WEBVTT 00:01.866 --> 00:04.733 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% JUDY WOODRUFF: Let's dig deeper now into President Biden's executive actions today. 00:04.733 --> 00:09.533 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% And, for that, we're joined by Susan Rice, his domestic policy adviser. 00:09.533 --> 00:11.100 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% Susan Rice, so good to see you again. 00:11.100 --> 00:13.266 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% Welcome back to the "NewsHour." 00:13.266 --> 00:18.166 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% We heard from Yamiche Alcindor's reporting earlier in the program about the memoranda, 00:18.166 --> 00:23.166 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% executive actions the president is taking around equity, a number of these similar to 00:25.066 --> 00:29.566 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% what President Obama rolled out early in his administration. That was 12 years ago, and 00:30.700 --> 00:32.566 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% even echoes of President Clinton. 00:32.566 --> 00:35.333 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% Tell us how what is going on now is different. 00:35.333 --> 00:38.366 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% SUSAN RICE, White House Domestic Policy Adviser: Well, Judy, it's good to be with you. 00:38.366 --> 00:43.333 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% I served in the Clinton administration, the Obama administration, and now the Biden administration. 00:45.333 --> 00:47.366 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70% And I can tell you that, while each of the previous administrations that were Democratic 00:47.366 --> 00:52.166 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% worked to advance racial equity and justice, what we have seen in the last week and the 00:54.300 --> 00:58.533 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% first week of the Biden presidency is something quite different and unprecedented. 00:58.533 --> 01:03.500 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% President Biden on his first day in office implemented an executive order that will embed 01:06.666 --> 01:11.666 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70% racial justice and equity in everything the federal government does, from how it collects 01:14.100 --> 01:17.000 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% data, to how it allocates resources, to how it assesses where we currently stand on matters 01:18.933 --> 01:22.966 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% of civil rights and racial equity. And it will hold each agency accountable for its 01:26.300 --> 01:28.900 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% results. We have never done that before. 01:28.900 --> 01:33.900 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% And, today, beyond his whole-of-government, interagency commitment to ensuring that we 01:36.766 --> 01:41.766 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% put justice and equity front and center for everything, he rolled out a number of additional 01:43.800 --> 01:47.066 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% executive actions that will be beneficial for a wide range of Americans, combating xenophobia, 01:49.666 --> 01:53.700 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% for example, against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, who faced so much vitriol and animosity 01:56.266 --> 02:01.233 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% and even hate crimes resulting from previous leaders' attempts to target them in the context 02:02.866 --> 02:04.933 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60% of COVID. 02:04.933 --> 02:09.300 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% He instituted a very important housing regulation that will -- or -- excuse me -- order that 02:11.733 --> 02:16.166 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% would lead to new housing regulations, quite likely, that would roll back what Donald Trump 02:17.833 --> 02:22.100 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% did to try to prevent full implementation of the Fair Housing Act. 02:22.100 --> 02:27.100 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% So, there were many actions today, combined what he did last week. But, Judy, this is 02:29.066 --> 02:33.033 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% not the end of what we intend to do. This is six days in. We have a great deal more 02:33.033 --> 02:37.700 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% to do on all aspects of equity and justice. 02:37.700 --> 02:39.300 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% The other thing I would mention is that the... 02:39.300 --> 02:40.300 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70% JUDY WOODRUFF: And so... 02:40.300 --> 02:42.333 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% SUSAN RICE: Sorry. Go ahead. 02:42.333 --> 02:46.466 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% JUDY WOODRUFF: Yes, I was just going to say, so, for Americans watching this, what tangible 02:47.633 --> 02:50.066 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% changes are they going to see from this? 02:50.066 --> 02:53.933 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% SUSAN RICE: Well, the first and most important thing, and what President Biden spent a great 02:53.933 --> 02:58.900 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% deal of time today talking about, is, we don't just invest in equity and racial justice out 03:01.566 --> 03:05.933 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% of moral purpose, as significant as that may be. 03:05.933 --> 03:10.933 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% We do it because it benefits every single American, not just one group or another. You 03:12.866 --> 03:16.366 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% know, there have been important studies that have been recently conducted by economists, 03:16.366 --> 03:21.366 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% including at Citi, which have indicated that, if we can close the racial gap in income and 03:23.133 --> 03:27.300 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% opportunity, all Americans stand to benefit. 03:27.300 --> 03:32.300 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% We will add $5 trillion to the economy over five years and create six million new jobs 03:34.333 --> 03:38.566 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% for everybody. So, this work is the business of making all Americans do better, because, 03:40.566 --> 03:44.400 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% when some of us are suffering, and the gaps are so huge, it actually drags us all down. 03:46.300 --> 03:49.733 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% So, what we will do that is different is to make sure that, when we have new policies 03:49.733 --> 03:54.733 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% and programs, that we're thinking about how they can be beneficial broadly. So, for example, 03:56.800 --> 04:00.133 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% in the president's American Rescue Plan, his COVID relief package, there are things this 04:01.966 --> 04:05.033 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% there that benefit all Americans, raising unemployment benefits and extending them, 04:05.033 --> 04:10.033 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% making sure that we have up to $2,000 to all those who need it. 04:12.466 --> 04:17.466 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% But there are many steps in there that will benefit those at the lower-income scale and 04:19.633 --> 04:24.633 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% lift half of American children out of poverty and reduce overall poverty by 30 percent. 04:26.566 --> 04:28.666 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% So, this is beneficial to everybody. 04:28.666 --> 04:33.566 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% JUDY WOODRUFF: What do you say to some conservatives, like the columnist Andrew Sullivan -- and 04:35.566 --> 04:40.100 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% I'm quoting from him -- he's accusing the president in one of the things he wrote -- of 04:40.100 --> 04:42.133 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70% culture war aggression. 04:42.133 --> 04:46.933 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% And he went on to say, the president's focus on equity, he said, "would give named identity 04:48.933 --> 04:53.100 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% groups a specific advantage and treatment by the federal government over other groups." 04:55.066 --> 04:58.266 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70% SUSAN RICE: What I would say to that is that is a false characterization of what is going 04:58.266 --> 05:03.200 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70% on. We are not giving anybody an advantage. We are giving everybody an equal, level playing 05:03.200 --> 05:07.466 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% field, or that's what we aim to do, because the history in this country is, there has 05:07.466 --> 05:12.466 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% not been a level playing field for many Americans, not just of Black and brown Americans and 05:14.533 --> 05:18.100 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% people of color, but people in rural areas who have been left behind, people in urban 05:20.033 --> 05:23.133 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% and suburban areas, disabled Americans, religious minorities, LGBTQ Americans. 05:25.233 --> 05:28.833 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70% And the reality is, it is holding us all back. So, rather than look at this through a divisive 05:30.800 --> 05:35.033 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% prism of zero sum, if it's good for them, it has to be bad for me, that's not the American 05:36.533 --> 05:39.000 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% way, and that's not how we all grow and prosper. 05:39.000 --> 05:44.000 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% We have to recognize that we're in this boat together. We sink or swim together. And when 05:46.033 --> 05:49.466 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% we have a leak in the boat and people are at risk, it puts all of us at risk. 05:51.500 --> 05:55.100 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% So, it's not about advantaging one group over another. It's making sure that we all begin 05:57.066 --> 05:59.500 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% at the same place and have the chance to fulfill our God-given potential. 05:59.500 --> 06:04.433 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% JUDY WOODRUFF: I ask because Andrew Sullivan went on to say, you don't unite the country 06:04.433 --> 06:09.433 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% by dividing it along what he calls these deep and inflammatory issues of identity. 06:10.166 --> 06:12.200 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70% SUSAN RICE: Well... 06:12.200 --> 06:16.100 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% JUDY WOODRUFF: And, as you know, there are Republicans saying the focus on equity is 06:17.700 --> 06:19.900 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% pointing a finger at Republicans, saying they are racist. 06:19.900 --> 06:22.066 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% SUSAN RICE: Well, that is absolutely not the case. 06:22.066 --> 06:27.066 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70% And, as President Biden said today, he believes and most religions teach us that we have to 06:30.266 --> 06:34.866 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% look out for one another, and that we believe that most Democrats, Republicans, and independents 06:34.866 --> 06:39.866 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70% believe that we are all human beings of equal dignity and equal worth, and we have to respect 06:40.933 --> 06:43.033 align:left position:40% line:89% size:50% that. 06:43.033 --> 06:46.933 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% But it's a bit rich, frankly, for Republicans to suggest that, by trying to lift up everybody, 06:48.900 --> 06:53.433 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% we are dividing America, when we just had four years of the most divisive, vitriolic 06:55.900 --> 06:59.866 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% presidency that one can imagine, and that division was a political strategy. And, thankfully, 07:02.866 --> 07:06.900 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% it hasn't worked, because it is not what the American people want. 07:06.900 --> 07:11.566 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% They want us to come together. They want us to value each other. They want us to find 07:11.566 --> 07:16.566 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% common ground. And contrary to the notion that somehow this divides us, by recognizing 07:19.066 --> 07:22.733 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% that we all have inherent dignity and worth, that we're all worthy of respect and opportunity, 07:24.266 --> 07:28.266 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% we're reaching out hands to one another and lifting each other up. 07:28.266 --> 07:33.266 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% That's the America that makes the American dream accessible to not just the few, but 07:34.466 --> 07:36.600 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% the many. And that's what we want to be. 07:36.600 --> 07:40.833 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% JUDY WOODRUFF: One very brief final question. Will there be government funds that go into 07:42.766 --> 07:44.233 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% supporting these new policies? 07:44.233 --> 07:46.333 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% SUSAN RICE: Yes, absolutely. 07:46.333 --> 07:51.333 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% For example, in the COVID relief package, which we call the American Rescue Plan, there 07:53.300 --> 07:57.566 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70% are funds there for all Americans, but funds that will benefit people who have been left 07:59.533 --> 08:03.500 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% behind as well and people of different backgrounds and races, of all backgrounds and races. 08:05.533 --> 08:09.566 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% But the reality is, yes, there will be money for child tax credits, for the Earned Income 08:09.566 --> 08:14.566 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% Tax Credits, for vaccines, so we can get vaccines in everybody's arms, not just those with access 08:16.733 --> 08:19.333 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% to information and resources. 08:19.333 --> 08:23.866 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% And the COVID crisis is a perfect illustration of the fact that we are all in this boat together. 08:26.566 --> 08:31.233 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% We are not going to recover from this crisis if our essential workers, our front-line workers, 08:31.233 --> 08:36.233 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% from meatpackers to restaurant workers to hospital workers, are suffering, because we 08:38.233 --> 08:42.566 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% all rely on them to keep our economy afloat and to keep our lives working. 08:45.066 --> 08:48.666 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% We need to get our kids all back in school. That's not a Democratic or Republican imperative. 08:51.000 --> 08:54.000 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% That's a national imperative. So, this package and these resources serve us all. And we will 08:55.900 --> 09:00.600 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% make those investments because they are in our shared benefit and interest. 09:02.600 --> 09:05.933 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% JUDY WOODRUFF: Susan Rice, who is President Biden's domestic policy adviser, I know we 09:07.900 --> 09:11.100 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% will want to be checking in with you as the weeks and months go by to see how these policies 09:11.900 --> 09:12.966 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60% are progressing. 09:12.966 --> 09:13.966 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70% Thank you so much. 09:13.966 --> 09:14.633 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% SUSAN RICE: Thank you, Judy.