WEBVTT 00:02.000 --> 00:05.033 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% JUDY WOODRUFF: President Biden is moving on new fronts tonight in his latest spate of 00:05.033 --> 00:10.033 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% policy actions. They include boosting COVID vaccine supplies and addressing racial equity, 00:12.333 --> 00:17.333 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% this as the United States Senate geared up to put his predecessor on trial. 00:18.733 --> 00:20.800 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% Congressional correspondent Lisa Desjardins reports. 00:20.800 --> 00:25.166 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% LISA DESJARDINS: Rounding out his first full week in office, President Biden took on a 00:27.233 --> 00:31.166 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% longstanding American failing, racial discrimination, signing a series of executive actions. 00:33.433 --> 00:37.066 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% White House domestic policy adviser Susan Rice echoed the president's commitment to 00:37.066 --> 00:39.166 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% expand opportunities for Americans. 00:39.166 --> 00:43.766 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% SUSAN RICE, White House Domestic Policy Adviser: These aren't feel-good policies. The evidence 00:43.766 --> 00:48.733 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% is clear. Investing in equity is good for economic growth and it creates jobs for all 00:51.800 --> 00:54.366 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60% Americans. 00:54.366 --> 00:57.766 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% LISA DESJARDINS: Mr. Biden targeted four areas, housing, federal prisons, tribal sovereignty, 00:59.766 --> 01:03.200 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70% and harassment and discrimination against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. 01:05.100 --> 01:08.266 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% The racial problem overlaps with the health one, with communities of color hit hardest 01:08.266 --> 01:13.266 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70% by the coronavirus and government response. A CNN analysis of 14 states concluded that 01:15.333 --> 01:19.733 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% white Americans are getting COVID vaccines at more than twice the rate of Blacks and 01:21.266 --> 01:23.200 align:left position:40% line:89% size:50% Latinos. 01:23.200 --> 01:26.966 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% In the afternoon, the president announced that governors will receive 16 percent more 01:26.966 --> 01:30.200 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% vaccine doses next week, a total of 10 million. 01:30.200 --> 01:34.033 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% JOE BIDEN, President of the United States: This is going to allow millions of more Americans 01:34.033 --> 01:39.033 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% to get vaccinated sooner than previously anticipated. We have got a long way to go, though. 01:40.933 --> 01:43.366 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% LISA DESJARDINS: The new administration is also watching the Capitol, where the U.S. 01:43.366 --> 01:48.333 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% Senate was busy, today confirming Antony Blinken as secretary of state inside. 01:48.333 --> 01:53.300 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% MAN: The yeas are 78. The nays are 22. The nomination is confirmed. 01:55.400 --> 02:00.400 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% LISA DESJARDINS: As, outside, Vice President Harris conducted a ceremonial swearing-in 02:01.466 --> 02:03.533 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% of new Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen. 02:03.533 --> 02:08.400 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% And committees continued moving through a stack of other Cabinet nominees, Rhode Island 02:08.400 --> 02:13.400 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% Governor Gina Raimondo as commerce secretary and Alejandro Mayorkas, nominated for homeland 02:15.400 --> 02:19.133 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% security secretary. He won committee approval, moving him closer to confirmation. 02:21.733 --> 02:25.100 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% The Senate also worked on its own mission-critical business. Minority Leader Senator Mitch McConnell 02:27.000 --> 02:30.500 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% dropped his demand that Democrats guarantee they would keep the filibuster rule, which 02:32.400 --> 02:35.766 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% gives both parties power on most votes, this after two Democratic senators, Joe Manchin 02:37.700 --> 02:41.233 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% of West Virginia and Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona, stressed they would not vote to dismantle 02:41.700 --> 02:43.766 align:left position:40% line:89% size:50% it. 02:43.766 --> 02:47.600 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% SEN. MITCH MCCONNELL (R-KY): We have a higher calling than endless partisan escalation. 02:49.566 --> 02:53.466 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% We placed our trust in the institution itself and a common desire to do the right thing. 02:58.166 --> 03:03.000 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% I'm grateful that's been reciprocated by at least a pair of our colleagues across the 03:03.000 --> 03:05.633 align:left position:40% line:89% size:50% aisle. 03:05.633 --> 03:08.700 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% LISA DESJARDINS: Now all sides expect an agreement allowing the new 50-50 Senate to fully function. 03:08.700 --> 03:10.766 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% Majority Leader Senator Chuck Schumer: 03:10.766 --> 03:14.033 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% SEN. CHUCK SCHUMER (D-NY): I'm glad we're finally able to get the Senate up and running. 03:14.033 --> 03:19.033 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% My only regret is that it took so long, because we have a great deal we need to accomplish 03:20.433 --> 03:22.700 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% over the next several weeks and months. 03:22.700 --> 03:27.166 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% LISA DESJARDINS: And there was more news. House managers last night delivered the article 03:27.166 --> 03:32.166 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% of impeachment to the Senate. As a result, senators were sworn in as jurors today for 03:33.600 --> 03:36.300 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% the second impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump. 03:36.300 --> 03:41.300 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% Republican Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky challenged the trial a unconstitutional for targeting 03:42.500 --> 03:44.533 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% a president now out of office and his speech. 03:44.533 --> 03:48.100 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% SEN. RAND PAUL (R-KY): Who hasn't used the words fight figuratively? And are we going 03:48.100 --> 03:53.100 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% to put every politician in jail, are we going to impeach every politician who has used the 03:54.133 --> 03:56.400 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% words fight figuratively in a speech? 03:56.400 --> 04:00.800 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% LISA DESJARDINS: Paul raised a point of order, but the Senate rejected his challenge on a 04:00.800 --> 04:03.333 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70% mostly party-line vote. 04:03.333 --> 04:08.333 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% As impeachment moves forward, a growing recognition that it is an uphill effort. President Biden 04:10.333 --> 04:13.766 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% told CNN last night he did not think there would be enough Republican votes to convict 04:13.766 --> 04:15.100 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60% Mr. Trump. 04:15.100 --> 04:17.533 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% For the "PBS NewsHour," I'm Lisa Desjardins. 04:17.533 --> 04:22.533 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% JUDY WOODRUFF: And Yamiche Alcindor is at the White House with more on the Biden agenda. 04:23.900 --> 04:26.033 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70% So, hello, Yamiche. 04:26.033 --> 04:30.333 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% We know the president's now been in office almost a full week. Today, he was speaking 04:30.333 --> 04:35.333 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70% both about the vaccine distribution challenges around the country and about equity. So, tell 04:37.066 --> 04:39.333 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% us more about what he's doing on those fronts. 04:39.333 --> 04:43.133 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% YAMICHE ALCINDOR: Well, President Biden is ramping up vaccine distribution around the 04:43.133 --> 04:47.800 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% country. And he's also pledging to put equity and fighting systemic racism at the center 04:47.800 --> 04:49.866 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70% of everything he does. 04:49.866 --> 04:54.200 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% On the COVID vaccine and the response he's doing, he said he's increasing weekly vaccine 04:56.200 --> 04:59.333 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% supply to states, tribes and territories by 16 percent. He is also increasing the total 05:01.366 --> 05:04.933 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% U.S. vaccine order by 50 percent, from 400 million doses to 600 million doses. 05:06.866 --> 05:10.100 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% That means he says there is going to be enough vaccines for 300 million Americans by the 05:10.100 --> 05:15.100 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% summer. Of course, the U.S. population is 329 million Americans. So, that's a big deal 05:15.566 --> 05:17.533 align:left position:40% line:89% size:50% there. 05:17.533 --> 05:19.666 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% The other thing is that equity, he said, is important, not just for Americans of color 05:19.666 --> 05:24.133 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% and Black Americans, but for all Americans. He said that we will have a safer and more 05:24.133 --> 05:29.100 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% secure and more prosperous country if we all get together and fight systemic racism. 05:29.100 --> 05:34.100 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% JUDY WOODRUFF: And, Yamiche, we know also, separately, the president had his first phone 05:36.166 --> 05:40.800 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% call today with Russia's President Vladimir Putin. What is the White House saying about 05:40.800 --> 05:41.800 align:left position:40% line:89% size:50% that? 05:41.800 --> 05:43.833 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% YAMICHE ALCINDOR: That's right. 05:43.833 --> 05:46.300 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% The White House said that President Biden telephoned the Russian president, Vladimir 05:46.300 --> 05:49.966 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% Putin, and that the two men talked about a number of issues, including an arms treaty 05:49.966 --> 05:54.900 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% that's being negotiated. He also said that the U.S. really affirmed its support for Ukraine 05:54.900 --> 05:59.633 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% sovereignty. They also talked about Russia - - alleged Russian interference in the 2020 05:59.633 --> 06:04.633 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70% election, as well as the poisoning of a Russian opposition leader, and the Russian alleged 06:06.066 --> 06:08.033 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% hack on U.S. governments, as well as U.S. businesses. 06:08.033 --> 06:11.633 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% That is seen as really important, because President Trump was seen as too lenient on 06:11.633 --> 06:16.400 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% Russia and not being willing to really confront Vladimir Putin on a number of issues, including 06:16.400 --> 06:18.400 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% meddling in the U.S. election. 06:18.400 --> 06:22.066 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% So, it's seen as President Biden really taking a tougher stance on Russia, which is what 06:22.066 --> 06:24.133 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% he pledged to do during the campaign. 06:24.133 --> 06:28.700 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% JUDY WOODRUFF: Of course, we'd love to know more about that phone call, and I'm sure you 06:29.433 --> 06:30.666 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70% will be reporting on it. 06:30.666 --> 06:32.033 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% Yamiche Alcindor, thank you very much. 06:32.033 --> 06:33.133 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% YAMICHE ALCINDOR: Thank you, Judy.