LONG-TIME JOE BIDEN ADVISER AND
CONFIDANTE RON KLAIN, WHO IS
BEING REFERRED TO AS THE LEFT
WHISPERER.
RON KLAIN, THANK YOU FOR JOINING
ME TONIGHT.
I KNOW YOU HAVE A VERY BUSY
SCHEDULE.
YOU’VE KNOWN THE MAN FOR
DECADES.
HOW DID JOE BIDEN CHANGE AND
BECOME THIS PRESIDENT SIGNING
LANDMARK LEGISLATION IN HIS
FIRST 50 DAYS?
SOME SAY IT WAS THANKS TO YOU.
OTHERS SAY IT WAS PRESSURE FROM
BERNIE SANDERS AND ELIZABETH
WARREN.
OTHERS SAY IT WAS THE PANDEMIC,
PLUS THE EXPERIENCE OF BEING
BURNED BY REPUBLICANS DURING THE
OBAMA YEARS.
WHAT EXPLAINS THIS NEW,
DIFFERENT JOE BIDEN?
>> I FUNDAMENTALLY DISAGREE,
MEHDI WITH, THAT READ-IN.
HE HAS ALWAYS BEEN A FIGHTER FOR
WORKING PEEP, A FIGHTER FOR
PEOPLE WHO ARE IN TROUBLE, FOR
PEOPLE WHO NEED HELP.
WE’RE FACED WITH ONE OF THE MOST
GRAVE SITUATIONS WE’VE SEEN IN
THIS COUNTRY REALLY SINCE THE
GREAT DEPRESSION.
RECORD LEVELS OF UNEMPLOYMENT.
OBVIOUSLY, THE GREAT
CONSEQUENCES OF THE PANDEMIC.
FOOD LINES MILES LONG.
SO, WHAT PRESIDENT BIDEN,
PREVIOUSLY SENATOR BIDEN, VICE
PRESIDENT BIDEN, JOE BIDEN HAS
ALWAYS BELIEVED IS RISING TO THE
MOMENT AND DOING WHAT THE
GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO DO TO HELP
THOSE PEOPLE IN NEED.
WE MAY DISAGREE ON THE PREMISES
HERE BUT WE COULD AGREE ON THE
FACT THAT THE AMERICAN RESCUE
PLAN IS A SOLUTION THAT COMES TO
THE MOMENT AND IS A SOLUTION
THAT HELPS DEAL WITH THE CRISES
WE FACE IN THIS COUNTRY RIGHT
NOW.
>> YES WE DO AGREE ON THAT, EVEN
IF WE DIFFER ON HOW WE EVALUATE
JOE BIDEN’S JOURNEY TO THIS
POINT.
PERSONALLY I’VE GONE FROM
BELIEVING BIDEN WOULD BE HILLARY
2.0, TO THINKING HE COULD BE
ANOTHER LBJ, AT LEAST
DOMESTICALLY.
LBJ’S GREAT SOCIETY FEATURED
PERMANENT PROGRESSIVE VICTORIES,
MEDICARE, MEDICAID, STILL WITH
US MORE THAN 50 YEARS LATER.
THE $3600 CHILD TAX CREDIT IS A
RADICAL POLICY BUT EXPIRES IN A
YEAR.
THERE’S NO POINT IN HARBORING
CHILD POVERTY FOR ONLY A YEAR.
WILL THE WHITE HOUSE BE PUSHING
TO MAKE IT PERMANENT BEFORE IT
EXPIRES?
>> WE’RE CERTAINLY GOING TO WORK
FOR THAT, MEHDI.
SOME PARTS OF THIS BILL ARE
TEMPORARY BY DESIGN AROUND THE
PANDEMIC.
EXTENSION OF UNEMPLOYMENT
INSURANCE.
WE’RE HOPING TO GET PEOPLE BACK
TO WORK.
THAT’S THE GOAL.
AS YOU SAY, SOME OF THE POLICY
HOPEFULLY LAYS A GROUNDWORK FOR
WHAT FOLLOWS.
DEALING WITH CHILD POVERTY
PROBLEM ON A PERMANENT BASIS IS
AN IMPORTANT OBJECTIVE FOR US.
DOING SOME OF THE THINGS THE
BILL DOES TO STRENGTHEN THE
VETERANS’ HEALTH SYSTEM,
STRENGTHENING SMALL BUSINESS JOB
CREATION, THAT’S AN IMPORTANT
LONG-TERM OBJECTIVE.
BY THE WAY, THE THING THAT I
HOPE IS A PERMANENT CHANGE IS
THE PAST FOUR YEARS AT LEAST
WE’VE HAD ECONOMIC STRATEGY AS A
COUNTRY THAT’S FOCUSED ON MAKING
THE RICH RICHER AND HOPING THAT
TRICK LE
TRICKLES DOWN.
THE FUNDAMENTAL MESSAGE OF THE
AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN IS THAT THE
ECONOMY GROWS, WE HELP PEOPLE AT
THE BOTTOM WORK THEIR WAY UP AND
WE HELP PEOPLE IN THE MIDDLE TO
GROW FROM THE MIDDLE OUT AND
THAT’S THE PHILOSOPHY THAT THIS
LEGISLATION CAPTURES.
>> A 20% BOOST FOR SOME OF THE
POOREST AMERICANS IN TERMS OF
INCOME FOR THIS LEGISLATION,
UNDENIABLE AND VERY WELCOME.
ONE THING PROGRESSIVES ARE
DEEPLY DISAPPOINTED BY, THOUGH,
RON, IS THE ABSENCE OF A $15
MINIMUM WAGE.
IT WAS TAKEN OUT BY THE SENATE
PARLIAMENTARIAN.
THE WHITE HOUSE DIDN’T FIGHT
THAT.
WILL WE SEE A $15 MINIMUM WAGE
BE PUSHED BY THE ADMINISTRATION
THIS YEAR?
>> WE WILL.
WE’RE IN THE FIGHT FOR THE 15.
WE’RE DISAPPOINTED IT GOT PULLED
OUT ON A PARLIAMENTARIAN POINT.
THE MINIMUM WAGE HASN’T BEEN
RAISED FOR DECADES.
RAISED IN THE FIRST 50 DAYS,
THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN QUITE
INCREDIBLE.
WE ARE GOING BACK AT IT TO TRY
TO GET THE VOTES TOGETHER TO
PASS THE MINIMUM WAGE.
WE’LL START WORK AT THAT THIS
WEEK AT THE WHITE HOUSE.
WE’LL START TALKING TO OUR
ALLIES IN THE BROADER FIGHT FOR
15, HOW WE LINE UP THE VOTES AND
MOVE IT THROUGH THE LEGISLATIVE
PROCESS.
>> LET’S TALK ABOUT THAT
LEGISLATIVE PROCESS AND THE
BLOCKS AND OBSTACLES YOU FACE.
ONE IN PARTICULAR.
BLACK AMERICANS, ESPECIALLY,
DEMOCRACY AND JUSTICE, WE CAN
BOTH AGREE, THEY NEED HR-1,
VOTING RIGHTS BILL PASSED BY THE
HOUSE AND THE GEORGE FLOYD
POLICING ACT, ALSO PASSED BY THE
HOUSE.
THEY NEED THOSE BILLS TO PASS IN
THE SENATE.
THE 60-VOTE REQUIREMENT THAT JOE
BIDEN SUPPORTS, THEY WON’T BE
PASSED.
TALK ABOUT BARACK OBAMA TALKING
ABOUT THAT RACIST FILIBUSTER AT
JOHN LEWIS’ FUNERAL LAST YEAR.
>> AND IF ALL OF THIS TAKES
ELIMINATING THE FILIBUSTER,
ANOTHER JIM CROW RELIC, IN ORDER
TO SECURE THE GOD-GIVEN RIGHTS
OF EVERY AMERICAN, THEN THAT’S
WHAT WE SHOULD DO.
>> WHY ON THE FILIBUSTER, RON,
IS JOE BIDEN RIGHT AND BARACK
OBAMA WRONG?
>> WELL, YOU KNOW, PRESIDENT
BIDEN SERVED IN THE SENATE A
LONG TIME.
AND HE BELIEVES THAT IF WE COULD
LEAVE THE FILIBUSTER IN PLACE,
THAT’S WHAT HE PREFERS.
FILIBUSTER IS A SENATE RULE.
THE QUESTION IS, DO SENATORS
WANT TO CHANGE THAT RULE?
SOME DO.
WE’LL SEE HOW THAT DEBATE PLAYS
OUT OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL WEEKS.
OUR FOCUS, MEHDI, IS PRODUCING
PROGRESS ON WHATEVER RULES THE
SENATE PUT IN PLACE.
WE WANT TO TRY TO FIND
BIPARTISAN SUPPORT FOR SOME OF
THESE THINGS AND TRY TO MOVE
THEM FORWARD.
THE GEORGE FLOYD ACT IS VERY
IMPORTANT.
WE NEED PROGRESS ON VOTING
RIGHTS, WHETHER THAT’S THE JOHN
LEWIS ACT, HR-1, SOME
COMBINATION OF THE TWO.
A LOT OF PROPOSALS COMING OVER
FROM THE HOUSE.
WE’LL WORK CLOSELY WITH THE
SENATE TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO
MOVE THESE PROPOSALS FORWARD.
>> RON, THAT’S A GREAT
SENTIMENT.
YOU AND I BOTH KNOW THE REALITY.
MITT ROMNEY IS THE MOST MODERATE
REASONABLE SENATOR IN THE
REPUBLICAN PARTY.
HE SAID HE WILL NEVER VOTE FOR
HR-1.
HE THINKS IT’S A DISASTROUS
BILL.
THERE’S NO WAY YOU GET IT
THROUGH WITH MITT ROMNEY LET
ALONE TEN REPUBLICANS.
DO YOU SUPPORT THE FILIBUSTER OR
THE FOR THE PEOPLE ACT?
WHICH ONE IS IT?
>> OBVIOUSLY, WE SUPPORT HR-1,
BUT I THINK THE SENATE NEEDS TO
DO SOME WORK ON HR-1.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE THE
VOTES IN THE SENATE FOR HR-1.
THE SENATE JUST GOT THIS BILL
LAST WEEK OR THE WEEK BEFORE.
>> 51 VOTES NOT 60.
51, NOT 60.
>> THERE’S A LEGISLATIVE PROCESS
THAT NEEDS TO MOVE FORWARD HERE,
MEHDI.
WE’RE GOING TO WORK WITH THE
LEGISLATIVE PROCESS, TALK TO
SENATORS, TALK TO OUR DEMOCRATIC
SENATOR ALLIES AND MOVE FORWARD
ON THESE IMPORTANT PIECES OF
LEGISLATION.
>> JUST TO BE CLEAR, BY MY
COUNT, 47 ODD DEMOCRATS EITHER
SUPPORT GETTING RID OF THE
FILIBUSTER OR OPEN TO REFORMING
IT.
FEINSTEIN, SINEMA, MANCHIN.
YOU’RE SAYING JOE BIDEN IS IN
THAT MANCHIN/SINEMA/FEINSTEIN
CAMP?
IS HE OPEN TO ANY KIND OF
REFORM?
TALKING FILIBUSTER.
>> AGAIN, MEHDI, THE BEST WAY TO
MOVE FORWARD ON THE QUESTION OF
SENATE RULES IS LET SENATORS
WORK ON THE SENATE RULES.
WE’RE WORKING ON PROGRESS FOR
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE UNDER
WHATEVER SET OF SENATE RULES ARE
IN PLACE.
WE’VE MADE AMAZING PROGRESS AS
YOU, YOURSELF, ACKNOWLEDGE IN
THESE 50 DAY SS UNDER THESE SENA
RULES AS THEY ARE NOW, WE’LL
CONTINUE TO WORK TO MOVE
FORWARD.
>> NO, NO, COME ON.
RON, RON, LET BE --
>> NO, MEHDI.
GIVE US CREDIT FOR WHAT WE’VE
DONE.
>> I AM, AND YOU DID IT WITH A
BUDGET AND RECONCILIATION
PROCESS.
YOU DIDN’T DO IT WITH THE
FILIBUSTER.
YOU USED A DIFFERENT RULE
BECAUSE YOU KNOW IT WOULD NOT
HAVE GOTTEN THE FILIBUSTER
AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN.
WE BOTH AGREE ON THAT.
>> MEHDI, WE HAVE MADE PROGRESS.
PEOPLE SHOULD MEASURE US BY THE
PROGRESS WE MAKE.
>> OKAY.
AND I WANT YOU TO CONTINUE
PROGRESS.
I DON’T SEE HOW YOU CAN DO THAT
WITH A FILIBUSTER IN PLACE.
WE CAN AGREE TO DISAGREE ON
THAT.
LET’S TALK ABOUT IMMIGRATION,
ANOTHER BIG ISSUE YOU WANT TO
GET THROUGH THE SENATE.
NOT JUST A REFORM BILL.
AGAIN, YOU MAY STRUGGLE TO GET
60, PROBABLY WILL.
BUT WHAT’S BEING DESCRIBED AS A
NEW CRISIS AT THE BORDER.
MORE THAN 3,200 MIGRANT CHILDREN
ARE BEING HOUSED IN BORDER
PROTECTION HOLDING FACILITIES,
THE HIGHEST NUMBER EVER AND MORE
THAN HALF BEYOND THE THREE-DAY
LEGAL LIMIT.
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS IS
REPORTING THIS WEEKEND THAT
CHILDREN ARE BEING HELD IN
PACKED CONDITIONS WITH SOME
SLEEPING ON THE FLOOR, SOME HAVE
TO WAIT FIVE DAYS OR MORE TO
SHOWER.
YOUR ADMINISTRATION IS BLOCKING
LAWYERS FROM ACCESSING THOSE.
IT’S AN OUTRAGE AND
UNACCEPTABLE, IS IT NOT?
>> YES.
WE INHERITED A GOVERNMENT THAT
HAD ALLOWED THE NUMBER OF BEDS
TO SAFELY, HUMANEELY HOUSE THESE
CHILDREN ADMINISTERED BY THE
DEPARTMENT OFH HEALTH AND HUMAN
SERVICES, OFFICE OF REFUGEE
RESETTLEMENT, ALLOWED IT TO
SHRINK TO A RECORD LOW NUMBER.
NOW CHILDREN ARE ARRIVING AT
THESE BORDER STATIONS WITH NO
FACILITIES, NO SAFE, LEGALLY
LICENSED FACILITIES WITH LEGALLY
LICENSED STAFF TO HOUSE THE
CHILDREN.
AND SO WE ARE WORKING NIGHT AND
DAY TO INCREASE THAT CAPACITY
THAT HAD BEEN ALLOWED TO SHRINK,
TO CREATE ENOUGH SAFE BEDS FOR
THE CHILDREN, TO CREATE PLACES
WHERE THEY CAN STAY UNTIL WE CAN
REUNITE THEM WITH RELATIVES HERE
IN THE U.S. OR WITH SAFE THE U.S
THEY HAVE THEIR ASYLUM HEARING.
SO, WE’RE WORKING VERY, VERY
HARD ON THIS PROBLEM.
WE INHERITED A REAL LACK OF
CAPACITY.
IT’S HARD TO RAMP UP THAT
CAPACITY.
YOU CAN’T JUST TAKE CHILDREN AND
PUT THEM IN A HOTEL ROOM.
THEY NEED TO BE IN A PLACE WHERE
THEY ARE SAFELY PROTECTED, WITH
STAFF.
THE STAFF NEEDS TO BE TRAINED.
THE STAFF NEEDS TO BE LICENSED.
THESE ARE VERY, YOU KNOW,
CHALLENGING NEEDS WE ARE RAPIDLY
MOVING TO ACCELERATE.
NO QUESTION AT THIS POINT IN
TIME --
>> UNDERSTOOD.
>> WE HAVE TOO MANY CHILDREN IN
THESE BORDER PATROL STATIONS.
>> EXACTLY.
IT’S THE BORDER PATROL STATIONS
THAT’S THE ISSUE.
HHS FACILITIES ARE SEPARATE.
THEY’RE NOT SUPPOSED TO STAY
LONGER THAN THREE DAYS.
THEY ARE.
THE WHITE HOUSE DIDN’T RESPOND
TO AP’S REQUEST.
CAN YOU TONIGHT GUARANTEE ON
THIS SHOW, TO OUR AUDIENCE, THAT
THE WHITE HOUSE WILL ALLOW
LAWYERS TO ACCESS THOSE BORDER
PROTECTION HOLDING FACILITIES TO
CHECK ON THOSE KIDS WHO HAVEN’T
SHOWERED FOR FIVE DAYS?
>> MEHDI, I’M UNFAMILIAR WITH
THAT ISSUE.
I’LL LOOK INTO IT TOMORROW
MORNING AND SEEING WHY THERE’S
ANY PROBLEM WITH LAWYERS HAVING
ACCESS TO CHILDREN IN BORDER
PATROL STATIONS.
>> I HOPE YOU CAN, BECAUSE IT IS
A BIG ISSUE.
I HAVE TO ASK A COUPLE OF LAST
QUESTIONS FOR YOU.
I KNOW YOU’RE VERY BUSY.
FOREIGN POLICY, JANET YELLEN
SAID, AND I QUOTE, THOSE
INVOLVED IN THE ABHORRENT
KILLING OF JAMAL KHASHOGGI MUST
BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.
WE KNOW, THANKS TO YOU, THE
RELEASE OF THAT REPORT, THAT THE
CROWN PRINCE WAS RESPONSIBLE.
HE HASN’T BEEN HELD ACCOUNTABLE.
>> WE RELEASED THE DOCUMENT THAT
SAID MBS WAS RESPONSIBLE.
WE IMPOSED SANCTIONS ON HIS
ELITE FORCE THAT CONDUCTED THIS
EVENT.
WE IMPOSED SANCTIONS ON
HIGH-LEVEL OFFICIAL SAUDI
INTELLIGENCE.
IT’S BEEN OUR GOVERNMENT’S
LONGSTANDING POLICY NOT TO
PERSONALLY SANCTION HEADS OF
STATE, LEADERS OF GOVERNMENT IN
COUNTRIES WHERE WE HAVE
DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS.
>> HE’S NOT HEAD OF STATE,
THOUGH.
HE’S NOT HEAD OF STATE.
>> HE’S VERY -- WELL, HE’S A
VERY SENIOR GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL
AND WE NEED TO WORK WITH THE
SAUDIS TO SOLVE PROBLEMS LIKE
THE CRISIS WE HAVE IN YEMEN.
WE HAVE TO BALANCE THE DESPERATE
NEEDS FOR ACCOUNTABLITY HERE,
WHICH WE HAVE TAKEN IMPORTANT
STEPS ON WITH -- FOR THIS
HORRIBLE, GASTHASTLY, AWFUL,
INEXCUSABLE CRIME WITH,
UNFORTUNATELY, OUR NEED TO WORK
WITH THE SAUDIS ON PROBLEMS LIKE
WE HAVE IN YEMEN.
>> WE’RE ALMOST OUT OF TIME AND
I DO NEED TO GET TO THE WHITE
HOUSE POSITION ON A BIG STORY.
GOVERNOR ANDREW CUOMO IN NEW
YORK.
SENATOR CHUCK SCHUMER, MAJORITY
LEADER, CALLED FOR HIM TO RESIGN
OVER MULTIPLE ALLEGATIONS OF
SEXUAL MISCONDUCT.
DOES PRESIDENT BIDEN AGREE WITH
SENATOR SCHUMER?
>> WHAT THE PRESIDENT SAID IS
THAT THERE’S A PROCESS.
THESE CHARGES ARE VERY SERIOUS
CHARGES.
THEY OUGHT TO BE INVESTIGATED
AND THAT PROCESS OUGHT TO RUN
ITS COURSE.
AND, YOU KNOW, I THINK IT’S UP
TO THE PEOPLE OF NEW YORK ABOUT
GOVERNOR CUOMO’S CONTINUING
ABILITY TO GOVERN THERE.
RIGHT NOW, WE’RE FOCUSED ON
MAKING SURE THAT THE WOMEN WHO
BROUGHT THESE SERIOUS CHARGES
ARE HEARD.
THEY HAVE A RIGHT TO BE HEARD,
AND THAT THE INVESTIGATIVE
PROCESS THAT ATTORNEY GENERAL
JAMES HAS UNDER WAY IS ALLOWED
TO MOVE FORWARD.
>> OKAY.
SO, NO RESIGNATION CALL?
WE’RE 20 SECONDS LEFT.
THE CHIEF OF STAFF OF THE WHITE
HOUSE, WHO ARE YOU MOST LIKE,
LEO McGARY FROM WEST WING, CYRUS
BING FROM SCANDAL OR DOUGLAS
FROM THE HOUSE OF CARDS?
>> MEHDI, I DON’T KNOW.
I GO TO WORK EVERY DAY, TRY TO
DO MY JOB, TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT
WHAT JOE BIDEN WANTS TO HAPPEN
AND THE WHITE HOUSE HAPPENS.
I DON’T KNOW.
I DON’T HAVE A GOOD ANSWER ON