President Biden’s public schedule for Friday Eve, 1/19/2023:
| 7:30 AM | The President receives the Presidential Daily Briefing The White House Closed Press |
| 8:15 AM | Out-of-Town Pool Call Time Joint Base Andrews Overhang Out-of-Town Pool |
| 8:45 AM | In-Town Pool Call Time The White House In-Town Pool |
| 9:25 AM | The President departs the White House en route Joint Base Andrews South Lawn Open Press |
| 9:45 AM | The President departs Joint Base Andrews en route Santa Clara County, California Joint Base Andrews Out-of-Town Pool |
| 11:30 AM | Principal Deputy Press Secretary Olivia Dalton and FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell will gaggle aboard Air Force One en route Santa Clara County, California. South Lawn Open Press |
| 3:10 PM | The President arrives in Santa Clara County, California (12:10 PM Local) Moffett Federal Airfield, Mountain View, CA Open Press |
| 3:25 PM | The President surveys storm-ravaged areas via helicopter en route Santa Cruz County, California (12:25 PM Local) Moffett Federal Airfield, Mountain View, CA Open Press |
| 3:50 PM | The President arrives in Santa Cruz County, California (12:50 PM Local) Watsonville Municipal Airport, CA Out-of-Town Pool |
| 4:50 PM | The President meets with business owners and local residents impacted by the devastation from recent storms (1:50 PM Local) Capitola Wharf, Capitola, CA Out-of-Town Pool |
| 5:35 PM | The President visits with first responders, state and local officials to survey recovery efforts and assess what additional Federal support is needed (2:35 PM Local) Seacliff State Park, Aptos, CA Out-of-Town Pool |
| 6:00 PM | The President delivers remarks to reaffirm his commitment to supporting the people of California as they recover and rebuild from the impact of recent extreme weather across the state (3:00 PM Local) Seacliff State Park, Aptos, CA Out-of-Town Pool |
| 7:00 PM | The President departs Santa Cruz County, California en route Santa Clara County, California (4:00 PM Local) Watsonville Municipal Airport, CA Out-of-Town Pool |
| 7:35 PM | The President departs Santa Clara County, California en route Joint Base Andrews (4:35 PM Local) Moffett Federal Airfield, Mountain View, CA |
The audio only press gaggle is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. D.C., time.
In yesterday’s press briefing White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre offered a small preview of President Biden’s visit to CA..
Okay. Tomorrow, President Biden will travel to areas impacted by the recent extreme weather in California. Stops include the Santa Clara and Santa Cruz counties, where storms have caused severe floods and landslides.
During these stops, the President will meet with first responders, state and local officials, and communities impacted by the devastation; survey recovery efforts; and assess what additional federal support is needed.
FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell will travel with the President. And while in California, the President will be joined by Governor Newsom and other elected officials.
The President has been closely monitoring the situation in California over the past several weeks and is being regularly briefed by his Homeland Security team.
Throughout this time, he has remained in close touch with the governor and also local officials on the ground.
As you all saw, President Biden approved
White House.gov. 01/18/2023.Governor’s Newsom[Governor Newsom’s] request for an expedited major disaster declaration Saturday evening, providing federal support for debris removal, emergency protective measures, and individual assistance to survey whose homes have been damaged or destroyed by the storm. And we have — over 500 FEMA and other federal personnel have already deployed to California to support response and recovery operations and are working side by side with the state to ensure all needs are indeed met on the ground.
Also on Wednesday, President Biden amended California’s Disaster Declaration:
Today, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. made additional disaster assistance available to the State of California by authorizing an increase in the level of Federal funding for emergency protective measures undertaken in the State of California as a result of severe winter storms, flooding, landslides, and mudslides beginning on December 27, 2022, and continuing.
White House.gov. 01/18/2023.
Under the President’s major disaster declaration issued for the State of California on January 14, 2023, Federal funding was made available for Public Assistance, Hazard Mitigation, and Other Needs Assistance at 75 percent of the total eligible costs.
Under the President’s order today, the Federal share for debris removal and emergency protective measures, including direct Federal assistance, under the Public Assistance program has been increased to 100 percent of the total eligible costs for 60 days from the start of the incident period.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION MEDIA SHOULD CONTACT THE FEMA NEWS DESK AT (202) 646-3272 OR FEMA-NEWS-DESK@FEMA.DHS.GOV.
President’s remarks are scheduled for 6 p.m. D.C., time; that’s 3 p.m. CA., time.
President Biden has tweeted…
He’s tweeted 3 times so far for Friday Eve.
The video snip is 36 seconds long.
President Biden: There is just such a sense of history. So many things have happened in here. And by the way, thank you for what you’ve done on gun control.
Coach Kerr: Oh, thank you.
President Biden: I know the history of your dad and I know, but I mean it. It’s critical. And we made some progress.
Coach Kerr: Yes sir, we have.
President Biden: I’m going to outlaw assault weapons.
Coach Kerr: You did it once.
President Biden: We did it once and we’re going to do it again.
Coach Kerr: Yeah.
President Biden: I really mean it. Your name is forever there in Beirut.
Coach Kerr: Awe, yeah my dad’s legacy is there.
President Biden: Yeah.
Coach Kerr: Yeah, thank you for–I didn’t know you knew that story.
President Biden: Oh, I know the story.
In January of 1984 the President of the American University of Beirut, Malcolm Kerr was assassinated by the militant group Islamic Jihad. He was shot twice in the head in a hallway leading to his office. Coach Kerr was 18 years old at the time of his fathers passing. Malcolm Kerr was 52.
Serving as president of the American University of Beirut (AUB) in the midst of the Lebanese Civil War often put a target on Kerr’s father. In 1984, Malcolm Kerr was assassinated by the militant group Islamic Jihad. A member of the group shot him twice in the head in the hallway leading to his office, killing him at the age of 52.
Born in Beirut to American parents who taught at AUB, Malcolm Kerr was educated in the U.S. and spent nearly two decades of his career teaching at UCLA, before he returned to Beirut and took over as president of AUB. However, his tenure leading the institution only lasted two years before he was brutally killed.
The elder Kerr took charge of the school during unsettling times. His predecessor, president David S. Dodge, was the victim of a kidnapping by pro-Iranian gunmen in 1982.
NBC Sports. 05/25/2022.
Coach Steve Kerr’s plea to end gun violence from 05/24/2022:
CBS this Morning from two day’s ago.
The 42 second video clip is snips taken from remarks the leaders gave from the Oval Office prior to their meeting:
PRESIDENT BIDEN: Well, Mr. Prime Minister, it’s great to see you again. We’ve been in many, many meetings together, but it’s good to have you here in the Oval Office.
And you’re welcome despite — despite the World Cup match.
PRIME MINISTER RUTTE: Yeah, sorry. (Laughs.)
PRESIDENT BIDEN: And in spite of that, you know, you’re one of our strongest allies and personal friends, and you’ve been a great, great personal ally as well.
And together, we’re stepping up our protection for democratic values across the world. And we’re — you know, including standing strong with Ukraine.
PRIME MINISTER RUTTE: Yeah.
PRESIDENT BIDEN: And you’ve been very, very stalwart. And we look to you as well to make sure we have a coherent European response — all Europe — in response to Ukraine.
And Russia is just continuing to act in ways that are almost unbelievable — the brutality with which they’re acting.
Together, we’re promoting human rights and the rule of law, and we’ll be co-hosting the next summit on the — the Summit of Democracies in March, which we’ll be together again. And there’s a lot that we have to work on together.
And together, we’re working on how to keep a free and open Indo-Pacific and, quite frankly, meet the challenges of China. Simply put, our companies — our countries have been, so far, in just lockstep in what we’ve done and our vision for the future.
And so, today, I look forward to discussing how we can further deepen our relationship and securing our supply chains to strengthen our transatlantic partnership.
And thank you again, Mr. Minister. We’ve had a great relationship with both our countries and personally. And I look forward to discussing a lot more in detail.
PRIME MINISTER RUTTE: Thank you. Thank you so much. And also, thank you for hosting me. It’s the first time in my —
PRESIDENT BIDEN: The fire.
PRIME MINISTER RUTTE: — five visits that the fireplace —
PRESIDENT BIDEN: That’s right. The fireplace.
PRIME MINISTER RUTTE: — is on.
And typically, I would start with the economy. And then I would have told the press that we are the second biggest investor in the U.S, and the United States is the biggest investor in Europe.
But I think we should talk Ukraine. And we have seen this terrible footage coming out of Dnipro this weekend, where innocent children, men, and women, again, were under rocket fire, and this apartment building was hit and many people died. These are horrible pictures. And I think it — it strengthens even more our resolve to stay with Ukraine.
And I want to commend you personally and the United States for your leadership. I’m convinced that history will judge that in 2022, if the United States would not have stepped up like you did, that things would have been very different at the moment in this — in the fight between Ukraine and Russian aggression.And we have decided to spend another two and a half billion on —
PRESIDENT BIDEN: Yes.
PRIME MINISTER RUTTE: — helping the Ukraine war effort. If you compare this to the size of America, it would be over $50 billion — $50 billion.
We have the intention to join what you are doing with Germany on the Patriots project, so the air defense system. I think that is important that we join that. I discussed it also, this morning, with Olaf Scholz of Germany.
And then, on accountability, we can never accept that Putin and Russia get away with this. So, accountability to take them to court to make sure that this all gets done in — also in a legal way is crucial. And I know that you and I are working on this.
But again, your leadership — United States, you personally — has been crucial. So, again, I want to thank you for that. And let’s stay closely together this year. And, hopefully, things will move — yeah — forward in a way which is acceptable for Ukraine. They have done so much. And this year will be important.
So, again, thank you.
PRESIDENT BIDEN: They have. And one of the things — if I could just add very quickly: Europe continues to step up, respond to Russian actions. There’s more to do, and we — we have to stay together. And it’s been — been really, really, really important that you’ve been there every single step of the way. So, thank you.
Thank you.
White House.gov. 01/17/2023.
When the post was posted for Wednesday, President Biden had tweeted 3 times. He added 7 tweets giving him a Wednesday Tweeting Total of 10 tweets and 0 retweets.
His full statement:
+Today, we received more evidence that we are making real progress tackling inflation and lowering costs, successfully transitioning from a historic recovery to steady and stable growth. The inflation rate for producers fell further, and is now at its lowest level since March 2021. This decrease reflected a decline in food and energy prices, bringing real breathing room to working families. And, price increases outside of food, energy, and trade services slowed and are at their lowest level since March 2021.
White House.gov. 01/18/2023.
We also learned that, adjusted for inflation, consumers continue to spend, albeit at a pace that is slowing compared to earlier in the recovery – that’s expected with the transition to steady and stable growth.
Today’s news comes on the heels of an unemployment rate near a 50-year low, inflation coming down for six months in a row, and record-setting small business applications for my first two years.
We are not letting up, and there are even more reasons for optimism this year. This month, thanks to my economic agenda passed over the last two years, there will be lower prescription costs for our seniors, tax breaks for lower energy bills, strengthened supply chains, and more good jobs that Americans can raise a family on rebuilding our infrastructure and manufacturing here at home.
I’m putting two tweets here, cause they tie into the 1 minute and 13 second video.
The video transcript:
*Phone rings*
Brittany: Ghostburger, Brittany speaking, how may I help you?
President Biden: Hi Brittany, this is Joe Biden. I’d like to place an order for lunch if I could, okay?
*Camera cuts to President Biden in the Oval Office*
President Biden: I’ve got great news. 10.4 million people have applied to start a new business. That’s more than any time in American history in a single period. 10.4 million new small businesses. The Vice President and I have lunch once a week, and I’m going to order from a small business right now.
*Camera cuts back to Ghostbuger*
Brittany: Hi.
President Biden: Hi.
Brittany: What would you like to have?
President Biden: Well, I’d like to have a bacon cheeseburger, with American cheese and a side of french fries. I’ll have someone come pick it up, okay? How’s business at Ghostburger these days?
Brittany: It’s pretty good.
President Biden: Well, good. Okay, I’m looking forward to having lunch.
*Brittany hangs up the phone*
Brittany: That’s crazy. Oh, I’m shaking.
*Camera cuts to lunch time.*
Vice President Harris: And we’ve got cheeseburgers!
President Biden: We’ve got cheeseburgers from Ghostburger.
Vice President Harris: Yes.
President Biden: I ordered them and I said: “This is Joe Biden calling.” And they said “Huh?”
NPR 1/18/2023: Ukrainian Interior Minister Denys Monastyrsky and a child are among at least 14 people who died in a helicopter crash Wednesday morning, after the aircraft slammed into an area holding a kindergarten and its playground in Brovary, an eastern suburb of Kyiv. Officials initially said the death toll was even worse, but Ukraine’s State Emergency Service said later that 14 people had died, including one child, along with 25 people who were injured, including 11 children. The update came after authorities identified bodies and concluded search and rescue operations. All nine people aboard the helicopter were killed, including the three-person crew. The cause of the crash is not yet known. The area was under heavy fog early Wednesday. But Ukraine is also at war with Russia, which has frequently fired missiles at civilian areas around the country, including an apartment building in the southeastern city of Dnipro.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy issued the following statement:
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy expresses his sincere condolences to the families and friends of all those who died as a result of the crash of the helicopter in Brovary, Kyiv region, which was carrying the leadership of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine.
The helicopter fell on the territory of one of the kindergartens.
According to the latest data, 16 people were killed. The exact number of victims of the tragedy is being established.
Among the dead are Interior Minister Denys Monastyrskyi, his first deputy Yevhen Yenin, State Secretary of the MIA Yuri Lubkovych, their assistants and the helicopter crew.
“As of this minute, three children died. It is an indescribable pain,” the Head of State noted.
The helicopter crash injured 30 people, including 12 children.
The Head of State instructed the Security Service of Ukraine, in cooperation with the National Police and other authorized bodies, to clarify all the circumstances of the accident. All relevant services are working on the scene of the tragedy.
“Denys, Yevhen, Yuri, the team of the Ministry of Internal Affairs… true patriots of Ukraine. May they rest in peace. May all those whose lives were taken this black morning rest in peace,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
President.gov.ua. 01/18/2023.
President Biden’s and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden’s full statement:
Jill and I send our deepest condolences to the families of all those killed in the tragic helicopter crash in Ukraine this morning, including Minister of Internal Affairs Denys Monastyrskyy and other senior Ukrainian government officials. Our hearts are also with the dozens of civilians who were killed or injured, including precious children, and their families. We grieve with all those who are mourning this heartbreaking tragedy. Mr. Monastyrskyy and his team were deeply involved in the preservation of Ukraine’s democracy—both its defense against Russian aggression, and the vital work of reforms to strengthen Ukraine’s institutions through this war and into the future. A reformer and patriot, Mr. Monastyrskyy championed the will of the Ukrainian people. We will continue to honor that legacy through efforts to strengthen Ukraine’s institutions, and in our unfailing partnership with the people of Ukraine to keep the flame of freedom bright. Today, we are praying for healing for the wounded and comfort for those who have lost loved ones. The United States stands with the people of Ukraine in the face of this tragedy, and for as long as it takes.
White House.gov. 01/18/2023.
