the victims communism museum in washington d.c. were founding director spalding joyce use story of political domination persecution. sending more than a century. artifacts repurposed into beatles record an old soviet union in a transistor radio used to navigate out of communist help cambodia put 8:00 p.m. eastern lectures in history santa clara university professor nancy exams expensive gays and lesbians and colonial america. exploring the american story watch american history tv saturdays on c-span2 find a full schedule on your program guide or watch online anytime at c-span.org/history. ♪ the schedule is jeff quinn will be our guest on in-depth to take you calls on history and

american outlaw. he's written books about bonnie and clyde, charl manson, the mexican border or as well as wake up the 51 day standoff in texas between federal agents and david karesh branch did in. during the cveation with your phone calls, facebook comments, texan tweets. inepth with jeff quinn live this sunday at noon eastern on book tv on c-span2. >> national security council jon kirby told reporters at the white house the u.s. will have another round of assistance for ukraine. ukraine aid is expected to be a major topic. president biden meets with chancellor at the white house on friday. he was also joint in the briefing room by white house press secretary. it is about an hour and 10 minutes.

[background noises] >> hi, hi, hey steve, hi. i feel like i walked in on a conversation. good afternoon everybody. we have admiral jon kirby here today to give a preview of german chancellor schultz visit tomorrow and take any foreign policy questions you may all have. after that we will continue the briefing, thanks. >> good afternoon everybody. tomorrow as you know president is going to welcome german chancellor schultz. to the white house to discuss our bilateral cooperation on a range of global security and economic issues. the present looks forward to welcoming him back or to the whites were at met february of 2022.

soon after the chancellor took office but over the last year they see each other on the margin of the g7 summit in germany, the g20 summit and of course they've talked on the phone regularly. the most recently spoke last week is by the g7 leaders call on the anniversary of russia's invasion. the visit comes as we mark one year since that invasion started. we are proud of the collective efforts we have taken together to provide ukraine with the capability they need. they work hand-in-hand in the allies and partners all of the world including that ukraine defense groups do exactly that. with closely supported joint announcements and generative right infantry fighting vehicles and tanks. germany's provided significant air difference ukraine clean the patriot battery the irish air defense system which is infrared seeking system five multiple launch rocket systems as although germany is a close nato

ally and the military force presence in europe. which has been pivotal this year's leave again tried to reinforce our nato allies and bolster the eastern flank of nato and deterrence there but large portion of yes training of ukrainian forces occurs in her bases in germany our german colleagues also conducted their own training of ukraine's also in germany. just last week we were together to rally global support for new ukraine's resolution. ross in support of the chancellor's everett simplot policy changes to respond to the security environment including increasing germany's defense spending rapidly transmission from russian energy sources. i am sure that the leaders will discuss the recent engagements with ukrainian officials include the president's trip to kyiv and many of president zelenskyy as well as chancellor scholz meeting with president zelenskyy in paris last month. we anticipate the two leaders will exchange views on the upcoming nato summit. other global issues like the challenges posed by the people's republic of china. all in all the expects will be a

true working visit between these two leaders were looking very much forward to getting some things done. we also announced early this afternoon president biden looks forward to welcoming next week the president of the european commission hears the white house on friday the tenth of march. another working visit we expect their discussion or course including support for ukraine. they will also discuss u.s. and eu coordination to combat climate crisis and take stock of the joint task force energy security that both established a year ago. one quick follow-up here, i think you also saw today the president released administration's national cybersecurity strategy for this demonstration has taken an aggressive approach to strengthen the nation cybersecurity since day one. their strategy builds on the president's work set forth a new vision for the future of cyberspace the wider digital

ecosystem. it will rebound the responsibility for managing cyber risk onto those who are most able to bear it. including large enterprises and the federal government. away from those who can and should not have to bear it. including local governments, tribal territories, small businesses, even individual citizens. national security strategy the bipartisan infrastructure law, chips and science act, the inflation reduction act and other initiatives to a more equitable economy. clean energy transition, stronger democracy and more competitive workforce for national cybersecurity strategy will protect all these investments by increasing our collective security and systemic resilience at strategy are now available at whitehouse.gov. coy and take a look at it. >> appearing for this offensive

of the two leaders going to discuss accelerating assistance to ukraine? we talk about the capabilities ukraine is during the weeks and months ahead. you see it unilaterally the u.s. on another round of assistance for ukraine coming tomorrow. mostly ammunitions and they will need for the systems they arty have with the utility. i cannot predict a specific outcome tomorrow. i wouldn't look for that but certainly they'll be discussing support for ukraine coming forward. >> the number for tomorrow's announcement? >> just stay tuned we will have more detail on that. >> expect the discussion of germans moving tank shells or immunizations. [inaudible] it's more difficult to produce

in europe with regulatory and other issues. >> will have a full after the meeting is over the talk about ukraine and how we can work together to support them as quickly as we possibly can with as much as we can but i do not have anything specific on that proposal. >> thank you. >> enriching your your rating up to 84% of grade levels. what is your response to that? how does it complicate any chances we have a customer can have another whimper. >> i'm not position to confirm those reports. clearly one of the reasons why this administration took office want to get back into the iran deal is because without they are ron dillon around us free to enrichment. and free to further decrease the breakout time two weeks and months from what had been more than a couple years.

that is bobby wanted to get back into the iran deal for the iran deal right now is still not a focus of the agenda. as iran continues to supply military equipment and capabilities to russia so that they can continue to kill ukrainians as they continue to crackdown on protesters in their own country but they continue to support terrorists throughout the middle east to move on. it's just not a focus for the menstruation right now. [inaudible] the israeli prime minister. [inaudible] is this accessible from when your closest allies? >> notes that we've talked about that peru spoken about that is not acceptable language. we continue as always to urge both sides, to take no steps certainly not to participate in rhetoric that will escalate the tensions. >> is at the first time since

russia invaded, why do you feel now is the right time to have this conversation? the direction say was that late blinken's request is that right? >> in the same room at the g20 in new delhi bright secretary blinken took the opportunity available to him to make three key points. one, we do not want russia to suspend their participation a new start because that makes country safer part we got a proposal on the table they ought to take it. we were going to continue support ukraine for. >> is there a reason why there's tenant. >> it was not a pre-scheduled meeting. it was an opportunity secretary blinken took advantage of. >> on a couple topics on that neighborhood child has made any further decisions or actions either way whether to provide legal aid to russia? except see no edge that they made that decision at taken off

the table pics let me ask president set up a couple weeks ago his thing at the area objects expect to seek language with the president xi, certainly update on that question righetti formal outreach? what would that take place? quick note for more hours i'm aware of no called the schedule. >> several months ago the president thought saudi arabia would suffer consequences was his language after the saudi by opec it would cut production for is it fair to say now this many months later that is not going to happen? >> i was at the podium here a few days ago we talked about this. first of all they've already been consequences. congress took action to limit arms sales to saudi arabia. but we noted that they visited kyiv. they greatly contribute

$40 million of energy infrastructure support to kyiv comment to ukraine. he found that a welcome development we are focus on the future. >> you clarify the administration's goals to provide these weapons, and you address whether you'll be able to fulfill this package considering the u.s -- is already struggling with wholesale munitions requests for ukraine? >> i don't know that there's anything to clarify, i mean, this most recent announcement on arms sales is very much in keeping with our responsibilities under the taiwan relations act to make sure that taiwan has sufficient defense capability, these munitions will exactly help do that k. and that is for the impact on what we're providing ukraine, completely two different systems, the way this is -- arms sales is a whole

different process and methodology than what we're doing for ukraine which is largely through presidential drawdown authority where you're basically taking stuff that are already on your shelves and providing it to ukraine directly. so it's it's a complete completely different process, different system altogether. >> is it the same kind of munitions but just provided by different factories? i'm sorry, i don't understand. >> the types of -- i don't want to get into too much nail tail, but the types of -- detail, but the types of munitions will allow taiwan to continue to modernize their suite of f-16s. so it's largely designed for f-16 delivery. >> okay. on cybersecurity -- allow the administration to authorize u.s. agencies to implement cashback operations to networks of criminals or foreign government- [inaudible] >> i don't think we're going to get into the tactics here from the podium on something like cybersecurity. i'd encourage you to look at the strategy. it covers a wide range of

issues. largely bringing back onto the federal government some responsibility that we think is more appropriately us and that shouldn't be laid at the feet of small businesses and individuals as well as the triballer stories. tribal territories. and also gives us more tools and flexibility with going after bad actors, and i think i a really do need to leave it at that. >> [inaudible] discussion or -- what it would take for competition between the president and president putin -- >> the president already spoke to this several months ago, i think, when president zelenskyy was here. if mr. putin were to be sincere ask and dedicated to actually sitting down and talking about peace, the president would consider talking to him. but there's been no change to that. >> back on ukraine, the russian government the last 24-48 hours -- saboteurs -- [inaudible] is there any u.s. government --

of that, the veracity of this complaint? >> seen the reports, can't confirm them. >> yes, thank you so much. one other question on the visit of chancellor schultz. according to my colleagues from -- administration is -- with allies regarding the sanctions against china if china decides to deliver weapons to russia, and germany comes to mind given that they're very close relationship with china. do you expect that to be a topic, a difficult topic in the conversation tomorrow? >> i certainly would expect in the context of talking about what's going on in ukraine that the issue of third party support to russia could come up. they have reached out, as you know, to iran, they've reached out to north korea. but i don't want to get ahead of where we are here: we haven't seen the chinese make this decision. we don't think they've taken it

off the table, but we haven't seen them make a decision to go forward. we've communicated privately, certainly publicly, our concerns about that. we believe it's not in china's best interests to move forward in that regard, and they should see it the same way. i just don't think it's helpful right now to hypothesize about what consequences might result. secretary blinken has talked about the fact that there would be ramifications, and i think that's probably better if we just leave it at that. >> [inaudible] >> thank you so much. so president zelenskyy just spoke -- and he just tweeted that they discussed diplomatic accords to bring peace to ukraine -- [inaudible] do you believe -- this time could be successful? >> only if president zelenskyy and his government are fully brought into the process and fully supportive of it. nothing about ukraine without

ukraine. >> thank you. refugee policy as well. the president was -- praised poland for assisting refugees during his trip. when it comes to the united states, we all hear about the united for ukraine program. there was also about 10,000 ukrainians who came in across the border, were paroled and set to expire next month. is the administration considering any option for, to extend that legal status? and if it's not extended, what would happen to those 10,000 ukrainians in the united states? >> let me take the question. of i'll take that question and get back to you. >> is there any chance that we could get you in the white house to reconsider not having a two plus two press conference with schultz? we would love there to be the regular two plus two press conference. similarly, are you planning to hold one of these press

conferences when president -- visits? >> i think karine addressed this issue yesterday. i don't have anything to add to what she told you. this is a working visit, and it's very -- the agenda is tight-knit because it's not just not going to be meeting with the president all day. it's a tight visit, working level visit on pretty significant issues, and it wasn't part of the schedule for either leader here to do a press conference. and it's not, as i understand it, i've not been here for long, but we don't always do that. sometimes you do, sometimes you don't. it depends a lot on the agenda and the schedules by both leaders. >> thank you very much. congress has further delayed a vote on -- sweden and finland's accession to nato. they're saying by two weeks. are you concerned about this delay? are you confident that hungary

at the end will accept the accent -- act sense into nato? and turkey is not ready to approve sweden's membership in nato. would president biden support finland's admission first before sweden? and one question on yesterday's meeting -- >> hang on, before you go to that, because i'm going to forget. so, first of all, what we are confident in is that finland and sweden are going to be the great nato allies. two modern militaries, we know them well, we operate and train with them all the time. the president remains confident that they're going to be nato allies. now, we're also encouraged by the fact that there are still discussions going on between turkey, finland and sweden as well as with hunk arely. we'll let -- hungary. we'll let those nations speak to the specifics of their concerns and the profession, but the president's confident these two countries deserve to be in nato and will be in nato. and as for your second question on the choreography, what

matters to us is that both nations become nato allies. the texas two-step that goes into doing that, that's not our main concern. >> second question on -- to you karine. [inaudible] jill biden, the first lady -- [inaudible] could you give some details about the meeting? [inaudible conversations] [laughter] >> no, it was a terrific -- for the first lady to meet with the first lady of poland and and to be able to thank her personally for all the support that poland has given to our men and women in uniform who are operating out of poland right now as well as the just incredible humanitarian work that poland has done for ukrainian citizens. i think we talked about this, but essentially they have all the rights of polish citizens.

their kids can go to school, they can get jobs, they can qualify for health care, and they're living in homes. polish homes, families are taking them in. we're talking about more than a million and a half refugees. that's the kind of generosity9 that the polish people are demonstrating, and it was really important for the first lady to thank the first lady of poland directly on that. >> thanks, john. so a bill requiring the dni to declassify the covid origins intel passed the senate. if it passes the house too, would president biden sign it? >> i don't get ahead of the president's decision making, peter. but, look, we -- a couple of things to keep in mind. right after taking office, the president declassified and made public the dni's initial findings here about the source of covid. so he already very swiftly and unilaterally put information out there. that's one. two, the intelligence community continues to assess the origins of covid. i know i've seen press reporting

about some preliminary findings of a classified nature, but there's still no consensus. and that's why the president has directed the team to stay at the work, because he wants to know. he wants to know as best we can know what the origins were so that we can work to better prevent a future pandemic. >> but you have the fbi director saying most likely a potential lab incident in i wuhan. in wuhan. if a foreign country came to the united states and killed 1.1 million americans with guns, would the president just let that slide? >> nobody's letting anything slide. that's why the president wants the intelligence community to work so hard to get to, hopefully, to get to some answers that we can rely on. right now there's just no consensus. it's hard to take a look at what the president has done here in terms of declassifying and making public information already in terms of the constant and consistent -- to members of congress in a classified and unclassified setting in just recent weeks on what the origins of covid were and oning task --

asking again the intelligence community to do the work and come away with it and say he's not taking this seriously. >> as many as 900 schoolgirls appear to have been poisoned in iran. does the u.s. have any information about what could be behind this poisoning, and if it was the government, is that something that could -- american sanctions? >> it's deeply concerning news coming out of iran. what could be the poisoning of young girls that are just going to school. the truth is, we don't know right now. what caused those ailments. we see reports that the iranian government are investigating it. that's the right course of action. we want those investigations to be thorough and complete. and we want them to be transparent. little girls going to school should only have to worry about learning. they shouldn't have to worry about their own physical safety, but we just don't know enough right now. >> would the u.s., if that

investigation -- or would you -- >> let's, let's see9 what the results are here first before we make some kind of snap judgment. we don't really know what's going on with respect to these hundreds of schoolgirls. and we, i think where the president is, we need to know. the world needs to know. certainly, the families of those little girls need to know. so let's see where it goes before we make some snap judgments. obviously, very deeply concerning reports. >> [inaudible] in the conversation between -- [inaudible] >> it was a short conversation where the secretary had an opportunity to remind minister lavrov -- [inaudible] he belongs with his family and that there is a proposal on the table. we want the russians to take it. i really, for reasons i'm sure you can understand, i don't want to get into what the back and forth was on that or detail the conversations that we're still trying to have with the russians

about getting mr. e whelan back. >> -- anything on that in the budget next week, or will that be top-line -- >> i'm not going to get ahead of the president's budget. >> china and belarus had high-level talks yesterday and expanded their planned partnershipment -- partnership. is the white house concerned china may -- [inaudible] through belarus? >> we have not seen the chinese make a riggs with respect to -- a decision with respect to weaponry. we don't believe they've made a decision to do that. i really don't think it's helpful to get ahead of where we are here in this process. we've communicated to the chinese our concerns about this, it's really not in their best interests, and they should believe the same thing. so let's are just not get ahead of where we are. >> [inaudible] >> thank you very much. thank you, john. i have two questions. what is president biden's

reaction about north korea recently taking part in icbm launching and rocket launchers? do you have any comment -- >> we have reacted in realtime to each and every one, i think you know that. and in response to the most recent ones, we conducted some exercises with our rok allies. we're continuing to stay vigilant on and around the peninsula and, of course, we publicly condemn these launches as have our u.n. colleagues. >> and ukraine, ukraine -- arms aid south korea, what did the u.s. want south korea to provide weapons other than ammunition to ukraine? >> we want all nations to support ukraine to the best that they can. and we we don't want any nation to help russia kill more ukrainians. but it's a sovereign decision,

even nation has to -- i'm sorry. >> no, no, it's okay. i'm waiting. [laughter] [inaudible conversations] >> my train of thought. these are sovereign decisions, and we want every nation to act in accordance with what they believe they can handle from their own national security perspective. south koreans have already been very helpful. they've been sending ukraine contact defense groups, and we appreciate that and we're very grateful for that. >> [inaudible] >> no, i haven't got my rhythm today. >> john, given what you were saying earlier that the administration doesn't think china's taken off the table sending weapons to russia but you haven't seen any movement towards doing that, how serious then do you think china is about sending weapons to russia? >> we actually don't know the answer to that question. certainly, we were concerned enough to bring it up privately with our chinese counterparts

and pluckily with all of you. -- publicly with all of you. and the vice president speaking to it in munich. we took that seriously. but what their next step is and what's going to affect that, really that's a question only they can answer. the president's strong belief -- and he said this himself -- is that this is not a move that would be in the best interests of the chinese and their standing in the international community which we know, you know, they highly prize. more critically, we don't believe that they should see it as being in their best interests. >> it sounds like from what you're saying that you don't want to lean into the idea of threatening to sanction. is that because you don't think that they'll ultimately move in that direction? i'm just trying to get a sense of why there seems to be a little bit of hesitancy to talk in detail about how the u.s. should sanction china. >> secretary blinken has been

clear that there will be consequences, and he mentioned that sanctions could be one of those con senses -- consequences. so we've laid out that, you know, that there are tools available to not only the united states, but to to our allies and partners should try to move in that direction. but ultimately, it's their choice to make, and we really strongly urge them to make the right choice here. okay? thanks, everybody. >> thanks, john. [inaudible conversations] >> okay. one thing at the top, then we'll get going. i just wanted to follow up on yesterday's good news from eli lilly. heeding the president's call for a company to lower their prices and cap their insulin costs at $35. data today shows that americans in all 50 states, especially in communities of color, will benefit from the president's cost-cutting actions. through the inflation reduction act, close to the 4 million sectors -- pardon me, seniors on

medicare with diabetes are protected. seniors tarted to see their insulin costs capped at $35 per month this past january, saving some seniors hundreds of dollars this past, hundreds of dollars for a monthly supply this past january combined lie lily's announcement -- eli lilly's announcement which is the largest insulin manufacturer we're making serious progress for cutting costs for roughly 26 million americans. these cost-cutting measures will also disproportionately impact communities of color as black, hispanic, more than indian, alaska, native adults have higher rates of diabetes in the united states than white americans. and, of course, this also builds on the tire rest work the president has done to lower health care costs for americans and call on, call on -- and that call that was heeded in north carolina where they announced an

agreement to expand medicaid today. the president has been calling for all the remaining states to expand medicaid program, and today north carolina became the 40th state to answer that call, expanding medicaid improved quality of life for americans. and we thank governor cooper and bipartisan work in north carolina legislature to expand access to quality health care. we are excited to see the state move quickly to get half a million north carolinians covered, which is incredibly important. if i think before i go to you, i forgot to tell peter, welcome back. congratulations on being a dad, and how's baby karine doing? [laughter] i like his delayed reaction. >> i do have a lot of hard questions for her when i get home. [laughter] >> oh, are they hard or are they seriously hard or -- [laughter] >> [inaudible] >> i don't want to say these next words that i want to say.

okay. >> thank you. >> nick, the floor is yours. >> great. [inaudible] why does he believe that he should step in -- [inaudible] why does he believe that he should -- his judgment for theirs? >> so, look, just to double down and triple down on what the president has said for decades which is that he believes every city should have the right to self-government, that is the same case. that hasn't changed anything. he has long believed that d.c. statehood should be something that the residents of d.c. should be allowed. again, that hasn't changed. but this is different, the way that we see this is very

different. this is the d.c. council put changes forward over the mayor's objections, and the president doesn't support changes like lowering penalties for carjacking. so this piece is different. but, again, it doesn't change the administration strongly supporting h.r. 51 which would have made d.c. the a 51st state. that is still something that he very much supports, and we're going to continue to call on congress to provide a swift and orderly transition to statehood for the people who live here in d.c. >> why does the president believe that every citizen should have a right to self-government except when he disagrees with the outcome of their governing process? >> look, one thing the president believes in is making sure that the streets many america and cities across the country are safe. that includes d.c. that that's why he put forward a historic piece of, a historic plan that he hopes republicans in congress would support which is a safer america plan. that is something that the

president has led. when you think about keeping communities safe, went you think about making sure that we're also protecting our law enforcement and making sure that that we have law enforcement many in communities that continue to keep communities safe, that's something that he has led on. so when it comes to what this proposal brings forth which is, you know, really lowering penalties for carjacking, that's not going to -- he doesn't believe that's going to keep our communities safe. is so if the bill comes, he's going to take action, as he said. >> [inaudible] support city self-governing -- >> i think those two things can, two things can exist at the same time, right? we've heard that throughout our lives, right? when we hear things that we may not disagree, we may not agree with, that they both can exist at the same time, which is the president still thinks that keyes should become the 51st -- that d.c. should become the a 51st state. that is something that he has

supported for decades, but there is, he feels as president he has the obligation as well to keep american cities safe, to keep communities safe. and this is one step and a way to do that. that's it. >> i blowback on that really quickly? >> yeah. >> is the principle here that the president believes in self-rule and autonomy except he believes d.c. is passing laws that -- >> i don't think it's every piece of legislation. this is going to come to his desk, and he has a decision to make for the people of d.c., right? he has, he actually has a decision that is going to be put in front of him -- >> -- decision now is the precedent that he's setting, you know, in the past you -- congress respect the district's awe town on themy to government -- awe autonomy to govern. the principle of tax sayings without representation. there is, obviously, a sort of

immediate question about whether if changes done by the d.c. council are smart or good policy, but there's also a principle about when the president would intervene to overrule the elected representatives. >> i get your question, justin, i really do. and what i'm saying to you is that the president supports d.c. statehood. that has not changed. that is something he has supported for the past two decades or more. certainly, he was very clear about that during the campaign, we've been very clear about that the last two years. the president is being put -- this piece of legislation is being put forward to him that's going to become law, clearly, once he signs it. and it's a decision that he gets to make, right, to protect communities across the country. and this is a way that he believes that he can do that. he believes by signing in this into with law that it will protect communities. and so that matters. that matters. we -- you all were asking -- >> [inaudible] >> no, i'm saying both things can exist at the same time. >> i'm sure that they can --

[inaudible conversations] >> no, no -- >> you can make decisions for yourself or i will make decisions for you if it's in your best interest. >> the decision he is making, he's making it for the people of d.c., right? by making sure -- >> >> [inaudible] >> yeah, but -- no, i understand that. but this is being presented to him, right? this is being presented to him on sign ising this into law. on signing this into law. >> when you look at what is being presented to him, the mayor actually disagreed with what the d.c. council put forward, and so now this is an opportunity to protect the community. that's the way the president sees this, to protect the community. >> i wanted to -- [inaudible] can you talk, detail the extent to which the white house has been involved many deliberations about this project, and is it accurate the reporting that white house officials have been -- banning drilling elsewhere in exchange for

offering -- [inaudible] at least part of this project? >> so i don't have anything to share on that. that's a decision the that's going to be made by the secretary of interior. that's for her to decide, i'm just not going to -- >> [inaudible] >> i'm just not going to the, i would refer you to a decision that is made by the department of interior. that's her decision to make. >> could you tell us a little bit more about what the president talked about at lunch? did they talk about the debt ceiling? any legislation they want to get done this year? >> as you all know, the president went over to the capitol, met with the senate democratic caucus, folks that he has known for many times and we've worked very closely with them over the past two two years on delivering his historic pieces of legislation that's going to really coronet to grow the economy and build the economy as the president has said many times from the bottom up, middle out. so they talked about an array of issues, important, critical issues that matter to the american people. debt ceiling, as you know, is always something that's at the forefront especially as what we're seeing house republicans

are trying to do, trying to hold our economy hostage. and we've within very clear, we're not going to -- we've been very clear, we're not going to negotiate on the debt ceiling because this is a constitutional that congress has that they need to move forward and lift the debt ceiling. that is something that is not negotiable, and we've been very clear about that. the president next week is going to put forward his budget on march 9th, he's going to lay out how he sees his responsibility to be first fiscally responsible, if you will, and we'll see that9 from the president. now, the president has also said if there is a real conversation that congressional members want to have about how we continue to lore the deficit, that -- lower the deficit, that's something he's willing to do. which he has actually done over the past two years, $1.7 trillion. you heard him say during the state of the union that his plan is going to the, he's going to lower the deficit by another clash 2 trillion. so i'll leave it there as to what has been clearly important to the american people.

>> just back to the crime bill, if the president was planning to sign it, why did the administration put out that statement saying that -- [inaudible] >> so, look, i want to be very clear about this, and i think i have, look, the president does not support the d.c. council, the changes that they put forward over the mayor's objection. and those changes like lowering penalties for carjacking he thought was unacceptable. and so he wanted to make sure that, again, we're keeping communities safe, and this is, he believes, you know, the d.c. community deserves that. they deserve to feel like as if they are going to be safe. and we have talked about just last week we talked about how the president inherited an increase in crime when he walked in, into this administration, and this is a president who has led on that, who has led on making sure that we keep, that

we put forward public safety and law enforcement policies to make sure that we keep our communities safe. and so he's done that through the american rescue plan, and he did that with his safer american plan. again, you know, republicans have refused to fund this plan. and so he's going to continue to make sure that he puts americans first. and that's how he's seeing this particular piece of registration that's going to come before him. >> i ask about -- the. [inaudible] he was talking about marjorie taylor green, and he mentioned a mother that that had lost two of her sons to fentanyl. and he said the interesting thing is that the fentanyl -- [inaudible] came during the last administration, and then he seemed to laugh. the mother's demanding an apology, and i'm wondering if he regretted how that came out. >> so, you know, i want to be very careful here because this is all a mortgage as you just stated, who lost two sons. ..

they have washing guilds really personal loss. this is a president that understands that. and his heart goes out to any person who has to go through that type of trauma, that type of hurt. i will say his words are being mischaracterized. mischaracterized by someone who is regularly discredited for forcing are really conspiracy theories. those lies are being parroted by certain networks. and you know, i will just leave it there. i will say one more thing is that conservative parents on

fentanyl victims have been very clear. they have blasted this congresswoman for the kind of statements and attacks. but again our hearts go out to anyone who loses a person that they love it. this is something you have heard from his president over and over again. on that has been presented. >> receiving the medal of honor tomorrow. that recommendation, does the white house. [inaudible] blacksburg would have some information to share with you on the medal of honor. we will have that tomorrow. will go through who's going to be getting the medal of honor and we do not have anything specific than anyone at this time. i do not want to get ahead of the team. happy to answer that question tomorrow once we have more information to share. >> immigration question. hugs to sponsor immigrants but

something the president was informed about? >> i do not have a policy preview to share from here or any reaction to that at this time. was on a follow up on the question with the d.c. crime lab for the white house put out a statement saying the president did not support out. but now from the podium you are saying? >> the president is about not just me. >> the podium you represent the president. to be clear progress you've heard directly from the president. >> that makes it even better, right? you heard it directly for the president. >> why does the white house say doesn't support it? and then he would say would not be doing it and then he signing it. watching americans believe the white house summit says support something at the president? >> i understand the question, peter bremner selling at this moment where we are currently with this piece of legislation is going to be coming, coming

from the senate coming to the president's desk. he will sign it. it is because what is difference about this, signing it, as i mentioned before the d.c. council put forward over the mayor's objection and the president wants to make sure communities, even in d.c. cap americans and deceit feel safer. >> the second half of the question why should americans believe the white house when it said that doesn't support something. >> the american people who i just mentioned to one of your colleagues, i think the american people know who joe biden is. you have your eyebrows moving and leaving and i want to give you a second to answer. you get really excited peter i just want to make sure.

oh my gosh exciting, thrilling, thrilling. they know who joe biden's been around for some time pretty fundamentally know who he is as a person. the president, especially these past years as always, always but the american people first. that's what they should know. that is what they should take a putting in this case the safety of the people in d.c. first. he's always going to do that. >> i want to apologize but thank you phil me follow-up. yet at the podium said this of the plan the presence focus on the planet exist as it relates to forgiveness right now we are confident the right side but not confident about the outcome of the decision yet. because the president himself that he is not confident are the outcome of the decision. what is the white house doing? or why is the white house not preparing a plan b to help those of student loans know what they

need to do to prepare themselves if it's rejected by the court? >> we are confident our legal authorities were quick to cities, not confident in the outcome. [inaudible] >> who would know how the supreme court is going to go. no one knows how the supreme court is going to rule. >> it's conservative right now to correct it does not mean we cannot be confident in the emirate, in our standing and we are. >> i hate to interrupt but you are going to have to say your argument is the one that the law supports even if you don't think they will support and not make an alternative plan. >> what i am saying is that the president does not know how the supreme court is going to rule per we never know in any case how the presence going to rule. we do know these solicitor general did an amazing job and really defending the program that the president has put

forth. let me finish, let me finish. this is why i was saying earlier there you go. [laughter] what the sg made very clear yesterday and we believe this, and actually spoke to the present about this this morning, as our opponents do not have the standing or the merit on their argument. that is because she put forward a forceful argument for the plan. >> returned from those who are wondering if this is rejected they have to make a plan b. so simply put what is the message of those americans have loans right now? without the white house is going to think it's going to get to the court it may not read what should they be doing actively or what should they anticipate from you on their behalf? >> here's what they can anticipate on our behalf. read the millions of borrowers received an e-mail from the secretary of education yesterday basically stating that we have

their back. we are going to continue to fight too. >> for two months? conclusive parts of that. depending on the decision, write that's two months after the decision or january 30, right? i am so sorry june 30 you are correct. but, our messages to your other question i asked as we are going to have their backs. we are going to continue to have their backs as a present has the backs of americans whether in a red state, ballistic, rural america, urban america, will have your backs and continue to make sure we fight for you so that you are not left behind for that is what this plan is about. >> a lot of indulgent oh boy. lectures three actually. [laughter] there is a separate house republican congressional proposal to override legislation like noncitizens to vote in d.c.

elections. if that passes congress, with the president sign it? >> the president does not support that. >> the reversal here comes in the wake of a handful of senators facing reelection in 2024 saying there seriously consider supporting this legislation. sunlight looked at this and say the presence, choosing to air coverage to vulnerable democrats in 2024 make a point on criminal justice issues he has had an opinion on since her 2020 election there's a disagreement about whether or not to support defending the police or whether to be tougher on crime. as a president playing 2024 politics with the local washington d.c. issue at the expense of the report?

what's what i will say here is not going to get into 2024 analysis from here. we are covered by the act as you know i'm certainly not going to get into analysis from here. i will always be very clear about what the president believes. the president believes in making sure he continues to splitter for the american people. that is when he wakes up thinking about every day you see it in that in his historic pieces of a policy and laws that are now in effect and it is going to continue. >> a few weeks ago we talked whether or not the white house would ever swap that d.c. license plates. >> think were trying to dig in and get some information we just don't have information at this time infectious he left the meeting about ohio. and supporting legislation is in

the works. he said i will be there soon, as their plan for him to go? >> i do not meet trips to preview for you at this time for the president also if i'm remembering correctly moments ago also talked about how essentially this is been a priority priest talk to governors of pennsylvania, ohio, the senators at multiple times that these past couple of weeks. as you know when the derailment happened on february 3, hours later within hours we had folks on the ground from the epa making sure we were dealing with the chemical spill and since then we have had a multi agency reaction to this, operation on the ground. making sure the community and any team is getting what they needed to get back on their feet and make them whole. you've heard that some secular buddha judge priddy of heard this from administrator regan we are going to make sure we called

norfork suffolk accountable and make sure they clean up their mess. i'm going to go to the back because i've not done that. go ahead. >> on the anniversary. [inaudible] president by dolby in selma on sunday to give remarks. last year vice president harris give remarks was important for the present to go this year end preview about his speech whether talk about voting rights or issues important which is a censoring of black history. >> i will have more to preview hopefully tomorrow. will work on that to make sure we have something for all of you to preview. the president did back in 2019 with icon leader for john lewis. i had an opportunity to go to the bridge. had an opportunity to go to the church and do this with then

congressman jim lewis as i mentioned. it was an honor if you think about how the president got involved in politics it was very much connected to the civil rights movement. so this is important to the president. bloodiest sunday as we know as a part of our history that is tragic. that is clearly deadly. that helped lead to the civil rights movement and to protect americans to give them the right to make sure they felt safe and gave them the right to vote. so clearly it is an incredibly important. he looked forward to going to selma on sunday the historic day that we should not forget as part of our history we should not forget and continue to remember those who fought very hard for the rights of many americans. >> the covid area some policy

experts have expressed concern many households especially black and poor minority communities will not have enough funds to pay for their groceries. are they concerned there won't have enough funding? >> this is a white house as i've stated many times before, that really cares about all americans and making sure no one is left behind. we see that. we see that time and time again and the president pieces of policy and legislation. whether it's policy coming out for the hard time not able to put food on the table running

two schools are being open. this is getting the first piece of legislation to policies coming out to different agencies taken very seriously i'm making sure families hurt the hardest continues to get that relief. going to try to go around because i haven't. my gosh, go ahead. >> thank you. earlier today congressional caucus held oppressor legislative agenda. and that talked about d.o.j. update on what the administration has been doing on the executive since the president put out reform. one thing he did say is one thing in particular the national law enforcement accountability database no space be generally the 20th part is there anything you can give as an

update about where we are in that process? as the present goes throughout the country and passes these executive orders,. >> i'm going to take a step back for a second period congress was not able to deliver on the policing act as units worked in the last session. he took historic action to deal with an issue that was affecting communities. it is gotten support from civil rights leaders. i got support from police unions. the executive order he put forward was incredibly important as you know and touted by many folks from both sides. so, want to make sure that is clear this was historic action when congress could not act. i didn't have an update for the department of justice would have more information just stated them just out having to share a few at this time. >> very quickly any pressure the

president is putting on. >> uses bully pulpit to make himself very clear how we should be putting the american people first. one of the reasons varmint companies need to make sure they followed his lead as he helped them tooth and nail get inflation act passed. because of that we saw cap for seniors it should follow suit to the bully pulpit that he speaks from very often and calls that out is a powerful tool that we believe have been very effective. >> thank you.

i want to send the opposition to the bill of one of the reasons for it. on carjacking to is that the message they'll be sent by lowering the mandatory minimum? i'm looking at the bill at years with a maximum of 21. minimum sentence one should receive four carjacking cracks i'm not going to go line by line that i could say more broadly to your point is the president wants to make sure we have community that communities across the country would feel safe. he feels of this is incredibly important for him to do as president. this is hasn't been presented to him. this is a legislation he put

forstmann presented team is going to take action on behalf of the community right here in d.c. protects not line by line but just the outline? >> i just use carjacking as an example. >> totally understand i'm not going to go line by line is an easy example to give you all he believes that we will see that. >> other criminal justice the president during the campaign proposed penalty that he was to end it with few exceptions as well. the number of people has gone up over the past couple of years. so ending the death penalty fortis administration go to ensure that happens? when do you share with the lies

exceeds my said the death penalty. but solitary confinement excuse me. he opposes solitary confinement during the campaign. what you do to should be the rise in solitary confinement what is in office what steps to take going forward? click separate question. >> his policy has not changed on this i don't think you're preview on how to move forward on the next steps i cannot speak to why i've seen an uptick closer experts to follow and speak to further to share. the present talk to mayor bowser rex i don't have any call to preview.

with the mayor bowser. as you know she is the mayor of d.c. so we have a close connection our team here at speaks to her often. just do not have anything to preview as a conversation with the president or not. >> talking to martha white house? >> i can't speak to the particular legislation as we are in regular touch with her. right here in d.c. here with her team i don't have a specific conversation on this legislation to read out to you the first question if you are not going line by line i guess my question is what is it about this legislation specifically the president proposing other than the broad concept? accent is the answer. see feel?

>> i understand the broad concept of it is he wants to make sure communities feel safe and he feels this is a way, a step forward in doing that. i use carjacking as an example. i'm not going to the line by line that's not something we tend to do here we tend to lift up things that can easily be understandable for the american people. that is just an example i use. more broadly this is the present who is led putting forward historic plans to make sure public safety is a priority. to make sure law enforcement are able to definitely have law enforcement going to communities to make feel safe. think about it the present was saturday started the cops program. that's another apparatus he put forward to make sure communities felt safe.

that is what is winter continue to do. >> what i can tell you this is a piece of legislation the mayor objected to. the d.c. council move forward on to make sure all communities including d.c. feels safe and he feels taking this action does exactly that. there are all kinds of instances the over the governor's veto does not impair others statehood. what is it in this instance, i'm still struggling how he can support in their right to pass these kinds of laws.

but in this instance is deciding this is a uniquely situation the president has been related within is going to take action on. >> that would be great. that would be fine. the statehood would allow them to be the 51st state or would allow them to act as their own entity. the president is intending to fight for that is been calling for the for the past 20 years. they don't have that yet made this a piece of legislation been presented to him he's going to take action on behalf of the american people in behalf of keeping the public safe including nbc and that's part of what using the president do. that doesn't mean he's not going to call on d.c. is indeed a statehood. so again this has been presented

to them is going to take action on behalf of the american people but of course he wants to make sure d.c. does have a statehood has he's been calling for for decades. >> i know you say you cannot get ahead of the president's budget next big but does the president believe there's reckless spending and the federal government that needs to be addressed? >> let me first say this the present for the first two years has put policy forth. that is low think deficit by $1.7 trillion. he's taken that very seriously to make sure we continue to do that work he talked about in the state of the union, i just meant you don't cut the deficit by more than $2 trillion over 10 years by asking the wealthy and the big corporations to pay their fair share. he's going to that without cutting programs americans have paid into pretty think about social security pre-think about medicare, something republicans continue to say or have said and have said for years now they want to cut. president is going to fight for

this important pieces programs. so with the presidents also when you focus on is continuing to lower costs for families but that's what is going to do. not going to get ahead of his budget. it's going to come out a week from today you are all going to get to see it. were going to continue to ask republicans to do the same to put forth a budget that is fiscally responsible. that lays out for the american people a transparent budget so we can see what is that they are calling on? what are they calling for their budget? >> no click the fact checkers 1.7 joint was the covid relief funds ran out. as the white house have a response of that? work that we know what was seen from the data because it is present because the plant is but ford $1.7 trillion. that is only seen the last two years.

to bring down the deficit by $2 trillion for that is a commitment this presidents brain to have. aren't you mentioned to peter reference to borrowers the financial status up in the air essentially. don't they deserve to know it's having their back as an actual backup plan in the works? usually we've gone about is the best shot at this. >> what i can toes yes we have their back that's why the secretary on the same day of the arguments made sure we sat down and e-mailed to millions of borrowers to let them know that. behind their backs the present will continue to do so. we are again confident in our legal authority as the president said yesterday in our legal argument here. we think the sg she did a fantastic job defending the

presidents program. and the president's plan. so again were going to see how this plays out progressively not going to get ahead of supreme court and what they decide to again refill the other side do not have the merits to stand forward with their argument. they truly don't. make a defense for the presidents program you have elected officials who do not want to protect or give a little bit of breathing room to the 40 million americans. let's not forget 90% of folks are going to be able to participate in the president's plan are making less than $75000. >> is not plan b is plan a. i guess to be a really practical jabbar racine be making other plans? >> is not for me too speak too. i can say what we are going to do we're going to continue to

defend the presidents plan. we have the legal authority to be successful here the solicitor general prove that show that yesterday. that is what we believe. our plan is a good player printed very good planets going to give relief to working families, to middle-class americans that's what we're going to continue to fight for part. >> not to beat a dead horse of the d.c. crime bill but there's confusion here begin the difference between what came out earlier last month and the announcement today, what led to the change of heart? it does seem there was a change of heart. >> when i contest with the president said himself and repeat that which is he believes every city has a right to self-government, that never changes he's been saying that for some time. at the senate sends the bill to his desk he will sign it pretty said that today i am repeating it from the podium. and he believes this is a way

for him to keep the committee safe in d.c. and the people of d.c. savior. the resident safe and protected. that is why he's moving forward in this way. >> and just laying out or the president is today. this is going to be coming before him and is going to sign it. all right, thanks everybody. >> friday congresswan marjorie taylor greene 2024 presidential candidate nikki haley, and dona trump junior are scheduled speak at day two of the conservative political action conference. watch live fro the national harbor at 10:00 a.m. eastern on c-span. you can also watch in a free mobile video app c-span now or online at c-span.org.

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