One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
This archival content was originally written for and published on KPCC.org. Keep in mind that links and images may no longer work — and references may be outdated.
Biden gives a public nod to California's high-speed rail project
In this file photo, U.S. Vice President Joe Biden speaks at a White House Community Leaders Briefing on July 16, 2012 in Washington, DC. On Monday, Biden gave a public nod to Gov. Jerry Brown's efforts to spearhead high-speed rail in California and Las Vegas.
(
Mark Wilson/Getty Images
)
Vice President Joe Biden gave a hat tip to Gov. Jerry Brown's high-speed rail efforts on Monday night.
Biden appeared as a guest on Seth Meyers' debut episode as the new host of "Late Night." When Meyers turned the conversation to trains, Biden, an admitted "train guy," said he thought people around the country, and not just on the Eastern Seaboard, were beginning to understand how efficient travel by rail could be.
"You know, we're trying to get a high-speed train going from California into Las Vegas, where Jerry Brown is leading the country in having high-speed rail. I mean by high-speed rail, rail that can go 230-240 miles an hour. It's environmentally more sound. It is economically more sound. It makes sense in every way, and it's about time we get up and do it," Biden said, to loud cheers and applause from the audience.
(Actually, Biden was slightly confused: The state of California wants to build a high speed line from L.A. to San Francisco; a private company is hoping to connect Southern California to Las Vegas, but that effort has stalled.)
RELATED: Federal official reaffirms commitment to California high speed rail
Biden's comments come in the last few seconds of the following clip from Hulu.
Sponsored message
Meyers is a "Saturday Night Live" veteran and his first guest was former SNL castmate Amy Poehler.
Meyers joked that his parents couldn't be in the audience, because the Secret Service considers them a security risk.
So far, NBC's late-night changes are paying off, with the best "Tonight Show" ratings in years with Jimmy Fallon now hosting.
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
