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House Censures Rep. Gosar, Removes Him From Committees Over Violent Anime Video Targeting Biden, Ocasio-Cortez; Biden Touts Sweeping Agenda, Sells New Infrastructure Plan; Belarus Moves 1,000 Migrants From Border To Processing Center; Some Migrants Finally Given Shelter Amid Poland-Belarus Border Crisis. Aired 5-6p ET

Aired November 17, 2021 - 17:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

[17:00:00]

IVAN WATSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: This is a strange and disturbing story that's only gotten stranger. Pamela.

PAMELA BROWN, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Certainly.

Ivan Watson, thank you.

I'm Pamela Brown and for Jake Tapper. Our coverage continues next.

WOLF BLITZER, CNN HOST: Happening now, breaking news, a divided House casts a historic vote to censure Republican Congressman Paul Gosar and expel him from committees. Partisan tensions exploding over Gosar's posting of a cartoon video depicting violence against President Biden and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

Also breaking, jurors in the Kyle Rittenhouse homicide trial are reviewing key video evidence, how might it influence their potential verdict? We're following all the new developments on day two of deliberations.

And we're also standing by to hear momentarily from President Biden on the road in Detroit selling his new infrastructure law, making the case for Congress to pass the rest of his very ambitious agenda.

We want to welcome our viewers here in the United States and around the world. I'm Wolf Blitzer. You're in THE SITUATION ROOM.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is CNN breaking news.

BLITZER: Let's get straight to the breaking news. First on Capitol Hill. Our Chief Congressional Correspondent Manu Raju is working the story for us.

Manu, a rather rare and very dramatic move by the House of Representatives.

MANU RAJU, CNN CHIEF CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, very rare indeed, Wolf. Not common that a member of Congress will get censured. This is the first time that has happened in 11 years. And also very rare for the House to actually move to strip someone of their committee assignments, just a second time a House majority has done that to a minority member. Second time this year.

This happening to Paul Gosar in the aftermath of him tweeting that violent video depicting him in animated form murdering Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a Democrat from New York and threatening violence against the President of the United States. Democrats said that it was a bridge too far that he must be reprimanded, removed from his two committees and censured by the House. And that is exactly what happened.

Just moments ago, the vote in the House 223 to 207 to one, just two Republicans joined with the Democrats. Those two Republicans Adam Kinzinger and Liz Cheney who have famously sparred with the former President Donald Trump. Those two are the only ones who voted to wit the Democrats. Only one Republican voted present because of his role on the House Ethics Committee telling me that this issue is going to be looked at further by the House Ethics Committee, that Congressman David Joyce.

But nevertheless, this debate on the floor broke down along short party lines. And the Speaker of the House said the House must act.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. NANCY PELOSI (D-CA), HOUSE SPEAKER: As a woman Speaker of the House, I want to be clear these threats specifically target a woman, a woman of color, which is part of the resolution stage, a global phenomenon meant to silence women, to discourage them for seeking positions of authority and participating in public life. Again, this is about workplace harassment and violence against women.

One number of leadership said, unfortunately in this world we're in right now we all get death threats, no matter what the issue is. Death threats from our colleagues, death threats from members of Congress.

REP. KEVIN MCCARTHY (R-CA), MINORITY LEADER: It's an old definition of abuse of power. Rules for thee but not for me. That's exactly what's happening here today.

House Democrats are preparing once again to break another president of the United States House of Representatives.

Let me be clear, I do not condone violence, and Representative Gosar had echoed that sentiment.

REP. ALEXANDRIA OCASIO-CORTEZ (D-NY): It is sad. It is a sad day in which a member who leads a political party in the United States of America cannot bring themselves to say that issuing a depiction of murdering a member of Congress is wrong.

What is so hard? What is so hard about saying that this is wrong? This is not about me. This is not about Representative Gosar, but this is about what we are willing to accept.

It's pretty cut and dry. Do you find -- does anyone in this chamber find this behavior acceptable? Would you allow depictions of violence against women, against colleagues? Would you allow that in your home? REP. PAUL GOSAR (R-AZ): I rise today to address and reject and the mischaracterization, accusations from many in this body that the cartoon from my office is dangerous or threatening. It was not. And I reject the false narrative categorically.

[17:05:08]

I do not espouse violence towards anyone. I never have. It was not my purpose to make anyone upset.

I voluntarily took the cartoon down not because it was itself a threat, but because some thought it was.

If I must join Alexander Hamilton, the first person attempted to be censored by this House, so be it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

RAJU: Now, Gosar never apologize for this. He did address his conference behind closed doors yesterday, explained it, said he took it down, claimed that he didn't see the video that had been tweeted until afterwards. And he did speak to the Republican leader after that.

But even talking to a number of Republicans, Wolf, very few were defending what he did, his tweet. A one congressman, Tom Rice, who actually voted to impeach Donald Trump, who voted against the censure resolution told me, the video was idiotic and mature and stupid, but I don't think it was a threat. Wolf.

BLITZER: You know, Manu, tell us about that moment when Congressman Gosar was actually censured by the House of Representatives.

RAJU: Yes, it's very rare, as I mentioned about having a vote to censure a member of Congress. When it does happen here in the House, a member as they actually go to the well of the House and listen to the charges being read aloud by the Speaker of the House. That happened back in 2010 when Democrats Charlie Rangel of New York faced a similar situation, similar reprimand by the House. And the speaker of the time was also Nancy Pelosi reading aloud and she did just that moments ago.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PELOSI: The House will be in order. Will Representative Gosar present himself in the well?

By its adoption of House resolution 789, the House is resolved that Representative Paul Gosar of Arizona be censured, that Representative Paul Gosar forthwith present himself in the well of the House for the pronouncement of censure, that represented Paul Gosar be censured with the public reading of this resolution by the Speaker, and that Representative Paul Gosar be and is hereby removed from the Committee on Natural Resources and the Committee on Oversight and Reform.

(END VIDEO CLIP) RAJU: Now, standing at the well was Paul Gosar along with some of likeminded allies, conservatives who are part of the House Freedom Caucus. And after that gavel was banged down, Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene yelled out, quote, "What about Eric Swalwell," referring to the Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee who Republicans are threatening to kick off that committee if they take back the majority next year.

And Wolf, the larger issue here among Republicans, they're saying they will seek retribution against Democrats. If they do take back the majority, kick them off their committees when they view any action that's untoward by their members.

So, even though what we saw here, Wolf, just a beginning of what we can see between the two sides, and the months and potentially years to come. Wolf.

BLITZER: And probably just the beginning. All right, Manu, thank you very much. Manu Raju reporting from Capitol Hill.

Let's get some more in all of this. Our Chief Political Analyst Gloria Borger is with us, and our CNN Senior Political Analyst Ron Brownstein is with us as well.

Gloria, why was it so hard for virtually every Republican to simply condemn Gosar's behavior, hold him accountable?

GLORIA BORGER, CNN CHIEF POLITICAL ANALYST: Well, because, Wolf, this was about a lot of other things in addition to Gosar's reprehensible behavior. I think they feel as McCarthy laid out that if they take control of the House, that there's going to be an eye for an eye. And they wanted to use this as an opportunity to say to Democrats, just wait.

And as McCarthy said, memorably, I believe he said, the speaker is burning down the House on her way out the door. And that was a warning that if you do this to Gosar, we're going to do this to you. We're going to strip your members from committee, we're going to censure your members if we believe that they have behaved badly, so be careful what you do.

So they were trying to make, I mean, it should have been an easy and easy vote, it seemed to be for Cheney and Kinzinger, but they were making a larger political point, which is that you Democrats, you're going to get it. And by the way, you're a bunch of hypocrites because you've had a bunch of members who have behaved badly and you've never censured them. So, they were more concerned with making the larger point than they were about Gosar.

BLITZER: You know it's interesting, Ron, the House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy gave a rather rambling statement complaining about gas prices, complaining about Democrats holding Republicans to what he called was a double standard. Do you think that was all about pleasing in effect, the former President Trump?

RON BROWNSTEIN, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: Yes, not only Donald Trump, but I think the forces that have are kind of revolving around Donald Trump.

And now look at this a little differently, I think what we saw today was, as I wrote last winter, that the extremist wing and the GOP has become too big to fail. I think that Kevin McCarthy and others Republicans were simply unwilling to directly confront the kind of extremism that Gosar represents.

[17:10:06]

And you know, Daniel Patrick Moynihan, as all of us remember, used to talk about defining deviancy down. We are watching a process like that underway in the Republican Party in terms of more tolerance and acquiescence to anti-Democratic and even violent behavior. I mean, you can walk it up the pyramid, Wolf, from more threats to public health officials and school board officials and local government officials, or watching in the red states in terms of laws making it harder to vote and easier to subvert election results to what we're seeing in Congress with the opposition to this and the lockstep Republican resistance to the January 6 Commission, with exception of Kinzinger and Cheney, and the willingness to turn away from the mounting evidence that Trump has tried to subvert the election, which seems to be coming out every day. I think all of this points in the same direction, it is harder and harder for the party to stand up against these extremist forces.

BORGER: You know, you have people in the party, Wolf, who were talking about pulling committee assignments from people who voted for the infrastructure bill. And you know, Donald Trump wants to primary all of them. But these are people who voted the way they think their constituents would want them to vote. They're moderates.

They're there in endanger districts, and they voted one way on policy. And that they are talking about stripping them of committee assignments in the Republican Party because they voted a different way? I mean, this is a real turn to darkness, when it comes to, you know, the politics of our country.

BLITZER: And Gloria, you know, we also heard multiple members draw parallels to what happened back on January 6. Are we seeing some sort of normalization of political violence?

BORGER: Well, you know, as Ron was saying, I think people are accepting more. You have January 6 Republicans, including Gosar, himself talking about what occurred on January 6, the insurrection, as being a walk in the park, you know, a bunch of tourists, nothing, you know, out of the ordinary. And so, they're rewriting history here.

And what's more and more acceptable is that, and the politics of pure grievance that we are seeing over and over again. And that is what you're seeing play out in the House. And I think also in the future, I think we can sadly predict that you're going to see more of it and not less of it if the Congress changes hands, and there's going to be an eye for an eye, there's going to be retribution here, no doubt about it.

BLITZER: Well, how worried are you, Ron, about that? BROWNSTEIN: Look, I think those who have race history are determined to repeat it. And I think what we're seeing both on the January 6 front, in terms of as Gloria said, Republicans trying to normalize and whitewash what happened, but also the intense determination of not only Republicans elected officials but essentially the entire Republican conservative commentary of class to ignore the mounting evidence of what Trump was trying to do and subverting the election. All of this points toward increasing risk that this sort of thing will happen again.

And you know, one of the questions will be, if the Republicans win control of the House or Senate, will they certify a Democratic win in 2024 regardless of the circumstances. And the kind of vote you see today gives you more reason to worry about whether that would occur.

BLITZER: Our guys, standby. We're also awaiting the President of the United States. He's about to deliver an important speech in Detroit on infrastructure, other issues. We'll go there live right after a quick break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[17:18:02]

BLITZER: We're looking at live pictures coming in from Detroit right now. The President of United States getting ready to deliver remarks on the bipartisan infrastructure law. That was a Yolanda Passement of the United Auto Workers Local 22 speaking. I think she's the last speaker before the President United States. We'll get to the microphone over there and deliver his speech.

Our Chief White House Correspondent Kaitlan Collins is joining us right now.

Kaitlan, the President just visited, what, the GM plant in Detroit. He's speaking about infrastructure plans, investments in electric vehicles, a very important issue. He's walking to the microphone right now. We're going to listen to what he has to say. And then we'll assess what we just heard.

But, Kaitlin, this is part of his effort to generate support, right?

KAITLAN COLLINS, CNN CHIEF WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Yes, it is. And what he's speaking at is this retooled GM factory, Wolf. Where you see there's electric vehicles behind him. It's a factory that only makes electric vehicles. Of course that plays into his infrastructure bill. So we'll listen to what the President has to say about it.

BLITZER: All right, here he is, the President of the United States.

JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: It's great to be back.

Before I began, I just want to mention three pieces of good news today. First, through the leading rating agencies on Wall Street confirmed today, not a liberal think tank to Wall Street outfits that the economic proposals we put forward for the nation, the infrastructure law we just signed in the Bill Back Better plan are being considered this week, and Congress will not add to inflationary pressures in the economy.

Now one, here's what one of the agency said and I quote, "The bills do not add inflation pressures." Let me repeat that, do not add inflation pressures. Reason? Because the policies I proposed, quote, "help lift long-term economic growth via stronger productivity, labor force growth, as well as taking the edge of inflation."

[17:20:01]

A second point I want to make, we've learned today the job growth in the nation as even stronger than previously reported. Every month since I've been president I stand the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports the estimated number of jobs created or lost in the country of that month. Then they go back, and they look at more information and check their estimates against what actually happened and give us an updated final number.

What we found out today is when they look back for the last four months, we actually created 710,000 more jobs in the country than previous report. On top of the 5.6 million, we already had created and been counted, and we knew about. So it's good news. And Americans are working and wages are up as well.

Thirdly, with holidays coming, but by the way, all sit down, man, if you have a seat. I'm not used to being president, everybody's standing. I'm sorry.

Walmart and Target have made public today what they told me about a week ago that they're stocked up for the holiday season, their inventories are up and they'll have all the toys, food and other items that shoppers are looking for in the holiday season. That's going to happen.

So, now let me begin. God, it's good to be back in Detroit. And that HUMMER is one hell of a vehicle, man. As we used to say in the Senate, as some of my senators, colleagues you'll know like Debbie, excuse the point of personal privilege. I came up in an automobile family. My dad ran the largest automobile dealership he didn't own, he just ran it for 30 years in Delaware and so I was raised on cars. And I have a 1967 Corvette that I got as a wedding gift.

When my deceased wife and I got married, my dad could afford the payments, he couldn't afford to buy it. But the point was, I thought that was the Hell's Bells, man, 327, 350, zero to 60 and 5.3 seconds. This truck three times heavier. Zero to 60 in three seconds. And besides, there's a beautiful red Corvette, maroon Corvette I'm driving home over here.

Yolanda, thank you for the introduction. The President Ray Curry, thank you. No one does more to look out for American auto workers than Ray Curry. It is great to be with you today, pal. And happy birthday.

I want to thank the team here at GM, especially to your Chairwoman Mary Barra. Mary, you are -- you're an incredible leader. You really are. Thank you for hosting us at the very same facility where you once served as a plant manager. I believe Mary gotten a promotion or two since then. I know a lot about that as a son of a car guy.

Thirty years ago, 40 years ago my dad managed those dealerships back home. I used to work in my dad's operation. Drive up to Mannheim automobile auction and bring back automobiles. And I guess I got a promotion too.

Look, I got a chance to drive a pretty incredible machine back then. I thought I -- but I never could have imagined vehicles like the ones that I just took for spin.

The first ever all electric comer, which I first got to check out back in August when GM brought one of the White House -- one to the White House lawn, in the South Lawn, along with the electric Ford 150 and the electric Jeep Wagoneer, masterpieces of modern manufacturing built by union workers. And proof, and proof that America has what it takes to win the competition in the 21st century.

I want to thank Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist, who's become a friend. As well as I want to thank representative -- where's Representative Tlaib, I want to thank her for the passport into the city and to your district, thank you. I appreciate it very much.

I want to thank my Secretary of Labor, Marty Walsh, for joining me here today as well. And let me tell you, infrastructure law I signed on money would not be possible without the Michigan congressional delegation. That's not hyperbole.

[17:25:02]

Debbie Stabenow, once again, Debbie, delivered for Michigan auto workers. She was the driving force to make sure this law included a national network of electric vehicle charging stations.

Gary Peters, Senator Peters is instrumental in security to mere $65 billion for high speed internet in this law. So families in rural Michigan will finally have broadband infrastructure they need to get connected and expand the possibilities for them and their children.

And Elissa Slotkin, I know she can't be here today, but she knows that the competitive edge around the world depends on the strength of our industrial base here at home, and the people who run that base.

And Dan Kildee continues to be the leading voice for investing in infrastructure in small towns and communities that so folks in every part of the state can compete. And Dan and Debbie are responsible for the additional tax credit of $4,500 for union made vehicles.

And Holly Stevens (ph), she ran for office to fix Michigan's roads and bridges. Well, you're delivering kid. You are delivering.

And Andy Levine, a former union organizer, Andy fought like hell to make sure that this law allowed us to start replacing lead pipes in Michigan and all across America. And Brenda Lawrence was the key fighter in clean drinking water as well. And we're lucky to have her leading Democratic Women's Conference in serving in the leadership of the Congressional Black Caucus. Thank you.

And Debbie Dingell, a great friend, who whenever I'm in trouble I call her for advice first. Now, the one I don't when I screw up, it doesn't mean I followed her advice, it means I may not have followed it. But Debbie, thank you for being such a good friend for so long. Debbie help drivers across the finish line with this legislation.

Folks, it's not hyperbole to say that this delegation is laser focused on your needs, the needs of the people in Michigan and the American people, your concerns, the kind of conversations that take place around your kitchen table. Conversation is profound as they are ordinary.

How am I going to get to work on time if I-75 is flooded again? How can I be sure of my job? Is the auto plan is still going to be here a few years down the line? How can I afford to get my child agree -- a degree beyond high school if they don't start with the same opportunity? And more broadly, how do we emerge in this pandemic, not just as a little breathing room, but with real fighting chance to get ahead?

They're the things that take place in the kitchen tables I grew up in. For most of the 21st century, we lead the world by significant margin because we invested in our people, we invested in ourselves. But something went wrong along the way, we stopped, we risk losing our edge as a nation, and China and the rest of the world of catching up.

Well, we're about to turn that around in a big, big way. We're going to be building it again. We're going to be moving again.

And folks, when you see these projects start in your hometowns, I wants you to feel the way I feel, pride, and what we can do when we're together as the United States of America. And it starts here in Detroit.

In the auto industry, Detroit's leading the world in electric vehicles. You know how critical it is? Mary, I can remember talking to you way back in January about the need for America leading electric vehicles. And I can remember your dramatic announcement that by 2035 GM would be 100 percent electric. It changed the whole story, Mary, wherever you are. There you are.

We did, Mary. You electrify the entire automobile industry. I'm serious. You lead, and it matters. And drastically improving the climate by reducing hundreds of millions of barrels of oil that will not be used when we're all electric.

You know, up until now, China has been leading in this race, but that's about to change. Because is this law -- because of this law, next year, for the first time in 20 years, in which American infrastructure investment will be far greater than China's. The first time in 20 years. And we're going to put IBEW members and other union members to work installing a national network of charging stations along our roads and highways in our communities over 500,000.

And Governor Whitmer has already announced a proposal to expand electric charging stations along key travel routes across the state. And a few weeks ago, GM announced it's going to install 40,000 public charging stations as we're going to unleash a lot more than that.

[17:30:00]

Look, we're going to make sure that the jobs of the future end up here in Michigan not halfway around the world. You know, that means that here in Detroit, they're going to set a new pace for electric vehicles. This is not hyperbole, it's a fact.

But this infrastructure law, along with my Build Back Better plan, we're going to kick-start new batteries, materials, and parts production and recycling, boosting the manufacturing of clean vehicles, with new loans and new tax credits, creating new purchase incentives for consumers to buy American made, Union made clean vehicles, like the electric Hummer. Folks (ph) or the Silverado or any other the 20 or more vehicles that GM is going to come out with in the near term that are electric.

And spurring demand by covering federal government's enormous fleet of vehicles as I'm going to do. I pledge when I ran. We have hundreds, we have thousands and thousands of vehicles in the federal fleet. They're going to all go electric, all of them, down the road, supporting electric transit systems, electric school buses.

And of course, that's not all the law we'll achieve. This law is going to start to replace 100 percent of the nation's lead pipes and service lines. As I stated earlier, every child in Michigan and across America can turn on the faucet and drink clean water. 10 million homes that those lead pipes going in and 400,000 schools, tens of thousands of plumbers and pipefitters are going to get to work and good paying jobs and help make the nation healthier.

Folks, there's an additional $10 billion nationwide to eliminate the dangerous forever chemical PFAS, which is an incredibly dangerous chemical. Look, this law is going to make high speed internet affordable and available everywhere in America. Create jobs laying down that broadband line. Today, 14 percent of Michigan households don't have an internet subscription. Nearly 400,000 people in the state.

A lot of places, there's no broadband infrastructure at all. This all is going to make high speed internet affordable, available everywhere in Michigan. Urban, suburban, rural, going to create jobs, laying down broadband lines. And the 21st century in America, no parent should have to do what a lot of you didn't, they did in my state and all over America, should ever have to sit in a parking lot, of a fast food restaurant again, just so their child can use the internet coming from that fast food restaurant.

This is the United States of America for God's sake. This law makes the most significant investment in roads and bridges in 70 years, fixing so many of those 1,200 bridges, 7,300 miles of roads here in Michigan that are in poor condition. So when a family drives the car you built right here, there'll be a whole lot safer. And they'll get there a hell of a lot faster.

The law, the law includes the most significant investment in passenger rail in the past 50 years. And again in public transit ever. I remember Mayor Duggan is not here, he's in a honeymoon. He's a good guy. I love Duggan. He helped pull the city out of a real tough spot. And he used to talk about -- we, you know, I found out I didn't know it beforehand that we didn't have -- most of the jobs are outside the city. Significant 60 percent of the people have those jobs out city didn't have vehicles to get out, didn't have cars to get outside the city.

We provided buses, transit, and guess what? Things began to change. Well, now we're going to change that again, here in Michigan. That means we placed nearly one-fifth of the transit vehicles that are past their useful life. It means jobs for folks making the upgrades, good paying union jobs, jobs, you can raise a family, jobs you can't outsource.

Folks, this level modernize our airports, freight rail, our ports on the long and Great Lakes, making it easy for companies to get goods to market, reducing supply chain bottlenecks and lowering costs for families. This also builds up our resilience against extreme weather events.

Here in Michigan, you know the cost of extreme weather. You remember the flooding this summer that shut down parts of I-75 and I-95. The power outages and tornado warnings. They were costing this state billions of dollars.

Nationally, last year -- listen to this -- nationally last year the extreme weather cost the United States of America $99 billion, $99 billion from hurricanes in Louisiana to 20 inches of rain in the northeast, to a fires in the West that literally consumed more land than the entire state of New Jersey and Kate made in New York. That's how much is burned to the ground.

[17:35:00]

This law builds back our bridges, our water systems, our power lines, our electric grid better and stronger. So fewer Americans would be flooded out of their homes. They lose power for days and weeks at a time when a storm hits. This bill also rewards companies for paid a decent wage, for buying Americans sourcing their products right here in America, not abroad. This will help the United States export clean energy technology, including electric vehicles made here in Michigan, to the entire world.

There's so much more in this law. But most of all, this law does something truly historic. This law is going to help rebuild the backbone of this nation. When I ran for office, I said there are three reasons I wanted. One, to restore the soul of this country and decency. Two, to restore the backbone of this country.

Working class and middle class folks, they'd be the ones that built America. And three, to unite the country. To rebuild the economy from the bottom up in the middle out is the way I look at world. The blue collar -- this is a blue collar blueprint to rebuild America, and leaves no one behind. The same goes for my Build Back Better plans, it's for our people.

If you're paying, for example, $14,000 or $15,000 a year for childcare, so you can work. A lot of families in America doing that. My Build Back Better plan is going to make it a gigantic difference to like, because childcare costs will be limited 7 percent of your income, 7 percent.

Look, my Build Back Better plans going to provide access to better education. You know, one of the reasons we went ahead to the rest of the world at the turn of the 20th century, is we're the first nation in the world that universal education for 12 years, not based on any background or income, that pushed us out to the rest of the world caught up. And in many cases passed this.

We're sitting down for the first time today and saying we want a universal education in America. When anybody say we only make it 12 years to compete in the 21st century, I don't think so. So what we're doing, we're going to make sure that every three and four-year-old in America has access to quality preschools, school, school, school.

And by the way, all the data shows that increase by 56 percent, the possibility of going through all the way through 12 years of school and on to -- after school -- after high school. And young people graduating high school will have access to education beyond high school. We're increasing Pell Grants for providing apprenticeship programs. And we're going to make a huge difference for those 2 million women in America who can't get back into the workforce right now because they can't afford childcare.

Look, my Build Back Better plan is going to help solve that. If you're one of the millions of Americans who's paying around $1,000 a month for your insulin, for example, my Build Back Better plan will make sure that we change that too, because it means that no one will pay more than $35 a month for the insulin.

And under my plan, we're going to lower costs for prescription drugs across the board, allowing them to negotiate prices, lowering the cost of daycare, elder care, housing, health care, prescription drugs, that's what the plan does. My plan meets the moment of climate change as well. And one more thing. It's fully paid for. Fully, fully paid, it does not increase the deficit one single cent. As a matter of fact, it reduced the deficit according to the experts.

And again, no one in America earning less than $400,000 will pay a single penny more in federal taxes. No one. You can say, "Well, how are you doing that, Joe?" Well, I tell you what, real simple. I come from the corporate capital of the world, more corporation and incorporated in my state of Delaware than all states combined.

And guess what? They ain't paying enough. Sorry, Mary. Here's the deal. Look, I'm a capitalist. If you want it, you get one or if you're able to make a million or billion dollars, have at it. That's good for everybody except, pay your fair share. We have 55 corporations, 55 of the largest corporations in America. The most successful, pay not a single penny in federal taxes in the last several years.

And guess what? They made $40 billion. I want to make money that's good. But pay a little, pay a little. And that's how we pay for it for real. It doesn't cost the set. We all talked the program is $1.75 billion. Guess what? Is paid for, paid for.

[17:40:04]

And folks, from now on, they're going to have to pay their fair share. Not exorbitant number, just a fair share.

Let me close with this. Throughout our history, we've emerged from previous crises, stronger than we were before the crisis. One of the few nations of the world done that, every major crisis has occurred in American history. Everyone, we've come out stronger after it than before it happened. Because we invested in ourselves during and after the Civil War.

We built the transcontinental railroad, uniting us, east and west, creating jobs and opening up America in a way it never occurred before. During the Cold War, we built the Interstate Highway System, transforming how Americans live their lives ominous (ph) to spread out across the nation.

And now, as we work to put the COVID-19 pandemic behind us, we will build the economy of the 21st century. It matters. On Monday, I held a virtual meeting for three and a half hours almost with President Xi Jinping of China.

Years ago, when I was vice president, I was in China with him. We're near the Tibetan Plateau. And we had over 25 hours of private meetings, me and interpreter and he and interpreter. We got to know one another.

Well, guess what? He turned to me. One day is a God's truth. My word as Biden and said, said, "Can you define America for me? And I said, "Absolutely." In one word, possibilities, possibilities. The only nation in the world that plays everything within our ambit. There's nothing impossible once we set our mind to it.

It's never been a good bet. As more world is out to heard me, see me say, it's never been a good bet to bet against America, never. There's no limit to what the American people can do. No limit to what our nation can do.

Because folks -- and this is just not a political speech, after this, there's a fact of history, no limit. Given half a chance, just half a chance, the American people have never ever, ever, ever let the nation down, never. Because of this, this Michigan delegation, this new law gives our people a chance, more than half a chance.

We're at an inflection point in world history. Things are changing, not just here, across the world. And the question is, how do we respond to it? What do we do? I truly believe, and I give you my word as a Biden, because I truly believe that 50 years from now, historians are going to look back at this moment, the last two years, the next four or five years. And they're going to determine whether or not that moment, did America win the competition for the 21st century or did we lose it? Because that's where we are.

All the pieces on the globe are changing. We got to get back in the game, folks. We don't have to hurt the other nation. We got to get back in the game now. Because, by the way, if we don't get back in the game and unable to do it, who else is going to deal with the crises in the Middle East? Who else is going to deal with the Israeli- Palestinian issue? Who else is going to deal with all those issues that affect?

Who else is going to be the nation that decides, that decides that we have to have a plan to deal with the next pandemic and lead the world? So we're not where we are right now, because there will be others.

Folks, I'm betting on America. I'm betting on the American people. We got to focus on what made the nation great. I have no problem with people on Wall Street bankers and others, fine. But they didn't build America. The Middle Class build America, and unions built the middle class.

God bless you all, and may God protect our troops. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

BLITZER: All right, the President United States speaking at Detroit, making the case for the new infrastructure law that just passed the House, earlier passed the Senate. Also making the case for this still pending what's called the Build Back Better $1.75 trillion piece of legislation. It's expected to be voted on in the House in the coming days. Very much still up in the air what's going to happen in the Senate. The President is there.

Our chief White House Correspondent Kaitlan Collins is following this force. Also our Chief National Affairs Correspondent Jeff Zeleny is with us. Kaitlan, what jumped out at you?

[17:45:05]

KAITLAN COLLINS, CNN CHIEF WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well I think, Wolf, what the President said there right off the bat. Now he is speaking in a retail facility at GM factory in Detroit, Michigan. This is of course, a factory that is only going to be making electric vehicles. And the President was tying that to that infrastructure plan that he just passed that's why he's there today

But what he came out and said right away really stood out to me. He wanted to make three points before he actually got into his sales pitch on that bill. And, of course, the future of his agenda that is now trying to get passed through Congress, that Build Back Better agenda that you were just talking about, which we know deals with everything from childcare to climate change. And the President came out and was citing private studies saying that that is not going to make inflation worse.

Of course, that has been a concern for some key moderate Democrats, namely Joe Manchin, who we've heard from on Capitol Hill this week when it comes to the agenda. And the President was citing these private studies ahead of that expected score this week from the Congressional Budget Office that we know some lawmakers say they'd like to see that score of the financial impact of this bill before they vote on it. So the President was saying there, he does not believe it's going to make inflation worse talking about making it better in the long term.

Secondly, Wolf, the President also wanted to highlight how the federal government has come out and said that they sharply underestimated job growth over the summer. It was actually much higher than what they had said at the time. And the President made sure to point that out there in Detroit. And then third, Wolf, he also talked about stores saying that they will be well stocked ahead of the holidays. Of course, that has been a major concern for people, not just when it comes to groceries, but also when it comes to the supply chain gridlock that you've seen when it comes to gifts ahead of this holiday season.

So he was really drugged to drive those three points home before getting into the sales pitch of his speech for, of course, the larger piece of his economic agenda that he's trying to get passed on Capitol Hill.

BLITZER: Yes, that's still, as we say, up in the air. You know, Jeff Zeleny, there's been a lot of criticism of the White House, the Biden administration for the messaging, the failure to really generate a lot of support for what the President is proposing. It seems today, we heard a little bit of a different message coming from the President.

JEFF ZELENY, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT: Certainly. I mean, the President is trying to make this case. One, he's actually traveling, this is a second day in a row he's been out in the country. New Hampshire yesterday, Detroit today. So he is getting in, in front of this.

But Wolf, what he's doing the bottom line, trying to really affect the psychological impact of this economic moment we're in. People are spending, Americans are spending more than ever. Record numbers in the month of October. Yet psychologically, Americans think they are in a recessionary period.

So what he's trying to do is just really, you know, project a sense of optimism, that he is in control of the situation, that his government is in control of the situation. And he's trying to flip the script, if you will. I mean, this has been months and months and months of fighting in Washington.

During that period, his approval rating has fallen. People have not been focusing on what's inside this bill. They've been talking about the back and forth, you know, among Democrats. What he's trying to do is, you know, essentially to get beyond that. But what he didn't necessarily say is what is specifically in this bill, he didn't talk that much about roads, talk that much about broadband. So the the challenge here still is the implementation of this.

I was in Michigan last week talking to members of Congress, talking to Republican mayors, others, they are very much in need of this. They want this spending. But they also believe it is a huge test of the competence of this administration. Can they administer this $1.2 trillion in infrastructure spending? That is an open question here. So this is very much the beginning of the road. Certainly not the end of the road for infrastructure.

BLITZER: Yes. And I'm sure the messaging will continue. Jeff, thank you very much. Kaitlan, thanks to you. Both of you stand by, we're going to have a lot more coming up on this.

We're also following another major story right now, a humanitarian crisis intensifying at the border of Belarus and Poland as truly desperate migrants are simply trying to enter Europe. We're going to take you inside a holding center where migrants are fleeing -- freezing conditions. We'll be right back.

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[17:52:18]

BLITZER: We're following right now an increasingly desperate situation at the border of Poland and Belarus where some migrants are now finding relief from the brutal cold in a makeshift shelter. But many others remain outdoors including children. CNN's Matthew Chance has the latest.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): These are the few 100 migrants refusing to give up, still at Europe's border now begging to be allowed through. Behind the razor wire, Polish border guards showing little sign of backing down.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He said, help.

CHANCE (on-camera): Help?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Help, yes. Help, Poland.

CHANCE (on-camera): And that's what they're shouting?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, is it that they're shouting.

CHANCE (on-camera): And the Polish they're not helping?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, no helping.

CHANCE (on-camera): No helping.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.

CHANCE (voice-over): Before the please, there was anger. This was the violence that engulfs the border between Belarus and Poland just a day before. At times surging out of control, as young migrants desperate to enter Europe toward at the barricades and fence (ph).

(on-camera): They are throwing stones and see the Poles are responding with water -- with water cannon covering us in water. Sometimes that water is quite acrid (ph). It has some sort of pepper components in it and so it's sort of stinging your eyes a little bit.

(voice-over): But now, Belarus accused of orchestrating the crisis appears to be ratcheting the pressure down, filling this makeshift migrant processing center away from the volatile border. Families have given food and blankets here and warm clothes to stave off the cold. It's still basic, but lives are less at risk.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: So good for us.

CHANCE (voice-over): Lives of migrants like Shuhan (ph) from Iraqi- Kurdistan and her son Ashi (ph).

(on-camera): Hello, Ashi (ph). How are you?

(voice-over): We first met them a few days before in the freezing camp at the border, desperate to leave for Germany.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We came here from -- because of my son, because he needs an operation.

CHANCE (on-camera): He needs an operation.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, big operation in the back.

CHANCE (on-camera): Ashi (ph), he's got this splint on his leg.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.

CHANCE (on-camera): I see.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And he can't walk away. (INAUDIBLE) because it's too much warm.

CHANCE (on-camera): Much warmer?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes. Warmer than the forest and we have food, we have wet for sleeping.

CHANCE (on-camera): Yes.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.

CHANCE (on-camera): They've given you these blankets. Are you still hopeful that you will get -- you and Ashi (ph) will get to Germany?" Do you think it will still happen or will they send you back to Iraq?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I have big hope to go to Germany because I think Germany have humanity.

[17:55:06] CHANCE (voice-over): But back at the border camp, there are growing DAGs (ph), a passage to Europe is really installed. After having their hopes built up in Belarus, these desperate migrants may now see them bashed.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHANCE: Well, Wolf, tonight we've learned the first evacuation flight to Iraq is expected to depart Belarus tomorrow, that's Thursday. But what Belarusian officials here are saying is that they're still waiting for a final decision from E.U. countries specifically Germany on whether they will take any of these migrants in.

BLITZER: Matthew Chance reporting for us. Matthew, thank you very much. Heartbreaking story indeed.

Coming up, the jury in the Kyle Rittenhouse trial asking to review multiple videos in court. We have new information, the details just ahead.

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