Harris Says U.S. Has “Strong Alliance With the Republic of North Korea”; Biden Calls FEMA Chief “Griswold”; Economist Warns of “Stagflation for Years”

On 9/29/2022, VP Harris made a major gaffe at the DMZ, declaring “the United States shares a very important relationship, which is an alliance with the Republic of North Korea. And it is an alliance that is strong and enduring.” She meant South Korea. Biden called FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell “Griswold” during hurricane remarks and appeared to wander away from the podium while staff called after him. An economist warned of “a stagflationary tendency in our economy for the next several years."

"Alliance With the Republic of North Korea”

Harris’s gaffe occurred during a visit to the Korean Demilitarized Zone — arguably the most sensitive diplomatic location in the world to confuse the two Koreas. “The United States shares a very important relationship, which is an alliance with the Republic of North Korea,” Harris said. “And it is an alliance that is strong and enduring.”

She meant to say “the Republic of Korea” — South Korea’s official name. The “Republic of North Korea” does not exist; North Korea’s official name is the “Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.” The slip placed the U.S. in an alliance with the very regime it was there to deter.

The gaffe came during a trip designed to demonstrate American resolve on the Korean Peninsula amid North Korean missile tests.

Biden: “Griswold”

During hurricane response remarks, Biden mangled the name of his FEMA administrator. “The FEMA administrator, who has become the MVP here these days — I spent a lot of time in this room — Griswold, FEMA, and the entire workforce,” Biden said.

The FEMA administrator’s name is Deanne Criswell — not “Griswold.” The error was reminiscent of Biden’s repeated struggles with names of his own appointees throughout his presidency.

Biden Wanders Away

Staff were heard calling after Biden as he appeared to walk away from the podium before finishing his remarks. “Thank you. Mr. President. Good night. Thank you,” staff said repeatedly as Biden moved away from the microphone area.

”Stagflation for Years”

An economist delivered a grim forecast. “Basically had inflation under control for 40 years, despite oil fluctuations and supply shocks. We lost the thread, along with many other countries, about a year and a half ago, with massively expansionary policies relative to the size of the GDP gap,” the economist said.

“The fiscal stimulus was five times as large as it had been during the financial crisis,” the economist continued. His prediction: “A best guess — not a certainty, but a best guess — there will be a stagflationary tendency in our economy for the next several years.”

Biden on DeSantis: “Totally Irrelevant”

A reporter asked about Biden’s relationship with Governor DeSantis during hurricane response. “What do you describe your relationship and your conversation with Governor DeSantis?” the reporter asked.

“It’s totally irrelevant, but I’ll answer it, okay? In fact, very fine. He complimented me. He thanked me,” Biden said. “This is not about whether or not anything having to do with our disagreements politically. I’ve talked to him four or five times already.”

Kerry on China

Climate envoy Kerry offered a surprising defense of China’s climate efforts while acknowledging they weren’t enough. “China has a plan. They’ve put a plan in place. We think they could be doing more,” Kerry said. “China is going to be building more electric vehicles — put on the road over the next year more than all the rest of the world put together.”

“I’m not excusing China. I’m just telling you that China is moving to do additional things,” Kerry added.

Webb Telescope Enthusiasm

Biden went on an extended tangent about the James Webb Space Telescope images. “Have you seen the photographs? It’s humbling. They show us three billion years back to the beginning. Galaxies we didn’t know existed. It’s the most humbling thing you have ever seen,” Biden said — drawing the briefing away from hurricane and economic topics.

Key Takeaways

Harris declared the U.S. has “a strong and enduring alliance with the Republic of North Korea” — meaning South Korea — at the DMZ, the most sensitive location for such a gaffe.
Biden called FEMA Administrator Criswell “Griswold” and appeared to wander from the podium during hurricane remarks.
An economist warned of “a stagflationary tendency for the next several years,” noting fiscal stimulus was “five times as large” as during the financial crisis.
Biden called his relationship with DeSantis “totally irrelevant” but “very fine” during hurricane cooperation.
Kerry defended China’s climate efforts while acknowledging “they could be doing more.”

Transcript Highlights

The following is transcribed from the video audio (unverified — AI-generated from audio).

The United States shares a very important relationship — an alliance with the Republic of North Korea. It is strong and enduring.
The FEMA administrator — Griswold, FEMA, and the entire workforce.
A best guess — there will be a stagflationary tendency in our economy for the next several years.
What’s your relationship with DeSantis? Totally irrelevant, but very fine. He thanked me.
China is going to put more EVs on the road next year than all the rest of the world put together.
Have you seen the Webb telescope photographs? Galaxies we didn’t know existed. It’s humbling.

Full transcript: 533 words transcribed via Whisper AI.