I'm Brian Lehrer. This is my daily politics podcast from WNYC Studios. It's Tuesday, March 16th.

Today, President Biden began a nationwide tour to promote his COVID relief bill and other pandemic fighting policies.

Vice President Harris is making stops of her own. So for today's podcast, we'd like to re-air a part of a

national call-in special we did last Thursday night called America, Are We Ready? We had just aired

the president's nationally televised address on beating back the virus.

And so in this conversation, we discussed the Biden approach to it and how it's different from

Donald Trump's, with Susan Page, Washington Bureau Chief for USA Today, and Kai Wright, host of

the WNYC podcast, The United States of Anxiety. I asked Susan Page if she had an instant headline for the speech.

Well, I think it was a fireside chat.

I mean, I was struck by his message, but also by his tone.

It was somber, but hopeful.

It was cautious.

It was very conversational.

He was trying to have a conversation with the American people after a year that has been like no other.

The news headline is probably that anybody who wants to get a vaccine is going to be eligible to get one as of May 1st, a faster timetable, and that we're looking, the president is looking

to July 4th as a day of special celebration when you wouldn't be able to have a million people

at a big party, but you could have a backyard barbecue and feel good about it.

Kai, same question. What's your headline in tone and in substance?

I agree with Susan.

I mean, it's quintessential Biden, I think, would be my headline.

And, you know, it's that one-two punch.

I think he's going for this, as he concluded, and as he's been saying all year, this idea, there's nothing we can do

...