Biden Tells Governors “We’ve Sent You a Whole Hell of a Lot of Money,” Dodges Reporters, 76% Want All SCOTUS Nominees Considered

On 1/31/2022, President Biden told governors “we’ve sent you a whole hell of a lot of money and we’re going to send you more” — then awkwardly dodged reporters trying to ask questions after he invited them himself. Psaki was confronted with a poll showing 76% of Americans wanted Biden to consider all possible Supreme Court nominees rather than only Black women, and she attacked Fox News’s crime coverage while border patrol agents were caught on video expressing deep frustration with administration policies.

Biden Invites Questions, Then Flees

In one of the more awkward moments of his presidency, Biden told a room of governors: “Why don’t I stop and take any questions you all may have?” He then called on a governor to speak. But when reporters began shouting questions, Biden’s staff quickly ushered the media out.

“Thank you guys. Let’s go. Thank you guys. Thank you. Come on, let’s go,” Biden said as reporters were pushed out.

A CNN anchor described the scene: “So that was so awkward right then, because clearly the president did not know that when you say ‘Can I take any questions,’ all the media in the room might have a few."

"A Whole Hell of a Lot of Money”

Biden’s message to the governors was direct. “We’ve sent you a whole hell of a lot of money, and we’re going to send you more. Keep using it as well as you have,” Biden said.

A reporter pressed Psaki on the tension between more spending and inflation. “The Fed Chairman last week said that a drop in fiscal spending this year will help ease inflation. What’s the level of concern that more spending would contribute to inflation?” Psaki said there would “still be a massive drop this year because of the end of a number of programs.”

76% Want All Nominees Considered

An ABC News/Ipsos poll showed 76% of Americans wanted Biden to “consider all possible nominees” for the Supreme Court, not only Black women as he had pledged. Only 23% supported Biden’s approach.

Psaki deflected by citing precedent. “President Reagan promised the country he would nominate the country’s first woman to serve on the court, and he did so. Former President Trump also promised to choose a woman just over a year ago, and there was no such complaint from the voices on the right who are speaking out now,” she said.

When asked how many candidates Biden was reviewing, Psaki said only that “the number of bios and information that the president has been reviewing was greater than three” — pushing back on reports naming three primary contenders.

Border Agents: “Good Men Are Doing Nothing”

A reporter raised a leaked video showing border patrol agents expressing deep frustration during a visit from DHS leadership. One agent was heard saying: “For evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing. That’s exactly what’s happening here. Good men are doing nothing. You’re allowing illegal aliens to be dropped off in communities.”

Psaki said she had not “watched and detailed the video” and pointed to the Department of Homeland Security. “The role that border patrol agents play in ensuring security and safety at our borders is something that there’s great value for in this administration,” she said.

Psaki Attacks Fox News Crime Coverage

Psaki took an unusual step of directly attacking Fox News’s on-air coverage. She described looking at the competing cable news chyrons: “CNN — Pentagon: as many as 8,500 US troops on heightened alert. Same on MSNBC. And then on Fox is Jeanine Pirro talking about soft-on-crime consequences.”

“What does that even mean?” Psaki said. “So there’s an alternate universe on some coverage. What’s scary about it is a lot of people watch that. Soft on crime consequences — what even is that?”

When asked whether she was expressing the administration’s view or her personal opinion, Psaki said: “What I was speaking to was a chyron on Fox News, which suggested this administration is soft on crime with no basis.”

Sarah Bloom Raskin’s Husband

A reporter asked whether Biden’s Federal Reserve nominee Sarah Bloom Raskin could maintain Fed independence given that her husband, Rep. Jamie Raskin, had been an impeachment manager against Trump. Psaki pushed back sharply. “She’s said by many to be the most qualified person to be nominated to this role, which I think is probably more important than who she’s married to,” Psaki said.

Key Takeaways

Biden told governors “we’ve sent you a whole hell of a lot of money” then awkwardly fled from reporters after inviting questions himself.
An ABC/Ipsos poll showed 76% of Americans wanted Biden to consider all possible SCOTUS nominees, not only Black women; Psaki cited Reagan and Trump precedent.
Leaked video showed border agents telling DHS leadership “good men are doing nothing — you’re allowing illegal aliens to be dropped off in communities.”
Psaki directly attacked Fox News’s crime coverage, calling it “an alternate universe” and asking “what does that even mean?”
Biden’s crime approval rating was at 36% in a December poll, but Psaki said the issue should not be “a political football.”

Transcript Highlights

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

We’ve sent you a whole hell of a lot of money. And we’re going to send you more. Keep using it as well as you have.
So that was so awkward right then, because clearly the president did not know that when you say can I take any questions, all the media might have a few.
For evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing. That’s exactly what’s happening. Good men are doing nothing. You’re allowing illegal aliens to be dropped off in communities.
76% want the president to consider all possible nominees, not only Black women. President Reagan promised the first woman. There was no such complaint.
On Fox is Jeanine Pirro talking about soft-on-crime consequences. What does that even mean? There’s an alternate universe on some coverage.
She’s said by many to be the most qualified person for this role, which is probably more important than who she’s married to.

Full transcript: 1476 words transcribed via Whisper AI.