President Biden Tweets for Monday’s Open Thread

Pardon Our Mess. Photo by Marty Mankins.

It’s Monday.

For Monday, May 24th, 2021, President Biden has received his daily brief. This afternoon President Biden will receive a briefing on the Atlantic Hurricane Outlook at the FEMA Headquarters.

On Friday when Friday’s Open Thread was published, President Biden had tweeted 1 time. He added 5 more tweets giving him a Tweeting Friday total of 6 tweets and no retweets.

The live stream to the Medal of Honor Ceremony is 34 minutes and 41 seconds long. President Biden begins his remarks at the 3 minute and 47 second mark. His full remarks can be found here. The timestamp says he spoke from 1:16 p.m., and concluded his remarks at 1:40 p.m. D.C., time. President Moon Jae-in of the Republic of Korea was also in attendance and offered a few remarks via an interpreter.

For his next tweet he says “We’re building back better every day.”

Fact-check.org., said this when fact-checking the spin of the April Jobs Report: As we said, the U.S. economy has added more than 1.5 million jobs in the three months since Biden took office. That comes to an average of 524,000 a month. By contrast, the economy added 191,000 jobs in the three months leading up to Biden’s inauguration, for an average of about 64,000 a month. In fact, the U.S. lost 306,000 jobs in December, before adding back 233,000 in January. Those were the two worst months since the employment numbers hit bottom in April 2020.

He goes on to tweet that “We need to act. We need the American Jobs Plan.”

On Friday White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki in response to a reporters question said the $2.25 trillion of the American Jobs Plan had been reduced to $1.7 trillion.

Q: And, sort of, a scheduling question here: There had been an expectation that there was going to be a conversation of some kind today between Republicans on the Hill, some officials here at the White House about the status of infrastructure and the Republican counterproposal.  Is that meeting still happening today?  And can you give us, kind of, an update on where things stand, and any movement that may or may not be happening?

Psaki: Sure, it is happening.  It may be ongoing as we speak, but it started shortly before one o’clock over video conference this afternoon. Our team, including Steve Ricchetti, Louisa Terrell, Brian Deese, Secretary Raimondo, and Secretary Buttigieg, put forward a reasonable counteroffer that reduces the size of the package from $2.25 trillion in additional investment to $1.7 trillion. And, in our view, this is the act — the art, I should say, of seeking common ground. This proposal exhibits a willingness to come down in size, giving on some areas that are important to the President — otherwise they wouldn’t have been in the proposal — while also staying firm in areas that are most vital to rebuilding our infrastructure and industries of the future, making our workforce and our country more competitive with China.We actually have every intention to share the complete totality of the counterproposal with you all. We’ll just wait for the meeting to conclude to do that.

Q: Until then, can you say any more about what was taken out to lower that price tag?

Psaki: Sure, let me give you, kind of, some topline details.  And then, again, what — the counterproposal that we’ll put out is very detailed, so you’ll see all of the specifics for yourself.  But, again, I noted the topline number that offered. It — our proposal also involved a shifting — shifting investments in research and development, supply chains, manufacturing, and small business out of the negotiation and into other efforts, such as the Endless Frontier Act and the CHIPS Act — which, as you know, there’s ongoing discussions and negotiations on a bipartisan level about those, as well. The President — the proposal also agreed to reduce the funding request for broadband to match the Republican offer and to reduce the proposed investment in roads, bridges, and major projects to come closer to the number proposed by the senators.  This is all in the spirit of finding common ground. Now, at the same time, as I alluded to, we also — the counteroffer also reflects our view that the Republican offer excludes entirely some proposals that are key to our competitiveness — key to investments in clean energy and in industries of the future, in rebuilding our workforce, including critical investments in our power sector, building and construction, workforce training, veterans hospital construction, and the care economy. So, we push for increased funding levels for critical transportation infrastructure, like rail, especially considering China’s level of investment in such projects, as well as the elimination of lead pipes that poison drinking water, and resilience projects as extreme weather events — as we’ve seen around the country — continue to become more common as a result of climate change.

He next tweets a live feed to his joint-press conference with H.E. Moon Jae-in, President of the Republic of Korea.

The stream is 37 minutes and 38 seconds long. President Biden begins his remarks at the 2 minute and 27 second mark. Their full remarks can be found here. The timestamp says the presser started at 5:55 p.m., and concluded 6:29 p.m. D.C., time.

He ends Friday by sharing a photo of the two leaders sharing a meal.

The White House posted a joint-statement regarding the United States-Republic of Korea Partnership. They also published a fact-sheet relating to the same thing.

Saturday he tweeted 4 times and retweeted 0 times.

For his first tweet he shares a 1 minute and 50 second video as part of the White House’s weekly conversation series.

Buttigieg: Hi, I’m Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, we’re here at the Department of Transportation and today we’re going to be talking about the American Jobs Plan. Welcome to the DOT. The American Jobs Plan is President Biden’s vision to create millions of good paying union jobs across America by building and fixing the infrastructure we need for America to compete in the 21st century.

Buttigieg con’t: Let me show you a little more about what’s in the plan. It’s got the resources we need to fix and modernize our roads and bridges, ports, & airports, trains, & transit. And that’s just the transportation piece. We’ve got resources to deliver broadband to every American and get rid of the lead pipes that are endangering kids’ futures. Those are just some of the job-creating investments that are in the American Jobs Plan, and part of why I am so excited about what it could mean for America.

Buttigieg con’t: This plan includes the resources needed to help cities and states acquire zero-emission vehicles for their transit fleets. That means less emissions and taxpayer savings. We’re also going to be helping to electrify America’s school bus fleets. This plan is going to create millions of good paying jobs across the country. We’re talking about construction, engineering–we’re talking about every field. And most of them won’t require a college degree.

Buttigieg con’t: The American Jobs Plan is how we’re going to strengthen our economy and see to it that America wins the future. If you want to learn more about the American Jobs Plan, check out: WhiteHouse.gov/AJP.

He goes on to tweet “Let’s keep it going.”

For his next tweet he shares a link to an Executive Order he signed regarding climate change.

From the shared link: FACT SHEET: President Biden Directs Agencies to Analyze and Mitigate the Risk Climate Change Poses to Homeowners and Consumers, Businesses and Workers, and the Financial System and Federal Government Itself.

Today, President Biden took action to address the serious threat that the climate crisis poses to our economy. Extreme weather related to climate change can disrupt entire supply chains and deprive communities of food, water, or emergency supplies. Snowstorms can offline entire power grids. Floods made worse by rising sea levels destroy homes and businesses. As the United States builds a modern and equitable clean energy future that creates millions of good-paying jobs and advances environmental justice, the agency actions spurred by the President’s directive today will help safeguard the financial security of America’s families, businesses, and workers from the climate-related financial risks they are already facing.

The President’s Executive Order on Climate-Related Financial Risk will help the American people better understand how climate change can impact their financial security. It will strengthen the U.S. financial system. And it will inform concrete decisions that the federal government can take to mitigate the risks of climate change.

White House.gov. 05/20/2021.
  • Develop a Whole-of-Government Approach to Mitigating Climate-Related Financial Risk. The Executive Order requires the National Climate Advisor and the Director of the National Economic Council to develop, within 120 days, a comprehensive government-wide climate-risk strategy to identify and disclose climate-related financial risk to government programs, assets, and liabilities. This strategy will identify the public and private financing needed to reach economy wide net-zero emissions by 2050 – while advancing economic opportunity, worker empowerment, and environmental mitigation, especially in disadvantaged communities and communities of color.
  • Encourage Financial Regulators to Assess Climate-Related Financial Risk. The Executive Order encourages the Treasury Secretary, in her role as the chair of the Financial Stability Oversight Council, to work with Council members to assess climate-related financial risk to the stability of the federal government and the stability of the U.S. financial system. Additionally, in her role as the chair, she should work with member agencies to consider issuing a report, within 180 days, on actions the Council recommends to reduce risks to financial stability, including plans that member agencies are taking to improve climate-related disclosures and other sources of data, and to incorporate climate-related financial risk into regulatory and supervisory practices.   
  • Bolster the Resilience of Life Savings and Pensions. The Executive Order directs the Labor Secretary to consider suspending, revising, or rescinding any rules from the prior administration that would have barred investment firms from considering environmental, social and governance factors, including climate-related risks, in their investment decisions related to workers’ pensions. The order also asks the Department to report on other measures that can be implemented to protect the life savings and pensions of U.S. workers and families from climate-related financial risk, and to assess how the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board has taken environmental, social, and governance factors, including climate-related risk, into account.
  • Modernize Federal Lending, Underwriting, and Procurement. The Executive Order directs the development of recommendations for improving how Federal financial management and reporting can incorporate climate-related financial risk, especially as that risk relates to federal lending programs.  It also requires consideration of new requirements for major federal suppliers to disclose greenhouse gas emissions and climate-related financial risks and to ensure that major federal agency procurements minimize those risks.
  • Reduce the Risk of Climate Change to the Federal Budget. The Executive Order ensures that the federal government is taking steps to be fiscally responsible in response to the significant risk that unmitigated climate change poses to the federal budget through increased costs and lost revenue. The Executive Order directs that the federal government develop and publish annually an assessment of its climate-related fiscal risk exposure. It also directs the Office of Management and Budget to reduce the federal government’s exposure through the formulation of the President’s Budget and oversight of budget execution.

He finishes his Saturday tweeting by sharing a link to a Department of Homeland Security announcement.

From the DHS statement:

Today, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas announced a new 18-month designation of Haiti for Temporary Protected Status (TPS). This new TPS designation enables Haitian nationals (and individuals without nationality who last resided in Haiti) currently residing in the United States as of May 21, 2021to file initial applications for TPS, so long as they meet eligibility requirements.

After consultation with interagency partners, Secretary Mayorkas decided to designate Haiti for TPS due to extraordinary and temporary conditions in Haiti that prevent nationals from returning safely, specifically, a political crisis and human rights abuses; serious security concerns; and the COVID-19 pandemic’s exacerbation of a dire economic situation and lack of access to food, water, and healthcare. The persistent effects of the 2010 earthquake have also exacerbated the severity of the extraordinary and temporary conditions in Haiti currently. The designation of Haiti for TPS also is not contrary to the national interest of the United States. A country may be designated for TPS based upon one or more of the three statutory grounds for designation: ongoing armed conflict, environmental disasters, or extraordinary and temporary conditions.

It is important to note that TPS will apply only to those individuals who are already residing in the United States as of May 21, 2021 and meet all other requirements. Those who attempt to travel to the United States after this announcement will not be eligible for TPS and may be repatriated. Haiti’s 18-month designation will go into effect on the publication date of the Federal Register notice to come shortly. The Federal Register notice will provide instructions for applying for TPS and employment authorization documentation.

Individuals eligible for TPS under Haiti’s new designation must file an application for TPS with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services within the registration period that will begin upon publication of the Federal Register notice. This includes current beneficiaries under Haiti’s TPS designation, who will need to file a new application to register for TPS to ensure they do not lose TPS or experience a gap in coverage. Individuals filing for TPS may also request an Employment Authorization Document and travel authorization. All individuals applying for TPS undergo security and background checks as part of determining eligibility.

DHS.gov. 05/22/2021

Sunday, President Biden tweeted 3 times.

His first tweet says “let’s finish strong.”

He next tweets that the hunger rate has dropped 43 percent among adults.

My Googling skills have failed me. There will probably be more on this stat, as he repeats it. From my memory and not because I doubled-check, I believe this is the first time he’s used this stat.

He ends his Sunday tweeting by sharing 1 minute and 55 second video of the CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky answering questions about the coronavirus vaccine.

Dr. Walensky: Hi, I’m Dr. Rochelle Walensky. I’m the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And I’m going to answer some questions about the COVID-19 vaccine, pregnancy, and fertility.

Q: Does the COVID-19 vaccine impact fertility?

Dr. Walensky: There is a lot of misinformation out there–this is a very common question. We have no reason to suspect that these vaccines result in any infertility now or in the future. And in fact, it’s implausible that they would.

Q: Should a person get vaccinated if they are pregnant?

Dr. Walensky: Getting vaccinated during pregnancy or before pregnancy is a really personal decision. If a woman is pregnant and gets COVID we do know that they have an increased risk of ending up in an ICU or on a ventilator and an increased risk to their baby as well. It’s a personal decision. Talk with your physician. Talk with your gynecologist and obstetrician. Work toward that decision with regard to your own risks and comfort in mind.

Q: Does the vaccine impact your menstrual cycle?

Dr. Walensky: We have no reason to believe that getting vaccinated should change your menstrual cycle or make your periods any heavier.

Q: The vaccine was developed quickly–is it safe?

Dr. Walensky: There have been decades and decades of research in mRNA technology that has led to the science that allowed us to meet this moment to create these life-saving vaccines. In clinical trials, these vaccines were studied in ten of thousands of people and we have administrated over 250 million doses without any concern for safety.

So far for Monday he has tweeted 3 times and retweeted 0 times.

For his first tweets he condemn’s the recent attacks on the Jewish community.

CNN reports that authorities are investigating assaults on Jewish people in both New York and Los Angeles that took place during the Israel and Hamas conflict.

The New York Police Department is stepping up its presence in New York City’s Jewish communities following two anti-Semitic incidents in Brooklyn’s Borough Park neighborhood on Saturday evening, Mayor Bill de Blasio said Sunday afternoon. 

On Saturday, two teenagers aged 18 and 17 were approached by two men who “demanded that the victims repeat anti-Jewish statements,” according to an NYPD statement. When the victims refused, one of the men put the 17-year-old in a “rear chokehold,” the department said, adding that one attacker also chased the victims while “brandishing a baseball bat” as they ran away. The alleged attackers fled in a blue Toyota Camry, according to police.

Within the same hour that evening, three male occupants of a blue Toyota Camry began “to yell anti-Jewish statements” toward four male victims in front of a nearby synagogue, the NYPD said in another statement.

Last week, a man was arrested after a 29-year-old Jewish man was punched, kicked and pepper-sprayed Thursday during an incident in New York’s Times Square, CNN previously reported. The assault involved about five to six men who allegedly yelled anti-Semitic statements, CNN reported.

CNN. 05/24/2021

In his second tweet he announces that he has asked Secretary of State Antony Blinken to visit the Middle East.

Following up on our quiet, intensive diplomacy to bring about a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, I have asked my Secretary of State, Tony Blinken, to travel to the Middle East this week. During his trip, Secretary Blinken will meet with Israeli leaders about our ironclad commitment to Israel’s security. He will continue our Administration’s efforts to rebuild ties to, and support for, the Palestinian people and leaders, after years of neglect. And he will engage other key partners in the region, including on the coordinated international effort to ensure immediate assistance reaches Gaza in a way that benefits the people there and not Hamas, and on reducing the risk of further conflict in the coming months.

White House.gov. 05/24/2021.

For his third tweet he shares a 30 second video.

It’s a montage of speakers. The speakers are YouTube influencers hoping to use their influence to get people vaccinated.

The YouTubed event video I found is 9 minutes and 13 seconds long.


The White House briefing just started.

This is an Open Thread.

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About Tiff 2519 Articles
Member of the Free Press who is politically homeless and a political junkie.