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Biden Orders Strike Targeting Iranian-Backed Militia; Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN), Is Interviewed About The $15 Minimum Wage; Neera Tanden's Nomination As Budget Director Remains In Limbo As White House Stands By Its Pick. Aired 12:30-1p ET

Aired February 26, 2021 - 12:30   ET

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

[12:30:00]

PHIL MATTINGLY, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Before the strikes occurred, the President was getting public pressure from Republicans. And I'm told behind the scenes some pressure from Democrats to do something because with the rocket attacks over the course of the last couple of weeks. You can't necessarily win particularly with all members of Congress.

I think the interesting element here that I'm interested to see play out the administration has released their legal justification. They said it was done under Article 2 grounds. They're not citing any of the past authorizations for use of military force, which both administrations prior to this have utilized repeatedly, is their contacts with Congress, who was informed. We're told by administration officials that congressional leadership was formed -- was informed, some relevant committee members were informed, not all of the relevant committees were informed as well. So there's some frustration there as well.

But this is going to be part of a process here where the administration is feeling out. There's a lot of veterans in this administration who served in past administrations. How do we keep people in the loop? How do we keep in the loop on this? And whether we -- if we keep people in the loop, will that make it an easier process going forward, even if folks disagree on the policy side of things?

When it comes to the legal authority to do this, I think most people would say the White House has the legal authority to do this, given it was a retaliatory strike, given their citing Article 2 grounds. But as you noted, this is something that will always occur, members of Congress want to be informed and members of Congress, given the fact they've ceded much of the authority on this particular issue over the course of the last 20 years, would like to get some of it back. Most White Houses aren't amenable to that.

JOHN KING, CNN HOST: No, even when you have senators like Obama, like Biden, who become presidents, they suddenly have a change of tune when they have executive power in their hands.

Susan, I think you're right, that we will be having months from now more conversations about China and Asia, more conversations about Russia and a reset from the Trump approach. But at the moment, like many new presidents, the presidents don't get to pick their focus. So you have this action in Syria. And you also have -- you mentioned the Iranian complication with the Saudis. The President had a conversation with King Salman.

We are waiting any moment now. We're supposed to see this unclassified report about the murder, the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. And we understand that unclassified report -- when it is unclassified and released, the report will put even more blame on the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, a very important player here. What are the complications here for the administration as they deliver, as they promised a more public accounting and the relationship with Saudi Arabia?

SUSAN GLASSER, CNN GLOBAL AFFAIRS ANALYST: Well, that's right. This is a report after all that was produced by the U.S. intelligence community during the Trump administration. Trump not only refused to release it, but essentially had himself and his Secretary of State Mike Pompeo play defense lawyers for the Saudis in this instance and is really become a cause to labra as a result of that.

So this is really notable that the Biden administration is taking the tack of declassifying and issuing publicly a report that is expected to be so critical of the Saudi leadership that, combined with his stated desire to return to diplomacy with the Iranians, marks a real recalibration of American foreign policy after the Trump years, which really was marked by a remarkable degree of coordination with the Saudis on the one hand, and the Israelis on the other.

In both cases, Biden is looking really to pull back. And remember, the other thing that Biden and his team announced on the front end was essentially to stop supporting the Saudi war in Yemen, which has been another real sticking point, Democrats have been increasingly vocal in their concerns about going along with the human rights and other abuses in the Saudi-led war in Yemen. And so that's another sticking point already on the table.

So in a way, I think, you know, this might have helped to, at least say to the Saudis, listen, we're going to take a different tone than the Trump administration. But look, when it comes to our mutual concerns about Iran in the region, we're still going to be there for you.

KING: The global inbox is full of incredibly challenging issues for the new president. Susan Glasser, Phil Mattingly, grateful for your time and insights, we'll stay on top of these issues as well.

But next for us, we come back home, a big early test of Democratic unity, as progressives vowed to fight a setback and their push to raise the minimum wage is yours now.

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[12:38:00]

KING: This big day for the Democratic agenda also tees up a big test of Democratic unity. The House votes tonight on a giant COVID relief package. But a Senate ruling means it is now almost certain that a key progressive priority, raising the minimum wage, will be stripped from the package when the Senate takes it up.

Two Democratic Senate moderates were already cool to the wage hike, so the instant analysis here in Washington is that this parliamentary decision makes it easier to get the COVID package passed over on the Senate side of the Capitol.

But progressives say not so fast. Minnesota Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, for example, calls this ruling unacceptable and says quote, "Replace the parliamentarian". The Congresswoman says also that it's time to reset Washington's expectations. "Progressives are often told to fall in line," Omar tweets, "it is time to tell moderates to fall in line".

Congresswoman Omar is with us now live.

Congresswoman, grateful for your time today. You say unacceptable, you say replace the parliamentarian. The White House says President Biden is disappointed, but that he respects the parliamentarian's decision and the Senate's process.

So, the White House says essentially, sorry, let's move on. What now?

REP. ILHAN OMAR (D-MN): I mean, that is disappointing actually to hear the White House say that. The role of the parliamentarian is advisory, and there is an opportunity for us to overwrite when we do not have that advice allowing us to pass a policy that is supported by two- thirds of the American people, that would essentially give a pay increase to 28 million people.

[12:40:07]

And it is unacceptable, I believe, for us to, you know, continue to come up with excuses on why we can't do the right thing on behalf of the American people.

When the Republicans are in charge, and they have the majority, they do everything that they can, and they don't let anything get in the way in providing profits for corporations.

This is the time for Democrats to fight for working Americans for this opportunity that they are given.

KING: So, how do you try to use what you just said, your position? And how do you try to flex the muscle, if you will? Because of the 50/50, Senate, one senator, one senator can stop the country essentially -- can stop the country in its tracks.

But you have only a five vote margin now among Democrats in the House. If you got together with your fellow members of the squad and some of the new members who've come in who share your views when this package comes back without the minimum wage, you could stop it.

Is that a plan tactic? Or is this -- are the stimulus checks and the unemployment aid and the small business assistance too important for your district to do it on this piece of legislation?

OMAR: I mean, it's really important for us to use every single opportunity we have to engage in this fight to provide an actual path to increasing the minimum wage.

There -- people have been waiting for a really long time. This is our one chance that we get. And I think it's really important for us to do everything that we can.

If we continue to push the Senate and the administration to do the right thing, we might succeed. If not, then we have to look at our options in the House when the bill returns to us.

KING: You say progressives are often told to fall in line, it's time the moderates -- tell the moderates to fall in line.

But you would have to do something. You would have to flex your muscles, if you will, use the power of numbers to stop something in the House to prove that you mean it. If not the COVID relief package, what?

OMAR: I mean, that is precisely what I'm saying. I think it is really important for us to draw a hard line on what it means to fight on behalf of the American people.

This majority wasn't given to us to sit on the sidelines and do the right thing. I mean, people have been waiting for a really long time. They believe that we will fulfill our promise. This was something that we've campaigned on for, you know -- over a decade, people have organized around the country on raising the minimum wage. And I think we should give the opportunity to vote and do the right thing.

KING: I think you do understand and respect how hard this is for the new president. Everything controversial, everything sensitive is going to be a high-wire act, because you have so few votes to spare in the House and no votes to spare over in the Senate.

This is what the chief of staff says about trying to manage the family, if you will, "Progressives are a big part of our party, and making sure their voices are heard here at the White House is a big part of my job."

Do you agree with that? Are they -- I know you have a disappointment. You said your disappointment in the reaction on this particular issue. How would you grade them on reaching out to people like yourselves and making sure that every voice in the family gets a proper hearing?

OMAR: I grade them as A minus. They have done an excellent job in reaching out to us hearing our voice, collaboratively working with us on setting the priority agenda on the things that move.

And now, we're going to continue to push. You know, I mean, that's what it means to be part of Congress. We have a responsibility to the people who have elected us. And, you know, this is not a process that we are going to allow an unelected official to make a decision. We're going to push the people who are elected to make that decision and to stand up and say that they're not willing to give, you know, people a hike in the minimum wage.

KING: Let me ask you a foreign policy question before we run out of time here.

It turns out even in the Biden age there is a tweet for everything. Jen Psaki back in April -- back in April of 2017, Jen Psaki, a former Obama administration official at that point, criticized President Trump -- what is the legal authority for strikes? Assad is a brutal dictator. But Syria is a sovereign country.

You retweeted that with great question. Jen Psaki, of course, right now is the White House press secretary, and the Democratic President Biden launched airstrikes in Syria yesterday. Why do you disagree?

OMAR: I mean, I certainly am hoping that the administration can give, you know, legal rationale on why they authorized this strike without congressional approval.

[12:45:00]

You know, we in Congress, have congressional oversight in engaging in war, and we haven't been briefed yet. And we have not authorized war in Syria.

And so, her question was important when it was a different administration, and that question still remains with this administration. Our ability to engage in constitutional actions does not diminish when the party in power is ours.

KING: Congresswoman Omar, grateful for your time today. And we'll keep in touch. Thank you.

OMAR: Thank you.

KING: Up next, the White House fights to save an embattled cabinet pick and a key Republican agrees to give her a meeting.

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[12:50:28]

KING: We close the workweek where we began it on Neera Tanden watch.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JEN PSAKI, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: The President nominated her because he believes she'd be a stellar OMB director. She's tested. She's a leading policy expert.

The White House's focus, the President's focus is on working toward the confirmation of Neera Tanden to lead, to be the OMB director that is our focus.

And we're fighting for her nomination. She's an expert whose qualifications are critical. The President nominated Neera Tanden because she is qualified because she's experienced because she has a record of working with people who agree with her and disagree with her.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KING: Tanden is short the Senate votes needed to be confirmed as the Biden budget director but team Biden especially the White House Chief of Staff, Ron Klain, trying to salvage that nomination. CNN has learned for example Tanden and will meet Monday with Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska. Klain's friendship and loyalty to Tanden is a big piece of this. So is trying to avoid an early congressional defeat. The OMB job is a powerful one and it is one of 13 Cabinet level posts still awaiting Senate confirmation.

Joining me now to discuss this other issue is CNN's Van Jones. Van, "The Washington Post" had a headline in this past week that said many of Biden's nominees of color run into turbulence in the Senate. Do you think they're running into turbulence because they are people of color? Or are they running into turbulence because he has nominated so many people of color are for jobs that are almost always contentious because of the departments?

VAN JONES, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Well, you know, it certainly is a big coincidence that it's almost always the people of color who are getting into hot water. Let me just say about Neera Tanden, listen, you know, she's been tough on people on Twitter, she's been tough on me on Twitter. Her job is not going to be to be on Twitter. Her job is going to be when she gets it and I believe that she still has a chance to get it, is to be the director of the Office of Management and Budget and she is as qualified as anybody who's ever had that job.

And it's just as rich, I think to a lot of us having gone through four or five years of all this getting torched on Twitter by the President of the United States for there now it'd be this kind of Twitter standards for her. So and we think about Deb Haaland, you know, who would be the first Native American to have a position and she's in hot water, you have these women of color getting in hot water, I don't know if it's a coincidence or not. But I don't think we should apply a Twitter standard to the positions that Neera is going for.

KING: Yes. There's a lot of amnesia about the last four years without a doubt when it comes to the Twitter standard there. Help me with the moment, if you will, I was just talking to Congresswoman Omar, progressives are very disappointed that the parliamentarian on the Senate side says, no, you can't have the minimum wage hike, it's part of the COVID relief bill. So you have this moment where, you know, the conversation in the next few days is going to be Democratic family feud, progressives are mad, things are unwinding.

And yet, we just showed you the most diverse Cabinet in history. If you go through Democratic priority issues, you know, stimulus checks, $15 minimum wage hike, and there's some tension over student loans relief. If you look down, you can see some Democratic fights and say, well, it's a family feud. If you look up, you see a new administration with a diverse cabinet with a COVID relief bill going to get passed in the House tonight. Sort of where are we? What's the conversation among progressives?

JONES: But listen, I think this minimum wage fight is a big deal. I don't think that people who are looking at this in kind of a bloodless, calculated way, you know, this thing, that thing. There is real pain at the bottom of this party, frankly, in red states and blue states. That's why this thing is popular on both sides, the minimum wage hike. But you cannot continue to ask young voters and black voters and progressive voters to crawl over broken glass to vote in long lines and pandemics and everything else, and then not do stuff that's going to address the pain.

People have not had a real wage in a generation, a real raise in a generation. And so this is not just some little progressives want to do some woke politics stuff. It is suicide for the Democratic Party not to do everything that it can to get more work and more wages for the people at the bottom. Whether you're talking about infrastructure, whether you're talking about the minimum wage, we have, frankly, whether you're talking about getting some of the student loan debt and other debt off the backs of people.

I don't know what they think is going to happen in two years when it's time to get people to vote in a midterm election. If you cannot point to anything besides, you know, a vaccine, and maybe a check that's been spent a long time ago. By the time people get to change to go and vote. You got to do something.

[12:55:02]

KING: And so quickly in the short time we have left. What should they do if they can't get in the COVID bill, should this Speaker of the House introduce a standalone minimum wage bill right away and follow right back up? Should the President come out and publicly call for it?

JONES: Yes. Listen, I think is a make or break issue for a lot of working families. I wouldn't dare to tell Nancy Pelosi how to do her job. But I would say this, if we look up and we're going into midterms election, there's been nothing done on minimum wage, nothing done on police reform, nothing done on criminal justice reform, you know, nothing done on some of these core issues for the base of this party, then it's very difficult to explain to me why that's smart politics. There's some stuff we should be working with Republicans on, and there's some stuff that's just core values for us we got to fight for.

KING: Van Jones, appreciate your insights today. We'll continue the conversation as these things unfold.

And thanks for joining us Inside Politics today. Have a great weekend. I'll see you Monday. Brianna Keilar picks up our coverage after a quick break.

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