Biden On His First 100 Days: Immigration Bill, Environment And Coronavirus Relief

Topline

President-Elect Joe Biden on Tuesday laid out his top priorities for his first 100 days in office while tempering expectations about just how much of his ambitious agenda can be accomplished with a likely Republican majority in the Senate.

Key Facts

Key Background

The transition got fully underway on Tuesday after General Services Administration head Emily Murphy authorized it on Monday. A Biden transition official told Forbes they have begun interfacing with all federal agencies, while two White House officials said Biden has begun receiving the President’s daily brief, a top-secret intelligence document. Biden told Holt Trump administration officials have been “sincere” and not “begrudging” in their outreach.

Crucial Quote

“I think we’re gonna not be so far behind the curve as I thought we might be,” Biden said after warning that Trump blocking the transition could lead to delayed progress on a vaccine and national security risks.

Chief Critic

Politico Playbook author Jake Sherman reported that interviews like Biden’s sit-down with Holt will be the exception rather than the rule during his presidency. “They won’t happen that often… We’ll complain, and they won’t care,” Sherman predicted in a tweet. “We can’t imagine he’ll pop into the briefing room with regularity, or tweet his emotions… you probably will rarely see many of these Cabinet officials.”

What To Watch For

Biden sought to assuage concerns that his administration would be a “third Obama term,” telling Holt the U.S. faces “a totally different world than we faced in the Obama/Biden administration” because “President Trump has changed the landscape.”

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