Pool Reports of October 2, 2023

Checking in

Good morning!

Lid called until 12 p.m. today, which is also when South Lawn preset begins for the president's afternoon remarks "to celebrate the Americans with Disabilities Act."

Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre to brief the press at 12:30 p.m.

See below for the full schedule.

10:00 AM In-Town Pool Call Time

11:15 AM THE PRESIDENT receives the Presidential Daily Briefing; THE VICE PRESIDENT attends
Oval Office
Closed Press

2:00 PM THE PRESIDENT delivers remarks to celebrate the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA); THE VICE PRESIDENT and THE SECOND GENTLEMAN attend
South Lawn
Open Press (Preset 12:00 PM, Gather 1:45 – Palm Room Doors)[RSVP here by 9:00 AM]

4:30 PM THE PRESIDENT convenes his Cabinet to get an update on the progress we're making on pressing priorities for the country including implementing the historic legislation he has signed into law, balancing the promise and peril of artificial intelligence, and taking action on gun violence; THE VICE PRESIDENT participates
Cabinet Room
In-House Pool (Gather 4:20 PM – Brady Press Briefing Room)

Briefing Schedule

EDT

12:30 PM Press Briefing by Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre

Pool report #2 – Pre-set for South Lawn gathers now

Preset for South Lawn is gathering now.

Next up: Karine Jean-Pierre's briefing at 12:30 p.m.

In-town pool report #3

Briefing appears to be delayed. Will send update when it comes.

In-town pool report #4 – Two minute warning on briefing

[APP Note: No additional text was included in tis report.]

In-town press report #5 – Actress Selma Blair to attend ADA remarks

Actress Selma Blair, 51, will introduce President Biden this afternoon at the 2 p.m. ADA remarks on the South Lawn. Blair, who was diagnosed with MS in 2018, is best known for her roles in Legally Blonde, Cruel Intentions and the Hell Boy series.

During the briefing, KJP referred to her as "A woman who is challenging stereotypes about what people with disabilities can do today as we celebrate these landmarks."

Event is open press. Gather at Palm Room doors at 1:45 p.m.

In-town pool report #6 – Gather for ADA remarks

Please gather now at the Palm Room doors for Biden's ADA remarks on the South Lawn.

In-town pool update #7 – ACA remarks to begin "shortly"

President Biden's remarks on ADA will begin "shortly" on this unseasonably warm day. It's 81 degrees on this second day of October.

As previously mentioned, Selma Blair of "Legally Blonde" fame will introduce the president.

You pooler also spotted YouTubers and disability advocates "Squirmy and Grubbs" – Shane and Hannah Burcaw – in the audience.

In-town press pool update #8 – ACA remarks begin

VP Kamala Harris and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff arrived at 2:13 p.m.

Biden arrived at 2:16 p.m. with advocate Selma Blair on his arm as she carries her cane. Blair's service dog also walks alongside her.

Blair, who was diagnosed with MS in 2018, delivers her introduction at 2:17 p.m. wearing a stunning, bedazzled white suit.

Despite her diagnosis, speaks slowly but clearly. Though she struggled getting out her words briefly near the end of her introduction.

Elizabeth Dole, Tammy Duckworth and Steny Hoyer are also in attendance.

This event is being livestreamed.

In-town pool update #9 – In place for Cabinet briefing pool spray

Your pooler is in place for the pool press spray ahead of the president's cabinet meeting, which was set to begin at 4:30.

Topics will include recent legislation, artificial intelligence and gun reform.

From the White House:

President Biden will convene his cabinet to get an update on the progress we're making on pressing priorities for the country including implementing the historic legislation he has signed into law, balancing the promise and peril of artificial intelligence, and taking action on gun violence; THE VICE PRESIDENT participates

In-town pool report #10 – No response from Biden on Ukraine/McCarthy deal

Pool spray at 4:54 p.m. Cabinet meeting began immediately after.

President Biden did not respond to multiple shouted questions regarding whether he struck a deal with Speaker McCarthy on Ukraine aid.

In-town pool report #11 – Full Biden quotes

Travel/photo lid called at 4:59 p.m.

Below are the full quotes from the president ahead of the cabinet meeting:

"Good afternoon. My thanks to the Congress in passing and signing into law the spending bill to keep the government open. It's good news to American people that the government will not shut down and the latest crisis has been averted, at least temporarily, saving millions of Americans from needless pain.

And the truth is, we shouldn't have gotten there in the first place. By the end of this governing crisis, it's time to end these constant – (He cuts himself off) – anyway, this agreement averts an immediate crisis, but it ends in just 44 days. I strongly urge my Republican colleagues in Congress not to wait 44 days. Don't waste time like you did this summer; pass a year-long budget agreement, honor the deal we made a few months ago when they were threatening to renege on our national debt. And we cannot under any circumstances allow American support for Ukraine to be interrupted. Too many lives are at stake, too many children and too many people.

I fully expect the Speaker and the majority of Republicans in Congress to keep their commitment to secure the passage of the support needed to help Ukraine defend itself against Russian aggression and brutality. Let's all remember that we have the strongest economy in the world, so let's build on it. Let's build on what we've accomplished.

We are – and I told you before I think Madeleine Albright was correct – we are the 'indispensable nation' in the world, and we need to act like it to make sure the American people, our allies and friends around the world know what we're doing and what we intend to do. That's why I wanted to convene this cabinet meeting – to get an update on the progress we're making on pressing priorities for our country.

And those include understanding the promise and peril of artificial intelligence that we talked about that last meeting. It includes taking action on gun violence, following up on a recent announcement of a new White House office on gun violence prevention that's going to be overseen by the vice president. And today's meeting is going to provide an implementation update on both of those items. With that, let's get our meeting started."