Last year, Michele Voelkert lost her job because of the pandemic. Videograb: Twitter/@POTUS
After losing her job at a startup clothing company in July, Michele Voelkert wrote Mr. Biden a letter. He read it, then called her. President Joe Biden gave a pep talk to a California woman who was laid off because of the coronavirus pandemic, during a conversation the White House said is part of an effort to help him engage more consistently with regular Americans. The White House on February 6 released a two-and-a-half-minute video of Mr. Biden’s long-distance telephone conversation with Michele Voelkert, identifying her only as Michele.