Pool Reports of January 9, 2025

in-town pool report #1 — gathered

Good morning from a frigid White House. The in-town pool has gathered for President Biden's departure to the Washington National Cathedral for the late President Jimmy Carter's state funeral service. More TK.

In-town pool report #2 — POTUS briefing/pool spray

The motorcade is holding on the South Lawn. The White House passes along the below, including POTUS remarks later today on federal wildfire response efforts:

This morning, President Biden was briefed on the latest impacts of the wildfires across Los Angeles. After returning from the memorial service for former President Jimmy Carter, President Biden will convene Senior White House and Administration officials this afternoon for a briefing on the full federal response he has directed to the wildfires. This briefing in the Roosevelt Room will have an in-house pool spray. Additional details to follow.

More TK.

in-town pool report #3 — rolling to Cathedral

The president's motorcade rolled from the South Lawn at 9:10 a.m. for President Carter's state funeral service at the National Cathedral. More TK.

in-town pool report #3 — Cathedral arrival

[APP Note: This is Report #4. See reporter's correction in Report #5.]

President Biden's motorcade arrived at the Washington National Cathedral at 9:20 a.m. The motorcade zipped through still-snowy Rock Creek Park before ascending along Waterside Drive to Massachusetts Avenue. On-lookers outside the British Embassy, all bundled up on this cold morning, watched us zoom by. Pool vans are waiting on a residential street, so the pool did not see POTUS exit his vehicle. The Cathedral's bells chimed as we pulled up to the massive facility. More TK.

The White House passes along the following:

Traveling with the President, the First Lady, the Vice President and the Second Gentleman via motorcade en route to the National Cathedral:

Annie Tomasini, Assistant to the President & Deputy Chief of Staff
Anthony Bernal, Assistant to the President & Chief of Staff to the First Lady
Ryan Montoya, Assistant to the President & Director of Scheduling & Advance
Ashley Williams, Deputy Assistant to the President & Senior Advisor to the President & Director of Strategic Outreach
Jordan Montoya, Special Assistant to the President & Personal Aide to the First Lady
Jacob Spreyer, Special Assistant to the President & Personal Aide to the President

In-town pool report #5 — numbering fix/Trump motorcade

The last pool report should have been numbered #4. Fellow poolers saw President-elect Trump's motorcade enter the Cathedral grounds at 9:24 a.m. Pool vans are still holding on a residential street, but appear to be moving inside the fence line. More TK.

in-town pool report #6 — Trumps & VPOTUS enter/Biden greeters

The pool took its position in the Cathedral's South Balcony via a winding staircase. A military band is playing somber music ahead of the state funeral service. President-elect Trump and former first lady Melania Trump were escorted into the Cathedral at 9:51 a.m. Vice President Kamala Harris and second gentleman Douglas Emhoff entered at 9:57 a.m. Based on where the Trumps and second couple were seated, it appears the pool will not have a direct line of sight to President Biden, nor for any interactions with other former and incoming presidents or vice presidents. Please rely on streaming and TV coverage for such moments. More TK.

The service is being live-streamed by C-SPAN here: https://www.c-span.org/program/public-affairs-event/president-jimmy-carter-memorial-service-at-national-cathedral/653929&live

The White House passes along the following:

Greeting the President, the First Lady, the Vice President and the Second Gentleman on arrival to the National Cathedral:

The Honorable William Clinton, 42nd President of the United States
The Honorable Hilary Rodham Clinton, former Secretary of State and First Lady
The Honorable George W. Bush, 43rd President of the United States
Mrs. Laura Bush, former First Lady
The Honorable Barack Obama, 44th President of the United States
The Honorable Donald Trump, President-elect and 45th President of the United States
Mrs. Melania Trump, former First Lady

In-town pool report #7 — Bidens enter/service begins

President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden entered the Cathedral for the funeral service at 10:00 a.m. The Bidens talked with members of the Carter family for several minutes before taking their seats.

Hail to the Chief is playing outside as the service is beginning. The Cathedral is somber and silent.

Your pooler can confirm we will not have a line of sight on POTUS or POTUS-elect during the service due to a large pillar. Please see the live-streaming link in pool report #6 for such interactions.

In-town pool report #8 — service program

From the White House:

The President is delivering a eulogy at a memorial service for former President Jimmy Carter at the National Cathedral.

Attendees

The First Lady
The Vice President
The Second Gentleman

Program

Joshua Carter reads the First Lesson
(Romans 8:1-18, 38-39)
Steven Ford delivers remarks
Ted Mondale delivers remarks
The Armed Forces Chorus, the U.S. Marine Chamber Orchestra, and the Cathedral Choir perform "Eternal Father, Strong to Save."
Stuart Eizenstat delivers remarks
Jason Carter delivers remarks
Phyllis Adams and Leila Bolden perform "Song Rise to Thee."
The U.S. Marine Orchestra performs "Amazing The President
James Carter delivers the Gospel reading
(Matthew 5:1-16)
Reverend Andrew Young delivers the
homily
Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood perform "Imagine."
The Lord's Prayer
The Right Reverend Mariann Edgar Budde and Reverend Anthony Lowden deliver The Prayers
The Most Reverend Sean Rowe, The Right Reverend Mariann Edgar Budde, and The Very Reverend Randolph Marshall Hollerith deliver
the Commendation
The Most Reverend Sean Rowe delivers the Blessing
The Very Reverend Randolph Marshall Hollerith delivers the Dismissal
Dismissal song "All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name."

In-town pool report #9 — Carter casket arrival/program

A military honor guard slowly carried President Carter's American flag-draped casket into the Cathedral. Your pooler found a vantage point for President Biden, and former Presidents Obama and Trump, as well as Vice President Harris, and their spouses. All placed their right hands over their hearts until the casket was carefully lowered into place. The service is being live-streamed by C-SPAN.

A formatting error occurred on the first send of the service program. Here it is again, via the White House:

The President is delivering a eulogy at a memorial service for former President Jimmy Carter at the National Cathedral.

Attendees

The First Lady
The Vice President
The Second Gentleman

Program

Joshua Carter reads the First Lesson
(Romans 8:1-18, 38-39)
Steven Ford delivers remarks
Ted Mondale delivers remarks
The Armed Forces Chorus, the U.S. Marine Chamber Orchestra, and the Cathedral Choir perform "Eternal Father, Strong to Save."
Stuart Eizenstat delivers remarks
Jason Carter delivers remarks
Phyllis Adams and Leila Bolden perform "Song Rise to Thee."
The U.S. Marine Orchestra performs "Amazing Grace"
The President delivers a eulogy
James Carter delivers the Gospel reading
(Matthew 5:1-16)
Reverend Andrew Young delivers the
homily
Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood perform "Imagine."
The Lord's Prayer
The Right Reverend Mariann Edgar Budde and Reverend Anthony Lowden deliver The Prayers
The Most Reverend Sean Rowe, The Right Reverend Mariann Edgar Budde, and The Very Reverend Randolph Marshall Hollerith deliver
the Commendation
The Most Reverend Sean Rowe delivers the Blessing
The Very Reverend Randolph Marshall Hollerith delivers the Dismissal
Dismissal song "All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name."

in-town pool report #10 — soon: POTUS eulogy

President Biden is due to deliver his eulogy for President Carter soon. President Biden's eulogy will be live-streamed at the link below. More TK.

https://www.c-span.org/program/public-affairs-event/president-jimmy-carter-memorial-service-at-national-cathedral/653929&live

pool report #11 — POTUS wraps

President Biden ended his eulogy of President Carter with "God bless you, Jimmy Carter" at 11:42 a.m. Biden lightly touched the late president's casket as he returned to his seat. Those assembled inside the Cathedral are, once again, still and silent.

In-town pool report #12 — service ends/rolling

The state funeral service ended at 12:06 p.m. and a military honor guard three minutes later carried President Carter's casket past POTUS and the former presidents and vice presidents. Your pooler saw President Biden place his right hand over his heart, as did First Lady Jill Biden and Melania Trump. President-elect Trump did not, nor did former President Obama. We are rolling at 12:18 p.m. for the White House. More TK.

In-town pool report #13 — WH arrival/lunch lid

President Biden's motorcade stopped outside the South Portico at 12:29 p.m. POTUS entered the executive mansion via the Residence entrance. White House has called a lunch lid until 2 p.m. Pool was told a time for President Biden's wildfire briefing will be communicated soon.

in-town pool report #14 — briefing time

Greetings again. Flagging that the White House has set 4:30 p.m. as the time for President Biden's wildfire briefing, which will include a pool spray. Details below, via WH:

Update:

In the afternoon, the President will convene Senior White House and Administration officials for a briefing on the full federal response he has directed to the wildfires across Los Angeles. This briefing in the Roosevelt Room will have an in-house pool spray.

EST

4:30 PM THE PRESIDENT convenes Senior White House and Administration officials for a briefing on the full federal response he has directed to the wildfires across Los Angeles
Roosevelt Room
In-House Pool Spray (Gather 4:15 PM – Press Briefing Room)

In-town pool report #15 — gathered

The in-town pool has gathered in the briefing room for the wildfire response briefing pool spray with President Biden. More TK.

In-town pool report #16 — briefing starts/link

The pool entered the Roosevelt Room at 4:43 p.m. POTUS is seated at the center of a long table, surrounded by aides.

The WH is streaming the briefing at the below link. Your pooler will provide highlights, but the Roosevelt Room is known for connection issues.

https://www.youtube.com/live/pMW9E5MeAoY?si=Vi1wFzXHg4qEwKz7

In-town pool report #17 — POTUS & VPOTUS highlights

Biden said the federal government will cover wildfire response measures to protect life and property for 180 days.

As always, check quotes against video and transcript:

Biden said local utilities turned off power flows out of fears new fires could be sparked, but doing so turned off water pumping facilities. Generators are being shipped to California to help increase water flows, he said.

"We're going to keep at it," Biden said, noting winds could remain high there into next week. Therefore, he is ordering federal entities to provide whatever is needed.

"We are with you. We are not going anywhere," POTUS said to California residents. He called firefighters and other first responders "heroes." He vowed to get all invoked "every possible resource you need."

Vice President Harris was seated to Biden's right and Liz Sherwood-Randall to his left. She spoke after Biden:

VP called the conditions in her home state "apocalyptic" and "extremely dynamic."

"We are literally waiting to see what much way the winds blow," VP Harris said. "We know that this is something that will have an impact for months and years to come." She said she hopes there can be some way to address how to help families who had insurance policies canceled; she did not propose any potential remedies.

Federal officials are now delivering agency-specific updates. A link to the live-stream of the briefing is in pool report #16. Briefing is ongoing.

The White House passes along the following:

The President is convening Senior White House and Administration officials for a briefing on the full federal response he has directed to the wildfires across Los Angeles.

Participants
The Vice President
Secretary Tom Vilsack, Department of Energy
Acting Administrator Jane Nishida, Environmental Protection Agency
Deputy Secretary Kathleen Hicks, Department of Defense
General C.Q. Brown Jr., Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Deputy Secretary David Turk, Department of Energy
Chief Randy Moore, U.S. Forest Service

Virtual Participants
Secretary Jennifer Granholm, Department of Energy
Administrator Deanne Criswell, Federal Emergency Management Agency
Administrator Bob Fenton, FEMA Region 9
Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell, U.S. Fire Administrator
General Gregory Guillot, Commander, USNORTHCOM
Sarah Fisher, Director of the National Interagency Fire Center

White House Participants
Jeff Zients, Assistant to the President & Chief of Staff
Annie Tomasini, Assistant to the President & Deputy Chief of Staff
Mike Donilon, Assistant to the President & Senior Advisor to the President
Steve Richetti, Assistant to the President & Counselor to the President
Ben LaBolt, Assistant to the President & Senior Advisor to the President & Director of Communications
Karine Jean-Pierre, Assistant to the President & Senior Advisor to the President & Press Secretary
Liz Sherwood-Randall, Assistant to the President & Homeland Security Advisor & Deputy National Security Advisor
Caitlin Durkovich, Deputy Assistant to the President & Deputy Homeland Security Advisor for Resilience & Response
Jenn DeCesaro, Special Assistant to the President & Senior Director for Resilience

In-town pool report #18 — more briefing highlights

The pool was dismissed at 5:38 p.m. POTUS hit on a coming disaster funding request for Congress, hostages being held in Gaza and climate change. Please check quotes against video and/or transcript:

"Climate change is real … around the world," POTUS said. "It's real, it's having a profound impact." He said there is the capacity to deal with climate change, if there's a will to do so.

Asked for a possible recovery price tag, Biden said it was too early to project such a number. "It's a big, big number."

POTUS was told by Randy Moore of the U.S. Forest Service that the biggest concern on the ground are the winds in California. Moore told the president the high winds are preventing officials from launching aircraft, which he said would not extinguish the fires but could help better manage them.

Of lawmakers, POTUS said: "They're going to have to step up" when the administration requests new funding to respond to the California wildfires. "In the next little bit, we're going to be going back to Congress" for additional disaster assistance funding, Biden said.

Without naming President-elect Trump, who claims water is purposely not being allowed to flow to the impacted areas, Biden stressed again that power being shut off to try preventing new fires has been a reason ample water has not been available for firefighters in some places.

Biden took notes at several points in a binder. POTUS said 360,000 people have, so far, been evacuated. The Defense Department will be providing "an awful lot of help" in the coming days, POTUS said.

"There are going to be real problems" with the mental health impacts for fire victims, Biden said, telling the group the government must be ready to assist those individuals.

POTUS said, during his term, he has viewed from aircraft, an area "as big as the state of Maryland" from Arizona to Idaho and beyond, that has been "burned to the ground."

VP Harris took the last word as "the Californian at the table," saying the state is "beyond" having one wildfire season. For that, she blames climate change. Harris called for "more resources" for fire fighters and other first responder entities.

On Hamas-held hostages, Biden said "some progress" is being made in prisoner-exchange talks. He said he hopes his administration can broker such a deal before it expires on Jan. 20.

In-town pool report #20 — POTUS calls

Good evening. The White House passed along the below post-lid note:

Today President Biden spoke by phone separately with California Governor Gavin Newsom, Senator Adam Schiff, Congressman Brad Sherman, Congressman Ted Lieu, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, and Los Angeles County Supervisors Hilda Solis and Kathryn Barger to discuss the latest updates on the wildfires across Los Angeles.