Jen Psaki leaving White House next month for MSNBC gig: Report



White House press secretary Jen Psaki will leave the Biden administration "around May" and join MSNBC, Axios reported on Friday.

Sources "close to the matter" claim that Psaki is in "exclusive talks" with MSNBC to "join the network after she leaves the White House." The report asserted that the deal is "nearly final," but noted that "no contracts have been signed."

Two sources conveyed that Psaki has already "told some senior officials at the White House about her departure and her plans to join MSNBC." An administration source revealed that Psaki hasn't formally informed the White House press team about her leaving the Biden administration for the media gig.

The report stated that Psaki would host a show on NBCUniversal's streaming platform Peacock and join MSNBC as a pundit for political commentary during live cable news shows, a person with direct knowledge informed NPR. Psaki was a political contributor for CNN between 2017 and 2020.

Psaki can't sign a new contract until complying with federal ethics rules regarding public employees moving to private-sector job opportunities while in office.

"We don't have anything to confirm about Jen's length of planned service or any consideration about future plans," a White House official told CNBC. "Jen is here and working hard every day on behalf of the president to get you the answers to the questions that you have, and that's where her focus is."

There have been rumors since February that Psaki was being courted by top executives at MSNBC and CNN. The report said the TV execs tout Psaki as potentially "the next Rachel Maddow."

Last May, Psaki said she would leave her role as White House press secretary in about a year.

"I think it’s going to be time for somebody else to have this job in a year from now or about a year from now," Psaki said in an interview with former Obama administration colleague David Axelrod.

Psaki said her current position is a "great job" and it will "be hard" to leave. However, Psaki also said she wants to spend more time with her children.

"I don’t want to miss moments," Psaki said on "Axe Files" podcast. "I don’t want to miss things and I’m very mindful of that as well."

If Psaki leaves for the progressive cable news network, it could be for a deal similar to the one Symone Sanders, a former adviser and senior spokesperson for Vice President Kamala Harris, signed in January. Sanders has an exclusive contract with MSNBC to host a show on Peacock starting May 7 and provide commentary on MSNBC shows.

Possible White House press secretary replacements for Psaki include her deputy, Karine Jean-Pierre, and White House communications director Kate Bedingfield. Both candidates have filled in for Psaki during absences. "There have also been rumors suggesting Pentagon press secretary John Kirby as a replacement," NPR reported.

Other former White House press secretaries have jumped to media opportunities. Sean Spicer, press secretary under Donald Trump, hosts his own show on Newsmax TV. Kayleigh McEnany joined Fox News in March 2021. Also joining Fox News were former White House press secretaries for George W. Bush Dana Perino and Ari Fleischer. George Stephanopoulos, former White House communications director for Bill Clinton, is the host of ABC's "Good Morning America" and "This Week."

Social media takes Jen Psaki to task after she defends VP Kamala Harris following damning CNN report



Much of social media tore into White House press secretary Jen Psaki on Sunday evening after she scrambled to defend Vice President Kamala Harris amid a damning report that suggested Harris and her White House allies are blaming President Joe Biden and his administration for not letting her lead.

What are the details?

Psaki tweeted Sunday, "For anyone who needs to hear it. @VP is not only a vital partner to @POTUS but a bold leader who has taken on key, important challenges facing the country — from voting rights to addressing root causes of migration to expanding broadband."

For anyone who needs to hear it. @VP is not only a vital partner to @POTUS but a bold leader who has taken on key, important challenges facing the country\u2014from voting rights to addressing root causes of migration to expanding broadband.

— Jen Psaki (@PressSec) 1636942804

What do we know about this report?

A Sunday report from CNN's Edward-Isaac Dovere and Jasmine Wright painted a dire situation in the White House, insisting that a "complex reality" and extensive dysfunction inside the White House are pitting Harris and her aides against Biden and the rest of his administration.

In the report, Dovere and Wright allege that "nearly three dozen former and current Harris aides, administration officials, Democratic operatives, donors, and outside advisers" spoke out on what they described as deteriorating conditions in the White House.

"Many in the vice president's circle fume that she's not being adequately prepared or positioned, and instead is being sidelined," Dovere and Wright reported. "The vice president herself has told several confidants she feels constrained in what she's able to do politically. And those around her remain wary of even hinting at future political ambitions, with Biden's team highly attuned to signs of disloyalty, particularly from the vice president."

Despite what many insiders say should be a dynamic vice presidency, many are reportedly saying that Harris' staff has continually dropped the ball and left her looking vulnerable to the American public when she ought to be a strong, central figure as the first black female president.

"With many sources speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the situation more frankly, they all tell roughly the same story: Harris' staff has repeatedly failed her and left her exposed, and family members have often had an informal say within her office," the report accused. "Even some who have been asked for advice lament Harris' overly cautious tendencies and staff problems, which have been a feature of every office she's held, from San Francisco district attorney to U.S. Senate."

Dovere and Wright also pointed to ongoing tension between Harris and White House aides despite her amiable relationship with Biden.

"Though Harris has told confidants that she has been enjoying a good working dynamic directly with Biden, those who work for them describe their relationship in terms of settling into an exhausted stalemate," sources told the outlet. "After Harris became known in the first few months for often standing by Biden's side in the frame as he made big speeches, even after she'd introduced him herself, the West Wing appears to have overcorrected so she has been with the president noticeably less."

One insider said, "Kamala Harris is a leader but is not being put in positions to lead. That doesn't make sense. We need to be thinking long-term, and we need to be doing what's best for the party. You should be putting her in positions to succeed, as opposed to putting weights on her. If you did give her the ability to step up and help her lead, it would strengthen you and strengthen the party."

Those within Harris' circle also speculate that the president is simply standing in her way.

"Some think it's the president himself leaving her out in the cold, prioritizing his own agenda," Dovere and Wright alleged. "Some blame specific West Wing aides whom they feel sure are out to undercut her. Some fear the vice president is, as she has often done in her political life, leaning heavily on her sister Maya Harris, brother-in-law Tony West, and niece Meena Harris, whom they sense exerting influence over everything from staff hires to political decisions."

In a statement to the outlet, Harris' spokesperson Symone Sanders said, "It is unfortunate that after a productive trip to France in which we reaffirmed our relationship with America's oldest ally and demonstrated U.S. leadership on the world stage, and following passage of a historic, bipartisan infrastructure bill that will create jobs and strengthen our communities, some in the media are focused on gossip — not on the results that the president and the vice president have delivered."

What did people say in response to Psaki's tweet?

According to a report from the Daily Wire, political strategist Arthur Schwartz said, "You know Kamala is in bad shape when she needs Biden and his piss poor approval ratings to vouch for her. And Biden wouldn't even do it himself — he sent out his flack who has been mercilessly trashing the VP to the press."

"This is such a Queen move," radio host Erick Erickson said. "You list the three things the Administration is failing out badly to claim Kamala is vital. Oof."

Newsweek reporter Josh Hammer added, "If you've gotta say it like this, then it's not true."

Political strategist Matt Whitlock chimed in, "WOW — the White House is so rattled by reporting on dysfunction between Biden and Harris they're putting out defensive statements. Love that Psaki is touting Kamala's leadership on 'root causes of immigration,' an effort that has become a punchline as the border collapsed."

Journalist Emily Miller wrote, "If Jen Psaki hadn't tweeted to defend VP, I would've missed this fascinating CNN story about the White House not caring enough about Harris to defend her."

If Jen Psaki hadn't tweeted to defend VP, I would've missed this fascinating CNN story about the White House not caring enough about Harris to defend her. \n\nI read it all so you don't have to...\n\nthread 1/https://www.cnn.com/2021/11/14/politics/kamala-harris-frustrating-start-vice-president/index.html\u00a0\u2026

— Emily Miller (@emilymiller) 1636945954

White House denies 'spying' on social media, says users sharing  misinformation should be banned from all platforms



White House press secretary Jen Psaki on Friday denied that the federal government is "spying" on certain individuals' social media accounts to look for "misinformation" about COVID-19, but also said that a person who is banned from one platform for sharing misinformation should be banned from all of them.

During Friday's press conference, Psaki said false claims that COVID-19 vaccines may contribute to infertility is an example of the kind of misinformation the government is looking to censor. Then, she listed several steps the Biden administration believes social media must take to limit the spread of misinformation.

Among these steps, Psaki said social media companies should create "robust enforcement strategies that bridge properties."

"You shouldn't be banned from one platform and not others for providing misinformation," she said.

PSAKI: If you're banned on one social media platform, you should be banned on other social media platforms. https://t.co/81eOCiRc68

— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) 1626457097.0

Psaki's comments come a day after she admitted that the White House is partnering with Facebook and potentially other social media companies to identify "problematic posts" online that spread "disinformation."

Fox News reporter Peter Doocy asked how long the administration has "been spying" on people's Facebook profiles searching for misinformation.

"That was quite a loaded and inaccurate question, which I would refute," Psaki said.

"We're in a regular touch with a range of media outlets as we are in regular touch with social media platforms," she continued, adding that posts on social media are "publicly open information."

On the previous day, Psaki said that the White House is aware of 12 people who are responsible for spreading almost 65% of anti-vaccine misinformation on Facebook and other social media platforms. She told Doocy this is not a "secret list" and that these are people who "are sharing information on public platforms on Facebook, information that is traveling, is inaccurate."

"Our biggest concern here, and I frankly think it should be your biggest concern, is the number of people who are dying around the country because they're getting misinformation that is leading them to not take a vaccine," Psaki asserted.

When Doocy noted that Americans might be concerned that "big brother" is watching them on social media, Paski incredulously responded, "they're more concerned about that than people dying across the country because of a pandemic where misinformation is traveling on social media platforms?"

"That feels unlikely to me," she said.

Psaki also brushed aside concerns that the government is partnering with private companies to censor information that may have once been considered false but later turned out to be possible. Doocy brought up the example of Facebook's policy reversal on claims that COVID-19 may have been leaked from the Wuhan Institute of Virology.

"We don't take anything down, we don't block anything," she insisted. "Facebook and any other private sector company makes decisions about what information should be on their platform. Our point is that there is information that is leading to people not taking the vaccine and people are dying as a result. And we have a responsibility, as a public health matter, to raise that issue."

Psaki said this responsibility was shared by government, media, and social media platforms.

"The vaccines are safe, they are effective, if people take them they will save their life in many cases," she said in response to a question from another reporter.

WATCH: Press secretary STUNS reporters, implies Biden would support new LOCKDOWNS



On "The Rubin Report" this week, BlazeTV host Dave Rubin discussed comments from White House press secretary Jen Psaki suggesting that President Joe Biden would "certainly support" any measures that the states felt were necessary to keep people safe from COVID-19.

Asked if the White House would reimpose any COVID-19 restrictions if the delta variant of COVID-19 continues to increase, Psaki responded with saying, "States are going to have to make evaluations and local communities are going to have to make evaluations about what's in their interest. And, as you know, there are much higher rates of vaccinations in some parts of the country over others, and we certainly support their decisions to implement any measures that they think will help their communities [be] safe."

"She's already laying the groundwork for the federal government and the Biden administration to endorse states doing more lockdowns," Dave warned. "I guarantee you it's coming, guys ... more lockdowns are coming. Of course, they're coming because the last year and a half was a test of how quickly would we all fold and basically we folded quicker than a wet paper bag.

"The point is not whether the states should have the power, or the federal government should have the power ... the point is [lockdowns] do not work. And not only do they not work, we know that once you give these people the power to shut down businesses, to say you have to be at home ... and the rest of the nonsense, they will gladly keep taking the power," Dave said.

Watch the video clip below to hear more from Dave Rubin:



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Press sec. STUNS, blames 'systemic racism' for Ma'Khia Bryant's death



On the latest episode of "The Rubin Report," BlazeTV host Dave Rubin talked about White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki's comments about the police-involved shooting of Ma'Khia Bryant in Columbus, Ohio.

Despite bodycam footage showing that the 16 year old was about to stab another person when the police officer shot her, Psaki blamed "systemic racism and implicit bias" before promising more "laws and legislation" for police departments around the country.

"The killing of 16-year-old Ma'Khia Bryant by the Columbus Police is tragic. She was a child," Psaki said during a press briefing. "We're thinking of her friends and family and the communities that are hurting and grieving her loss.

"We know that police violence disproportionately impacts Black and Latino people in communities, and that Black women and girls, like Black men and boys, experience higher rates of police violence. We also know that there are particular vulnerabilities that children in foster care, like Ma'Khia, face. And her death came ... just as America was hopeful of a step forward after the traumatic and exhausting trial of Derek Chauvin and the verdict that was reached. So our focus is on working to address systemic racism and implicit bias head on and, of course, to passing laws and legislation that will put much-needed reforms into place at police departments around the country," she added.

"There's no evidence this had anything to do with racism. That was an officer trying to make sure that one girl didn't kill another girl. In a civil society, you're not allowed to stab other people with knives," Dave said before sharing a few statistics that seemingly refute the "police violence disproportionately impacts Black and Latino people" narrative.

Dave also discussed Lebron James' deleted tweet which doxxed the police officer involved, showed how NBC selectively edited their reporting to obscure that Ma'Khia Bryant was wielding a knife, and then did a special "ask me anything" question-and-answer session on a wide-ranging host of topics, answering questions from the Rubin Report Locals community.

Watch the video below for more from Dave:


Want more from Dave Rubin?

To enjoy more honest conversations, free speech, and big ideas with Dave Rubin, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution and live the American dream.

CNN Reporter Actually Asks Tough Questions - Press Sec. Doesn't Take It So Well

CNN Reporter Actually Asks Tough Questions - Press Sec. Doesn't Take It So Well

CNN Reporter SAVAGES Jen Psaki On Biden's Chauvin Comments

CNN Reporter SAVAGES Jen Psaki On Biden's Chauvin Comments

Twitter mocks Jen Psaki for nonsensical gender identity answer to question about stock market chaos



Those who were seeking guidance from the White House on chaotic and dramatic developments in the stock market were befuddled by the nonsensical answer from the White House press secretary Wednesday.

Social media erupted after a scheme from users on a Reddit stock market thread threatened to damage Wall Street hedge funds by driving up the price of the stocks from GameStop, a company many had heavily bet against.

When White House press secretary Jen Psaki was questioned about the incident, she offered a bizarre response.

"Well, I'm also happy to repeat that we have the first female Treasury secretary and a team that's surrounding her," said Psaki.

"Often questions about market we'll send to them, but our team is of course, our economy team including Secretary Yellen and others are monitoring the situation," she continued.

"It's a good reminder though, that the stock market isn't the only measure of the health of our economy, it doesn't reflect how working and middle class families are doing," Psaki added.

The odd answer elicited mockery and jeers from many on social media.

"Pitch-perfect expression of the defining neo-liberal mentality here. We have an extraordinary political & cultural conflict involving inter-generational wealth, vast disparities of power, and a deeply corrupt financial system, and this is all the Biden WH has to say about it," responded Glen Greenwald.

"Dude. No f***ing way. She first begins to answer the question by bringing identity politics into it. Literally saying 'we have the first female treasury secretary', as if that has any bearing on anything being asked. Omfg," replied another user.

"Oh, the FIRST FEMALE treasury secretary. Well, in that case, why ask any questions? Let's all put on our COVID masks, circle up (six feet apart), and meditate together instead," replied independent journalist Kevin Gosztola.

"[J]en psaki reminded reporters that yellen is the first female treasury secretary like how you jingle keys in front of a baby. i can't. these people are just transparently manipulative lol," replied musician Soul Khan.

While some Wall Street firms signaled that they had given in by Wednesday and swallowed a significant loss in the debacle, others cautioned that retail investors will likely lose a lot of money trying to jump onboard of the bandwagon.

Here's the video of Psaki's bizarre response:

White House on GameStop ($GME), Wallstreebets Stock Activity: "We're monitoring the situation."www.youtube.com