Psaki Again Refuses Durham Questions, Says Biden “Trusts” School Curriculum After San Francisco Recall, Oil Nears $100

On 2/16/2022, Psaki continued the White House’s refusal to address the Durham investigation, deflecting questions about Clinton-connected operatives monitoring Trump White House servers to the Department of Justice. When asked about the landslide recall of three far-left school board members in San Francisco, Psaki said Biden “trusts in the role of teachers and the kind of curriculum they are providing” — even as voters had rejected that very curriculum. Oil prices neared $100 a barrel for the first time since 2014, and Psaki could only say “all options remain on the table.”

Durham Questions Stonewalled Again

A reporter asked whether there was still a system monitoring Executive Office of the President server data, and whether monitoring internet traffic constituted spying. Psaki refused both questions.

“Durham says there was an outside company with ties to the Clinton camp monitoring server data on the Executive Office of the President. Do you know if there’s still a system picking up server data on the EOP?” the reporter asked.

“I would point you to the Department of Justice,” Psaki said.

“Is monitoring internet traffic generally speaking something on the lines of spying?” the reporter pressed.

“Again, I’d point you to the Department of Justice,” Psaki repeated. This was the third consecutive day the White House had refused to engage with the Durham revelations, following Jean-Pierre’s identical deflections the day before.

San Francisco Recall: Biden “Trusts” the Curriculum

Voters in San Francisco had voted overwhelmingly to recall three school board members over controversies including renaming schools and far-left curriculum decisions. A reporter asked whether the White House believed “some of these school boards have moved too far to the left, adopted liberal policies beyond what voters seemingly approve of.”

Psaki declined any reaction to the local result but then offered a revealing answer. “The President is married to a teacher, so he certainly trusts in the role of teachers and educators across the country and the kind of curriculum that they are providing,” she said.

The response was notable given that San Francisco voters had just rejected the school board’s priorities in one of the most liberal cities in America, and Virginia voters had similarly rejected school board overreach in the 2021 governor’s race.

Oil Nearing $100 a Barrel

A reporter noted oil prices were approaching $100 per barrel — a milestone not reached since 2014. “What steps is the administration taking at this point to deal with oil prices?” the reporter asked.

Psaki’s answer was thin. “For the President, all options remain on the table. As you know, in the past or recent months, he tapped the Strategic Petroleum Reserve — 50 million barrels,” she said, offering no new measures.

Fed Nominees Held Up

Psaki addressed the standoff at the Senate Banking Committee, where Chairman Sherrod Brown was holding all five Federal Reserve nominees together rather than allowing Republicans to vote on them separately without Sarah Bloom Raskin. Psaki confirmed Biden personally backed the strategy.

“I was in the Oval Office when the President spoke with Senator Brown,” Psaki said. “He conveyed that he agrees that Republicans are AWOL on the fight against inflation. We support Chairman Brown’s decision to keep all five on the Fed board, pushing them forward through the committee.”

Student Loan Cancellation Punted to Congress

A reporter asked why Biden had not acted on student loan cancellation given support from AOC, Schumer, and the public. “The President has conveyed he’d be happy to sign a bill into law that all of those members could work to get passed,” Psaki said — continuing to punt unilateral action to Congress.

30 House Democrats Retiring

A reporter noted that 30 House Democrats had announced retirement. “Is the White House concerned that this is indicative of a broader political climate?” the reporter asked. Psaki cited the need to avoid political commentary but acknowledged “there are a range of retirements every cycle for a variety of reasons.”

Key Takeaways

Psaki refused for the third consecutive day to address the Durham investigation’s revelation that Clinton-connected operatives monitored Trump White House servers, saying only “Department of Justice.”
After San Francisco voters recalled three far-left school board members in a landslide, Psaki said Biden “trusts in the kind of curriculum” teachers and educators provide.
Oil neared $100 a barrel for the first time since 2014; Psaki’s only response was “all options remain on the table” after tapping 50 million barrels from the SPR.
Biden personally backed holding all five Fed nominees together despite the standoff delaying confirmation of members who could help fight inflation.
Thirty House Democrats had announced retirement; Psaki declined to address concerns about the political climate.

Transcript Highlights

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

Durham says there was an outside company with ties to the Clinton camp monitoring server data on the Executive Office of the President. I’d point you to the Department of Justice.
Is monitoring internet traffic something on the lines of spying? Again, I’d point you to the Department of Justice.
The President is married to a teacher, so he certainly trusts in the role of teachers and the kind of curriculum they are providing.
Oil prices are nearing $100 a barrel. For the President, all options remain on the table.
I was in the Oval Office when the President spoke with Senator Brown. He agrees that Republicans are AWOL on the fight against inflation.
The President has conveyed he’d be happy to sign a bill into law to cancel student debt that members could work to get passed.

Full transcript: 1326 words transcribed via Whisper AI.