WEBVTT 00:01.401 --> 00:04.304 align:left position:10% line:5% size:80% - Good evening and welcome to the Washington Week Extra, 00:04.304 --> 00:06.139 align:left position:20% line:5% size:70% I'm Yamiche Alcindor. 00:06.139 --> 00:09.709 align:left position:10% line:5% size:80% As the war in Europe continues, President Biden says he 00:09.709 --> 00:13.346 align:left position:10% line:5% size:80% is trying to blunt the economic effects here in the US. 00:13.346 --> 00:18.351 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% This week inflation climbed to 7.9% hitting a 40 year high. 00:20.754 --> 00:22.188 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% And the economist expect that number 00:22.188 --> 00:24.024 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% to increase throughout March. 00:24.024 --> 00:27.193 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% Many Americans are feeling the quickly rising costs. 00:28.628 --> 00:30.930 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% - It is really killing us out here. 00:30.930 --> 00:32.198 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70% - I mean, it's crazy. 00:32.198 --> 00:34.100 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% I was just talking today with my wife 00:34.100 --> 00:35.969 align:left position:10% line:5% size:80% and with my father-in-law. 00:35.969 --> 00:37.203 align:left position:10% line:5% size:80% It's like I think dollar, 00:37.203 --> 00:39.539 align:left position:20% line:5% size:70% dollar and 1/2 more than last week. 00:41.241 --> 00:43.009 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% - So many Americans can in some ways 00:43.009 --> 00:46.946 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% I think really be familiar with their feelings. 00:46.946 --> 00:49.749 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% Joining me tonight to discuss this and all the anxiety 00:49.749 --> 00:51.751 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% out there is Sahil Kapur, 00:51.751 --> 00:55.055 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% Senior National Political Reporter for NBC News 00:55.055 --> 00:57.791 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% and MJ Lee, White House Correspondent for CNN. 00:57.791 --> 01:00.260 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% Well, thank you both for being here on set. 01:00.260 --> 01:01.895 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% So happy to have people in front of me 01:01.895 --> 01:03.530 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70% that I can talk to you. 01:03.530 --> 01:05.031 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% MJ, I wanna start with you. 01:05.031 --> 01:07.801 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% A white house official today pointed to this Ipsos poll 01:07.801 --> 01:11.638 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% and it really found that three and five Americans surveyed 01:11.638 --> 01:14.607 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% by this poll said 63% of them will continue to be willing 01:14.607 --> 01:18.578 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% to pay for more gas to support a democratic country. 01:18.578 --> 01:20.280 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% So that's 63% of Americans saying, 01:20.280 --> 01:23.616 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% yes, I will go to the pump and pay more money because of... 01:23.616 --> 01:25.485 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% To support Ukraine essentially. 01:25.485 --> 01:28.421 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% But a Wall Street Journal poll shows a majority of voters, 01:28.421 --> 01:32.492 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% 63% said they disapproved the President Biden's handling 01:32.492 --> 01:33.760 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60% of rising costs. 01:33.760 --> 01:35.795 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% It's sort of this sort of double edged sword, 01:35.795 --> 01:39.232 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% 63% being the common number there. 01:39.232 --> 01:41.534 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% How does the White House sort of see this, 01:41.534 --> 01:43.536 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% they're pointing to one poll but there obviously 01:43.536 --> 01:45.138 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% is this other poll that it's not in their favor? 01:45.138 --> 01:47.006 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% - Well you know the reality is that 01:47.006 --> 01:48.675 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% when gas prices are high, 01:48.675 --> 01:53.546 align:left position:10% line:5% size:80% the easiest person for people to blame is the president. 01:53.546 --> 01:57.183 align:left position:20% line:5% size:70% We've obviously seen the president talk a whole lot recently 01:57.183 --> 01:59.085 align:left position:20% line:5% size:70% about the things that he hopes he can do 01:59.085 --> 02:01.121 align:left position:10% line:5% size:80% to try to contain gas prices. 02:01.121 --> 02:03.256 align:left position:20% line:5% size:70% But as we've talked about a lot this week, 02:03.256 --> 02:05.158 align:left position:20% line:5% size:70% there are not very many things that he can do 02:05.158 --> 02:09.662 align:left position:10% line:5% size:80% that can sort of make the prices come down overnight. 02:09.662 --> 02:12.832 align:left position:10% line:5% size:80% This is not a problem that is unique to this president. 02:12.832 --> 02:17.770 align:left position:20% line:5% size:70% Every president that has experienced inflation, 02:17.770 --> 02:20.206 align:left position:20% line:5% size:70% rising gas prices, those problems, 02:20.206 --> 02:24.410 align:left position:10% line:5% size:80% it's a struggle because this is the policy issue. 02:24.410 --> 02:27.380 align:left position:10% line:5% size:80% The problem is that you can't do anything overnight 02:27.380 --> 02:29.516 align:left position:10% line:5% size:80% to make gas prices go down. 02:29.516 --> 02:31.384 align:left position:20% line:5% size:70% I think when you talk to White House officials 02:31.384 --> 02:33.653 align:left position:20% line:5% size:70% and particularly those close to the president, 02:33.653 --> 02:37.323 align:left position:10% line:5% size:80% they will consistently say they believe that gas prices 02:37.323 --> 02:40.326 align:left position:10% line:5% size:80% is the one issue that they believe the public feels 02:40.326 --> 02:43.630 align:left position:20% line:5% size:70% as sort of the most tangible issue, 02:43.630 --> 02:46.032 align:left position:20% line:5% size:70% whether it's gas prices and going to the pump 02:46.032 --> 02:49.202 align:left position:10% line:5% size:80% and seeing that price are going up or going to the store 02:49.202 --> 02:52.071 align:left position:20% line:5% size:70% and seeing that grocery prices are higher. 02:52.071 --> 02:53.873 align:left position:10% line:5% size:80% They know that this is an issue 02:53.873 --> 02:57.777 align:left position:10% line:5% size:80% that the public understands as inflation. 02:57.777 --> 03:00.847 align:left position:20% line:5% size:70% - Yeah and Sahil, you wrote a story this week 03:00.847 --> 03:02.382 align:left position:20% line:5% size:70% with the headline and it has to be read 03:02.382 --> 03:03.616 align:left position:20% line:5% size:70% because it was so great. 03:03.616 --> 03:06.186 align:left position:20% line:5% size:70% Republicans cheer Russian oil ban, 03:06.186 --> 03:09.556 align:left position:20% line:5% size:70% endear President Biden for rising gas prices. 03:09.556 --> 03:11.824 align:left position:20% line:5% size:70% You got to rhyme there but that's a real issue 03:11.824 --> 03:14.794 align:left position:20% line:5% size:70% for Democrats and for President Biden. 03:14.794 --> 03:17.096 align:left position:10% line:5% size:80% - It is a tough one because what are they going to do? 03:17.096 --> 03:19.199 align:left position:10% line:5% size:80% They're facing an enormous amount of pressure 03:19.199 --> 03:21.401 align:left position:20% line:5% size:70% to dole out punishments to the extent possible, 03:21.401 --> 03:23.703 align:left position:10% line:5% size:80% they're economic punishments and military punishments. 03:23.703 --> 03:25.138 align:left position:30% line:5% size:60% What's better? 03:25.138 --> 03:26.673 align:left position:10% line:5% size:80% Sparking a full scale military conflict between the US 03:26.673 --> 03:29.943 align:left position:20% line:5% size:70% and Russia or imposing economic punishments 03:29.943 --> 03:31.844 align:left position:20% line:5% size:70% and accepting some of the blame at home. 03:31.844 --> 03:34.847 align:left position:10% line:5% size:80% The question is how this battle plays out politically? 03:34.847 --> 03:37.050 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% How the Democrats and the president frame it? 03:37.050 --> 03:38.985 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% Do they set expectations accordingly? 03:38.985 --> 03:43.056 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% Are they able to as President Biden tried to do today, 03:43.056 --> 03:46.559 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% pin blame entirely on Vladimir Putin and his invasion 03:46.559 --> 03:48.494 align:left position:20% line:5% size:70% or do voters end up blaming the president? 03:48.494 --> 03:51.397 align:left position:20% line:5% size:70% I mean the reality is voters don't always look 03:51.397 --> 03:53.266 align:left position:20% line:5% size:70% at these things in a super nuanced way, 03:53.266 --> 03:55.401 align:left position:10% line:5% size:80% they don't study the details of what is the president doing, 03:55.401 --> 03:56.703 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60% what can he do? 03:56.703 --> 03:58.538 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% You know what do his opponents wanna do? 03:58.538 --> 04:00.907 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% If they feel frustrated, they take it out on the incumbent. 04:00.907 --> 04:02.108 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% And that is the biggest challenge 04:02.108 --> 04:04.143 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% that Democrats face going into 2022. 04:04.143 --> 04:05.545 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% - And if I could just quickly say, 04:05.545 --> 04:09.582 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% I think inflation and particularly high gas prices, 04:09.582 --> 04:11.451 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% that's the reason that this White House 04:11.451 --> 04:13.386 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% is having a hard time selling some 04:13.386 --> 04:15.355 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% of the more positive data points 04:15.355 --> 04:16.856 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% that we've seen in the economy. 04:16.856 --> 04:20.393 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% Whether it's wage growth, jobs growth, GDP growth. 04:20.393 --> 04:23.329 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% I think people hear those terms 04:23.329 --> 04:26.199 align:left position:20% line:5% size:70% and it doesn't really translate to them as, 04:26.199 --> 04:29.068 align:left position:10% line:5% size:80% oh the economy is working well for me because for them, 04:29.068 --> 04:31.304 align:left position:10% line:5% size:80% their everyday experience is more defined 04:31.304 --> 04:34.674 align:left position:20% line:5% size:70% by going to the gas pump and seeing that it costs 04:34.674 --> 04:36.542 align:left position:20% line:5% size:70% so much more to fill up their gas tank. 04:36.542 --> 04:38.077 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% Going to the grocery store and seeing 04:38.077 --> 04:39.812 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% that everything costs so much more. 04:39.812 --> 04:42.949 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% So, it's almost impossible for this White House 04:42.949 --> 04:46.219 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% to tout that there has been economic progress 04:46.219 --> 04:47.920 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% which there certainly has been 04:47.920 --> 04:50.123 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% as long as inflation remains an issue. 04:50.123 --> 04:51.391 align:left position:40% line:89% size:50% - Yeah. 04:51.391 --> 04:54.060 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% And it's a good point to think about sort of 04:54.060 --> 04:56.763 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% how the White House is trying to push out the good news 04:56.763 --> 04:59.032 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% but having to really deal with Americans really focused 04:59.032 --> 05:00.500 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60% on the bad news. 05:00.500 --> 05:03.536 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% I wanna stick with you MJ because we talked 05:03.536 --> 05:05.538 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% about this being domestic challenges. 05:05.538 --> 05:08.541 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% We saw two vice presidents abroad this week. 05:08.541 --> 05:12.345 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% We saw the current Vice President Kamala Harris doing 05:12.345 --> 05:13.913 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% as much as she can to talk 05:13.913 --> 05:17.116 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% about sort of this administration's support of NATO allies 05:17.116 --> 05:19.786 align:left position:20% line:5% size:70% but we also saw a former vice president, 05:19.786 --> 05:24.290 align:left position:20% line:5% size:70% Mike Pence on the border of Ukraine and Poland. 05:24.290 --> 05:26.726 align:left position:10% line:5% size:80% I just wanna talk a little bit about sort of what's going 05:26.726 --> 05:28.861 align:left position:10% line:5% size:80% on there especially when it comes to the fact that the VP 05:28.861 --> 05:31.464 align:left position:20% line:5% size:70% is being put out by this White House 05:31.464 --> 05:33.166 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% and really trying to give her a voice 05:33.166 --> 05:35.234 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% because she's obviously had some challenges. 05:35.234 --> 05:39.672 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% - Well, for both vice presidents that we're talking about, 05:39.672 --> 05:41.274 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% these were big forum policy trips 05:41.274 --> 05:42.942 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% where they certainly wanted them 05:42.942 --> 05:44.711 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% to be big foreign policy trips. 05:44.711 --> 05:49.716 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% For this vice president, certainly foreign policy is an area 05:50.883 --> 05:52.652 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% where she has a little bit less experience 05:52.652 --> 05:54.921 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% to put it lightly than the president. 05:54.921 --> 05:57.423 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% And it was a really important test for her, right? 05:57.423 --> 06:01.027 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% Can she sort of rise to the moment, speak with authority, 06:01.027 --> 06:03.696 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% speak on behalf of the president 06:03.696 --> 06:06.566 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% and the American people and really sort of make it known 06:06.566 --> 06:10.269 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% to the United States' allies that we are with you 06:10.269 --> 06:12.572 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% and we're all doing this together. 06:12.572 --> 06:14.841 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% As for the former vice president, 06:14.841 --> 06:16.676 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% I think that maybe we should be talking 06:16.676 --> 06:20.113 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% about 2024 and 2024 aspirations. 06:20.113 --> 06:21.881 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70% This is somebody who is 06:21.881 --> 06:24.817 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% like many other national Republicans sort of waiting 06:24.817 --> 06:27.587 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% to see what former President Donald Trump does 06:27.587 --> 06:30.990 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% in terms of his own 2024 decision making. 06:30.990 --> 06:32.992 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% But in the meantime, it seems pretty clear 06:32.992 --> 06:35.428 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% that there are folks out there in the Republican party 06:35.428 --> 06:37.463 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% who are going to be sort of doing our own thing 06:37.463 --> 06:39.265 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% to make sure that their name is getting out 06:39.265 --> 06:42.001 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% and that they're sort of being seen on a global stage. 06:42.001 --> 06:44.470 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% - And Sahil talking about 2024, President Biden 06:44.470 --> 06:47.507 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% is gonna have to be pushing his agenda and what he got done. 06:47.507 --> 06:51.511 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% We saw Congress this week pass government funding bill 06:51.511 --> 06:53.746 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% but we also don't see Build Back Better, 06:53.746 --> 06:55.882 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% we see a deconstructed version of it. 06:55.882 --> 06:58.284 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% What's your reporting tell you about the president's agenda 06:58.284 --> 07:00.620 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% and sort of how things are going forward. 07:00.620 --> 07:03.456 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% - Well firstly I think the last two weeks, the sleeper story 07:03.456 --> 07:05.324 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% of the last two weeks in Washington has been 07:05.324 --> 07:07.460 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% that Build Back Better still has some life in it 07:07.460 --> 07:08.728 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% just in a different form. 07:08.728 --> 07:10.563 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% Don't use the name, the White House has decided 07:10.563 --> 07:12.031 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% to completely rebrand it. 07:12.031 --> 07:12.865 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% - [Yamiche] We're done with the name. 07:12.865 --> 07:14.200 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70% - Done with the name, 07:14.200 --> 07:15.868 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% done with the highlighting the price tag 07:15.868 --> 07:17.804 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% and the massive transformational stuff. 07:17.804 --> 07:21.040 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% They're rebranding it solely for an audience of one, 07:21.040 --> 07:24.377 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% Senator Joe Manchin who opposed the house past version 07:24.377 --> 07:26.279 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% and effectively killed the previous bill. 07:26.279 --> 07:28.748 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% And I've spoken to Senator Manchin a bunch of times 07:28.748 --> 07:30.183 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% and he's become more specific 07:30.183 --> 07:31.584 align:left position:20% line:5% size:70% about what he's willing to support. 07:31.584 --> 07:32.785 align:left position:20% line:5% size:70% And it turns out there's a lot of it 07:32.785 --> 07:34.287 align:left position:10% line:5% size:80% that he's willing to support. 07:34.287 --> 07:36.789 align:left position:10% line:5% size:80% The major hundreds of billions of dollars in tax increases 07:36.789 --> 07:39.091 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% on corporations and upper earners even more 07:39.091 --> 07:40.993 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% than what the house passed. 07:40.993 --> 07:43.162 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% He's willing to support hundreds of billions of dollars 07:43.162 --> 07:45.665 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% in savings for prescription drugs which Democrats would love 07:45.665 --> 07:48.501 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% to tout as a counter inflationary measure. 07:48.501 --> 07:49.936 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% And he says, here's the catch. 07:49.936 --> 07:51.204 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% He wants to use about 1/2 of it 07:51.204 --> 07:52.872 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% to fight inflation and the deficit. 07:52.872 --> 07:55.074 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% The other 1/2 he says, use it on anything 07:55.074 --> 07:57.210 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% that Democrats want that he can support which is a lot, 07:57.210 --> 08:00.112 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% clean energy, climate change, healthcare. 08:00.112 --> 08:01.547 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% The problem is Democrats are gonna have 08:01.547 --> 08:03.015 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% to make some very difficult sacrifices on things 08:03.015 --> 08:06.252 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% like the Child Tax Credit, Universal pre-K, 08:06.252 --> 08:08.087 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% a bunch of other provisions, paid leave, 08:08.087 --> 08:11.891 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% you know that they have many Democrats strongly support. 08:11.891 --> 08:14.193 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% But this thing does have life 08:14.193 --> 08:16.362 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% and it looks like the White House 08:16.362 --> 08:18.030 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% and Democratic leaders have finally started turning 08:18.030 --> 08:21.000 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% the gears to get this done in a way that he can support. 08:21.000 --> 08:23.636 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% - And talking about difficult sacrifices. 08:23.636 --> 08:26.706 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% COVID got stripped out of the government funding bill. 08:26.706 --> 08:28.841 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% It's clear the White House is not happy about that, 08:28.841 --> 08:31.210 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% they're very worried about how much money they have 08:31.210 --> 08:33.613 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% to deal with upcoming things, 08:33.613 --> 08:36.015 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% the upcoming complications of this pandemic. 08:36.015 --> 08:38.885 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% What are you hearing from the White House about 08:38.885 --> 08:41.554 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% what they're gonna do now that COVID money was not passed? 08:41.554 --> 08:42.955 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% - Well, I think it's disappointing 08:42.955 --> 08:45.291 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% for the White House particularly at a moment 08:45.291 --> 08:48.761 align:left position:10% line:5% size:80% when they are now finally ready to embrace sort 08:48.761 --> 08:51.397 align:left position:20% line:5% size:70% of this next phase of the pandemic. 08:51.397 --> 08:55.268 align:left position:10% line:5% size:80% For the entirety of Joe Biden's presidency so far, 08:55.268 --> 08:56.836 align:left position:10% line:5% size:80% he has been running a country 08:56.836 --> 09:00.706 align:left position:20% line:5% size:70% that has come under all these pandemic measures 09:00.706 --> 09:03.843 align:left position:10% line:5% size:80% and finally we are at a point where people feel like 09:03.843 --> 09:06.512 align:left position:20% line:5% size:70% and health officials that they're consulting with feel like. 09:06.512 --> 09:08.814 align:left position:10% line:5% size:80% Yeah, we are ready to move on to sort of stage two 09:08.814 --> 09:10.249 align:left position:10% line:5% size:80% where we are sort of living 09:10.249 --> 09:12.051 align:left position:20% line:5% size:70% with the pandemic but it isn't necessarily sort 09:12.051 --> 09:13.953 align:left position:20% line:5% size:70% of the front page story every day, 09:13.953 --> 09:16.889 align:left position:10% line:5% size:80% it isn't necessarily sort of the first questions 09:16.889 --> 09:18.824 align:left position:20% line:5% size:70% that Jen Psaki might get asked about 09:18.824 --> 09:20.326 align:left position:10% line:5% size:80% at the White House briefing. 09:20.326 --> 09:23.896 align:left position:10% line:5% size:80% So this idea that the money that is desperately needed 09:23.896 --> 09:26.432 align:left position:20% line:5% size:70% to make sure that they are moving 09:26.432 --> 09:29.268 align:left position:20% line:5% size:70% to this next stage might not be there, 09:29.268 --> 09:31.537 align:left position:20% line:5% size:70% that is very, very disappointing for them. 09:31.537 --> 09:33.105 align:left position:10% line:5% size:80% - And other news, domestic news 09:33.105 --> 09:35.975 align:left position:10% line:5% size:80% 'cause this is sort of it's just a domestic fruit bowl here. 09:35.975 --> 09:38.744 align:left position:10% line:5% size:80% The US Postal Service also got some money this week, 09:38.744 --> 09:41.080 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% there was a big overhaul passed in Congress. 09:41.080 --> 09:42.682 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% So what can you tell us about that? 09:42.682 --> 09:44.784 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% - Yeah, a major reform bill for the postal service. 09:44.784 --> 09:47.153 align:left position:10% line:5% size:80% It passed with the support of about 80% of lawmakers 09:47.153 --> 09:48.421 align:left position:10% line:5% size:80% in the House and the Senate. 09:48.421 --> 09:49.989 align:left position:20% line:5% size:70% One of those rare bipartisan things 09:49.989 --> 09:51.824 align:left position:20% line:5% size:70% where the parties come together and do it. 09:51.824 --> 09:53.793 align:left position:10% line:5% size:80% It makes a number of changes to the post office 09:53.793 --> 09:56.462 align:left position:20% line:5% size:70% so it sets mail delivery for six days a week. 09:56.462 --> 09:58.297 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% It eliminates this requirement, 09:58.297 --> 10:00.199 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% this unique to the postal service that you have 10:00.199 --> 10:02.768 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% to prefund retiree healthcare benefits 10:02.768 --> 10:04.737 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% for 75 years which nobody else has. 10:04.737 --> 10:07.373 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% It puts future retirees in Medicare to save money. 10:07.373 --> 10:09.108 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% The most optimistic estimate suggests 10:09.108 --> 10:10.943 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% that it could save up to $50 billion 10:10.943 --> 10:13.512 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% although the real number could be closer to about 27 10:13.512 --> 10:15.615 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% or so depending on who you talk to. 10:15.615 --> 10:16.849 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70% And that wasn't all. 10:16.849 --> 10:18.117 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% The Congress actually had a fruitful week, 10:18.117 --> 10:19.418 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% it was a 1.5 trillion government funding bill- 10:19.418 --> 10:21.654 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% - You say that with like why are we not talking 10:21.654 --> 10:23.222 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% about this in your voice? 10:23.222 --> 10:24.056 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60% - Well, we are. 10:24.056 --> 10:25.324 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60% (Yamiche laughs) 10:25.324 --> 10:27.059 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% A trillion and a half in government funding 10:27.059 --> 10:29.562 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% on an omnibus deal that seemed highly doubtful 10:29.562 --> 10:30.963 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70% just a few months ago. 10:30.963 --> 10:33.833 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% I made a list here, the Ukraine aid that we did discuss. 10:33.833 --> 10:35.368 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% The Violence Against Women Act, 10:35.368 --> 10:38.838 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% a bill written in the 90s by a Senator named Joe Biden 10:38.838 --> 10:40.740 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% at the time has been dormant for several years, 10:40.740 --> 10:44.243 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% it got reauthorized, sent to now President Biden's desk. 10:44.243 --> 10:47.446 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% And the Emmett Till Antilynching Act passed 10:47.446 --> 10:48.948 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% this week going to the president's desk 10:48.948 --> 10:53.786 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% after more than 100 years and 200 attempts, 10:53.786 --> 10:55.655 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% it will for the first time make lynching 10:55.655 --> 10:58.190 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% a federal crime going to the president's desk 10:58.190 --> 10:59.158 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60% for a signature. 10:59.158 --> 11:00.593 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% - All really, really big deals. 11:00.593 --> 11:03.763 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% One last question for you Sahil, you had a scoop this week. 11:03.763 --> 11:05.665 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% We like talking about scoops here. 11:05.665 --> 11:07.099 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70% It was on Judge Jackson 11:07.099 --> 11:10.202 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% who could potentially become Justice Jackson. 11:10.202 --> 11:12.838 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% Talk about your scoop and what the latest is 11:12.838 --> 11:14.206 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70% with her nomination? 11:14.206 --> 11:16.709 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% - 59 former justice department officials including 11:16.709 --> 11:19.311 align:left position:10% line:5% size:80% some heavy hitters like a former AG Loretta Lynch 11:19.311 --> 11:22.581 align:left position:10% line:5% size:80% and a former acting AG Sally Yates put out a letter 11:22.581 --> 11:24.583 align:left position:20% line:5% size:70% to the top Democrat and Republican 11:24.583 --> 11:26.519 align:left position:20% line:5% size:70% on the Judiciary Committee championing 11:26.519 --> 11:28.854 align:left position:10% line:5% size:80% Judge Jackson's nomination for the Supreme Court. 11:28.854 --> 11:31.190 align:left position:10% line:5% size:80% And this comes as she's making the rounds on Capitol Hill, 11:31.190 --> 11:34.226 align:left position:10% line:5% size:80% meeting with the key Senator she needs to get confirmed. 11:34.226 --> 11:37.063 align:left position:10% line:5% size:80% Two crucial votes to watch, 11:37.063 --> 11:39.065 align:left position:20% line:5% size:70% Senator Joe Manchin who we just talked about. 11:39.065 --> 11:41.867 align:left position:10% line:5% size:80% The Democrat from West Virginia and Senator Susan Collins, 11:41.867 --> 11:44.737 align:left position:10% line:5% size:80% the Republican from Maine if there is a bipartisan. 11:44.737 --> 11:48.007 align:left position:10% line:5% size:80% Any bipartisan support to be had, it starts with her 11:48.007 --> 11:50.376 align:left position:20% line:5% size:70% and both of them had very positive things 11:50.376 --> 11:52.111 align:left position:10% line:5% size:80% to say after meeting with her. 11:52.111 --> 11:55.047 align:left position:20% line:5% size:70% So, so far so good for turning Judge Jackson 11:55.047 --> 11:56.549 align:left position:20% line:5% size:70% into Justice Jackson. 11:56.549 --> 11:58.117 align:left position:10% line:5% size:80% - Even though I said that was the last question 11:58.117 --> 12:00.986 align:left position:10% line:5% size:80% in some ways just watching MJ thinking about the list 12:00.986 --> 12:03.989 align:left position:10% line:5% size:80% that Sahil just laid out, the Supreme Court Justice, 12:03.989 --> 12:06.859 align:left position:10% line:5% size:80% the White House still is like in some ways looking 12:06.859 --> 12:08.828 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% at all of this and saying we are doing good things 12:08.828 --> 12:10.930 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% but what's their plan for getting that out there 12:10.930 --> 12:12.164 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% for making sure people know. 12:12.164 --> 12:13.899 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% - It is very, very difficult. 12:13.899 --> 12:16.702 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% You look at the last two, three weeks. 12:16.702 --> 12:18.337 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% This white house and this president 12:18.337 --> 12:21.006 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% has been completely consumed by foreign policy 12:21.006 --> 12:24.910 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% and what is going on with Russia and Ukraine. 12:24.910 --> 12:27.813 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% It's difficult for him when he has opportunities 12:27.813 --> 12:31.050 align:left position:10% line:5% size:80% to interact with reporters to not get asked about that 12:31.050 --> 12:33.452 align:left position:20% line:5% size:70% as he should be because there is a war going on. 12:33.452 --> 12:37.223 align:left position:10% line:5% size:80% It's difficult for White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki 12:37.223 --> 12:39.625 align:left position:20% line:5% size:70% to not get questions and a lot of questions 12:39.625 --> 12:41.127 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70% at that about the war. 12:41.127 --> 12:43.696 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% So yeah, it is going to be a challenge for them to talk 12:43.696 --> 12:46.832 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% about some of the positive accomplishments that they think 12:46.832 --> 12:50.503 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% that they are having and anything else sort of 12:50.503 --> 12:54.039 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% on the domestic agenda which they do feel like they to turn 12:54.039 --> 12:57.042 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% to particularly as we start getting closer to the midterms. 12:57.042 --> 12:58.310 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% - Well, a lot to talk to, 12:58.310 --> 13:00.079 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% we'll have to leave it there tonight. 13:00.079 --> 13:02.581 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% Thank you so much for our guest for joining us in studio 13:02.581 --> 13:04.150 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% and for sharing your reporting. 13:04.150 --> 13:07.720 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% And thank you of course at home for joining and watching, 13:07.720 --> 13:10.156 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% goodnight from Washington. 13:10.156 --> 13:12.825 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60% (upbeat music)