Biden to take part in CNN town hall in Baltimore

President Biden is scheduled to participate in a CNN town hall on Thursday evening in Baltimore to field questions about his administration’s agenda. 

The event, which CNN first reported on Monday, will take place as the White House is struggling to unite Democrats behind a compromise multi-trillion dollar package containing many of Biden’s priorities to fight climate change, expand access to education and provide support to families that they will pass without Republican support.  

Biden is likely to face questions on his economic agenda, his administration’s efforts to address the ongoing pandemic, and the economic recovery that follows. Other topics, like immigration and the messy withdrawal from Afghanistan, may also come up.

The White House officially announced the trip Monday evening. 

Biden has already participated in two CNN town halls since taking office – one with anchor Anderson Cooper in February and another with anchor Don Lemon in July. Thursday’s town hall will also be hosted by Cooper and take place over 90 minutes, according to CNN. 

Biden is scheduled to travel to Pittsburgh the day prior to deliver remarks promoting his economic agenda.

Biden has limited time to wrangle Democrats behind a solution before he departs for a trip to Italy – his second international trip since becoming president – to attend the U.S. Climate Change Conference and the Group of 20 (G20) summit.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) has set an artificial deadline for Democrats to reach a deal on the reconciliation package and vote on a separate Senate-passed infrastructure bill by Oct. 31, though there were some doubts on Monday that lawmakers would meet that timeline.

Biden met with Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), the head of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, on Monday and is expected to meet separately with groups of moderate and progressive Democrats on Tuesday.

The president indicated to reporters Monday afternoon that he would also be speaking to Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W. Va.), one of the key moderate votes who has expressed concerns about the size of the package and some of its provisions.

Updated at 7:27 p.m.