by Ella Scher ‘23

The first press conference of the Biden Administration, given on January 20  by White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki, was refreshingly honest after the numerous (and hideous) on-air drama displays of the last four years. Though some of it was fluff and platitudes about the need for transparency and honesty towards the American people, there was plenty of substance as well. 

Psaki’s level-headed demeanor and friendly replies to honest questions were almost frantic in their way to be the farthest cry from the lies and fake-news smears from each of the spray-tanned puppets that Trump bought and replaced to be his press mouthpiece. Concerns about the climate, about the Coronavirus relief package, about the partisan divide were brought up by reporters and just as efficiently dismissed. 

It almost seems too good to be true. Psaki has so far promised, in no particular order: a return to the normal schedule of daily press briefings, rejoining the World Health Organization, dealing with impeachment trials, and Biden’s commitment to winning over Republican support for the relief package. Breezy and honest is how I would describe her tone, and not once did she falter or her smile fail. In fact, it almost seemed like she was being … truthful.

Imagine that. 

Psaki also informed us that currently Biden has no plans to negotiate a lower price tag for the relief bill. “The package wasn’t designed with the number 1.9 trillion as the starting point, it was designed with the components that were necessary to give people the relief that they needed,” stated Psaki. “So what’s challenging is: What are you going to cut?”

 It was also hinted that Mitch McConnell would need to be on board with this in order to go forward with any bipartisan package. His opposition would force the Democratic majority to move quickly in order to pass the bill in time for any great changes to occur soon. As well, the rejoining of the W.H.O. would also mean that America would be in a better position to receive Covid relief measures faster and in sync with the rest of the globe–a ray of hope for the downtrodden masses.

How the Biden administration will handle further challenges is yet to be determined, but the speed with which Biden handled the crises of the Trump administration leaves one hopeful. At the least, the American press will be able to ask the real questions, certain to receive a rational, honest, straightforward answer. We can only hope that things will stay this way.