Report Card Time for the Biden Administration! 📋
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Season 2: Episode 60 Description
In today's episode: 📋 Ten'ers, Sasha and Zach are here with the Biden administration report card.✔️Show host Bethany Van Delft joins us to share five interesting facts about the White House.🗞️ In the news: COVID-19 disrupting school, a tsunami strikes the Pacific, plus the youngest woman to fly solo around the world. And, test your knowledge about Vice President Kamala Harris on today's Trivia on the Ten. ✅
Sources
The White House Building | The White House
White House Facts | Scholastic
White House Facts | Scholastic
Joe Biden and Kamala Harris: 30 facts for Inauguration Day | kare11.com
As Omicron fuels surge, U.S. students stage walkouts to protest in-person classes | Reuters
Typhoons, wildfires, missiles: Teen flies solo round world | AP News
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TRANSCRIPT:
Sound Bit 0:01
I pledge to be a president who seeks not to divide but unify, who doesn't see red states and blue states only sees the United States.
Bethany Van Delft 0:12
One year ago, President Biden was sworn into office. How has he done so far? Let's find out. It's report card day for the Biden administration.
Sound Bit 0:23
I saught this office to restore the soul of America, the work of making that vision is real. It's the task of our time.
Bethany Van Delft 0:31
I'm Bethany Van Delft. It's Thursday, January 20th. And this is the Ten News.
Various Voices 0:36
10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.
Bethany Van Delft 0:44
President Biden, like all presidents, made a lot of promises on the campaign trail. Has his administration kept those promises, Ten'ers, and siblings Sasha and Zach are here today with a Biden administration report card?
Zach 1:03
I'm Zach.
Sasha 1:04
I'm Sasha.
Zach 1:05
Let's start with his strong grades for the
Sasha 1:09
Taking the lead on vaccine distribution and COVID Relief. This time last year, President Biden came into office and pledged that he would get 100 million COVID vaccinations into arms in 100 days, then he upped it to 200,000 in 100 days. The US hit that goal with a week to spare. At the same time, the President let the passing of a $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan, included direct cash payments to families and the increase in the Child Tax Credit. So parents remember that at tax time.
Zach 1:39
This was a plus work.
Sasha 1:40
Working with others on climate change. Under the Biden administration, the US has rejoined the Paris Climate pact, an international treaty with a goal to fight climate change, and has participated in global summits for how the world can take action. Way to go. Another great move was including new voices in his administration, like Deb Haaland, the first Native American head of the Interior Department to make sure indigenous voices are heard.
Zach 2:05
Solid B on this one. Nice.
Sasha 2:08
Thinking outside the box. Great work on passing the US' is largest Infrastructure bill at $1.2 trillion. The bill provides funding for roads, bridges, railroads rebuilding our water infrastructure, and lots more. It was so needed that it received bipartisan support, meaning both Democrats and Republicans supported it.
Zach 2:28
Yes, way to go. Joe, A- for you.
Sasha 2:31
And now areas that need improvement. Okay, better planning around the pandemic. We are so done with the pandemic. And while President Biden can't make it go away, of course, there is a lot more that we'd like to see happen.
Zach 2:45
Yep. Administration gets a C for now.
Sasha 2:49
Speaker more on voting rights. As you tenors know from listening to the show, many states have passed restrictive voting laws that make it harder for people to vote. We should be making it easier to vote not harder. President Biden has been slow to speak out against the voting restrictions and needs to get working with Congress on passing the John Lewis voting right back.
Zach 3:09
Sadly, this is a D grade and we hope to see major improvement here and protecting the right to vote for all Americans.
Sasha 3:17
Stay focused on what matters President invents an ambitious plan to help families and strengthen us is called Build Back Better. It started as a 1.75 trillion effort that includes more childcare for working parents, reduces health care costs, and promotes clean tech jobs. That's great. It's a big deal and includes a lot of projects that the Democratic Party has wanted to make happen for many years. But, the cost is scaring the members of the party and is already been cut in half. There's losing some important parts of the plan.
Zach 3:45
A C+ for now, and room to regrade once we see what the President is able to make happen.
Sasha 3:54
Overall, a mixed report card for President Biden. He ends his first year with a 2.7-grade point average. But we are going to give him some extra credit for handling the presidency during such a difficult year to bring it up to 3.0, a solid B.
Zach 4:08
Strong work with room for improvement.
Bethany Van Delft 4:11
Thank you, Zach and Sasha. President Biden and his wife, Dr. Jill Biden live in a traditional home of US presidents, the White House, but how much do you know about this Washington DC landmark? Here are five fascinating facts about the White House. Number one, every president except George Washington has lived in the White House. It was built in 1799. Number two, it wasn't always called the White House. Why? Over time, it was called President's Palace, the President's House, and the Executive Mansion. It wasn't until 1901 that President Teddy Roosevelt officially named it the White House cool. Number three, the White House has five full-time chefs. Whoa. I wonder if they make President Biden's favorite food, chocolate chip ice cream. Number four, the White House sounds like a pretty fun place to live, there's a tennis court jogging track, swimming pool, movie theater, billiard room, and a bowling lane. Where would I spend my time if I were president? Probably between the pool in the movie theater. What about you? Number five, to paint the outside of the White House, you'd need 570 gallons of paint. When I become president, yes, you heard it here first. There'd be a new rule, every incoming president gets to pick the color of the White House. My house would be the Rainbow House. You've probably heard that Joe Biden is the oldest person ever elected US president at 78 years old. But, did you know that he was one of the youngest people elected to the Senate? Seriously. Back in 1972. Joe Biden won a Senate race when he was in his 20's making him the fifth youngest person elected to the US Senate. Wow. Hey, Ten'ers, we know this month has been tough with lots of changes at school. And we've been wondering, how are you doing? Give us a call at 877-TEN-NEWS. That's 877 T E N N E W S leave us a voicemail to let us know. We'd love to hear from you. That's 877-TEN-NEWS. Can't wait. Now let's see what else is going on. As COVID-19 continues to disrupt schools, high school students in New York, Chicago, and Boston have staged walkouts to demand remote learning options and more testing. One student in Chicago told ABC News that it's super empowering to stand together with students all around the city to demand better COVID safety. John, the island nation of Tonga suffered extensive damage after it was hit by a massive ocean wave called a tsunami. The wave was triggered by a powerful volcanic eruption in the Pacific Ocean that could be seen from space. Tsunami warnings were also issued for Japan, California, Alaska, and Hawaii. Okay, that's bad. At 19 years old, Belgian British pilot Zahra Rutherford became the youngest woman ever to fly solo around the world. Because of wildfires and bad weather, its routes are more than 150 days to finish her trip. Zara hopes to inspire other girls to become aviators like her. Okay, it's time for...
Various Voices 8:16
What, what, what's the big idea?
Bethany Van Delft 8:19
Trivia on the Ten. Vice President Kamala Harris is a stepmom to two kids. Do you know what their nickname is for her? Is it a) Ka-momma? b) Madam Vice President or c) Mamala? Did you guess it? The answer is C. Kamala's stepkids call her Mamala. That's a pretty clever nickname. I'd stick to Kamala Harris, Madam Vice President. I don't know her that well, you know, you're right. Hey, do you have a fun trivia question to share? Let us know. Give us a call at 877-TEN-NEWS. That's 877 T E N N E W S or email us at hello@thetennews.com. Send us your trivia question, and we might have you read it in the show. You can also send us fun facts. And of course, let us know what you think. Time's up. But before we go, here's a quick note for the grownups. Thanks for listening to the Ten News. Look out for our new episodes on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and extras on Saturdays. The Ten News is a coproduction of Small But Mighty Media and Next Chapter Podcasts and is distributed by iHeartRadio. The Ten News creative team is thinking of fun colors for the White House and includes Tracey Crooks, Pete Musto, Adam Bernard, Tessa Flannery, and Nathalie Alonso. Our production director is Jeremiah Tittle and our executive producers are Donald Albright and show creator Tracy Leeds Kaplan. I'm Bethany Van Delft, and thanks for listening to the Ten News. I mean, really, how cool would it be if someone Roy G. Biv'd the White House? Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet, Roy G. Biv.
