After a rowdy State of the Union address, Biden hits the road to spread his message

 

After a rowdy State of the Union address, Biden hits the road to spread his message

Transcript¹

President Biden is taking his pre-campaign pitch on the road. First to Wisconsin — a key state for the 2024 election, and then to Florida, home to some notable Republican opponents.

A MART?NEZ, HOST:

President Biden is taking his State of the Union message on the road.

LEILA FADEL, HOST:

Yeah. Yesterday, he was in Wisconsin, where he recapped his Tuesday address.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN: It is strong. It is strong. And it's strong because of you, because the soul of the nation is strong.

FADEL: And today, he'll be in Florida testing out some of the lines he could use in what's expected to be a reelection bid.

MART?NEZ: Joining us now is NPR White House correspondent Asma Khalid. What is the point of this road show?

ASMA KHALID, BYLINE²: Well, I would say the explicit³ message from the White House is that these trips are about showcasing the president's plans, whether that's around, you know, job creation or infrastructure⁴. And it's also about reiterating⁵ his message to lower costs. But, A, there is also a tactical explanation. Wisconsin, of course, is a critical state in presidential elections. Florida, where he's heading to later today, is less of a swing state than it used to be. But there are a couple of very useful foils for the president there. The state is home to former President Donald Trump⁶, who is running for president again in 2024. It's also home to Ron DeSantis, the governor who is widely seen as a possible Republican presidential candidate also in this next election.

MART?NEZ: But how is, then, President Biden trying to create a contrast with Republicans?

KHALID: Probably the key issue where Biden has been trying to score points at the GOP's expense is around the idea of putting Medicare and Social Security on the chopping block. There have been some Republicans in Congress who suggested cuts to these entitlement programs. One is Florida Senator Rick Scott. We've also heard this similar message from Wisconsin Senator Ron Johnson. And I do want to be clear. I mean, Republican leaders in Congress have distanced themselves from these ideas. But the president is not letting it go. Yesterday, at a union hall in Madison, Wis., he replayed this feisty exchange he had had with Republicans during his State of the Union.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

BIDEN: Remember, I said - no, I'm serious. Remember what I said? I said, so you're not going to cut it, huh? No. I said, OK, we got a deal. Well, I sure hope that's true.

(APPLAUSE)

BIDEN: I'll believe it when I see it and their budget's laid down with their cuts they're proposing.

KHALID: And this type of contrast is likely what we're going to hear from the president as he gears up for a potential reelection bid.

MART?NEZ: Asma, you spent some time in Florida talking to voters about what they're concerned about. How do you think this message will land there?

KHALID: You know, I think one thing that's important to keep in mind is that inflation looks different in different parts of the country. And the Tampa Bay metro⁷ area has had some of the worst inflation rates in the country. The most recent data showed it was around 10%. The president keeps saying - we keep hearing him say that inflation is slowing, and that is true. But prices are still higher than where they were before the pandemic. And, you know, many people are still feeling that. So there does seem to be this disconnect at times between what the president is depicting⁸ around this rosy⁹ economy and how some people are feeling about the economy.

A recent Washington Post-ABC poll found roughly 40% of Americans say they are worse off financially since Biden took office. You know, yesterday, I was struck in this interview the president gave with "PBS NewsHour." He said his policies are popular and basically said, you know, the polls don't matter anymore. But one of the challenges in the race ahead for the White House is going to be trying to get the president the credit they think he deserves for what he's accomplished¹⁰.

MART?NEZ: That's NPR White House correspondent Asma Khalid. Asma, thanks.

KHALID: My pleasure.

1 transcript   

n.抄本，誊本，副本，肄业证书

参考例句：

• A transcript of the tapes was presented as evidence in court.一份录音带的文字本作为证据被呈交法庭。
• They wouldn't let me have a transcript of the interview.他们拒绝给我一份采访的文字整理稿。

2 byline   

n.署名；v.署名

参考例句：

• His byline was absent as well.他的署名也不见了。
• We wish to thank the author of this article which carries no byline.我们要感谢这篇文章的那位没有署名的作者。

3 explicit   

adj.详述的，明确的；坦率的；显然的

参考例句：

• She was quite explicit about why she left.她对自己离去的原因直言不讳。
• He avoids the explicit answer to us.他避免给我们明确的回答。

4 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

5 reiterating   

反复地说，重申( reiterate的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• He keeps reiterating his innocence. 他一再申明他无罪。
• The Chinese government also sent a note to the British government, reiterating its position. 中国政府同时将此立场照会英国政府。

6 trump   

n.王牌，法宝；v.打出王牌，吹喇叭

参考例句：

• He was never able to trump up the courage to have a showdown.他始终鼓不起勇气摊牌。
• The coach saved his star player for a trump card.教练保留他的明星选手，作为他的王牌。

7 metro   

n.地铁；adj.大都市的；(METRO)麦德隆(财富500强公司之一总部所在地德国，主要经营零售)

参考例句：

• Can you reach the park by metro?你可以乘地铁到达那个公园吗？
• The metro flood gate system is a disaster prevention equipment.地铁防淹门系统是一种防灾设备。

8 depicting   

描绘，描画( depict的现在分词 )； 描述

参考例句：

• a painting depicting the Virgin and Child 一幅描绘童贞马利亚和圣子耶稣的画
• The movie depicting the battles and bloodshed is bound to strike home. 这部描写战斗和流血牺牲的影片一定会取得预期效果。

9 rosy   

adj.美好的，乐观的，玫瑰色的

参考例句：

• She got a new job and her life looks rosy.她找到一份新工作，生活看上去很美好。
• She always takes a rosy view of life.她总是对生活持乐观态度。

10 accomplished   

adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的

参考例句：

• Thanks to your help,we accomplished the task ahead of schedule.亏得你们帮忙,我们才提前完成了任务。
• Removal of excess heat is accomplished by means of a radiator.通过散热器完成多余热量的排出。