Biden Bits: “Welcome Back”…

June 3, 2024 12:31 pm EDT Tiff Biden Tweets (Open Thread) Comments Off on Biden Bits: “Welcome Back”…
Biden Tweets Logo. Image by Lenny Ghoul.

It’s Monday…

President Biden’s public schedule for *06/03/2024:

10:00 AM
Presidential Daily Brief		The President receives the President’s Daily Brief
12:00 PMOut-of-Town Pool Call Time
3:15 PMOut-of-Town Pool Call Time
4:55 PMThe President departs Wilmington, Delaware en route to White Plains, New York
5:25 PM
Press Gaggle		Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre will gaggle aboard Air Force One en route to White Plains, New York
5:50 PMThe President arrives in White Plains, New York
7:00 PMThe President participates in a campaign reception
Restricted Out-of-Town Pool
8:05 PMThe President departs White Plains, New York en route to Joint Base Andrews
9:00 PMThe President arrives to Joint Base AndrewsJoint Base Andrews
9:10 PMThe President departs Joint Base Andrews en route to the White House
9:30 PMThe President arrives at the White HouseSouth GroundsPress Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre will gaggle aboard Air Force One en route to White Plains, New York

*The website that charts his public schedule shows the above schedule as Sunday the 2nd of June; this error was a result of the electronic daily guidance advisory from the White House. They put June 2nd in the heading so the calendar auto-generated it as Sunday (you can see the error at Forth.news)…*

Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre Gaggle Aboard Air Force One En Route to New York @5:25 p.m. D.C., time:


April’s PCE Report Tweet

From Friday…

From the White House…

05/31/2024:

Statement from National Economic Advisor Lael Brainard on April PCE Report

The cost of living is still too high for too many working families, but today’s PCE report shows continued progress bringing down inflation. Annual core inflation is at its lowest level since March 2021, and overall inflation is down 60 percent from its peak. President Biden is going to keep fighting to lower costs, while congressional Republicans fight to cut taxes for the ultra-wealthy and big corporations.

Statement from National Economic Advisor Lael Brainard on April PCE Report. 05/31/2024.

My go to chart guy Ben Casselman from the New York Times. Didn’t do charts on Friday…

Middle East Plan Tweets

From Friday…

Remarks by President Biden on the Middle East; the YouTube is 14 minutes and 49 seconds long.

The above tweet is pinned to the top of his twitter feed…

Phase 1:

This new proposal has three phases — three.
 
The first phase would last for six weeks.  Here’s what it would include: a full and complete ceasefire; a withdrawal of Israeli forces from all populated areas of Gaza; a release of a number of hostages — including women, the elderly, the wounded — in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.  There are American hostages who would be released at this stage, and we want them home.
 
Additional, some remains of hostages who have been killed would be returned to their families, bringing some degree of closure to their terrible grief.
 
Palestinians — civilians — would return to their homes and neighborhoods in all areas of Gaza, including in the north.
 
Humanitarian assistance would surge with 600 trucks carrying aid into Gaza every single day.
 
With a ceasefire, that aid could be safely and effectively distributed to all who need it.  Hundreds of thousands of temporary shelters, including housing units, would be delivered by the international community.
 
All of that and more would begin immediately — immediately.
 
During the six weeks of ph- — of phase one, Israel and Hamas would negotiate the necessary arrangements to get to phase two, which is a permanent end to hostol- — to hostilities.
 
Now, I’ll be straight with you.  There are a number of details to negotiate to move from phase one to phase two.  Israel will want to make sure its interests are protected.

But the proposal says if the negotiations take longer than six weeks for phase one, the ceasefire will still continue as long as negotiations continue.
 
And the United States, Egypt, and Qatar would work to ensure negotiations keep going — all agreements — all agreements — until all the agreements are reached and phase two is able to begin.  

Remarks by President Biden on the Middle East; the YouTube is 14 minutes and 49 seconds long. 05/31/2024.

Phase 2:

Then phase two: There would be an exchange for the release of all remaining living hostages, including male soldiers; Israeli forces would withdraw from Gaza; and as long as Hamas lives up to its commitments, a temporary ceasefire would become, in the words of the propo- — the Israeli proposal, “the cessation of hostilities permanently,” end of quote.  “Cessation of hostilities permanently.”

Remarks by President Biden on the Middle East; the YouTube is 14 minutes and 49 seconds long. 05/31/2024.

Phase 3:

Finally, in phase three, a major reconstruction plan for Ga- — for Gaza wou- — would commence.  And any final remains of hostages who have been killed would be returned to their families. 

Remarks by President Biden on the Middle East; the YouTube is 14 minutes and 49 seconds long. 05/31/2024.

The video clip is 6 seconds long.

It’s time to begin this new stage, for the hostages to come home, for Israel to be secure, for the suffering to stop.  It’s time for this war to end and for the day after to begin. 

Remarks by President Biden on the Middle East; the YouTube is 14 minutes and 49 seconds long. 05/31/2024.

From Saturday…

The video clip is 28 seconds long.

I know this is a subject on which people in this country feel deep, passionate convictions.  And so do I.  This has been one of the hardest, most complicated problems in the world.  There’s nothing easy about this — nothing easy about it. 

Through it all, though, the United States has worked relentlessly to support Israelis’ security, to get humanitarian supplies into Gaza, and to get a ceasefire and a hostage deal to bring this war to an end. 

Remarks by President Biden on the Middle East; the YouTube is 14 minutes and 49 seconds long. 05/31/2024.

Super Bowl Champs visit the White House Tweets

From Friday…

Remarks by President Biden Honoring the Super Bowl LVIII Champions, Kansas City Chiefs; the YouTube is 10 minutes and 28 seconds long.

From Saturday…

 Welcome back!  (Applause.)  Welcome back to the White House, Super Bowl 58 champions, the Kansas City Chiefs.  (Applause.)

Remarks by President Biden Honoring the Super Bowl LVIII Champions, Kansas City Chiefs; the YouTube is 10 minutes and 28 seconds long.

But let me close with this.  Last year, I talked about how, after winning the Super Bowl, many of these players went up to Coach Reid and asked what they could to be — do better, to be better.  Even at the peak of their success, they were looking for ways to work harder, to dig deeper, to improve.

Everyone watching, especially our children: That’s a powerful lesson about sports and the nation.  We’re a great nation because we’re a good people.  We never give up.  We look out for ano- — one another.  We leave no one behind.  That’s America. 

Remarks by President Biden Honoring the Super Bowl LVIII Champions, Kansas City Chiefs; the YouTube is 10 minutes and 28 seconds long.

Welcome back!  (Applause.)  Welcome back to the White House, Super Bowl 58 champions, the Kansas City Chiefs.  (Applause.)

[snip]

At last year’s White House Super Bowl celebration, I said this team was building a dynasty [16 second mark they include his remarks from 2023], which means everyone’s coming to you.  After starting this season red hot, you all had your share of struggles.  And when the doubters questioned whether you could pull it off again — believe me, I know what that feels like.  But anyway.  (Laughter.)

But I don’t think anybody is doubting you now.  You fought hard.  You kept the faith.

Remarks by President Biden Honoring the Super Bowl LVIII Champions, Kansas City Chiefs; the YouTube is 10 minutes and 28 seconds long.

Had a Meeting Tweet

From Friday…

From the White House…

05/31/2024:

Readout of President Biden’s Meeting with Prime Minister De Croo of Belgium

President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. welcomed Prime Minister Alexander De Croo to the White House today to deepen the United States and Belgium’s cooperation on global issues and to bolster transatlantic security. In particular, they reaffirmed their commitment to continue supporting Ukraine and discussed efforts to make the greatest use of immobilized sovereign assets for the benefit of Ukraine. The leaders affirmed the importance of the NATO Alliance and the need to remain vigilant against Russian threats to election integrity.

Readout of President Biden’s Meeting with Prime Minister De Croo of Belgium. 05/31/2024

Happy Pride Month Tweets

From Saturday…

From Sunday…

A Proclamation on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Intersex Pride Month, 2024:

During Pride Month, we celebrate the extraordinary courage and contributions of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Intersex (LGBTQI+) community.  We reflect on the progress we have made so far in pursuit of equality, justice, and inclusion.  We recommit ourselves to do more to support LGBTQI+ rights at home and around the world. 

For generations, LGBTQI+ Americans have summoned the courage to live authentically and proudly — even when it meant putting their lives and livelihoods at risk.  In 1969 at the Stonewall Inn in New York, brave LGBTQI+ individuals protested the violence and marginalization they faced, boosting a civil rights movement for the liberation of LGBTQI+ people that has transformed our Nation.  Since then, courageous LGBTQI+ Americans continue to inspire and bring hope to all people seeking a life true to who they are.  LGBTQI+ people also continue to enrich every aspect of American life as educators, entertainers, entrepreneurs, athletes, actors, artists, scientists, scholars, diplomats, doctors, service members, veterans, and so much more.

Advancing equality for the LGBTQI+ community is a top priority for my Administration.  I signed the historic Respect for Marriage Act, which protects the marriage of same-sex and interracial couples.  As Commander in Chief, I was proud to have ended the ban on transgender Americans serving in the United States military.  I signed historic Executive Orders strengthening civil rights protections for housing, employment, health care, education, and the justice system.  We are also combating the dangerous and cruel practice of so-called “conversion therapy” and implementing a national strategy to end the HIV epidemic in this country.  We ended the disgraceful practice of banning gay and bisexual men from donating blood.  We are doing this work here at home and around the globe, where LGBTQI+ community members are fighting for recognition of their fundamental human rights and seeking to live full lives, free from hate-fueled violence and discrimination.

But for all the progress, we know real challenges persist.  Last year, as we celebrated Pride Month on the South Lawn of the White House, I had the honor of meeting survivors of the Club Q and Pulse shootings, which tragically took the lives of LGBTQI+ Americans.  Although my Administration passed the most significant gun law in nearly 30 years, the Congress must do its part and ban assault weapons.  At the same time, families across the country face excruciating decisions to relocate to a different State to protect their children from dangerous and hateful anti-LGBTQI+ laws, which target transgender children, threaten families, and criminalize doctors and nurses.  These bills and laws attack our most basic values and freedoms as Americans:  the right to be yourself, the right to make your own medical decisions, and the right to raise your own children.  Some things should never be put at risk:  your life, your safety, and your dignity.

To the entire LGBTQI+ community — and especially transgender children — please know that your President and my entire Administration have your back.  We see you for who you are:  made in the image of God and deserving of dignity, respect, and support.  That is why I have taken historic action to protect the LGBTQI+ community.  We are ensuring that the LGBTQI+ community is protected against discrimination when accessing health care, and the Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Homeland Security, and Department of Justice launched a safety partnership to provide critical training and support to the community, including resources to help report hate crimes and better protect festivals, marches, community centers, businesses, and health care providers serving the community.  The Department of Education and the Department of Justice are also addressing whether book bans may violate Federal civil rights laws when they target LGBTQI+ students or students of color and create hostile classroom environments.  Additionally, we are providing specialized services through the nationwide crisis hotline for LGBTQI+ youth who feel isolated and overwhelmed — anyone who needs help can call 988 and then press 3 to be connected to a professional counselor.  We are committing more resources for mental health programs that help families support and affirm their kids and are starting a new Federal initiative to address LGBTQI+ homelessness.  We finalized new regulations requiring States to protect LGBTQI+ kids in foster care.

America is the only Nation in the world founded on an idea:  We are all created equal and deserve to be treated equally throughout our lives.  We have never fully lived up to that idea, but we have never fully walked away from it either.  This month, we recommit to realizing the promise of America for all Americans, to celebrating courageous LGBTQI+ people, and to taking pride in the example they set for our Nation and the world.  

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim June 2024 as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Intersex Pride Month.  I call upon the people of the United States to recognize the achievements of the LGBTQI+ community, to celebrate the great diversity of the American people, and to wave their flags of pride high.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirty-first day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-four, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-eighth.

A Proclamation on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Intersex Pride Month, 2024. 05/31/2024.

FYI: The husband, daughter, and I, will be attending Pride Nite at Disneyland on June 18th, 2024; it’s our first after hours event.

Mrs. Marian Robinson Tweet

From Saturday…

Show more =’s She believed, like we do, that family is the beginning, middle and end. She moved into the White House to be there for her family when they needed her the most, and in so doing, she served her country right alongside them. Her life is a reminder that we are a great nation because we are a good people. The entire Biden family sends its deepest love to Michelle, Craig, Barack, Kelly, and the six irrepressible grandchildren whom she helped to raise and so loved, and in whom her kind and gentle spirit lives on. May she rest in peace with her beloved Fraser. May God bless Mrs. Marian Robinson.

From the White House…

06/01/2024:

Statement from President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden on the Passing of Mrs. Marian Robinson

We knew Mrs. Marian Robinson as a devoted mother and grandmother with a fierce and unconditional love of her family. With the blessing of friendship, we felt that love ourselves – with every quiet smile or warm embrace she shared with us.

She believed, like we do, that family is the beginning, middle and end.  She moved into the White House to be there for her family when they needed her the most, and in so doing, she served her country right alongside them. Her life is a reminder that we are a great nation because we are a good people.

The entire Biden family sends its deepest love to Michelle, Craig, Barack, Kelly, and the six irrepressible grandchildren whom she helped to raise and so loved, and in whom her kind and gentle spirit lives on. 

May she rest in peace with her beloved Fraser.

May God bless Mrs. Marian Robinson.

Statement from President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden on the Passing of Mrs. Marian Robinson. 06/01/2024.

CNN: The mother of former First Lady Michelle Obama passed away on Friday at the age of 86.

Talking to Larry and Lisa Tweet

From Sunday…

The video clip is 1 minute and 41 seconds long. The gist of the video is he calls Larry on the phone, with his sister-in-law Lisa standing with the President. The video was filmed during an event held on 05/21/2024; Remarks by President Biden on the PACT Act | Nashua, NH; the YouTube is 17 minutes and 41 seconds long.

Immigrant Heritage Month Tweets

From Sunday…

A Proclamation on National Immigrant Heritage Month, 2024

America is the only country in the world with a heart and soul that draws from old and new.  We are home to people whose ancestors have been here for thousands of years and home to people from every place on Earth.  Some people came freely, some came chained by force, some came when famine struck or to flee persecution, and some came to chase dreams that are only possible here in America.  We all come from somewhere, but we are all Americans.  This month, we honor the contributions and celebrate the remarkable courage of our Nation’s immigrants, whose hopes and dreams helped found this country and continue to push us forward today.

My own family came to America in the mid-1800s, when famine struck their homeland in Ireland.  The Finnegans of County Louth and the Blewitts of County Mayo traveled across an ocean, landing on America’s shores with an unbending belief in the possibilities our Nation had to offer.  Vice President Kamala Harris’ parents emigrated from India and Jamaica to pursue their education in medicine and economics.  So many Americans share a similar story — their families leaving everything behind to pursue the American Dream and working tirelessly to build good lives for themselves and good futures for their families.

Immigrants keep our economy strong and help drive the success of our Nation.  They ensure our safety as first responders and military service members; they maintain the health of our communities as doctors and nurses; they are there for our family members and children as educators and care workers; they feed and fuel our population as more than half of the Nation’s farmworkers; they are one in five of our business owners; and they are leaders in technology, philanthropy, and media.  All told, they contribute hundreds of billions of dollars in taxes each year and create millions of jobs.  The ingenuity, grit, and perseverance of immigrants are driving forces in every aspect of American life.

On day one of my Administration, I sent a comprehensive plan to the Congress to fix our broken immigration system.  It aimed to expand legal pathways of immigration; provide protections for Dreamers and others who contribute to this country; and address the violence, corruption, and instability that leads many to flee their homes.  My Administration has worked tirelessly to strengthen our legal immigration system and support those who are here.  We have rebuilt the United States Refugee Admissions Program, which once again serves as a beacon for displaced persons around the world.  We continue to vigorously defend the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) policy, which has allowed more than 800,000 Dreamers to live and work in the place they call home, against attacks in the courts.  For the first time ever, we have extended Affordable Care Act coverage to DACA recipients.  We have also expanded legal pathways for people from Venezuela, Cuba, Nicaragua, and Haiti and instituted reunification programs so that families stay together while they complete the immigration process.  My Administration will continue to do everything we can, but we need the Congress to take action and provide funding and resources necessary to secure our border and reform our immigration system.

As Americans, we have an obligation to ensure that everyone feels safe and respected.  We must give hate no safe harbor.  But too often, immigrant communities remain the target of bias and discrimination.  That is why my Administration is fighting against the rise of all forms of hate.  In 2021, I signed the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act, making it easier to report hate crimes, and I also established the White House Initiative on Hate-Motivated Violence to counter these types of attacks and foster national unity.  

During my trip to Ireland last year, I walked the streets my ancestors used to walk and looked out at the ocean they crossed two centuries earlier to reach America.  For hundreds of years, people from around the world have made the courageous trek to our Nation’s soil.  They are drawn to our shores by the American idea that we are all created equal and deserve to be treated equally throughout our lives.  We have never fully lived up to that promise, but we have never walked away from it either.  This month — and every month — may we recommit to keeping lit the torch of liberty that has led generations of immigrants to America.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim June 2024 as National Immigrant Heritage Month.  I call upon the people of the United States to learn more about the history of our Nation’s diverse and varied immigrant communities and to observe this month with appropriate programs and activities that remind us of the values of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this

thirty-first day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-four, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-eighth.

A Proclamation on National Immigrant Heritage Month, 2024. 05/31/2024.

Happy Birthday, Jilly Tweet

From Monday…

It’s a 9 second video that shows the many times he has said “I’m Joe Biden, Jill Biden’s husband”, the clip ends with him saying “and proud of it”.

First Lady Dr. Jill Biden turns 73 today; Lady Snark is also celebrating a birthday today…

via GIPHY

Direct File Tweet

From Monday…

IRS.gov…

05/30/2024:

IRS makes Direct File a permanent option to file federal tax returns; expanded access for more taxpayers planned for the 2025 filing season

Following a successful filing season pilot and feedback from a variety of partners, the Internal Revenue Service announced today that it will make Direct File a permanent option for filing federal tax returns starting in the 2025 tax season.

The agency is exploring ways to expand Direct File to make more taxpayers eligible in the 2025 filing season and beyond by examining options to broaden Direct File’s availability across the nation, including covering more tax situations and inviting all states to partner with Direct File next year.

The IRS plans to announce additional details on the 2025 expansion in the coming months.

The decision follows a highly successful, limited pilot during the 2024 filing season, where 140,803 taxpayers in 12 states filed their taxes using Direct File. The IRS closely analyzed data collected during the pilot, held numerous meetings with diverse groups of stakeholders and gathered feedback from individual Direct File users, state officials and representatives across the tax landscape. The IRS heard directly from hundreds of organizations across the country, more than a hundred members of Congress and from those interested in using Direct File in the future. The IRS has also heard from a limited number of stakeholders who believe the current free electronic filing options provided by third party vendors are adequate.

The IRS will continue data analysis and stakeholder engagement to identify improvements to Direct File; however, initial post-pilot analysis yielded enough information for the decision to make Direct File a permanent filing option. The IRS noted that an early decision on 2025 was critical for planning and programming both for the IRS and for additional states to join the program. IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel recommended to Secretary of the Treasury Janet L. Yellen to make Direct File permanent. He cited overwhelming satisfaction from users and improved ease of tax filing among the reasons for his recommendation, which Secretary Yellen has accepted.

“The clear message is that many taxpayers across the nation want the IRS to provide more than one no-cost option for filing electronically,” said IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel. “So, starting with the 2025 filing season, the IRS will make Direct File a permanent option for filing federal tax returns. Giving taxpayers additional options strengthens the tax filing system. And adding Direct File to the menu of filing options fits squarely into our effort to make taxes as easy as possible for Americans, including saving time and money.”

State and eligibility expansion

Building on the success of the limited pilot – where taxpayers with relatively simple tax situations in 12 states were eligible to use Direct File – the IRS is examining ways to expand eligibility to more taxpayers across the country. For the 2025 filing season, the IRS will work with all states that want to partner with Direct File, and there will be no limit to the number of states that can participate in the coming year. The agency expects several new states will choose to participate.

The IRS is also exploring ways to gradually expand the scope of tax situations supported by Direct File. Over the coming years, the agency’s goal is to expand Direct File to support most common tax situations, with a particular focus on those situations that impact working families. Announcements about new state partners and expanded eligibility are expected in the coming months.

“User experience – both within the product and integration with state tax systems – will continue to be the foundation for Direct File moving forward,” Werfel said. “We will focus, first and foremost, on continuing to get it right. Accuracy and comprehensive tax credit uptake will be paramount concerns to ensure taxpayers file a correct return and get the refund they’re entitled to. And our North Star will be improving the experience of tax filing itself and helping taxpayers meet their obligations as easily and quickly as possible.”

Direct File’s role in the tax system

During the agency’s review, many taxpayers told the IRS they want no-cost filing options. Millions of taxpayers who did not live in one of the 12 pilot states visited the Direct File website to learn more about this option or asked live chat assistors to make Direct File available in their state.

As a permanent filing option, Direct File will continue to be one option among many from which taxpayers can choose. It is not meant to replace other important options by tax professionals or commercial software providers, who are critical partners with the IRS in delivering a successful tax system for the nation. The IRS also remains committed to the ongoing relationship with Free File Inc., which has served taxpayers for two decades in the joint effort to provide free commercial software. Earlier this month, the IRS signed a five-year extension with industry to continue Free File.

As the IRS works to expand Direct File, it will also work to strengthen all free filing options for taxpayers, including Free File, the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program (VITA) and the Tax Counseling for the Elderly program (TCE).

IRS makes Direct File a permanent option to file federal tax returns; expanded access for more taxpayers planned for the 2025 filing season. 05/30/2024.

I did not include their full statement.


“New” from the White House…

05/31/2024:

  • A Proclamation on National Caribbean-American Heritage Month, 2024; NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim June 2024 as National Caribbean American Heritage Month.  I encourage all Americans to join in celebrating the history, culture, and achievements of Caribbean Americans with appropriate ceremonies and activities.
  • A Proclamation on Black Music Month, 2024; NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim June 2024 as Black Music Month.  I call upon public officials, educators, and all the people of the United States to observe this month by honoring Black musicians and raising awareness and appreciation of Black music.
  • A Proclamation on National Homeownership Month, 2024; NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim June 2024 as National Homeownership Month.  I call upon the people of this Nation to safeguard the American Dream by ensuring that everyone has access to an affordable home in a community of their choice.
  • A Proclamation on National Ocean Month, 2024; NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim June 2024 as National Ocean Month.  I call upon Americans to take action to protect, conserve, and restore our ocean and coasts.

06/01/2024:

06/03/2024:

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About Tiff 3046 Articles
Member of the Free Press who is politically homeless and a political junkie.