Psaki Warns March Inflation Will Be “Extraordinarily Elevated” Due to “Putin’s Price Hike”; Says Harris Was “Human” When Caught Maskless

On 4/11/2022, Psaki warned that March inflation numbers would be “extraordinarily elevated due to Putin’s price hike” — pre-framing the data before it was released. A reporter pushed back, noting Michigan voters told her “inflation has predated the war and it can’t all be blamed on Putin.” Psaki explained Harris being photographed maskless at an indoor event after a close contact by saying “there were moments when she was human.” The White House also could not say whether Biden would ever visit Ukraine, refused to confirm reaching out to any Republicans on immigration, and declined to predict when student loan payments would resume.

”Extraordinarily Elevated”

Psaki set expectations the day before the March CPI release. “We expect March CPI headline inflation to be extraordinarily elevated due to Putin’s price hike,” Psaki said. “Because of the actions we’ve taken to address the Putin price hike we are in a better place than we were last month.”

A reporter caught the framing problem. “I just got back from Michigan talking to a lot of voters who told me that they feel inflation has predated the war and it can’t all be blamed on Putin,” the reporter said.

Psaki partially conceded. “We’ve never — we talked about inflation long before there was an invasion,” she said. But she maintained the Putin frame for the upcoming headline number: “Because of the increase in the price of oil, you’re going to see an increase in the overarching headline number.”

She pivoted to legislation. “Any time there is heightened monthly data, it is a reminder that we need to do more to reduce costs — cut the cost of childcare, healthcare, elder care,” Psaki said.

Harris Was “Human” When Caught Maskless

Harris was photographed standing over Biden without a mask at an indoor event — after having been designated a close contact. A reporter asked Psaki to explain.

“It was an emotional day, it was a historic day, and there were moments when she was not wearing a mask inside, including in a photo. But she was wearing it 99.9 percent of the time,” Psaki said.

A reporter pressed on the logic. “You cited emotional day, important day. Are you saying those are reasons to not follow CDC guidelines?”

“Absolutely not,” Psaki said. “There was a photo, and there are moments when she was human and she didn’t have a mask on in a photo.”

“Because of the photo? Because it’s an important day and the photo will live for decades?” the reporter asked.

“I think it was a decision made in the moment. But it doesn’t mean that we don’t all try to be model citizens,” Psaki said.

Student Loans: Payments Coming — Eventually

A reporter asked whether anyone holding student loan debt would “ever have to make a payment during the Biden administration.”

“I suspect that sometime you will,” Psaki said. “But we are going to continue to assess every month, every few months, on where things stand — looking at COVID but also economic data and where we need to continue to help give the American people some breathing room.”

Ukraine Visit: “Not Currently Planning”

A reporter asked about Biden visiting Ukraine after he had said in Poland that he wanted to go but “they wouldn’t let me.” “Who are ‘they’?” the reporter asked.

“I’m not going to get into private considerations internally on that front,” Psaki said. “We’re not currently planning a trip by the president.”

Immigration: “Open Invitation” But No Outreach

Psaki was asked whether the White House had actually reached out to any Republicans on immigration. “It has been a long-standing open invitation. Any Republican who wants to work with us — you’re invited,” Psaki said. “We have not seen an expression of that interest across the board.”

“So you’re wanting Republicans to go to you if the White House is not reaching out to any of them?” the reporter pressed.

“We have conversations with Democrats and Republicans all the time,” Psaki said. “But what we’re seeing from Republicans is an effort to politicize this and not fix what we all recognize as an outdated and broken system.”

India and the Coalition

A reporter asked whether India’s refusal to condemn Russia represented a failure to broaden the anti-Russia coalition. Psaki said “countries go at different paces” and noted India had “condemned the recent horrific atrocities in Bucha.” But she could not confirm Biden had asked India to condemn the invasion itself.

Key Takeaways

• Psaki pre-framed March inflation as “extraordinarily elevated due to Putin’s price hike” before data release — while a reporter noted Michigan voters said inflation “predated the war.”
• She explained Harris being photographed maskless at an indoor event by saying “there were moments when she was human.”
• Student loan borrowers were told they would “sometime” have to make payments — but the administration would “continue to assess.”
• The White House was “not currently planning” a Biden trip to Ukraine and would not explain who “they” were that wouldn’t let him go.
• Psaki said immigration was an “open invitation” to Republicans but admitted the White House had not actually reached out to any.

Transcript Highlights

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

• We expect March CPI to be extraordinarily elevated due to Putin’s price hike.
• Voters told me inflation predated the war and can’t all be blamed on Putin. We’ve never — we talked about inflation long before there was an invasion.
• There were moments when she was human and she didn’t have a mask on in a photo.
• Do you think student loan holders will ever make a payment during the Biden administration? I suspect sometime you will.
• Any Republican who wants to work with us on immigration — you’re invited. We have not seen an expression of that interest.
• We’re not currently planning a trip by the president to Ukraine.

Full transcript: 1324 words transcribed via Whisper AI.