{"id":149407,"date":"2022-10-18T10:23:52","date_gmt":"2022-10-18T17:23:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/?p=149407"},"modified":"2022-10-18T10:23:52","modified_gmt":"2022-10-18T17:23:52","slug":"briefing-by-press-secretary-karine-jean-pierre-october-17-2022","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/?p=149407","title":{"rendered":"Briefing by Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, October 17, 2022"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Washington, DC&#8230;Good afternoon, everybody.  So, we have big news today, and \u2014 that is going to benefit as many as 30 million Americans.  Starting today, hearing aids will cost thousands of dollars less than before.  President Biden\u2019s executive order on competition called on the FDA to make hearing aids over the counter without a prescription; that is now a reality.  This week, retailers across the country, including Walgreens, CVS, Best Buy, Walmart, Hy- \u2014 and Hy-Vee will start selling over-the-counter hearing aids in store and online.  And adults with mild to moderate hearing loss can buy these hearing aids without a prescription, exam, or even fitting, which will lower the average cost by as much as $3,000.  That\u2019s thousands of dollars going back into the pockets of Americans and providing a little more breathing room in their family budgets as well. <\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/ds_G8RW0u_8\" title=\"10\/17\/22: Press Briefing by Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Finally, President Biden looks forward to welcoming President Herzog of Israel to the White House on October 26, a visit that underscores the enduring partnership and friendship between the United States and Israel.  They will consult on key issues, including regional and global challenges of mutual concern, opportunities to deepen Israel\u2019s regional integration, and ways to advance equal measures of freedom, prosterity [prosperity], and security for both Israelis and Palestinians. <\/p>\n<p>President Herzog will be in Washington October 25th and 26th for meetings with a range of interagency officials.<\/p>\n<p>With that, Darlene, you want to kick us off?<\/p>\n<p>Q    Yes, thank you.  I wanted to start by asking: Is the President aware of the comments that Donald Trump made yesterday about American Jews \u2014 basically saying that they\u2019re \u201cungrateful\u201d and they better \u201cget their act together\u2026appreciate what they have\u2026before it\u2019s too late\u201d?  Given that the White House weighed in pretty forcefully last week to the racist comments by the Los Angeles city councilmembers, would the White House denounce these antisemitic comments by the former President as well?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So, Donald Trump\u2019s comments were antisemitic, as you all know, and insulting both to Jews and to our Israeli allies.  But let\u2019s be clear: For years \u2014 for years now, Donald Trump has aligned with extremist and antisemitic figures.  And it should be \u2014 it should be called out, to your point, Darlene, just like we called out our Democratic friends and colleagues last week.  And we will condemn and call this out as well. <\/p>\n<p>So we need to root out antisemitism everywhere.  It rears its ugly head.  We need to call this out. <\/p>\n<p>With respect to Israel, our relationship is ironclad and it\u2019s rooted in shared values and interests.  Donald Trump clearly doesn\u2019t understand that either.  <\/p>\n<p>Go ahead.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Just to follow up on that, it was announced earlier today that the rapper formerly known as Kanye West wants to buy the social \u2014 the conservative social media platform Parler.  And this comes after he was kicked off of Twitter and Instagram last week for his own set of antisemitic comments.  Is the White House or the President concerned that should this sale go ahead and that Ye be allowed to buy this platform, that it would it give him another venue for antisemitic comments, hateful comments with no \u2014 you know, no gatekeeper, no one to say that\u2019s wrong or anything like that?<\/p>\n<p>So, as you know, when it comes to these types of purchases or agreements, I can\u2019t speak to that.  So that\u2019s not something \u2014 the actual agreement, you know, or inter- \u2014 interaction, I can\u2019t speak to that. <\/p>\n<p>But what I can speak to is hateful rhetoric.  What I can speak to is insulting rhetoric.  What I ca- \u2014 what I can\u2019t speak \u2014 can speak to is antisemitism, which is hateful, it is dangerous.  And we are going to continue to condemn that type of language, because at the end of the day, it is disgusting and it is \u2014 there is no room \u2014 absolutely no room, no place in our political discourse to be having that type of, really, vile conversation or comments being made.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Thanks, Karine.  President Biden hasn\u2019t attended any rallies or events in public in support of candidates in recent weeks.  With the midterms just three weeks away, will we begin to see him do that more?  What was \u2014 what will his schedule look like?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Wait, can you \u2014 wait, can you say your first part?<\/p>\n<p>Q    He hasn\u2019t attended any rallies or public-facing events with candidates in recent weeks.  What will his schedule look like in the coming weeks as the midterms get closer? <\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So I have to be careful because I can\u2019t \u2014 we do \u2014 we do respect the Hatch Act and \u2014 and our strict limits from here.  So, I want to be very, very clar- \u2014 careful. <\/p>\n<p>But I would point you to this \u2014 the President\u2019s most recent trip to \u2014 out West.  So it\u2019s kind of a bizarre question to ask because he was very visible last \u2014 this weekend and last week.  He was out there.  And again, I cannot speak to specific, you know, elections or campaigns or actions that he\u2019s \u2014 he\u2019s taken.  But all I will do is point you to his West Coast trip most recently.<\/p>\n<p>As far as upcoming trips, we\u2019ve announced that he\u2019s going to go to Pennsylvania.  We\u2019ve announced that he\u2019s going to go to Florida.  He was just in Colorado, Oregon, and California.  And don\u2019t \u2014 don\u2019t have more beyond the next two trips that I have just laid out. <\/p>\n<p>And he\u2019s going to be out there with congressional Democrats and elected Democrats, and continue to talk about how congressional Democrats and the President has delivered for the American people when it comes to lowering cost, when it comes to making sure that we\u2019re creating jobs right here in America, when it comes to what we just announced today with hearing aids. <\/p>\n<p>So, he is \u2014 he is proud of the work that we have done here.  And he\u2019s going to continue to talk and make sure to talk about it in states, and make sure that the American people hear directly from him. <\/p>\n<p>Q    Karine, a lot of the places that you mentioned were private fundraisers or official events.  Will we be seeing him appear alongside candidates in public?  Is that intentional to not have him do stumping with these candidates and supporting his party? <\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Again, I\u2019m going to be very careful about what I say about ongoing elections.  I am restricted here.  But I will point you to Portland, Oregon; I will point you to LA, California, where he was out there with \u2014 with his \u2014 with fellow Democrats talking about how we have delivered in the past 19, 20 months.<\/p>\n<p>Q    But will we see him in public with the candidate \u2014 the trips \u2014 upcoming trips that you\u2019ve mentioned with John Fetterman, Charlie Christ when he\u2019s in Florida?  Will cameras be allowed into his events?  Will we see him alongside these candidates?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I\u2019m not going to go into the details of what these events are going to look like.  But we were very clear when we announced Pennsylvania this week that he is going to be with Lieutenant Governor Fetterman.<\/p>\n<p>Go ahead.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Thanks, Karine.  Does the White House have a reaction to Russia\u2019s latest drone strikes against Kyiv? <\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Yeah, so we have talked about Russia\u2019s escalation and have been very clear about what \u2014 what is \u2014 what is going to continue to happen.  The most recent escalation \u2014 the United States strongly condemns Russia\u2019s missile strikes today, which continue to demonstrate Putin\u2019s brutality. <\/p>\n<p>As you know, President Biden and the G7 leaders met with President Zelenskyy last week, and President Biden also spoke with President Zelenskyy, one on one, the day before that G7 conversation. <\/p>\n<p>We are in daily touch with the Ukrainians across the administration, from the National Security Advisor to the Department of Defense and the Department of State. <\/p>\n<p>On Friday, we announced an additional $725 million in security package for Ukraine to provide critical needs for its def- \u2014 it \u2014 for it to defend itself \u2014 continue to defend itself and bravely. <\/p>\n<p>And last week, Secretary of Defense Au- \u2014 Secretary of Defense Austin brought together 50 defense ministers to announce more security support for Ukraine, including air defense capabilities.<\/p>\n<p>We will continue \u2014 we will \u2014 as we have said over the past several months, to stand with the people of Ukraine for as long as it takes.  We are going to \u2014 we\u2019re going to continue to work with our allies and partners.  We will continue to impose costs on Russia, hold them accountable, and \u2014 for its war crimes, as we\u2019ve talked about \u2014 you\u2019ve heard directly from the President on the war crimes piece \u2014 and its atrocities, and providing Ukraine with security, economic, and humanitarian assistance. <\/p>\n<p>Q    The President said on Saturday that he thought Prime Minister Truss\u2019s initial economic plan was a \u201cmistake.\u201d  Her new finance minister has announced a pretty complete U-turn on those plans.  Does the White House welcome that?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So, like the President said \u2014 you were there \u2014 you \u2014 you may have asked him the question.  I\u2019m not a hundred per- \u2014 (laughs) \u2014 <\/p>\n<p>Q    I may have.  Yes.  (Laughs.)<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So, like the President said this past Saturday \u2014 the question that Jeff may or may not have asked \u2014 it is up to the UK to make these judgments.  It is really up to them to decide what is right for their \u2014 you know, for their own constituents \u2014 right? \u2014 for their country. <\/p>\n<p>The UK is a close ally, as you\u2019ve heard us say many times.  And we work with them on a range of issues, including strengthening the global economy.  Our focus is on the long term, as we have said many times, which is growth and investment and increased manufacturing, as you\u2019ve seen the work that we have done here in Congress and the President with the CHIPS Act, making sure that we are making \u2014 making things right here in America.  And not only that \u2014 we have created about 700,000 manufacturing jobs right here in America in the past 19, 20 months.<\/p>\n<p>So \u2014 and also the fiscal discipline that is leading to \u2014 to more jobs, as I just laid out, and rising incomes and rais- \u2014 rising incomes, as we have focused on, and \u2014 will make our economy stronger and more resilient as we have seen because of the work \u2014 because of the work that this President has done when it comes to his economic plan.<\/p>\n<p>Q    On the \u2014 back to the drone attacks, does the \u2014 does this administration believe that we are entering a new phase of the war in Ukraine?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So, I\u2019m not going to go into any analysis about where are in this war.  We have been very clear about how we saw \u2014 how we\u2019ve been seeing Russia\u2019s \u2014 Russia\u2019s escalation over the past several weeks.  And so, we \u2014 you know, what we will do is to continue to support the people of Ukraine.  What we will do is to make sure that they have what they need to continue their brave \u2014 the way that they are fighting bravely on the ground. <\/p>\n<p>We just announced, as I just mentioned, $725 million of new assistance just this past Friday.  We are in regular touch with Ukrainians \u2014 the \u2014 in the administration, the government.  As we \u2014 as I mentioned, National Security Advisor and others in the administration are continuing to talk \u2014 have close conversations about their needs.  And so that\u2019s going to continue. <\/p>\n<p>We will be in this for as long as it takes.  And we\u2019ve been very clear about this as well.  This war can end today.  This is a war that can end right now, today, if \u2014 if Vladimir Putin wants it to.  This is his war.  He started this war.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Just two quick political questions.  As the President prepares to appear with John Fetterman later this week in Pennsylvania, there\u2019s obviously, as you know, been a lively debate over Fetterman\u2019s health following his stroke.  Do you know if the President believes there is any sort of reason for concern on that point specifically?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So, again, because it\u2019s connected to the \u2014 to his election, I want to be really careful of the Hatch Act.  It\u2019s something that we do respect and adhere to here. <\/p>\n<p>But speaking only about the President\u2019s personal conversation with Lieutenant Governor Fetterman, the President has found him to be an impressive individual and \u2014 who is just as capable as al- \u2014 who has been \u2014 who\u2019s just as capable as always, and who is \u2014 who is carrying out his office.  He\u2019s currently the Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania, as we know, and he\u2019s doing that with great ability and heartfelt concern for the people of the Commonwealth.<\/p>\n<p>So, yes, the President feels that he is \u2014 he is very much capable of doing the job.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Sorry, you said that was based on a recent conversation that the two of them had?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Well, they\u2019ve had \u2014 they\u2019ve met many times, as you know.  Most recently, I believe, on Labor Day \u2014 may have been the last time they\u2019ve seen each other in person.  And they\u2019re going to see each other again, as you know, this Thursday.<\/p>\n<p>But the President and Lieutenant Governor Fetterman have had many interactions over the past several months.<\/p>\n<p>Q    And then, just my second political question: At the end of last week, the President said that his reaction to the Herschel Walker controversy in Georgia was \u201cnegative.\u201d  I wondered if you wanted to elaborate on that?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  No, I\u2019m going to just let the President\u2019s word stand.  I\u2019m not going to elaborate on that from here.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Hey, Karine.  Thanks.  I have a question about hearing aids, but, first, I wanted to take a stab at the question from earlier. <\/p>\n<p>The President has called this the most significant election \u2014 or one of the most significant elections with abortion rights, voting rights being on the ballot \u2014 a lot of the gains you\u2019ve touted from the \u2014 from the podium. <\/p>\n<p>And, you know, he\u2019s spending this weekend at his vacation home in \u2014 in Rehoboth, according to the schedule you guys released. <\/p>\n<p>I wonder if you can talk about the calculus there, 16 days before the election, especially during a year when you guys have said Biden would be getting out into the country more, touting the gains that you guys have made.<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So, last week, we spent four days of \u2014 in the country, right?  We left on Wednesday, came back Saturday night \u2014 to be more specific, 2:00 a.m. on Sunday.  Some of us walked into our house at 2:00 a.m. on Sunday.<\/p>\n<p>And the week before that, he spent four days out into the country.  Some of that was, yes, for the hurricane in Puerto Rico and going to see the recovery there.  Another day was in Florida to talk to the American people, who were \u2014 Floridians who were in \u2014 who were most affected by the hurricane there.<\/p>\n<p>So, he\u2019s been around.  He just went to Colorado.  He just went to California.  He just went to Portland.  We\u2019re going to go to Pennsylvania.  We\u2019re going to go to Florida.  And we\u2019ll have more to share.<\/p>\n<p>The President takes this very seriously.  Again, I want to be very careful.  There is the Hatch Act.  I am restricted on what I can say from the podium and from here.  But the President takes what he has done in this time during his presidency, his tenure \u2014 just about 20-months tenure \u2014 very seriously and wants to talk about what he has done, what Demo- \u2014 congressional Democrats have done to deliver for the American people.  You mentioned the hearing aids, as I just talked about just moments ago. <\/p>\n<p>So, yes, there is a lot at stake when you think about the national ban on abortion that Republicans \u2014 extreme Republicans want to do, taking away the rights of women, taking away a decision that is very difficult for women to make; when you think about what Republicans want to do with repealing the Inflation Reduction Act, which is going to lower costs or take away costs of what we were talking about, with lowering costs on healthcare, with lowering costs from \u2014 because of Medicare, being able to negotiate when it comes to fighting special interests.  They want to take that away.<\/p>\n<p>So, the President is going to continue to talk about that.  Again, we were just out west for four days.  And so, we\u2019re going to continue to go out there.  And the President is going to continue to talk directly to the American people.<\/p>\n<p>Go ahead.<\/p>\n<p>Q    I have just one more about the hearing \u2014 I did have one.  It wasn\u2019t just a segue.  But \u2014<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Go ahead.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Do you have a sense of when the cost savings will begin to accrue?  Obviously, that\u2019s not instantaneously.  But you talked about prices lowering.  Is there a sense of, like, when that happens and over what timeframe?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So, I don\u2019t have a timeline for you right now.  I\u2019m \u2014 certainly, I can talk to our team to get a specific timeline.<\/p>\n<p>But what is important about this is that the President took action.  He did an executive order asking FDA to find ways to lower costs for 30 million Americans who do \u2014 who do benefit from hearing aids.  That\u2019s 30 million Americans.  That\u2019s going to save them thousands of dollars.<\/p>\n<p>And so, this is an action \u2014 a deliberate action that the President took.  And now we are going to see the benefits of that.  As \u2014 I can get back to you on exactly how quickly that will occur. <\/p>\n<p>But again, this is a huge deal \u2014 a big deal.  When we talk about giving Americans a little breathing room, when we talk about taking inflation very seriously as one of our number-one economic priorities, this is \u2014 this is an example.<\/p>\n<p>Go ahead.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Thanks, Karine.  The Inflation Reduction Act allocates about $80 billion to the IRS, but the IRS is not going to have a commissioner as of next month when Commissioner Rettig \u2014 when his term expires.  Can you talk about what\u2019s behind the delay for re-nominating \u2014 for nominating a replacement?  And is that going to slow down the overhaul of the agency?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  It\u2019s not going to slow down the overhaul of the agency.  We take this very seriously.  I don\u2019t have anything to preview for you at this time on a \u2014 any personnel announcement.  When we do, we\u2019ll be happy to share that.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Following up on the western swing last week, the President visited Colorado, California, Oregon.  At one point, a couple of representatives from Nevada joined him in California.  Why didn\u2019t the President visit Nevada or Arizona on that trip?  And does he have any plans to visit those two states in the next three weeks?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Again, I just want to be careful.  I know you didn\u2019t ask it in the frame of the midterms.  I know that; I\u2019m just being very careful here.<\/p>\n<p>Q    (Inaudible.)<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I know.  I\u2019m just being very careful.  Hatch Act.  We respect that here.<\/p>\n<p>Look, you know, the President is going to get out there, as we have said multiple times, to make sure that he\u2019s talking directly to the American people about how we are delivering \u2014 delivering on our promises, delivering on how we\u2019re really taking inflation seriously, delivering on making sure that we\u2019re creating those jobs that the American people really need at this time.<\/p>\n<p>And so, he\u2019s been on the road nonstop, and he will continue to be on the road nonstop.  And, you know, where he is needed, he will go.  And if we have more to add to his travel, we sur- \u2014 we certainly will.<\/p>\n<p>As you know, he\u2019s going to Pennsylvania on Thursday.  And November 1st, he\u2019s going to be going to Florida.<\/p>\n<p>Q    But why not Nevada and Arizona during the western swing?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I just said: If we have more to share, we certainly will.  I don\u2019t have anything else to add to what I just laid out.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Okay.  And tomorrow, he\u2019s expected to speak about abortion rights at an event in Washington, D.C.  Why now is he speaking about that particular issue?  What is the goal of that event tomorrow?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So, I\u2019ll give you a little bit of preview.  But I would \u2014 I would happily argue that the President has talked about that particular issue \u2014 Roe and protecting women\u2019s rights, protecting the \u2014 the right for women to decide what \u2014 to make a really important decision, difficult decision on her body and her healthcare \u2014 from the beginning and even before the Dobbs decision was made.<\/p>\n<p>But I\u2019ll say this \u2014 again, I want to be careful.  I can\u2019t speak from here on tomorrow\u2019s event beyond what we put out \u2014 put into guidance.  But broadly speaking, I\u2019m happy to take the chance to talk about this and what the President will be leaning into.<\/p>\n<p>So, again, the assault on women\u2019s access to reproductive healthcare by Republican officials is an assault.  And the President is going to speak about that, as he has been for the past several months.<\/p>\n<p>He just talked about \u2014 when he was out west, he talked about the national bans that we\u2019re seeing from extreme Republicans, whether it be Lindsey Graham\u2019s proposed national ban \u2014 abortion ban, or the effort in Arizona to enforce a law on the books from 1864, before women even had the right to vote. <\/p>\n<p>And you\u2019ve heard me talk about this before right here at the podium.  Republican officials are dead set on moving America backwards and stripping women of their rights.  That is what we have been seeing since the Dobbs decision in June.  And their obsession with regulating women\u2019s bodies is not just disturbing, it\u2019s also very dangerous.<\/p>\n<p>So, reporting from USA Today \u2014 your own publication \u2014 late last week indicated Walgreens and CVS can deny women medication now, even for unrelated medical conditions like arthritis.<\/p>\n<p>And this isn\u2019t happening in a vacuum.  This is happening very clearly, very abruptly.  It\u2019s the product of overreach by Republican officials to regulate, again, women and their own healthcare, their own private decisions that they should be making on their own. <\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s backwards, again; it\u2019s dangerous; and it\u2019s severe \u2014 in stark contrast to the President and the commitment that he has to leave these decisions between a woman and her doctor.  And that\u2019s what you\u2019re going to hear from him tomorrow.<\/p>\n<p>Go ahead.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Thank you so much.  Pakistan, on Saturday, summoned the U.S. ambassador for an explanation after the President described Pakistan as the \u201cmost dangerous\u201d world \u2014 place in the world.  Does the White House have a reaction to that?<\/p>\n<p>And also, if Pakistan is the \u201cmost dangerous\u201d place, then why provide an assistance for the F-16?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So, I already spoke to this just the other day.  I don\u2019t have much to add.  I spoke to this on Friday while we were headed to \u2014 to Portland.  The President \u2014 this is something the President has said before, and I just am not going to add more to what I just laid out just a couple of days ago.<\/p>\n<p>Go ahead.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Karine, good to see you.<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Good to see you.  Oh, welcome back.  It\u2019s been a while.  You\u2019ve been out on the road doing things.  (Laughs.) <\/p>\n<p>Q    Yes. <\/p>\n<p>Questions of foreign and domestic politics.  First, the President\u2019s comments on the British Prime Minister are intriguing in part because he doesn\u2019t often comment on the specifics of another world leader\u2019s policies.  Is there any regret from him about saying that this proposed tax cuts are a \u201cmistake\u201d?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  No. <\/p>\n<p>Q    And when he referred to \u2014 who else was he referring to when he said he \u201cwasn\u2019t the only one\u201d who thought Truss\u2019s policies were a \u201cmistake\u201d?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I don\u2019t have any \u2014 any other countries or names to \u2014 to lay out or a name for you at this time. <\/p>\n<p>Q    Okay.  I was just curious if he was talking to world leaders, if there was somebody in his own team who said, \u201cThese are a mistake.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I just don\u2019t have anything else to add to that.<\/p>\n<p>Q    On the political questions you\u2019ve gotten \u2014 and I \u2013you\u2019re doing a great job of keeping the lawyers back there happy by not talking about the Hatch Act.<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Thank you.  (Laughter.)  Yes.  It\u2019s important.<\/p>\n<p>Q    But let\u2019s see where he\u2019s been in the last month. <\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Okay.<\/p>\n<p>Q    He\u2019s giving a speech tomorrow in D.C.  He\u2019s given fundraisers in New Jersey and New York.  He campaigned with Democratic governor candidates in Massachusetts and Maryland.  And then he was in California, Oregon, and Colorado next [sic] week. <\/p>\n<p>Yes, he has plans to be in Pennsylvania and Florida, but behind closed doors, with two of the Democratic candidates. <\/p>\n<p>There\u2019s a White House Office of Political Affairs.  Have they been getting phone calls from candidates in some of those other states \u2014 Arizona, Nevada, Georgia, Wisconsin, Michigan \u2014 to say, \u201cWe\u2019d love to have the President come\u201d?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Look, I don\u2019t have any calls to read out.  We don\u2019t have any calls or personal conversations to read out.<\/p>\n<p>Look, the way we see it \u2014 and the \u2014 and the President has been traveling nonstop.  You did a great job laying out the places that he\u2019s been to.  And he\u2019s going to continue to be on the road nonstop.  That is not going to \u2014 that is not going to stop.  As you \u2014 as you noted, we announced that we\u2019re going to Pennsylvania and Florida. <\/p>\n<p>Look, he\u2019s going to go where he is needed the most.  And at this time, we\u2019re not \u2014 we don\u2019t have just any additional \u2014 we just don\u2019t have any additional travel to lay out for you. <\/p>\n<p>Again, I\u2019m trying to be very careful here on what I can say.  I am restricted at the podium because of the Hatch Act. <\/p>\n<p>But again, he has been traveling nonstop.  You just laid out where he has gone and where he\u2019s going to be in the next couple of days.  And the President is looking forward to it.  He is looking forward to being out there.  You all saw him just the past couple of days, talking directly to the American people, having conversations, laying out his thoughts.  And you\u2019ll continue to see that.<\/p>\n<p>Q    One other on China.  Does he have any comment on President Xi\u2019s speech to the Party Congress on Sunday and his anticipated third term?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So, I don\u2019t want to comment from here on any internal political process of other countries.  I want to be really careful; I\u2019m not going to comment from here.  So I\u2019m just going to leave it there.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Thank you, Karine.  Following up on something you said earlier: If President Biden\u2019s top domestic priority is inflation, why doesn\u2019t he have more to show for it?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So, the President understands \u2014 and we\u2019ve talked about this many times \u2014 that inflation is an issue.  High \u2014 high cost \u2014 cost is an issue for the American people.  And so, he\u2019s been very clear about making that his number-one economic priority. <\/p>\n<p>And he has done the work.  And he\u2019s done the work with congressional Democrats, when you think about the Inflation Reduction Act, which is going to lower the cost for our seniors \u2014 millions and millions of seniors across the country \u2014 when you think about that $2,000 cap on their own Medicare prescription; when you think about the thousands of dollars that our seniors pay a month.  Now, that\u2019s going to be $2,000 a year. <\/p>\n<p>That is the work that congressional Democrats and Republi- \u2014 and congressional Democrats and the President has done.  Republicans did not vote for that at all. <\/p>\n<p>And what Republicans want to do is that they want to repeal that very historic piece of legislation that is also going to lower energy costs, that is also going to help fight climate change.  They want to get rid of it. <\/p>\n<p>So, there is a contrast that we are going to make, which is how Republicans are actually going to make things worse and Democrats want to do the opposite and make things a little easier. <\/p>\n<p>I just talked about the hearing aids, which is going to help 30 million \u2014 30 million Americans across the country. <\/p>\n<p>Q    But who exactly thinks the President is doing a good job on inflation?  Because we\u2019ve got a new poll that finds he receives his lowest job ratings on inflation \u2014 net negative 38 points.<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  We understand that there are challenges that are in front of us here in this country.  That is why the President has taken action to lower costs. <\/p>\n<p>Think about gas prices.  You think about healthcare \u2014 healthcare premiums.  You think about Medicare \u2014 again, beating special interests so that we can lower costs, so Medicare can actually be able to lower costs for senior citizens. <\/p>\n<p>When you think about all of these steps that he has taken to make sure that that is happening, Republicans \u2014 Republicans in Congress refuse \u2014 they refuse to be partners with us on this.  They refuse to help us.<\/p>\n<p>If you think about the American Rescue Plan that has helped create an economy that is indeed resilient, that created jobs, they refused to help out.<\/p>\n<p>Q    And to follow up on that, on the American Rescue Plan:<br \/>\nHave the President\u2019s economic advisors told him that the general consensus now is that the American Rescue Plan has contributed to inflation?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Look, Secretary Yellen \u2014 who is incredibly well respected, as you know, in the economic space \u2014 has spoken to this.  So I will leave her words speak to that \u2014 to the statement that you just made. <\/p>\n<p>Here\u2019s the thing: What the President has done, the issues that he has worked on \u2014 when you think about Medicare, when you think about healthcare, when you think about energy costs, when you think about the Inflation Reduction Act, you think about the CHIPS Act \u2014 they are popular.  They are popular with the American people.<\/p>\n<p>They understand \u2014 the American people understand, with these pieces of legislation that we have worked so hard to get across the line, that are now law, it\u2019s going to change \u2014 change the lives of American people.<\/p>\n<p>Q    When?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Now, is there a work \u2014 is there work \u2014 work to be done?  There\u2019s always more work to be done.  But we are making \u2014 we are taking the steps to do that.<\/p>\n<p>Again, congressional Republicans, they are doing nothing \u2014 absolutely nothing.  They want to repeal.  They want to take away the advances that we have made. <\/p>\n<p>Go ahead, Kelly.<\/p>\n<p>Q    When the President either hears or is briefed about<br \/>\nSenator Warnock in Georgia not saying that he would support or answering the question about would he support the President in 2024, does he view that as disloyal to the President personally or to the administration?  Or does he view it as strategic in a race?<\/p>\n<p>Georgia is a state President Biden won in 2020.  And yet, as a candidate, the sitting senator would not engage on that question in a debate format. <\/p>\n<p>So how does the President view something like that?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So, again, just to be very mindful of the Hatch Act, I don\u2019t \u2014<\/p>\n<p>Q    Knowing the Hatch Act stuff.  So, I\u2019m asking President\u2019s feelings about this.<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  No, I hear the President\u2019s feelings.  Here\u2019s what the President understands and he knows \u2014 is that he is the leader of the party.  And he is not only that, but he is the President of the United States, and it is important to him to make sure that he addresses and deals with the most important issues to the American people.  That is his focus. <\/p>\n<p>He\u2019s not focused on 2024.  And he\u2019s spoken to that and I\u2019ve spoken to that, and he said he intends to run.  We\u2019re going to leave that there.  We\u2019re not going to speak to it any further. <\/p>\n<p>But he has been very clear about how important he sees his job to make sure that we \u2014 we understand that we meet people where they are when it \u2014 when we talk about inflation.  That\u2019s why he\u2019s made this \u2014 inflation the number-one economic \u2014 number-one priority when it comes to his economic policy. <\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s why we have the bipartisan infrastructure legislation \u2014 right? \u2014 to really deal with what Americans care about, to make sure that we\u2019re dealing with infrastructure, dealing with supply chain, creating jobs.<\/p>\n<p>When you think about the American Rescue Plan \u2014 right? \u2014 to make sure we put money in people\u2019s pockets, to make sure that we opened schools, got shots in arms.  Those are the things that the President understood that was before him that he needed to address.<\/p>\n<p>And so, that\u2019s his focus.  That\u2019s how he\u2019s thinking about things, as you\u2019re asking me how he\u2019s feeling, how he sees things.  He sees this opportunity as being President of the United States, as \u2014 as being the person who is able to help create legislation, get things passed \u2014<\/p>\n<p>Q    But does he see that as distancing from fellow Democrats? <\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Look \u2014 look, he sees the importance of the job that he has in front of him \u2014 right? \u2014 and which is delivering for the American people.  You\u2019ve heard him say that over and over again the last couple of days, and you will continue to hear him say that over the next several weeks.<\/p>\n<p>Q    A quick one on student loans.  The beta period for applications has begun.  Do you have a sense of how long that testing process will be or what people who are interested in applying should know about this early stage? <\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So we\u2019ll have more to say on that soon, but we\u2019ve seen an overwhelmingly positive response, as well as a strong website performance since we \u2014 we began testing the site this past Friday night.  So it\u2019s been very positive. <\/p>\n<p>Just a few things applicants over the weekend have said about this I want to just lay out so folks can hear.  One said it was the easiest application they\u2019ve ever filled out, took maybe 60 seconds.  That\u2019s a quote. <\/p>\n<p>Another said, and I quote, \u201cI just filled out the student loan forgiveness form in about one minute on my phone in my pajamas.  It is possible that the government actually made a form that\u2019s easy and straightforward.\u201d  End quote. <\/p>\n<p>Another quote: \u201cIt is the simplest government form I\u2019ve ever filled out.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>So the better \u2014 the \u2014 the beta testing period remains open.  And the Department of Education\u2019s technical team will continue to monitor the site\u2019s performance in real time.  And any borrower who \u2014 who submits an application for debt relief during the \u2014 this period will have it processed when the site officially launches later this month.  Borrowers won\u2019t need to \u2014 to reapply at all. <\/p>\n<p>But again, we\u2019ll have more to share. <\/p>\n<p>Q    No date yet on the official one?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I don\u2019t have anything at this time, but we\u2019ll have more to share.<\/p>\n<p>Go ahead.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Thanks, Karine.  Just a follow-up on that.  Do you have an estimate of how many people applied over the last couple of days?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  We\u2019ll have more to share on that. We don\u2019t have a number at this time.<\/p>\n<p>Q    And the President said last week that gas prices are still too high.  And he said he\u2019d have more to say on the issue this week. <\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Yes. <\/p>\n<p>Q    Can you give us a sense of what we should expect from the President on the gas prices?  And does he \u2014 does he have new policies in mind, or is it more of just like a rhetorical<br \/>\napproach? <\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  He\u2019ll definitely have more to say.  As you know, we don\u2019t want to get ahead \u2014 I don\u2019t want to get ahead of the President.  And once we have something to share, we will. <\/p>\n<p>I know we\u2019re kind of limited on time, so I\u2019m going to go really, really fast.  Go ahead, Steven.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Thanks, Karine.  You may have gotten into this in response to Peter\u2019s question, but I want to approach it just somewhat differently. <\/p>\n<p>A CBS News poll that was out yesterday indicated that two thirds of voters believe that the administration is not doing all it can and could be doing more to curb inflation.  What does the White House think?  Does the White House think it\u2019s \u2014 it\u2019s doing all it can to curve inflation?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  What we understand is \u2014 you know, we understand that the American people are going through a difficult time.  And we have said that.  You\u2019ve heard the President say that.  And we understand how it is tough \u2014 it is a tough time for them. <\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s why we\u2019re doing stuff like the hearing aid.  Thirty million people saving $3,000; that\u2019s a big deal.  That is a big deal.  And that\u2019s because of the action that the President took by signing this executive order, as you all know, a couple of \u2014 a couple of months ago. <\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s why he\u2019s worked so hard to get those gas prices down by more than a dollar a gallon from the highest \u2014 the highest points that we have seen just a couple of months ago.  And he\u2019ll continue to work on that.  I was just asked by your colleague about what we\u2019re going to announce.  You\u2019ll hear directly from the President. <\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s why the Inflation Reduction Act is so critical and key, because it\u2019s going to lower energy costs and it\u2019s going to lower healthcare costs. <\/p>\n<p>We get it.  We get it.  I know you\u2019re asking me about a specific \u2014 a specific poll, a specific number from your own publication.  And we get it.  We understand.  But we\u2019re going to continue to do the work.  It\u2019s not going to stop us.  And you have seen the results.  You have seen the results from this administration. <\/p>\n<p>I\u2019m going to just keep moving because we don\u2019t have a lot of time.  Go ahead.<\/p>\n<p>Q    The President has talked about there being consequences for Saudi Arabia after the OPEC production cut.  I\u2019m wondering if you can give us any update on that \u2014 whether that would be something that would come soon and what it might include.<\/p>\n<p>Senator Coons has said that he thinks the most likely action \u2014 or one of the most likely actions is a halting of future arms sales, for instance.  Would the administration support that?  What\u2019s \u2014 what\u2019s the next shoe to drop on Saudi Arabia?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So \u2014 so, I\u2019m not going to get ahead of \u2014 of the President.  As \u2014 as we have said, you\u2019ve heard from the National \u2014 our National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan \u2014 just yesterday, he was on one of the Sunday shows \u2014 the options include changes to our approach; to security assistance, to your question, to Saudi Arabia. <\/p>\n<p>The President has said since taking office that the United States needs a different approach, a different sort of relationship with Saudi Arabia.  So that is in \u2014 in line with what he has been saying for some time. <\/p>\n<p>And remember, when we came into office, we put a freeze on all offensive arm sales to Saudi \u2014 Saudi Arabia just last year. <\/p>\n<p>So, there\u2019s nothing imminently moving right now in Congress regarding this.  So, there is time for the President to have those consultations, those conversations, to make those decision.  He wants to be \u2014 he wants to be methodical and strategic about these \u2014 these conversations. <\/p>\n<p>So, when we have something to share, we will.  Don\u2019t want to get ahead of him.<\/p>\n<p>Q    So it sounds like he wants to move either after Congress or jointly with Congress as opposed to unilaterally?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  He definitely wants to have a conversation with Congress.  This is something that Jake Sullivan said himself.  When it comes to this \u2014 this relationship with Saudi Arabia, it was done in a bipartisan way if you look at the last several decades, and we want to be able to do that as well as we move forward with re- \u2014 realigning, readjusting our relationship with Saudi Arabia.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Elon Musk has been weighing in a lot on the Russia-Ukraine issue recently, over the weekend saying that Russia views Crimea like the U.S. views Hawaii and if Russia faces destruction, nuclear war will be imminent.  Fiona Hill told Politico today that it\u2019s very clear that Musk is transmitting a message for Putin. <\/p>\n<p>I\u2019m wondering whether the administration has any comment on what Musk has been saying about the Russia-Ukraine war and, in particular, whether it\u2019s relayed anything to partners and allies about whether Musk is reflecting an American view or not.<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So, I\u2019ll say this \u2014 and the President has been very clear, we have been very clear about this, and he believes decisions about negotia- \u2014 negotiations or decisions about Ukraine are decisions for Ukraine to make.  And nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine.  And I will leave it there.<\/p>\n<p>We\u2019ve been very, very clear \u2014 clear on that.  Our allies and partners have been very, very clear on that.  And I won\u2019t say more from here.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Is Musk helping or hurting?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Well, I won\u2019t say more from here.  I\u2019ve been very clear about what we believe.  And this is for Ukraine to decide.<\/p>\n<p>Go ahead.  Go ahead.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Thank you, Karine. <\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I\u2019ll come to the back.<\/p>\n<p>Q    My colleague is reporting today that five current administration officials who worked with the CBP Commissioner have described him as unengaged in his job and seen him fall asleep during multiple meetings.  Does the White House have a comment to that?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Are you talking about Commissioner Magnus?<\/p>\n<p>Q    Yeah.<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So, look, under Secretary Mayorkas\u2019s leadership, we\u2019re \u2014 we\u2019re securing the border, taking thousands of smugglers off the streets, installing new technologies to catch more drugs and traffickers, and making historic investments in \u2014 in the Department of Homeland Security.  That\u2019s what we have seen, that\u2019s what we have done in the past 20 months. <\/p>\n<p>We\u2019ll continue to focus our efforts on rebuilding the immigration system that the prior administration just gutted, decimated.  And Commissioner Magnus plays a key role on all of this.  That\u2019s how we view his role.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Karine, can I follow up?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Go ahead.  Go ahead.  Go ahead.  I\u2019m just going to go \u2014 go ahead.  Go ahead.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Yeah, thanks, Karine.  Quickly, so you talked about reviewing the Saudi Arabian relationship because their oil production cut sides them with Russia.  Is the same review going to happen with China, who has been buying 50 percent more oil from Russia as well as propping up the Russian economy?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I don\u2019t have anything to lay out with you on that specific question.<\/p>\n<p>Q    And one more then on inflation. On inflation, can you give us a timeline?  You\u2019ve laid out eloquently what the President has been doing.  Is there a timeline for when Americans can start feeling some economic pain relief?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So in regards to the Inflation Reduction Act, early next year, they will see some of the \u2014 some of the pieces of that when you thou- \u2014 think about in energy costs, when you think about the Medicare kind of benefits from that.  So, we\u2019ll see some movement on that early next year. <\/p>\n<p>But when we talk about inflation, gas prices, that\u2019s been something that\u2019s \u2014 the American people have seen for the past several months, several weeks, and as \u2014 as costs have been coming down.  And the hearing aids that I just laid out, that\u2019s something that once I have a clear timeline, we\u2019ll \u2014 that Americans are going to see \u2014 that I\u2019ll share with you on all of that.<\/p>\n<p>But look, we\u2019re going to continue \u2014<\/p>\n<p>Q    But that\u2019s starting now.  What about \u2014 18 months ago, when the President took office, inflation and gas prices started rising then?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Well, 18 months ago, the President signed the American Rescue \u2014 Rescue Plan more than \u2014 about \u2014 back in April of 2021. <\/p>\n<p>And that helped the American people, that helped start reopen small businesses, that helped reopen schools.  That was something that was so critical to meet the moment that the American people were going through, that helped put shots in arms. <\/p>\n<p>That matters.  That was part of the President\u2019s economy plan.  Right?  That was part of his policy that helped us gain these jobs back.  And you\u2019re \u2014 you\u2019re with \u2014 you \u2014 you follow economy.  You\u2019re always asking me economy questions.  And it \u2014 we created more than 10 million jobs.  That\u2019s because of what the President was able to do.  So, we met that moment. <\/p>\n<p>So you\u2019re asking me about 18 months ago.  That\u2019s what was going on 18 months ago.  Thousands of people were dying a day because of COVID when the President walked in. <\/p>\n<p>The American Rescue Plan, which is only \u2014 again, only congressional Democrats passed \u2014 only congressional Democrats passed.  They did \u2014 on their own \u2014 and was able to \u2014 to make sure that we got the country back on its feet.<\/p>\n<p>All right.  Go ahead.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Thank you.  I have a couple of questions about the new program for Venezuelan migrants.  When can Venezuelans start submitting their applications?  When will that application processes start?  Do you have any details? <\/p>\n<p>And also, the administration mentioned last week that there was going to be some kind of security assistance for the regional partners.  Do you have any details on that?  Thank you.<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So your two \u2014 your first question, first: Support is \u2014 will be able to apply in the upcoming days. Information on how to apply will be found on the DHS website, so I would refer folks there, to the website.<\/p>\n<p>On the security assistance that was announced, as you just mentioned, last week: Again, I would refer you to DHS \u2014 the Department of Homeland Security \u2014 and also the government of Mexico as well \u2014 they\u2019re \u2014 for their announcement that they\u2019ve made for information on the coordinated response there.<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019ll take \u2014 I\u2019ll take one last question.<\/p>\n<p>(Cross-talk by reporters.)<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019ll take one last \u2014 go ahead.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Thank you so much.  I just have some quick questions on Iran.  First of all, is the administration mulling sanctions over the use of Iranian-made drones in Ukraine?  And do you believe it\u2019s a violation of U.N. Resolution 2231?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So, just very quickly, I can\u2019t speak to these specific reports.  But, as you know, we have been warning since July \u2014 the National Security Advisor, Jake Sullivan, was here at this very podium when he warned about this back in July \u2014 that Iran was planning to sell UAVs to Russia for use against Ukraine. <\/p>\n<p>We also exposed publicly that Russia has received drones from Iran; that this was part of Russia\u2019s plan to import hundreds of Iranian UAVs of various types; and that Russian operators continue to receive training in Iran on how to use these very systems.<\/p>\n<p>So, there is extensive proof of their \u2014 of their use by Russia against both military and civilian targets there.<\/p>\n<p>You\u2019ll als- \u2014 you\u2019ll all \u2014 you\u2019ve all have seen as well the reports this morning of what appear to be an Iranian drone striking downtown Kyiv.  Yet, Iran continues to lie about this.  They have not been truthful about this and deny providing weapons to Russia for use in Ukraine.<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, according to these new reports, Iran is considering selling still more destructive weapons to support an invasion they claim to oppose. <\/p>\n<p>Now, what we\u2019re doing here: We\u2019ll continue to vigorously enforce U.S. sanctions on both the Russian and Iranian arm trade \u2014 that\u2019s what we\u2019ll do from here; make it harder for Iran to sell these weapons to Russia.  And we\u2019ll stand with our partners throughout the region against that Iranian threat.<\/p>\n<p>Q    And then, over the weekend, VOA Persia got some worrying reports from human rights activists in Tehran who said that authorities at Evin Prison shot at prisoners who were trying to escape the fire.  Does this change anything about the White House\u2019s view on these escalating protests in Iran?  And what might be the consequences of actions like that?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So, look, we\u2019ve \u2014 the President \u2014 you\u2019ve heard from the President directly just \u2014 just this past weekend when he talked about how gravely concerned he is about the intensifying violent crackdown on peaceful protesters, on brave \u2014 the brave women in Iran and their allies.  And he talked about, you know, how he \u2014 you know, he\u2019s proud of how much they\u2019re fighting for their equal rights, for their basic rights.  That\u2019s what we\u2019re seeing from the Iranian civilians.<\/p>\n<p>The Iranian government has now killed, as you all know, more than 200 people in its crackdown, according to credible reports by human rights organizations, and we condemn \u2014 we condemn the Iran authorities and that \u2014 that have arrested and fired at peaceful protesters; the targeted arrests of journalists, human rights activists, teachers, and cultural figures; and the continued disruption of the Internet inside Iran.<\/p>\n<p>You have heard from us the sanctions that we have put forth through the \u2014 the Treasury Department, and we will \u2014 we will have more to share when we do \u2014 when we can.<\/p>\n<p>Q    And then, finally, amid all of this, is the JCPOA still a priority?  How is \u2014 how is the administration keeping it top of mind?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So, my colleague at the State Department spoke to this last week, and I\u2019ll just reiterate what he laid out, which is: The door for diplomacy will always remain open.  But, as of now, we don\u2019t see a deal coming together anytime soon. <\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, regardless of the nuclear talks, we will continue to confront Iran\u2019s behavior in the region, protect our \u2014 protecting \u2014 protect our troops, including with military forces when necessary, and support the brave Iranian people who are demanding for their basic rights \u2014 <\/p>\n<p>Q    So are the nuclear talks dead?  Is that what you\u2019re telling us?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  \u2014 they are demanding for their basic (inaudible) and dignity, which this regime has long denied them.<\/p>\n<p>So, the United States stands with Iranian women and all the citizens of Iran who are inspiring the world \u2014 you heard the President say this himself just a couple of days ago \u2014 with their bravery. <\/p>\n<p>And we\u2019ll continue to take action to impose costs on those who commit violence against peaceful protesters or otherwise seek to suppress their rights.<\/p>\n<p>Again, we don\u2019t see a deal coming together anytime soon, to answer the question in the back.<\/p>\n<p>All right, everybody, I\u2019ll see you tomorrow.  Thank you.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Washington, DC&#8230;Good afternoon, everybody. So, we have big news today, and \u2014 that is going to benefit as many as 30 million Americans. Starting today, hearing aids will cost thousands of dollars less than before. President Biden\u2019s executive order on competition called on the FDA to make hearing aids over the counter without a prescription; [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":149409,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_cbd_carousel_blocks":"[]","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[20,5,1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-149407","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-featured","category-government","category-news","last_archivepost"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Fullscreen-capture-10182022-102233-AM.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/149407","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=149407"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/149407\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":149410,"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/149407\/revisions\/149410"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/149409"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=149407"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=149407"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=149407"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}