 5 — waiting in motorcade

The pool is holding in the motorcade assembled on the South Lawn driveway, with the president's limousine positioned by the Oval Office.

We will be driving to the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 77 in Accokeek, Maryland, about 14 miles due south along the Potomac near Fort Washington.

His remarks will be live-streamed from the White House web site.

WH pool report 6 — motorcade moving

President Biden's motorcade was underway at 1344.

WH pool report 6a — travelers in motorcade

Per the WH press office:

Traveling with the President via motorcade en route to the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 77 in Accokeek, Maryland:

Bruce Reed, Assistant to the President & Deputy Chief of Staff
Vinay Reddy, Assistant to the President & Director of Speechwriting
Ashley Williams, Special Assistant to the President & Deputy Director of Oval Office Operations
Ryan Harper, Special Assistant to the President & NSC Deputy Chief of Staff
Travis Dredd, Special Assistant to the President & Trip Director

WH pool report 7 — arrival in Accokeek

The two-dozen vehicle strong motorcade, not counting motorcycles, arrived at the site of the president's speech at 1419 following an uneventful drive across the National Mall, across the Anacostia River, and then south on State Road 210 roughly parallel to the Potomac, and through a residential neighborhood where people stood with their phones videoing.

Pool was led to the room where Biden is to speak.

This is an open press event (so you could have been here, had you wanted) and it will be live-streamed on the WH web site.

Per the WH press office:

Participating in a photoline with the President at International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 77:

Aruna Miller, Lieutenant Governor of Maryland
Kris Valderrama, Maryland State Delegate
IUOE Local 77 Leadership
IUOE Local 77 Apprentices
IUOE Local 77 Journeyman Operators

WH pool report 8 -- color from the room, 2 min warning

The president will be speaking in a corrugated steel garage/workshop, part of a cinderblock structure housing the International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 77.

The small podium and a lectern with the presidential seal were positioned beneath the overhead beams of a large crane, with several dozen folding chairs arranged on the smooth cement floor. These are filled with attendees.

A media riser is directly across from the podium, on which are two large video monitors that are likely the output for his teleprompter.

WH pool report 9 -- Biden remarks begin

The president entered the room at 1439 and took the podium.

Per the WH press office:

In attendance for the President's remarks contrasting his vision for the economy with MAGA House Republicans' vision — an economy that grows from the middle out and bottom up instead of an economy that trickles from the top down:

Aruna Miller, Lieutenant Governor of Maryland
Kris Valderrama, Maryland State Delegate
Paula McCracken, Executive Board Member & Trustee and Auditor of International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 77
IUOE Local 77 Leadership
IUOE Local 77 Apprentices
IUOE Local 77 Journeyman Operators
Additional local elected officials
Union members

Speaking Program
Paula McCracken, Executive Board Member & Trustee and Auditor IUOE Local 77
The President

WH pool report 10 -- Biden remarks over

The president wrapped up his remarks at 1521, after speaking for 41 minutes.

Biden spoke about the economy as he has since the start of his campaign:

"Wall Street didn't build America. The middle class built America. And unions built the middle class."

"Folks, trickle-down economics doesn't work."

He also praised the infrastructure law that was passed with his backing, pointing how many construction jobs would be created.

"We have announced over 25,000 infrastructure so far."

He also repeated, again, his warning that "MAGA Republicans" are threatening to default on sovereign debt payments in order to get their way on budget cuts, pointing to House Speaker Kevin McCarthy's speech on Wall Street Monday warning of a possible default on the debt.

"Massive cuts in programs you count on."

"We've never ever defaulted on a debt. It would destroy the economy."

"America is not a dead-beat nation."

"Take default off the table."

He told McCarthy to pass a debt ceiling without tying it to "wacko" demands from his caucus.

"If he fails, the American people would be devastated."

Biden also credited his "Inflation Reduction Act" for bringing down the price of insulin to no more than $35 a month, making the "biggest investment" in climate change reduction in history, and also bringing down inflation.

"Inflation has been coming down, nine months in a row."

He said his work to combat climb is not merely theoretical, and cited the natural disasters he has visited in his time in office.

"And anyone who doesn't believe in global warming? Hang out with me, man."

Biden went back to McCarthy and Republicans' hopes to slash discretionary spending, criticizing them for attacking the FBI.

"MAGA Republicans in Congress want to defund the FBI, the police."

"They don't like the FBI. Maybe it arrested some of them."

WH pool report 11 — mingling, back to motorcade

The president came off the podium and began greeting attendees in the first rows of the center section of chairs.

Pool saw smiling, chatting, posing for photos. Could not hear over the Souza marches on the sound system.

At 1530, the pool was led back to the press vans while the president was still mingling.

WH pool report 12 — departure from event site

The motorcade was rolling at 1537 back toward DC.

WH pool report 13 — return to WH

The motorcade returned to the White House at 1611.

The president was already out of his limousine by the time the pool could walk up toward steps from alley between the West Wing and the EEOB.

Drive back uneventful. Roads were blocked off, so we made great time.

WH pool report 14 -- lid

The press office announced a lid at 1638.

Thanks for your interest today, as always.

Enjoy the rest of this day. Summer starts tomorrow.

A la prochaine.