1 00:00:02,000 --> 00:00:05,033 JUDY WOODRUFF: President Biden is moving on new fronts tonight in his latest spate of 2 00:00:05,033 --> 00:00:10,033 policy actions. They include boosting COVID vaccine supplies and addressing racial equity, 3 00:00:12,333 --> 00:00:17,333 this as the United States Senate geared up to put his predecessor on trial. 4 00:00:18,733 --> 00:00:20,800 Congressional correspondent Lisa Desjardins reports. 5 00:00:20,800 --> 00:00:25,166 LISA DESJARDINS: Rounding out his first full week in office, President Biden took on a 6 00:00:27,233 --> 00:00:31,166 longstanding American failing, racial discrimination, signing a series of executive actions. 7 00:00:33,433 --> 00:00:37,066 White House domestic policy adviser Susan Rice echoed the president's commitment to 8 00:00:37,066 --> 00:00:39,166 expand opportunities for Americans. 9 00:00:39,166 --> 00:00:43,766 SUSAN RICE, White House Domestic Policy Adviser: These aren't feel-good policies. The evidence 10 00:00:43,766 --> 00:00:48,733 is clear. Investing in equity is good for economic growth and it creates jobs for all 11 00:00:51,800 --> 00:00:54,366 Americans. 12 00:00:54,366 --> 00:00:57,766 LISA DESJARDINS: Mr. Biden targeted four areas, housing, federal prisons, tribal sovereignty, 13 00:00:59,766 --> 00:01:03,200 and harassment and discrimination against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. 14 00:01:05,100 --> 00:01:08,266 The racial problem overlaps with the health one, with communities of color hit hardest 15 00:01:08,266 --> 00:01:13,266 by the coronavirus and government response. A CNN analysis of 14 states concluded that 16 00:01:15,333 --> 00:01:19,733 white Americans are getting COVID vaccines at more than twice the rate of Blacks and 17 00:01:21,266 --> 00:01:23,200 Latinos. 18 00:01:23,200 --> 00:01:26,966 In the afternoon, the president announced that governors will receive 16 percent more 19 00:01:26,966 --> 00:01:30,200 vaccine doses next week, a total of 10 million. 20 00:01:30,200 --> 00:01:34,033 JOE BIDEN, President of the United States: This is going to allow millions of more Americans 21 00:01:34,033 --> 00:01:39,033 to get vaccinated sooner than previously anticipated. We have got a long way to go, though. 22 00:01:40,933 --> 00:01:43,366 LISA DESJARDINS: The new administration is also watching the Capitol, where the U.S. 23 00:01:43,366 --> 00:01:48,333 Senate was busy, today confirming Antony Blinken as secretary of state inside. 24 00:01:48,333 --> 00:01:53,300 MAN: The yeas are 78. The nays are 22. The nomination is confirmed. 25 00:01:55,400 --> 00:02:00,400 LISA DESJARDINS: As, outside, Vice President Harris conducted a ceremonial swearing-in 26 00:02:01,466 --> 00:02:03,533 of new Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen. 27 00:02:03,533 --> 00:02:08,400 And committees continued moving through a stack of other Cabinet nominees, Rhode Island 28 00:02:08,400 --> 00:02:13,400 Governor Gina Raimondo as commerce secretary and Alejandro Mayorkas, nominated for homeland 29 00:02:15,400 --> 00:02:19,133 security secretary. He won committee approval, moving him closer to confirmation. 30 00:02:21,733 --> 00:02:25,100 The Senate also worked on its own mission-critical business. Minority Leader Senator Mitch McConnell 31 00:02:27,000 --> 00:02:30,500 dropped his demand that Democrats guarantee they would keep the filibuster rule, which 32 00:02:32,400 --> 00:02:35,766 gives both parties power on most votes, this after two Democratic senators, Joe Manchin 33 00:02:37,700 --> 00:02:41,233 of West Virginia and Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona, stressed they would not vote to dismantle 34 00:02:41,700 --> 00:02:43,766 it. 35 00:02:43,766 --> 00:02:47,600 SEN. MITCH MCCONNELL (R-KY): We have a higher calling than endless partisan escalation. 36 00:02:49,566 --> 00:02:53,466 We placed our trust in the institution itself and a common desire to do the right thing. 37 00:02:58,166 --> 00:03:03,000 I'm grateful that's been reciprocated by at least a pair of our colleagues across the 38 00:03:03,000 --> 00:03:05,633 aisle. 39 00:03:05,633 --> 00:03:08,700 LISA DESJARDINS: Now all sides expect an agreement allowing the new 50-50 Senate to fully function. 40 00:03:08,700 --> 00:03:10,766 Majority Leader Senator Chuck Schumer: 41 00:03:10,766 --> 00:03:14,033 SEN. CHUCK SCHUMER (D-NY): I'm glad we're finally able to get the Senate up and running. 42 00:03:14,033 --> 00:03:19,033 My only regret is that it took so long, because we have a great deal we need to accomplish 43 00:03:20,433 --> 00:03:22,700 over the next several weeks and months. 44 00:03:22,700 --> 00:03:27,166 LISA DESJARDINS: And there was more news. House managers last night delivered the article 45 00:03:27,166 --> 00:03:32,166 of impeachment to the Senate. As a result, senators were sworn in as jurors today for 46 00:03:33,600 --> 00:03:36,300 the second impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump. 47 00:03:36,300 --> 00:03:41,300 Republican Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky challenged the trial a unconstitutional for targeting 48 00:03:42,500 --> 00:03:44,533 a president now out of office and his speech. 49 00:03:44,533 --> 00:03:48,100 SEN. RAND PAUL (R-KY): Who hasn't used the words fight figuratively? And are we going 50 00:03:48,100 --> 00:03:53,100 to put every politician in jail, are we going to impeach every politician who has used the 51 00:03:54,133 --> 00:03:56,400 words fight figuratively in a speech? 52 00:03:56,400 --> 00:04:00,800 LISA DESJARDINS: Paul raised a point of order, but the Senate rejected his challenge on a 53 00:04:00,800 --> 00:04:03,333 mostly party-line vote. 54 00:04:03,333 --> 00:04:08,333 As impeachment moves forward, a growing recognition that it is an uphill effort. President Biden 55 00:04:10,333 --> 00:04:13,766 told CNN last night he did not think there would be enough Republican votes to convict 56 00:04:13,766 --> 00:04:15,100 Mr. Trump. 57 00:04:15,100 --> 00:04:17,533 For the "PBS NewsHour," I'm Lisa Desjardins. 58 00:04:17,533 --> 00:04:22,533 JUDY WOODRUFF: And Yamiche Alcindor is at the White House with more on the Biden agenda. 59 00:04:23,900 --> 00:04:26,033 So, hello, Yamiche. 60 00:04:26,033 --> 00:04:30,333 We know the president's now been in office almost a full week. Today, he was speaking 61 00:04:30,333 --> 00:04:35,333 both about the vaccine distribution challenges around the country and about equity. So, tell 62 00:04:37,066 --> 00:04:39,333 us more about what he's doing on those fronts. 63 00:04:39,333 --> 00:04:43,133 YAMICHE ALCINDOR: Well, President Biden is ramping up vaccine distribution around the 64 00:04:43,133 --> 00:04:47,800 country. And he's also pledging to put equity and fighting systemic racism at the center 65 00:04:47,800 --> 00:04:49,866 of everything he does. 66 00:04:49,866 --> 00:04:54,200 On the COVID vaccine and the response he's doing, he said he's increasing weekly vaccine 67 00:04:56,200 --> 00:04:59,333 supply to states, tribes and territories by 16 percent. He is also increasing the total 68 00:05:01,366 --> 00:05:04,933 U.S. vaccine order by 50 percent, from 400 million doses to 600 million doses. 69 00:05:06,866 --> 00:05:10,100 That means he says there is going to be enough vaccines for 300 million Americans by the 70 00:05:10,100 --> 00:05:15,100 summer. Of course, the U.S. population is 329 million Americans. So, that's a big deal 71 00:05:15,566 --> 00:05:17,533 there. 72 00:05:17,533 --> 00:05:19,666 The other thing is that equity, he said, is important, not just for Americans of color 73 00:05:19,666 --> 00:05:24,133 and Black Americans, but for all Americans. He said that we will have a safer and more 74 00:05:24,133 --> 00:05:29,100 secure and more prosperous country if we all get together and fight systemic racism. 75 00:05:29,100 --> 00:05:34,100 JUDY WOODRUFF: And, Yamiche, we know also, separately, the president had his first phone 76 00:05:36,166 --> 00:05:40,800 call today with Russia's President Vladimir Putin. What is the White House saying about 77 00:05:40,800 --> 00:05:41,800 that? 78 00:05:41,800 --> 00:05:43,833 YAMICHE ALCINDOR: That's right. 79 00:05:43,833 --> 00:05:46,300 The White House said that President Biden telephoned the Russian president, Vladimir 80 00:05:46,300 --> 00:05:49,966 Putin, and that the two men talked about a number of issues, including an arms treaty 81 00:05:49,966 --> 00:05:54,900 that's being negotiated. He also said that the U.S. really affirmed its support for Ukraine 82 00:05:54,900 --> 00:05:59,633 sovereignty. They also talked about Russia - - alleged Russian interference in the 2020 83 00:05:59,633 --> 00:06:04,633 election, as well as the poisoning of a Russian opposition leader, and the Russian alleged 84 00:06:06,066 --> 00:06:08,033 hack on U.S. governments, as well as U.S. businesses. 85 00:06:08,033 --> 00:06:11,633 That is seen as really important, because President Trump was seen as too lenient on 86 00:06:11,633 --> 00:06:16,400 Russia and not being willing to really confront Vladimir Putin on a number of issues, including 87 00:06:16,400 --> 00:06:18,400 meddling in the U.S. election. 88 00:06:18,400 --> 00:06:22,066 So, it's seen as President Biden really taking a tougher stance on Russia, which is what 89 00:06:22,066 --> 00:06:24,133 he pledged to do during the campaign. 90 00:06:24,133 --> 00:06:28,700 JUDY WOODRUFF: Of course, we'd love to know more about that phone call, and I'm sure you 91 00:06:29,433 --> 00:06:30,666 will be reporting on it. 92 00:06:30,666 --> 00:06:32,033 Yamiche Alcindor, thank you very much. 93 00:06:32,033 --> 00:06:33,133 YAMICHE ALCINDOR: Thank you, Judy.