WEBVTT 00:01.933 --> 00:04.066 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% YAMICHE ALCINDOR, PBS MODERATOR, WASHINGTON WEEK: The gun debate and economic challenges. 00:10.633 --> 00:12.666 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% ALCINDOR (voice-over): The nation on edge. 00:12.666 --> 00:13.900 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: My fellow Americans, enough. 00:15.966 --> 00:19.633 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% Let's hear the call and the cry. Let's meet the moment. Let us finally do something. 00:21.233 --> 00:25.100 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% ALCINDOR: As President Biden calls on Congress to pass new gun laws. 00:25.100 --> 00:29.100 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He began firing at anyone in his way. 00:29.100 --> 00:34.100 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% ALCINDOR: And more horrific mass shootings, including in Tulsa, Oklahoma. 00:36.133 --> 00:38.066 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% SEN. CHRIS MURPHY (D-CT): I think I've got partners at the table who have a lot 00:38.066 --> 00:41.700 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% of credibility in the Republican caucus. That makes me feel good about our chances. 00:41.700 --> 00:46.333 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% SEN. MITCH MCCONNELL (R-KY): Hopefully, we can find a way to come together and make some 00:46.333 --> 00:51.300 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% progress on this horrendous problem, consistent with our Constitution and with our values. 00:53.400 --> 00:57.700 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70% ALCINDOR: But out of the darkness comes hope a bipartisan deal on guns could pass the Senate. 00:59.600 --> 01:04.300 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% Plus, ahead of the midterms, the White House tries to pivot its messaging 01:04.300 --> 01:09.300 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% on inflation and the economy. But will the strategy work? Next. 01:09.766 --> 01:14.733 align:left position:40% line:89% size:50% (BREAK) 01:52.200 --> 01:57.166 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% ANNOUNCER: Once again from Washington, moderator Yamiche Alcindor. 01:58.600 --> 02:00.633 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% ALCINDOR: Good evening and welcome to "Washington Week". 02:00.633 --> 02:04.700 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% Across the country, there is shock and frustration since the massacre 02:04.700 --> 02:09.700 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70% at Buffalo three weeks ago, there have been more mass shootings than there have been days. 02:11.800 --> 02:15.066 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70% To be exact, since May 14th, there have been at least 37 mass shootings in this country. That is 02:17.633 --> 02:20.500 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% according to the nonprofit Gun Violence Archive. One of those was on Wednesday in Tulsa, Oklahoma. 02:22.500 --> 02:26.200 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% There, a gunman walked into a medical building and allegedly killed four people and himself. 02:28.100 --> 02:31.666 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% And in Uvalde, Texas, funerals have begun for the 21 students and teachers 02:33.033 --> 02:35.266 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% shot to death at Robb Elementary School last week. 02:35.266 --> 02:38.533 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% In a primetime speech, President Biden addressed the nation. 02:38.533 --> 02:40.600 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70% (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) 02:40.600 --> 02:44.933 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% BIDEN: After Columbine, after Sandy Hook, after Charleston, after Orlando, after Las Vegas, 02:47.233 --> 02:52.200 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% after Parkland, nothing has been done. This time, that can't be true. This time, 02:55.233 --> 03:00.233 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% we must actually do something. For God's sake, how much more carnage are we willing to accept? 03:03.200 --> 03:07.833 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% How many more innocent American lives must be taken before we say enough? 03:08.466 --> 03:10.500 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60% (END VIDEO CLIP) 03:10.500 --> 03:14.533 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70% ALCINDOR: Meanwhile, a bipartisan group of lawmakers working to hammer out some sort of 03:17.100 --> 03:21.600 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% gun reform bill say a, quote, framework for a deal is close. 03:21.600 --> 03:26.133 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70% Joining me tonight to discuss and more, Eugene Daniels, "Playbook" author and White House 03:26.133 --> 03:31.133 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% correspondent for "Politico", and Annie Karni, congressional reporter for "The New York Times". 03:32.566 --> 03:34.166 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% There's so much going on. I want to start, of course, with you, 03:34.166 --> 03:37.033 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% Eugene, because there was this primetime speech. President Biden 03:37.033 --> 03:41.100 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% laid out so many things that he wants to see happen. But what's the sense inside 03:41.100 --> 03:45.333 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% the White House and how much the president can really influence Congress to pass something? 03:45.333 --> 03:47.400 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% EUGENE DANIELS, WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT, POLITICO: Yeah, what you saw yesterday was 03:47.400 --> 03:52.000 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% the president talking to a bunch of different audiences. First was members of Congress 03:52.000 --> 03:56.500 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% where he was saying these are the things I want to do. And this list we heard from him when he 03:56.500 --> 04:01.033 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% was heading up to the gun task force during the Obama administration after Sandy Hook, talking 04:01.033 --> 04:05.666 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% about a ban on assault rifles, talking about - - assault weapons, talking about a registry, 04:05.666 --> 04:10.666 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% talking about red flag laws. These kinds of things have a lot of bipartisan support among voters. 04:13.166 --> 04:16.433 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% And also more importantly, talking to the American people and channeling their frustration. The 04:18.400 --> 04:21.533 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% administration thinks it went well, that the speech did what it was supposed to do. 04:23.500 --> 04:27.133 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% But the problem is and what you did not hear was executive action he is thinking of doing. 04:29.100 --> 04:32.066 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% That's because a sense in the White House, they have felt the did what they can do, 04:32.066 --> 04:35.200 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% and their hands are tied when it comes to the executive action that they have left. 04:35.200 --> 04:40.200 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% They've done I think four different haunches of executive action on guns and safety 04:42.200 --> 04:46.333 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% laws. They cannot do much more. They are now worried watching members of Congress 04:48.300 --> 04:50.466 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% go through what we have seen over and over again, which is a bipartisan effort, 04:50.466 --> 04:55.466 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% come together to help something happens, and waiting on pins and needles to see if it does. 04:57.433 --> 05:00.333 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% ALCINDOR: And, Annie, the president at one point said "I told you what I want to do," 05:00.333 --> 05:03.100 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% and he said, the question is, what will Congress do? 05:05.633 --> 05:09.133 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% Of course, that brings that squarely on your beat, all eyes are on this bipartisan lawmakers. What 05:11.100 --> 05:14.666 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70% more do we go, the framework they are close to or have settled on? Is it going to happen? 05:16.633 --> 05:18.566 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% ANNIE KARNI, CONGRESSIONAL REPORTER, THE NEW YORK TIMES: 05:18.566 --> 05:21.266 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% It looks like something -- people are optimistic something is going to happen. 05:23.833 --> 05:27.000 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% Senator Cornyn from Texas made a statement saying it would be embarrassing if we got nothing done. 05:29.533 --> 05:33.400 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% It was seen by advocates, a lot of people watching as a strong statement to make, indicating that 05:36.800 --> 05:41.433 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% something will happen. Now, the question is how modest is it going to be? Most Democrats have been 05:41.433 --> 05:46.433 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% burned so many times in this kind of debate and assume it will be modest, it will not be lowering 05:48.833 --> 05:53.800 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% the age to buy an assault weapon, something modest on background checks and red flag laws. 05:55.800 --> 05:59.866 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70% But modest is also -- getting something done to show legislation can pass in the Senate, 06:04.066 --> 06:09.066 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% there can be 60 votes and the sky doesn't fall, and that they can start chipping away at 06:13.200 --> 06:18.200 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% the inability to do anything. What I'm really struck by is that there's broadly the sense 06:20.100 --> 06:23.033 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% that every time one of these tragedies happens, nothing is going to change. 06:25.033 --> 06:28.900 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% Yet among Democrats working on the issue, activists in this world, they are optimistic. 06:30.866 --> 06:34.533 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% They take a long view and feel something that will look small potentially 06:35.966 --> 06:39.666 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% matters quite a bit. But modest is kind of the best hope here. 06:39.666 --> 06:42.400 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% ALCINDOR: And it's really interesting that he said, because I remember covering 06:42.400 --> 06:45.833 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% Newtown, Connecticut, and the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School. I thought the 06:45.833 --> 06:50.000 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% world was going to change. I now think of that, as a decade ago, as a naive reporter because, 06:50.000 --> 06:54.233 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% of course, nothing changed. But it does seem like you said this time is a little different. 06:54.233 --> 06:57.266 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% I do want to go to you, Eugene, because in "Playbook" today, 06:57.266 --> 07:00.500 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% you pointed out that in February 2020, President Biden 07:03.033 --> 07:06.100 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% had this gun speech hoping to win Nevada. When he was down and needing to win in the primaries in 07:08.933 --> 07:13.933 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% 2020, he pledged he would have gun legislation who first day in office and it didn't happen. 07:16.000 --> 07:18.700 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% Connect that February 2020 speech to the pressure the president is feeling now. 07:18.700 --> 07:22.233 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% DANIELS: Yeah, because he made a lot of promises in the campaign trail. We 07:22.233 --> 07:27.033 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70% all remember all of the Democrats did, because they were thinking about how we can possibly 07:27.033 --> 07:31.033 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% beat Donald Trump. We have to get not just the base, which is Black voters and they're a little 07:31.033 --> 07:35.033 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% bit more moderate, you have to get liberals very excited to vote. So, that's what he did. 07:35.033 --> 07:39.900 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% He made very large promises on what he was going to be able to do with gun legislation. Not knowing 07:39.900 --> 07:44.900 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% he would have 50 Democratic senators to do something, anything on pieces of legislation. 07:47.466 --> 07:51.233 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% And so, now, as you watch different constituencies that are really important to the administration, 07:53.733 --> 07:56.333 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% whether that is gun control advocates, whether that's civil rights groups because of issues like 07:58.266 --> 08:00.933 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% what happened in buffalo -- all of those different groups are pushing and talking 08:00.933 --> 08:03.666 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% to the administration asking what are you doing? 08:03.666 --> 08:08.533 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% And like I said, they have done a lot of executive action they feel like they can do, but they wanted 08:08.533 --> 08:13.533 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70% to see the president get out more. He hasn't been super involved in the negotiations on what 08:16.066 --> 08:19.166 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% is happening with the bipartisan effort, wanting to give the senators time and space to do that. 08:21.766 --> 08:25.233 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% It's not always helpful for a president to jump in and try and help negotiate on a bipartisan effort, 08:27.033 --> 08:29.000 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% but that was giving advocates a little pause about what he was going to do. 08:29.000 --> 08:31.266 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% ALCINDOR: And I want to follow up, because there have been more than 08:31.266 --> 08:36.266 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% 200 mass shootings this year. Polling shows that Americans over and over again say that 08:38.233 --> 08:41.266 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% they are back -- they are open to backing things like changes in background checks. 08:43.833 --> 08:46.833 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% Does the White House have a sense it will change? That all of this cultural things and the polling 08:48.900 --> 08:52.133 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% is kind of giving this sense of urgency that something will really be done? 08:52.133 --> 08:55.333 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% DANIELS: I think they are hopeful, you know what I mean? But they just like all of us, 08:55.333 --> 08:59.333 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% watched Sandy Hook happen and nothing happened. A lot of folks working at the White 08:59.333 --> 09:04.000 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% House now or either working for President Biden or somewhere in the administration 09:04.000 --> 09:06.933 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% at that time, so they have been burned on this issue before. 09:06.933 --> 09:11.666 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% And so, when you talk to folks what they say is, they are encouraged about what they see, 09:11.666 --> 09:16.400 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70% not thinking something huge is going to happen. But they hopeful that if you look at -- you know, 09:16.400 --> 09:21.400 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% you break a little crack in the dam, and have flooding rush in and changes 09:23.866 --> 09:26.466 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% happening -- Senator Chris Murphy who's leading this for Democrats, he's been telling reporters 09:28.533 --> 09:32.100 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% if I can get my Republican colleagues to realize the world is not going to end 09:33.700 --> 09:35.833 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% if we get something done on legislation, maybe we can do this again." 09:35.833 --> 09:40.800 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% ALCINDOR: And, Annie, the crack in the dam. I like that metaphor because in some ways, 09:40.800 --> 09:45.800 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% it is if they can get a little thing done, it can overflow. I'm also really interested in asking you 09:48.400 --> 09:49.900 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% about this, I was thinking about it all day, and I was like, can't wait to talk to Annie about this. 09:49.900 --> 09:52.466 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% And it's the House bill. There's a bill happening. 09:52.466 --> 09:57.200 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% It's going forward. What is the point of it if we know it will not be passed in the Senate? 09:57.200 --> 10:02.200 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% KARNI: Well, I mean, it's still important to show support. And it -- now, the House bill, there is a 10:04.800 --> 10:09.233 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% passed bill that Senator Schumer now has to decide next week, like he has to give them space to have 10:11.333 --> 10:14.333 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70% these negotiations. And he has to decide like am I going to bring up that House bill for a vote? 10:16.266 --> 10:18.533 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% Or some -- I have to bring at some point if there is not going to be a compromise, 10:18.533 --> 10:22.700 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% I'm not going to bring a vote and it can be a show vote. He's had many -- you know, 10:24.733 --> 10:28.466 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% Congress does this a lot. A vote they know will fail, but it has to show where everyone stands. 10:29.433 --> 10:31.400 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60% ALCINDOR: Yeah. 10:31.400 --> 10:34.700 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% KARNI: So, they think, you know, 70 percent of the country supports background checks. 10:36.766 --> 10:40.333 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% Republicans will have to stand there and vote no for something that has broad popular support. 10:42.233 --> 10:45.700 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% So, I think it's just important for -- you know, they wanted -- they can -- the House 10:47.700 --> 10:50.033 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% can pass a bill like that, why wouldn't they, and then say, it's on to you, to the Senate to 10:50.033 --> 10:54.900 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% take some action? That there is a bill waiting for them to vote on if it comes to that. 10:54.900 --> 10:57.933 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% I think next week, the real question for Schumer will be 10:57.933 --> 11:02.900 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% do we have to take a vote on a bill that will fail, or is this bipartisan group going to 11:05.333 --> 11:07.500 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% come out with a framework? Obviously, they'd rather pass legislation than have a show vote. 11:07.500 --> 11:11.266 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% ALCINDOR: And another question I had for you, Representative Chris Jacobs 11:11.266 --> 11:16.266 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70% is this Republican who represents a district that is 10 miles from where Buffalo, New York, 11:17.800 --> 11:20.300 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% where that massacre happened, where 10 black people were killed. 11:20.300 --> 11:24.300 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% He came out and said that he actually was in support of a federal assault weapons ban. 11:26.333 --> 11:30.200 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% And then, now, he faced a lot of GOP backlash and he's no longer running for reelection. 11:31.666 --> 11:33.266 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% Tell me a little bit about what he is going through, 11:33.266 --> 11:35.600 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% tell us about the political states that Republicans are facing. 11:35.600 --> 11:40.600 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% KARNI: I mean, I think he lasted seven days after coming out against -- for gun control 11:42.600 --> 11:47.233 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% efforts. And now, he, today, the story broke that he is not running for reelection anymore. 11:49.133 --> 11:52.833 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% I mean, that should temper anyone who is incredibly hopeful right now about the party, 11:54.866 --> 11:58.200 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% where the Republican Party is, the control that the NRA still has even in its diminished state 12:00.300 --> 12:04.500 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% over Republican lawmakers. There is no grade that's more important to a lot of people, 12:06.466 --> 12:09.866 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% there is no issue that defines the party so much as the Second Amendment. That just states 12:12.266 --> 12:16.733 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% the feeling about government, the feeling about independence, and your own rights as this issue. 12:18.700 --> 12:22.600 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% So, you know, it is a cautionary tale for anyone feeling like -- we watched the slaughter of 12:24.866 --> 12:28.866 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% schoolchildren and now, there's going to be some big moment. And you just look at what happened, 12:28.866 --> 12:33.733 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% seven days after coming out for gun control efforts, he's out of the race. 12:35.300 --> 12:38.466 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% DANIELS: But despite all of the popular support that we know all and 12:38.466 --> 12:42.800 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% we talk about every time there is one of these shootings, there is not a lot of 12:44.866 --> 12:47.866 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70% political incentive for Republicans to do that. Obviously, he is a perfect example. 12:47.866 --> 12:52.833 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% When you talk about voters, things like gun control and abortion do not rise to 12:54.866 --> 12:58.433 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% the levels of that, you know, Democrats or the people who want to see this change would want. 12:58.433 --> 13:00.566 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% It's about the economy. It's about inflation. 13:00.566 --> 13:05.233 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% ALCINDOR: Well, Eugene, you basically wrote what my turn is to our next subject, 13:07.100 --> 13:09.733 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% because it is the economy as you just said. Inflation is at a four 13:09.733 --> 13:14.733 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% decade high, and rising prices at grocery stores and gas stations are hitting Americans 13:16.700 --> 13:19.500 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% so hard. With six months to go until the November elections, the midterms of course, 13:19.500 --> 13:24.066 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% the administration is trying to shift its messaging on inflation and the economy. 13:24.066 --> 13:29.066 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% Earlier this week, the Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen admitted on CNN that a year ago, she 13:31.133 --> 13:34.200 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70% was incorrect when she said inflation would be, quote, transitory. She told the network, quote: 13:35.666 --> 13:38.466 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% I think I was wrong then about the path inflation would take. 13:39.933 --> 13:42.300 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% All that said, there is I should say some good news that the May 13:42.300 --> 13:46.700 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% jobs report was better than expected, despite fears of an economic slowdown. 13:46.700 --> 13:50.300 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% Joining us to discuss the state of the economy is Amara Omeokwe. 13:51.733 --> 13:53.900 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% She is an economics reporter for "The Wall Street Journal". 13:53.900 --> 13:57.533 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% Thank you so much for being here. I want to start off with where we 13:57.533 --> 14:00.866 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% are. You're an economics reporter. I'm so happy you are here because 14:00.866 --> 14:04.000 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% we really need an economics reporter to break it down for us. 14:04.000 --> 14:07.200 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% Jamie Dimon is saying, who is, of course, I should tell people, 14:07.200 --> 14:10.800 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% the CEO of JPMorgan Chase. He's saying that there's going to be an economic hurricane. 14:12.766 --> 14:16.300 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% Mothers will be able to find baby formula. But we also have a jobs report that looks better. 14:16.300 --> 14:20.066 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% So, break down sort of where we are in the state of the economy and the horizon. 14:20.066 --> 14:23.033 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70% AMARA OMEOKWE, ECONOMICS REPORTER, THE WALL STREET JOURNAL: Well, the state of the economy 14:23.033 --> 14:27.500 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% is really sort of in a delicate place, right? There are a lot of bright spots. If you look at 14:27.500 --> 14:32.500 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% where we are in the labor market, for instance, we had a pretty solid jobs report today. If you 14:35.033 --> 14:36.933 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% look at where household balance sheets are, those are some of the positive signs in the economy. 14:36.933 --> 14:40.933 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% But, of course, we have inflation which as you mentioned is at a four-decade high, 14:40.933 --> 14:45.433 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% it is hitting families hard. And if you look at polling data and consumer sentiment data, 14:45.433 --> 14:50.000 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% Americans are really concerned about the higher prices at grocery stores, 14:50.000 --> 14:54.233 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% at gas pumps, like it's a big problem for a lot of Americans. And then you also have 14:54.233 --> 14:59.233 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% the Federal Reserve which is mounting this very aggressive campaign to lower inflation. 15:01.300 --> 15:03.400 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% They're raising interest rates. They're shrinking the size of their balance sheet. 15:03.400 --> 15:07.266 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% They are basically trying to tap the brakes on the economy. And that is what is giving corporate 15:07.266 --> 15:12.233 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70% leaders and economists some pause. The fear is that the Federal Reserve will not bring down 15:12.233 --> 15:17.233 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% inflation without launching us into a recession basically, a really significant slowdown. 15:19.666 --> 15:22.300 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% So, I think people are hopeful that hopefully, you know, the Federal Reserve will be able to do it, 15:22.300 --> 15:26.000 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% but there is fear amongst some that they will not be able to and that's sort of 15:26.000 --> 15:29.266 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% a big headwind and a big question mark for the economy in the months to come. 15:29.266 --> 15:31.733 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% ALCINDOR: And another big question, Amara, is 15:31.733 --> 15:36.733 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70% what can President Biden actually do? There have been so many presidents, all the way from LBJ, 15:38.666 --> 15:41.333 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% to Nixon, other presidents who tried to deal with inflation and failed. 15:41.333 --> 15:46.066 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% How much can he really impact the economy on his policies and his messaging? 15:46.066 --> 15:50.866 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% OMEOKWE: Well, I mean, he is trying. The administration is trying. You saw him say that 15:50.866 --> 15:55.866 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% they are going to be engaging in this month-long campaign to speak to Americans about the economy, 15:57.866 --> 16:02.200 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% to try and reassure Americans have a plan to fight inflation. If you talk to any economist, 16:04.333 --> 16:07.600 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% they will say, look, the president really can't do much, his administration can't do much. 16:07.600 --> 16:11.600 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% Really the most powerful player is the Fed and we just sort of have to wait for 16:11.600 --> 16:16.600 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70% the Fed to make its move and see how they work through the system. But at the same time from 16:18.500 --> 16:20.700 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% a political standpoint, it is impossible for the president and his administration 16:20.700 --> 16:24.400 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% to say it is the Feds responsibility, we're not going to do anything about it. 16:24.400 --> 16:28.300 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% So, you do see them trying to reset on your messaging. You see him talking about 16:30.366 --> 16:33.666 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70% what they are trying to do, whether it beer a release from the energy reserves, or trying to 16:33.666 --> 16:38.666 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% push Congress to pass some of President Biden's economic agenda. But if you talk to economists, 16:41.033 --> 16:44.033 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% they say those things really don't move the needle on inflation, particularly in the short term. 16:45.966 --> 16:48.000 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% ALCINDOR: And, Annie, this week began with President Biden writing an op-ed in "The 16:48.000 --> 16:52.800 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% Wall Street Journal", calling on Congress to pass things like a clean energy tax credit or 16:52.800 --> 16:57.800 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% investments and tax reform. How much is Congress interested in what the president is talking about? 17:00.566 --> 17:05.033 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% KARNI: There is a lot going on. 17:06.166 --> 17:06.933 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% ALCINDOR: I love this answer by the way. 17:06.933 --> 17:08.900 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60% (CROSSTALK) 17:08.900 --> 17:12.933 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% KARNI: I do think it is interesting that Biden has spent the week kind of tacking into, 17:14.966 --> 17:19.066 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% you know, they have been trying -- for months more optimistic about inflation and the economy 17:21.100 --> 17:24.466 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% than the reality has been. And with Yellen 17:24.466 --> 17:28.800 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% saying she was wrong and the administration now trying to kind of tack and not -- they 17:28.800 --> 17:32.633 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% have positive economic indicators like the job numbers that they've been trying to highlight, 17:32.633 --> 17:36.800 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% but now, they are trying to really show that they are taking inflation issues more seriously. 17:38.200 --> 17:39.833 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% June is going to be an interesting month between 17:42.000 --> 17:47.000 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% the Roe decision coming out of the Supreme Court, gun vote in Congress, the 17:49.466 --> 17:53.000 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% January 6 hearings, this is going to be a big month for Democrats to try and convince voters it 17:55.133 --> 17:58.833 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70% is not just a referendum on the president and on Democrats in control of Congress, that this is a 18:01.500 --> 18:04.400 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% choice election. And that like this is a big month where that like it will either happen or it won't. 18:04.400 --> 18:06.866 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% ALCINDOR: Yeah, I was going to ask -- Eugene, 18:06.866 --> 18:11.600 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% I want to ask about the challenges. I want to ask about Janet Yellen 18:11.600 --> 18:15.533 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% and her saying that she is wrong. What was going on there because she fell on her sword? 18:15.533 --> 18:18.400 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% DANIELS: Yeah, no, absolutely. It was something that we don't often hear 18:18.400 --> 18:23.400 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% especially from this administration, because when you think about the invasion becoming evident, Jen 18:25.333 --> 18:30.266 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% Psaki, who is the press secretary at the time kind of scoffed at the idea that it 18:32.233 --> 18:34.266 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% was going to stick around for a long time. And what they kept using and saying was that it 18:34.266 --> 18:37.266 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% was going to be transitory, which means it's not going to be around very long. 18:37.266 --> 18:42.266 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% That feels a lot different now, right? And so, Janet Yellen saying I was wrong on this, 18:44.166 --> 18:46.700 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% that was brought up to the current press secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre, this week, 18:46.700 --> 18:50.000 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% and basically like, were you guys wrong or will you say that as well? And she was like, 18:50.000 --> 18:54.300 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% no, we're not. She's just kind of moving -- you know, kind of moving on and saying that. 18:54.300 --> 18:59.100 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% But when you talk to the American people, what they have said is the whole time they 18:59.100 --> 19:03.033 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% felt they were not taking it seriously enough. President Biden giving speeches, 19:03.033 --> 19:07.733 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% telling people I feel your pain, but he kept talking about those economic indicators that 19:09.600 --> 19:13.433 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% are good for this administration or for the country. People were not hearing that when 19:13.433 --> 19:18.433 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% the milk was expensive, when gas was going up. Now you have this issue of infant formula not 19:20.433 --> 19:23.300 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% being able to come to mothers and not being on shelves, so not feeling the same thing. 19:23.300 --> 19:25.366 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% ALCINDOR: There are so many challenges. Amara, 19:25.366 --> 19:28.300 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% I want to get your sense of what you thought about Janet Yellen's comments. 19:28.300 --> 19:33.300 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% And also, you told our producers that people sort of just feel sour right now around the country. 19:35.300 --> 19:38.600 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% So, weigh in on her statements and how the way that people are feeling is also part of this. 19:40.666 --> 19:43.433 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% OMEOKWE: Oh, yeah, I agree with Eugene. It was a rare moment of candor from the 19:43.433 --> 19:46.800 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% treasure secretary that you don't often hear from administration officials. 19:46.800 --> 19:50.300 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% But I think what you also heard her doing there is trying to explain why 19:50.300 --> 19:53.833 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% we have the inflation that we have right now. You know, in those same comments, 19:53.833 --> 19:56.933 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% she said there were circumstances that could not have been foreseen 19:58.833 --> 20:02.900 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% that caused supply shocks to the economy driving the inflation we are seeing right now. 20:05.433 --> 20:08.333 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% And what I sort of heard her saying is basically like a pushback to the criticism that Republicans 20:10.200 --> 20:13.266 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% have been constantly launching at this administration, that it was their policy 20:13.266 --> 20:16.133 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% that's fueled the inflation that we're seeing right now. What you heard her and 20:16.133 --> 20:20.133 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% other administration officials often doing is saying, look, there are a lot of reasons 20:20.133 --> 20:24.300 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% we have inflation, inflation is a global problem. We have the supply chain issues. 20:24.300 --> 20:29.300 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% So, they are pushing back on that -- on that criticism from Republicans. Whether 20:31.833 --> 20:35.633 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% the messaging resonates with voters and breaks through with voters, that just remains to be seen. 20:37.733 --> 20:40.500 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70% As others in the panel said, the administration has been messaging on inflation for months and 20:40.500 --> 20:45.233 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% we still see that in polling data and consumer sentiment data, people pretty much aren't buying 20:45.233 --> 20:49.233 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% it. They feel bad about where the economy is now, they feel bad about the outlook for the economy 20:49.233 --> 20:53.933 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% in months to come. So, this really is a difficult position for the administration to find itself in. 20:53.933 --> 20:56.466 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% ALCINDOR: And, Eugene, going back to the great point about 20:58.533 --> 21:02.133 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% the challenge the White House faces, take us a little bit into how they're prioritizing 21:02.133 --> 21:05.433 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% what are they dealing with and just the overall mood in there because when I talk to folks, 21:05.433 --> 21:09.666 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70% they sound like they are overwhelmed, but like this is what the White House has to deal with. 21:09.666 --> 21:13.033 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% DANIELS: Exactly. Yeah, the mood is sour. It's sour outside in the 21:13.033 --> 21:16.000 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% country and it's sour in the White House because there's so much is going on. 21:16.000 --> 21:19.100 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% And the biggest problem we have been talking about the entire 21:19.100 --> 21:24.000 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% show is there is not much the White House can do for some of these issues, on inflation, 21:24.000 --> 21:27.433 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% on guns, on some of these things that the American people want them to do. 21:27.433 --> 21:29.500 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% There's not much for them to do. So, it feels like they have to -- 21:29.500 --> 21:31.733 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% ALCINDOR: And they also said -- I should also say that aides also said that they 21:33.766 --> 21:36.866 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% didn't tell President Biden about the baby formula issue until April. They are also 21:36.866 --> 21:41.366 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% walking back some of his statements on Taiwan. There's sort of this frustration it seems like. 21:41.366 --> 21:46.333 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% DANIELS: Yeah. There's like a flurry of what seems like missteps, right, especially talking to the 21:48.933 --> 21:52.100 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% administration and asking why the president was not briefed on baby infant formula when the people 21:52.100 --> 21:57.066 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% who make it new that the closing of the Abbott facility was going to be an issue immediately. 21:59.133 --> 22:01.266 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% Why didn't he know? And that is one of the many things that they are dealing with. 22:01.266 --> 22:05.033 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% And it is -- you know, White Houses are hard. Running of the country is very difficult, 22:05.033 --> 22:07.833 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% and at a time when people are feeling how they are feeling, 22:09.833 --> 22:12.233 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% this administration feels like they don't have a lot of things that they can do, 22:12.233 --> 22:15.333 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% but are pushing forward, talked about chewing gum and walking at the same time. 22:15.333 --> 22:18.000 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% ALCINDOR: Yeah. Well, a lot of challenges to deal with. 22:18.000 --> 22:22.400 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% Thank you so much to Amara, Eugene, and Annie, for joining us and for sharing your reporting. 22:22.400 --> 22:26.400 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% We'll continue our conversation on "The Washington Week Extra". This week's topic: 22:26.400 --> 22:31.266 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% the January 6 Committee hearings. Find it on our website, Facebook, and YouTube. 22:31.266 --> 22:35.333 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% And on Saturday, on PBS News Weekend, Geoff Bennett looks at mass shootings 22:35.333 --> 22:40.066 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% and gun violence in America and what can be done to curb this growing problem. 22:40.066 --> 22:43.433 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% Thank you for joining us. I'm Yamiche Alcindor. Good night from Washington.