>>> IT WILL BE THE WORK OF THE NEXT PRESIDENT TO RESTORE THE
PROMISE OF AMERICA. WE WILL NOT ONLY BUILD BACK, WE
WILL BUILD BACK BETTER. YOU HAVE MY WORD.
>> JOE BIDEN HAS BIG IDEAS, BIG PLANS FOR THE COUNTRY IF HE WINS
THE ELECTION.
>> JOE IS GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE EQUAL PAY FOR EQUAL
WORK.
>> WE'LL RAISE THE MINIMUM WAGE.
>> WE'RE GOING TO CANCEL A BIG CHUNK OF STUDENT LOAN DEBT.
>> JOE AND KAMALA WILL PROTECT YOUR HEALTH CARE BECAUSE JOE
UNDERSTANDS THAT A PRESIDENT'S FIRST JOB IS TO KEEP US SAFE.
>> NOW IS WHEN THE REAL WORK BEGINS, TO SAVE LIVES AND BEAT
THIS EPIDEMIC. TO REBUILD OUR ECONOMY.
>> AND ROOT OUT SYSTEMIC RACISM IN THIS COUNTRY.
TO SAVE OUR PLANET BY GETTING CLIMATE UNDER CONTROL.
AND NOW THE WORK OF MAKING THAT VISION IS REAL.
WE CAN DO IT. I KNOW WE CAN.
>> PRESIDENT BIDEN'S $1.9 TRILLION COVID RELIEF PACKAGE.
IT'S THE FIRST REAL LEGISLATIVE TEST FOR THE NEW BIDEN
ADMINISTRATION.
>> IT HAS NO CONGRESSIONAL REPUBLICANS SUPPORTING IT SO
FAR.
>> WHAT THE DEMOCRATS HAVE PUT TOGETHER REALLY IS A LIBERAL
WISH LIST.
>> BIDEN IS FACING A DIFFICULT ROAD AHEAD.
HE CANNOT LOSE A SINGLE DEMOCRAT ON THIS PACKAGE.
THAT IS TOUGH.
>> WE HAVE A 50/50 PROBLEM. IN THE UNITED STATES SENATE ANY
SENATOR CAN STOP THE TRAIN.
>> NEW FAULT LINES ARE BEING DRAWN OUT BETWEEN PROGRESSIVES
AND MODERATES ON KEY POLICIES.
>> A LOT OF REPUBLICAN COUNTERPARTS SITTING BACK AND
LETTING DEMOCRATS SORT OF FIGHT OVER THE MINIMUM WAGE PACKAGE
THAT WOULD BE A PART OF THE BILL.
>> HE HAS TO UNIFY HIS OWN PARTY.
>> HE'S GOING TO NOT JUST SET THE TONE, BUT TELL THE STORY OF
POTENTIALLY THIS ADMINISTRATION.
>> CRITICS SAY MY PLAN IS TOO BIG.
LET ME ASK THEM, WHAT WOULD THEY HAVE ME CUT?
WHAT WOULD THEY HAVE ME LEAVE OUT?
THIS IS UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, FOR GOD SAKE.
>> WOW. THIS IS A LOT OF SNOW.
I'M DRINKING BEER IN A PUP TENT.
>> BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T GET ENOUGH COLD IN MINNESOTA?
>> I'M SO TIRED OF WEARING -- I'VE TURNED INTO A CANADIAN
GOOSE.
>> TEXTING A PICTURE OF YOU GUYS OF WHAT'S NOW ON MY TABLE.
>> OH, MY GOD.
>> TWO PEA ZAS IS BOLD.
>> JOHN, HAVE YOU EATEN PIZZA FOR THE LAST FOUR WEEKS?
>> YEAH, THAT'S ALL I DO IS EAT PIZZA.
>> I'M JUST GOING AROUND A PIZZA PARLOURS.
>> NORMALLY THE FIRST COUPLE WEEKS OF A NEW ADMINISTRATION
IT'S LIKE HERE IS THE NEW TEAM, MEET THE NEW BOSS.
YOU KNOW.
>> A NEW ADMINISTRATION JUST THE CENTER OF THE UNIVERSE.
>> BUT WITH EVERYBODY FOCUSED ON, YOU KNOW, THE INSURRECTION,
THE FALLOUT FROM THE INSURRECTION, THE IMPEACHMENT
TRIAL. BIDEN LIKE HAS BEEN, YOU KNOW,
OFF STAGE IN SOME WAYS. IRONICALLY I THINK THAT THE
IMPEACHMENT STUFF KIND OF HELPED HIM.
EVERYBODY WAS SAYING THAT THAT WAS GOING TO BE A DISTRACTION, I
THINK IT WAS ACTUALLY KIND OF COVER FOR THEM TO GO MAKE A
BUNCH OF THE SAUSAGE WITHOUT A BUNCH OF PEOPLE WATCHING, RIGHT?
>> IT WAS A DISTRACTION FOR THE REPUBLICANS, NOT FOR BIDEN.
>> YEAH, MOST IMPORTANT THING FOR BIDEN IS THE COVID PACKAGE
AND IT'S LOOKING LIKE IT'S GOING TO BE IN PRETTY GOOD SHAPE AND A
PRETTY GOOD CHANCE TO PASS IT BY MARCH WHICH WAS THEIR BIG GOAL
OF THE FIRST 100 DAYS.
>> TO BREAK DOWN WHAT IS IN THAT $1.9 TRILLION BILL IT'S A
TRILLION DOLLARS IN DIRECT STIMULUS, $15 MINIMUM WAGE AND
IT'S $170 BILLION FOR SCHOOL REOPENING.
$1.9 TRILLION SOUNDS LIKE A TON OF MONEY, SOMETHING THAT THE
PUBLIC MIGHT BALK AT EXCEPT BIDEN AND HIS TEAM SAID, OKAY,
WE HAVE TO TALK TO REAL PEOPLE, BE ON TELEVISION.
>> NOW IS THE TIME TO GO BIG.
>> HE'S PUT FORWARD A BIG, BOLD PACKAGE.
>> BIG AND BOLD.
>> BIG.
>> BOLD.
>> BIG, BOLD PACKAGE, SOME SAY VERY BIG.
I AGREE WITH THAT. THAT'S WHY MORE THAN SEVEN IN
TEN AMERICANS ACTUALLY SUPPORT THE ELEMENTS THAT ARE IN THAT
PACKAGE. BUT BIDEN HAS A REAL
VULNERABILITY IN TERMS OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.
IT'S JUST A REALLY BIG TENT PARTY RIGHT NOW.
IT'S A CAUCUS THAT HAS TO MAKE ROOM FOR MODERATES ON ONE SIDE
AND PROGRESSIVES ON THE OTHER.
>> EVERYBODY KNEW THAT IN A 50/50 SENATE MODERATES WERE
GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF POWER. JOE MANCHIN AND KYRSTEN SINEMA
SAY THEY ARE NOT FOR THE MINIMUM WAGE INCREASE.
>> BUT THE PROGRESSIVE WING OF THE PARTY REALLY WANTS THIS AND
THINKS IT'S THE TIME TO DO IT.
>> THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF A COUNTDOWN CLOCK ON HOW LONG IT'S
GOING TO TAKE BEFORE WE START TO HEAR FROM BERNIE AND WARREN AND
OTHER PROGRESSIVES.
>> IT FEELS LIKE THE FIRST BIG TEST FOR THE BIG TENT PARTY,
RIGHT?
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
>> THE MINIMUM WAGE INCREASE TO $15 IS GOING TO BE -- IT GOING
TO BE TOUGH TO DO, BUT IT'S VERY TELLING TO ME ABOUT BIDEN'S
STRATEGY. THEY'RE WILLING TO GET CAUGHT
TRYING AND GOING REALLY BIG.
>> YOU KNOW, THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION WHAT THEY HAVEN'T
DONE YET REALLY IS SORT OF -- IS REALLY SCORE AND IT FEELS LIKE
THIS IS THE WEEK WHEN THEY FINALLY START TO PUT SOME POINTS
ON THE BOARD.
>> THE DEMOCRATS COULD COME OUT OF THIS WEEK AND SAY NOT ONLY DO
WE HAVE POINTS ON THE BOARD, WE HAVE 1.9 TRILLION POINTS ON THE
BOARD. BOARD.
>> $1.9 TRILLION COVID RELIEF PACKAGE GETS ITS FIRST REAL TEST
FRIDAY WITH A VOTE SCHEDULED IN THE HOUSE.
INCLUDE SD A PROVISION TO HIKE THE MINIMUM WAGE TO $15 AN HOUR.
>> EVEN THOUGH PRICES OF YOUR DRINKS AND YOUR MEALS HAVE GONE
UP, OUR WAGES HAVE NOT. WE DESERVE THE FAIR MINIMUM
WAGE.
>> WE ARE COMING OUT HERE, WE ARE FIGHTING FOR A $15 MINIMUM
WAGE FOR EVERY WORKER ACROSS THIS COUNTRY.
>> PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRATS ARE SAYING IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT IT
BE A PART OF THE COVID RELIEF PACKAGE.
>> I WAS HIRED AS A FOOD SERVER, I WORKED 40 HOURS PER WEEK AND
ONLY MADE $300 A CHECK. WHY CAN'T WE HAVE A LIVABLE
WAGE?
>> YOU SAY TO DEMOCRATS IF YOU TURN BACK ON THIS YOU WILL BE
ABANDONING THE VERY PEOPLE THAT VOTED FOR YOU.
>> THE PRESIDENT IS REALLY THINKING ABOUT THIS IS A MOMENT
WHERE WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO REDEFINE THE ECONOMY FOR WORKING
PEOPLE. HE IS UNEQUIVOCALLY COMMITTED TO
GETTING THE MINIMUM WAGE RAISED TO $15.
THE PRESIDENT PUT IT IN THE PACKAGE BECAUSE HE FIRMLY
BELIEVES THAT NOBODY IN THIS COUNTRY SHOULD WORK A FULL WEEK
AND LIVE IN POVERTY.
>> YOU ALL DID NOT HAVE THE NORMAL HONEYMOON PERIOD AND
THERE WAS LIKE A LOT OF TALK, OH, MY GOD, THE BIDEN WHITE
HOUSE IS REALLY GETTING OFF ON A TOUGH FOOTING BECAUSE THE
CONGRESS IS GOING TO BE DISTRACTED BY TRUMP.
>> I THINK WE FOCUSED ON WHAT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WERE LOOKING
FOR, WHICH WAS A PRESIDENT TO STEP UP AND SAY, I'M GOING TO
PUT FORWARD A PLAN TO CRUSH THIS VIRUS, AND I'M GOING TO PUT
FORWARD A PLAN TO GET THE ECONOMY BACK ON TRACK.
>> WE'RE GOING TO SPEND A LOT OF TIME TALKING ABOUT WHAT THE
PACKAGE IS GOING TO DO. SO PEOPLE UNDERSTAND WHAT THIS
MEANS FOR THEM.
>> SO I KNOW WHAT THAT'S ABOUT. THAT'S A LESSON FROM OBAMA.
>> I THINK HISTORY HAS SHOWN THAT YOU CAN'T EXPLAIN TO PEOPLE
ENOUGH. THEY HAVE A LOT GOING ON IN
THEIR LIVES.
>> RIGHT.
>> THE FIRST RULE OF OBAMA, ACA, AFFORDABLE CARE ACT PASSED BY
2010 AND IT SEEMED LIKE THE BIG PROBLEM FOR US WAS NONE OF THE
BENEFITS OF THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT WERE REALLY FELT, SEEN,
UNDERSTOOD BY THE PUBLIC.
>> EXACTLY.
>> I THINK WHAT WE'VE SEEN OVER THE LAST MONTH IS THE MORE
PEOPLE LEARN ABOUT THE RESCUE PLAN THE MORE THEY LIKE IT.
AND SO FOR US IT'S GOING TO BE APPLYING THE SAME KIND OF
COMMUNICATION STRATEGY THAT WE'RE APPLYING TO TRY TO GET THE
BILL PASSED TO THEN, YOU KNOW, AFTER THE BILL PASSES,
HOPEFULLY, TO HELP PEOPLE UNDERSTAND HOW IS IT GOING TO
HELP THEM IN THEIR LIVES. WHAT WE'VE HEARD FROM THE PUBLIC
IS NOT WHETHER OR NOT YOU GET VOTES FROM THE HILL FOR
REPUBLICANS, IT'S WHETHER OR NOT THE REPUBLICANS HAVE AN
EFFECTIVE CRITIQUE AGAINST WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO DO.
>> YEAH.
>> WELL, WE HAVE PUT FORWARD THE PLAN THAT REPUBLICAN GOVERNORS,
REPUBLICAN MAYORS ACROSS THE COUNTRY HAVE SAID THEY NEED,
THAT THEY SUPPORT. 50% OF REPUBLICAN VOTERS
SURVEYED IN THE COUNTRY SUPPORT THE PACKAGE.
IT'S REALLY ONLY REPUBLICANS ON CAPITOL HILL WHO ARE OPPOSING
THE PLAN. TO PUT A FINE POINT ON T IF YOU
ARE VOTING AGAINST THE PACKAGE YOU ARE VOTING AGAINST THE PLAN
TO FIGHT COVID AND I THINK THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GO HOME
TO THEIR CONSTITUENTS AND THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE TO EXPLAIN WHY
THEY VOTED AGAINST DIRECT CHECKS, WHY THEY VOTED AGAINST
MONEY FOR VACCINES, WHY THEY VOTED AGAINST MONEY TO GET
SCHOOLS OPEN, AND THE QUESTION FOR REPUBLICANS IN WASHINGTON IS
ARE YOU GOING TO LISTEN TO YOUR CONSTITUENTS OR NOT?
AND I THINK IF THEY DON'T, THERE IS GOING TO BE A PRICE FOR THEM
TO PAY. I REALLY DO.
>> THERE IS SORT OF A FALSE NARRATIVE GOING ON THAT THIS IS
AN EMERGENCY RELIEF BILL. WE HAVE HAD A LOT OF MANUAL
RELIEF BILLS ALREADY. WE HAD A MASSIVE ONE, ABOUT $900
BILLION WORTH IN DECEMBER. THAT WAS A BIPARTISAN RELIEF
BILL, THIS ONE IS VERY MUCH NOT. SEEMS MORE LIKELY THAT THE
DEMOCRATS WANT SOMETHING THAT BIDEN CAN SIGN.
>> THERE IS A LOT OF MONEY THAT HAS NOT BEEN SPENT FOR
DISBURSED, IT'S HARD TO GET EXACT NUMBERS BALLS THE
ADMINISTRATION WILL NOT GIVE IT TO US, IT'S EITHER BECAUSE THEY
REFUSE TO OR BECAUSE THEY SIMPLY DON'T KNOW.
SO HOW CAN YOU JUSTIFY SPENDING $1.9 TRILLION WHEN YOU'RE NOT
EVEN SURE WHAT YOU'VE ALREADY SPENT?
>> WHAT THE BIDEN TEAM WOULD SAY IN RESPONSE TO THAT IS WE DON'T
HAVE MONTHS TO FIND OUT WHERE EVERY NICKEL WENT, IT'S A CRISIS
AND WE LEARN FROM THE ECONOMIC CRISIS THAT WAITING TOO LONG AND
DOING TOO LITTLE IS A BIGGER PROBLEM THAN DOING TOO MUCH TOO
FAST.
>> YEAH. AND HIS WORDS EXACTLY WERE,
WELL, WHAT WOULD YOU TAKE OUT.
>> YEAH.
>> WE HAVE A LONG LIST OF THINGS, IN FACT.
UNNECESSARY -- AND THE FORMULA FOR THAT OVERWHELMINGLY BENEFITS
BLUE STATES. JUST IMAGINE THAT.
OR STATES ESPECIALLY THAT IMPLEMENTED LOCKDOWNS,
ESPECIALLY HARD.
>> IT MAY HAVE BEEN STATES THAT SUFFERED THE WORST, TOO.
>> WELL, EVERYBODY SUFFERED THE WORST, IF YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT
JUST COVID. NOW, THERE'S -- NOW, THERE'S
SELF-IMPOSED SUFFERING AS WELL, WHICH IS IN THE FORM OF
LOCKDOWNS. HERE IS ANOTHER PROBLEM, IF YOU
ARE GOING TO GIVE ADDITIONAL MONEY TO THE SCHOOLS YOU HAVE TO
AT LEAST SAY, LOOK, HAVE A REOPENING PLAN.
GIVE AMERICANS SOME LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL AND DON'T TALK
TO ME ABOUT CLOSING SCHOOLS AND HOW THAT'S BETTER FOR OUR KIDS
OR TEACHERS. THAT'S BEEN DEBUNKED BY SCIENCE.
THE PARTY OF SCIENCE SHOULD LISTEN TO SCIENCE.
>> THERE IS A PERCEPTION THAT THIS IS A GOOD THING.
THE AMERICAN PUBLIC SUPPORTS IT BY 75%, REPUBLICANS BY 60%.
SO HOW ARE YOU GOING TO DEAL WITH THAT POLITICALLY?
>> I'M NOT THAT WORRIED ABOUT THIS ONE ONE.
THIS ONE IS EXTREMELY BLOATED. I EXPLAIN HARD ONES ALL THE TIME
AND I WILL EXPLAIN THIS ONE.
>> YOU DON'T THINK IT WILL BE HARD TO DEFEND YOUR VOTE AGAINST
IT?
>> NO, I DON'T. WE HAVE TO AT LEAST PRETEND THAT
ONE OF OUR JOBS IS GOOD GOVERNANCE AND NOT SADDLING OUR
CHILDREN WITH REALLY UNSUSTAINABLE AMOUNTS OF DEBT.
>> WELL, DEBT IS SOMETHING THAT DONALD TRUMP DIDN'T SEEM TO CARE
MUCH ABOUT.
>> NO, HE DIDN'T. THAT'S TRUE.
IT'S A PROBLEM.
>> SO CPAC IS THIS WEEKEND.
>> UH-HUH.
>> YOU HAD THE NUMBER ONE AND NUMBER THREE LEADERSHIP OF YOUR
PARTY PUBLICLY DISAGREE ABOUT THE ROLE OF THE FORMER PRESIDENT
OF THE UNITED STATES.
>> DO YOU THINK FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP SHOULD BE SPEAKING AT CPAC
THIS WEEKEND.
>> I SHOULD.
>> I DON'T BELIEVE HE SHOULD BE PLAYING A ROLE IN THE FUTURE OF
THE PARTY.
>> ON THAT HIGH NOTE --
>> ISN'T THAT PROBLEMATIC FOR THE PARTY?
>> IT ISN'T IDEAL.
>> I MEAN, THERE ARE REPUBLICANS WHO, STICK MYSELF IN THAT
BUCKET, THAT JUST SAY I'D LIKE TO SEE A VIBRANT HEALTHY
REPUBLICAN PARTY. I THINK IF DONALD TRUMP IS PART
OF THAT EQUATION IN THE FUTURE IT'S PROBLEMATIC FOR A LOT OF
PEOPLE.
>> I MEAN, THE FUNDAMENTAL ANSWER IS WHO IS GOING TO LEAD
THE PARTY? WE DON'T HAVE TO ANSWER IT.
LIKE RIGHT AWAY. SO JUST CHILL OUT.
LIKE THAT'S KIND OF MY MESSAGE TO BOTH EXTREMES OF THIS WHO
KEEP SAYING, NO, BRING HIM BACK IN, WE NEED HIM, AND THOSE WHO
ARE SAYING, KEEP HIM AWAY, LIKE, NO, NO, JUST LIKE WHY DON'T YOU
FOCUS ON WHO YOU ARE. LET'S JUST DO THAT AND I THINK
WE WILL BE OKAY.
>> ALL EYES IN WASHINGTON ARE NOW ON THE LITTLE KNOWN SENATE
PARLIAMENTARIAN WHO WILL DECIDE SOON WHETHER BIDEN'S PROPOSED
$15 MINIMUM WAGE CAN BE INCLUDED.
DEMOCRATS ARE STILL SHARPLY DIVIDED WITH WHETHER THE WAGE
INCREASE SHOULD BE IN THE BILL AT ALL.
>> THE WHITE HOUSE IN THE AGE OF COVID AND THE BIDEN
ADMINISTRATION IS DIFFERENT THAN ANYTHING THAT'S EVER BEEN
BEFORE. THE VAST MAJORITY OF WHITE HOUSE
STAFF IS NOT WORKING IN THE BUILDING.
THEY'RE STILL WORKING FROM HOME. FEELS A LITTLE BIT LIKE A
HAUNTED HOUSE RIGHT NOW. AND WHAT NORMALLY WOULD BE A
HIVE OF ACTIVITY, PEOPLE COMING AND GOING, VISITORS IN AND OUT,
YOU KNOW, HERE GIVES THIS KIND OF FALSE APPEARANCE THAT NOT
MUCH IS GOING ON WHEN, IN FACT, A SHIT TON IS GOING ON.
>> ALL RIGHT, GUYS, IN A WORD, ARE WE GOOD?
OKAY.
>> WHAT'S BEEN REMARKABLE TO ME HAVING SEEN -- I CAN'T EVEN
COUNT HOW MANY TRANSITIONS NOW FROM THE OUTGOING AND THE
INCOMING, HOW INCREDIBLY ORGANIZED AND COMPREHENSIVE THE
WORK OF THE TRANSITION TEAM WAS. WHEN I'VE BEEN STRUCK BY
THROUGHOUT, JOHN, IS THIS IS A TEAM OF PEOPLE WHO KNOW WHAT
THEY'RE DOING.
>> THERE'S OBVIOUSLY A BIG DISCUSSION GOING ON ABOUT
BIPARTISANSHIP, BUT IT'S TURNING OUT LIKE IN THIS ENVIRONMENT
WE'RE LIKELY TO SEE THIS BIG COVID PACKAGE GET DONE WITHOUT
ANY REPUBLICAN VOTES.
>> WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO PARTICULARLY WITH THE AMERICAN
RESCUE PLAN AS THE FIRST MAJOR PIECE OF LEGISLATION IS DELIVER
THINGS THAT PEOPLE NEED, DEALING WITH EXTENDED UNEMPLOYMENT
BENEFITS, STUDENT LOAN PAUSES, YOU KNOW, REDUCING CHILD
POVERTY. I MEAN, THERE'S SO MANY ELEMENTS
IN THIS PACKAGE THAT MEANINGFULLY WILL DELIVER FOR
REGULAR PEOPLE AND IT TURNS OUT THAT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ON A
BIPARTISAN BASIS GET THAT THIS IS A GOOD PACKAGE.
MORE THAN 70% OF AMERICANS IN VIRTUALLY ALL THE POLLS WANT
THIS. SO THAT IS ACTUALLY
BIPARTISANSHIP.
>> ARE YOU SURPRISED THAT THIS QUICKLY ON A THING THIS BIG,
THIS IMPORTANT IN THE MIDDLE OF A PANDEMIC THAT YOU HAVE NO
REPUBLICAN PARTNERS?
>> WELL, LOOK, WE'RE NOT GOING TO STOP SEEKING THAT SUPPORT,
BUT, YOU KNOW, IF IT'S NOT FORTHCOMING WE WILL DO WHAT THE
PEOPLE WANT.
>> I UNDERSTAND, BUT IS IT NOT A LITTLE STUNNING TO YOU?
IT'S A LITTLE STUNNING TO ME AND I'M PRETTY CYNICAL.
>> YOU AND I HAVE BOTH BEEN AROUND A LONG TIME.
>> I KNOW.
>> I DON'T KNOW ABOUT STUNNING. I GUESS I'M NOT SUPER SURPRISED
ABOUT HOW THINGS GO DOWN IN THIS TOWN.
>> YOU KNOW, OVER THE BIG CRISES THAT BIDEN LAID OUT, THE FOUR
BIG CRISES THAT HE LAID OUT AT THE INAUGURAL, COVID, ECONOMY,
RACE, CLIMATE, RACIAL EQUITY IS THE ONE THAT IS OBVIOUSLY JUST
AS BIG IN SOME WAYS AS THE OTHERS.
I KNOW PART OF THE WAY YOU GUYS ARE THINKING ABOUT IT IS IT'S
NOT ABOUT PASSING A PARTICULAR BILL OR EXECUTIVE ORDER BUT HOW
DO YOU PUT A PRISM, A LENS OF RACIAL EQUITY ON TOP OF
EVERYTHING.
>> FIRST OF ALL, LET ME TELL YOU WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT.
TAKE HEALTH CARE, COVID HAS EXPOSED EXTRAORDINARY
DISPARITIES WHICH MANY OF US KNEW EXISTED, SOME PEOPLE DIDN'T
PERHAPS REALIZE IN THE HEALTH STATUS OF BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE
IN THIS COUNTRY VERSUS WHITE PEOPLE.
IN THE CONTEXT OF THE COVID RELIEF EFFORT THE PRESIDENT
ESTABLISHED A HEALTH EQUITY TASK FORCE WITH THE AIM OF MAKING
SURE WHEN IT COMES TO DATA COLLECTION AND TESTING AND
VACCINATIONS AND THE RESOURCE THAT IS WE'RE TRYING TO DELIVER
THAT THEY'RE REACHING EVERYBODY.
>> I THINK FOR A LOT OF AFRICAN-AMERICANS JOE BIDEN IS
THE CRIME BILL GUY. THEY LOOK BACK ON THE MASS
INCARCERATION THING. I THINK IF YOU HAD ASKED A LOT
OF PEOPLE THE WORLD OF RACIAL EQUITY THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN
LIKE, WELL, JOE BIDEN WOULDN'T HAVE NECESSARILY BEEN THE GUY
WHO I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THIS IS THE GUY WHO IS GOING TO BE THE
RACIAL EQUITY PRESIDENT, RIGHT?
>> I'VE KNOWN JOE BIDEN FOR MANY YEARS AND TRUTH BE TOLD I'M NOT
SURPRISED. JOE BIDEN WAS AND IS EXTREMELY
POPULAR AMONG AFRICAN-AMERICANS WHO UNDERSTOOD THAT HE WAS
SOMEBODY WHO UNDERSTOOD THE NATURE OF OUR CONCERNS AND
ASPIRATIONS. YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHY SOUTH
CAROLINA WAS SUCH A PIVOTAL PRIMARY, THAT'S WHY, YOU KNOW,
THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN VOTE WAS VERY, VERY STRONG FOR JOE BIDEN
AND KAMALA HARRIS. JOE BIDEN IS SOMEBODY WHO IS
AIMING TO MEET THE MOMENT THAT WE'RE IN.
RACIAL JUSTICE AND EQUITY LONG OVERDUE, BUT VERY IMPORTANTLY A
TIMELY MOMENT TO TACKLE THESE THINGS.
AND I THINK HE UNDERSTANDS THAT WE MUST AND WE CAN AND SO WE
SHOULD. SHOU
SHOULD.
>> BREAKING NEWS, THE SENATE PARLIAMENTARIAN RULED AGAINST A
$15 AN HOUR MINIMUM WAGE IN BIDEN'S COVID RELIEF BILL.
>> WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY EN PSAKI SAID THAT PRESIDENT
BIDEN IS DISAPPOINTED IN THIS COULD YOU TELL COME, HE RESPECTS
THE DECISION.
>> A BIG SET BACK FOR DEMOCRATS.
>> PROGRESSIVES ARE GOING TO PUSH TO OVERTURN THE
PARLIAMENTARIAN.
>> FOR AN ADMINISTRATION THAT SAYS THEY'RE GOING TO FIGHT FOR
BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE, FOR WOMEN, FOR EQUALITY, FOR RACIAL
EQUALITY, YOU'VE GOT TO RAISE THE MINIMUM WAGE AND THE SKY IS
NOT GOING TO FALL IN, THE GROUND IS GOING TO BE LIFTED UP FOR 27
MILLION PEOPLE.
>> I THINK THE PARLIAMENTARIAN ISSUED AN ADVISORY OPINION, BUT
IT IS JUST THAT. IT IS NOT A RULING.
AND NOW WHITE HOUSE AND THE SENATE LEADERSHIP HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THAT OPINION.
WE ARE GOING TO DELIVER ON THE PROMISE OF RAISING THE WAGE FOR
PEOPLE ACROSS THE COUNTRY, AND WE HAVE TO.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO GO BACK TO PEOPLE AND SAY, I'M
SORRY, I PROMISED YOU A RAISE IN THE MINIMUM WAGE, YOUR FAMILY
SUFFERING, YOU CAN'T LIVE ON $15,000 A YEAR BUT THE
PARLIAMENTARIAN RULED WE COULDN'T DO IT, SO, SORRY, NO
GO.
>> THAT'S BASICALLY WHAT BIDEN IS SAYING.
THE PARLIAMENTARIAN HAS RULED, LET'S FOCUS ON THE BIG PRIZE,
WHICH IS THE PASSAGE OF THIS BILL.
HOW HARD ARE YOU GUYS PRESSING YOUR CASE WITH THE BIDEN WHITE
HOUSE?
>> WELL, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE BEEN PRESSING IT AND WE KNOW WHAT
THEY'VE SAID. PEOPLE ACROSS THE COUNTRY,
BLACK, BROWN, INDIGENOUS, POOR, WOMEN, WORKING CLASS, TURNED OUT
AND DELIVERED US MAJORITIES IN THE HOUSE, THE SENATE AND THE
WHITE HOUSE. WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE A
CHOICE THAT WE'RE GOING TO GO TO THE MAT AND FIGHT.
>> EVEN IF THE WHITE HOUSE GOT ON BOARD WITH THE PLAN TO
OVERRULE THE PARLIAMENTARIAN AND SAID, ALL RIGHT, FULL STEAM
AHEAD.
>> YEAH.
>> IT LANDS AT THE DOORSTEP OF JOE MANCHIN WHO HAS ALREADY SAID
HE'S NOT GOING TO VOTE FOR IT.
>> THE POLITICAL REALITY IS IT'S A POPULOUS POLICY, WHETHER UNOR
TWO DEMOCRATS DON'T WANT TO DO IT, IT IS A POLICY THAT THE
MAJORITY OF DEMOCRATS, REPUBLICANS AND INDEPENDENTS
BELIEVE IN.
>> BUT IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE VOTES WHAT'S THE POINT?
>> YOU NEVER KNOW IF YOU HAVE THE VOTES UNTIL YOU PUSH TO THE
END.
>> IT SEEMS LIKE THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS LOOKING AT THIS MOMENT
AND SAYING THIS IS GOING TO BE JUST LIKE THE ACA, THE DEMOCRATS
WILL GET OVER THEIR SKIS AND WE WILL PUNISH THEM IN THE
MIDTERMS. YOU TALK TO PROGRESSIVES AND
THEY SAY THIS ISN'T THE ACA.
>> I THINK IT'S VERY, VERY DIFFERENT FROM THE AFFORDABLE
CARE ACT, WE'RE PUTTING MONEY IN PEOPLE'S POCKETS.
AT THE END OF THE DAY PEOPLE HAVE TO WAKE UP AND FEEL LIKE
THEIR LIFE IS APPRECIABLY DIFFERENT.
INEQUALITY IS AT ITS HIGHEST SINCE THE GREAT DEPRESSION.
THAT LEVEL OF DESPERATION IS PART AND PARCEL OF WHAT LED TO
TRUMP'S SUCCESS.
>> TRUMPISM AT ITS CORE PERHAPS ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL PARTS
OF IT WAS THE POPULISM.
>> THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT.
>> AND THE REPUBLICAN PARTY DOES NOT SEEM TO WANT TO EMBRACE
THAT.
>> THEY DON'T WANT TO EMBRACE THAT EVEN THOUGH THEY EMBRACED
TRUMP AND DEMOCRATS --
>> IT SOUNDS TO ME LIKE YOU HAVE A VERY CLEAR-EYED ASSESSMENT OF
THE WORK AND THE WORK IS NOT ABOUT REACHING ACROSS THE AISLE.
>> WE DON'T FEEL SAFE IN THERE, I CAN SPEAK FOR MYSELF AND MY
COLLEAGUES, WE WERE TRAPPED ON THE GALLERY FLOOR DURING THE
INSURRECTION.
>> THEY BROKE THE GLASS? EVERYBODY STAY DOWN.
GET DOWN.
>> WE STILL CONTINUE TO HEAR OUR COLLEAGUES DEFENDING THOSE
PEOPLE ACTIVELY PROMOTING THEM, NOT WANTING TO GET TO THE BOTTOM
OF WHAT HAPPENED. I DON'T HAVE MUCH FAITH THAT WE
ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO MAKE COMMON GROUND WITH PEOPLE WHO
WON'T EVEN ADMIT THAT JOE BIDEN IS THE LEGITIMATE PRESIDENT OF
THE UNITED STATES. AND I DON'T THINK THAT'S A VIEW
THAT IS JUST IN THE PROGRESSIVE SIDE OF THE PARTY AND I THINK
ANY NOTION THAT THE SENATE CAN DO BIPARTISAN DEALS OR THAT THE
HOUSE CAN BE BIPARTISAN IS MISSING THE POINT.
WE CAN BE BIPARTISAN FOR THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES, BUT
NOT WITH THESE ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES.
>> THE BIGGEST GATHERING OF CONSERVATIVES, CPAC, STARTS
TODAY. CPAC SOUNDS LIKE IT'S GOING TO
BE A DOOZY THIS YEAR.
>> HOW IS IT GOING, CPAC?
>> I HEARD SOMEONE PHRASE IT A LITTLE BIT BETTER, TPA C.
IT'S WHAT IT FEELS LIKE, GUYS.
>> DIDN'T ANYBODY TELL YOU THAT YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE CANCELED?
YOU DIDN'T GET THE MEMO. YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO ASK
PERMISSION BEFORE YOU CAME HERE TODAY.
>> JUST LIKE WE TOLD YOU, HE IS LEADING FROM BEHIND.
FROM BEHIND KAMALA, THAT IS.
>> WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE DEMOCRATS' COVID RELIEF PLAN?
>> I THINK THEY'RE TRYING TO EXTEND -- THEY SHOULD HAVE MORE
CONTROL OVER PEOPLE FOR A LONGER TIME.
>> COVID RELIEF PACKAGE WOULD SUGGEST THAT THERE'S ACTUALLY
RELIEF FOR COVID IN THERE.
>> DO YOU THINK THAT MESSAGE HAS GOTTEN OUT BECAUSE IT'S VERY
POPULAR WITH AMERICAN VOTERS RIGHT NOW.
>> I THINK THE COMMUNICATION SHOULD BE BETTER ON WHAT IT ALL
FUNDS OTHER THAN COVID.
>> THE PROBLEM IS THE GOVERNMENT HAS PREVENTED US FROM EARNING A
LIVING AND BEING FREE. THE IDEA THAT SOMEONE WOULD GIVE
YOU MONEY TO HELP COMPENSATE FOR THAT IS ALWAYS GOING TO BE
POPULAR.
>> WHAT IS FRUSTRATING REPUBLICANS IS ONE OF THE THINGS
THEY WERE REALLY HOPING FOR FROM JOE BIDEN WAS BIPARTISANSHIP.
>> YOU KNOW, THIS WAS A GUY THAT WAS WORKING WITH RONALD REAGAN
BACK IN THE DAY, HE WAS WORKING WITH GEORGE BUSH AND YOU ARE NOT
SEEING ANY OF THAT RIGHT NOW. REPUBLICANS THEY WERE HOPING
THAT IT WASN'T JUST CAMPAIGN RHETORIC AND NOW THEY'RE GOING
TO GO AND JAM THIS STIMULUS PLAN THROUGH AND IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE
THERE'S ANY NEGOTIATIONS GOING ON.
WHAT I'VE HEARD FROM MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, THEY'RE TELLING US
THAT THE RADICAL LEFT WING IS RUNNING THE GOVERNMENT RIGHT
NOW. REMEMBER BARACK OBAMA'S STIMULUS
PLAN? OH, EVERYBODY SUPPORTED IT.
ONCE PEOPLE FIND OUT WHAT'S IN IT, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO LIKE
IT.
>> GENERAL PROSPECT OF REPUBLICANS, HOW ARE YOU FEELING
ABOUT IT?
>> REMEMBER AFTER THE '92 ELECTION?
REPUBLICAN PARTY WAS DEAD. WE ALL KNOW WHAT HAPPENED IN THE
'94 ELECTIONS, YOU HAD A REPUBLICAN LANDSLIDE.
>> YEAH, WE DIDN'T THINK WE WERE EVER GOING TO BE BACK AFTER '29.
>> THAT WAS IT. SOME OF THE WASHINGTON
POLITICIANS MIGHT NOT BE UNIFIED BUT THE CORE CONSERVATIVE BASE
WHICH DRIVES THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, THE PEOPLE HERE AT CPAC,
THEY'RE UNIFIED. DO YOU KNOW WHO PICKED DONALD
TRUMP? WASHINGTON DIDN'T PICK HIM.
THE ESTABLISHMENT DIDN'T PICK HIM.
IT WAS THE GRASSROOTS REPUBLICANS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
THEY KNOW WHAT THEY WANT.
>> BIG DAY FOR PRESIDENT BIDEN.
>> THE HOUSE VOTES TONIGHT ON A NEARLY $2 TRILLION CORONAVIRUS
RESCUE PLAN.
>> ENORMOUS BILL.
>> MASSIVE PRICE TAG.
>> I REMEMBER SEPTEMBER OF 2008. WHEN THEY MET WITH HANK PAULSON,
THE SECRETARY OF TREASURY, ALL THE LEADERSHIP WAS AROUND THE
TABLE.
>> GOOD EVENING, I'M VERY PLEASED TO WELCOME THE
DEMOCRATIC AND REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP OF THE HOUSE AND
SENATE.
>> AND THEY TOLD US WE'RE GOING TO NEED $700 BILLION.
$700 BILLION? WE'VE NEVER VOTED FOR A BILL
$700 BILLION. OF COURSE, WE VOTED FOR IT.
IT KEPT US FROM GOING INTO A DEPRESSION.
IT WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO AND VERY FRANKLY IT WAS A REPUBLICAN
PRESIDENT ASKING FOR IT AND IT WAS TWO-THIRDS OF DEMOCRATS THAT
PASSED IT. IT WOULD NOT HAVE PASSED WITHOUT
DEMOCRATS SAYING IF THIS IS NECESSARY FOR OUR COUNTRY, WE
WILL DO IT. AND THEN OF COURSE FAST FORWARD,
NONE OF US WOULD HAVE EVER PERCEIVED WHEN WE WERE ELECTED
OF VOTING FOR SOME $1.9 TRILLION.
FORGET ABOUT $700 BILLION. BUT THE CHALLENGE, THE DANGER,
THE CONSEQUENCES TO OUR AMERICANS' HEALTH AND TO OUR
ECONOMY WERE SUCH THAT THIS WAS WARRANTED.
>> DO YOU HAVE A SENSE OF WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE REPUBLICANS?
IT DOES NOT SEEM -- I MEAN, I GATHER THEY SEEM TO THINK THAT
THEY CAN TAKE A $179 TRILLION BILL, SPEND THE NEXT TWO YEARS
PICKING IT APART, FINDING THINGS THAT ARE POLITICALLY UNPOPULAR
AND TRYING TO RUN AGAINST YOU ALL ON THOSE ITEMS.
DOES THAT -- IS THIS A STRATEGY THAT CONCERNS YOU?
>> I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY A BILL OF THIS MAGNITUDE SOME THINGS ARE
GOING TO WORK AND SOME THINGS AREN'T GOING TO WORK, BUT
FRANKLY I THINK THE REPUBLICANS ARE COMFORTED IN THEIR POLICY OF
OPPOSITION BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE THE BILL IS GOING TO PASS.
THEY THINK THEY'RE GOING TO GET THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS.
THEY WILL BE ABLE TO PANDER TO THEIR HARD LINE DON'T DO
ANYTHING, DON'T WEAR MASKS BASE, AND AT THE SAME TIME NOT INCUR
THE WRATH OF THOSE FOLKS WHO SEE THIS AS SO NECESSARY.
SO REPUBLICAN OPPOSITION IS SOMEWHAT OF A SORT OF A FREE
OPPOSITION STROKE.
>> BIPARTISANSHIP IN WASHINGTON MAY BE A THING OF THE PAST.
ARE YOU VIEWING THESE NEXT TWO YEARS AS I AM THE MAJORITY
LEADER AND WE HAVE TO GET DONE WHATEVER WE CAN GET DONE IN THE
NEXT TWO YEARS AND WE CANNOT RELY ON THE REPUBLICANS FOR
PROGRESS AND WE CANNOT LET THEM INTIMIDATE US INTO NOT ACTING?
>> 500,000 AMERICANS HAVE DIED. THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF
BUSINESSES HAVE EITHER SHUT DOWN OR GONE AWAY.
PEOPLE ARE IN FOOD LINES THEY NEVER EXPECTED IN THEIR WILDEST
DREAMS THEY WOULD NEED TO BE IN A FOOD LINE.
I DON'T WANT THIS TO SOUND CORNY BUT I THINK THE BEST POLITICS
FOR US FOR '22 OR FOR '24, '26, WHATEVER, AND I THINK BIDEN IS
IN THE SAME BOAT, IS TO DO THE RIGHT THING.
>> THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. THOSE OPPOSED SAY NO.
THE AYES HAVE IT.
>> THE BILL IS PASSED WITHOUT OBJECTION A MOTION TO RECONSIDER
IS LAID UPON THE TABLE.