| | | | | |  | | By Anna Palmer, Jake Sherman, Eli Okun and Garrett Ross | Presented by Facebook | AS WE HEAD INTO THANKSGIVING BREAK, there is a dramatic split screen playing out. President-elect JOE BIDEN, whose official transition has finally begun, continues to try to project his most statesman-esque qualities -- giving a Thanksgiving address today focused on how "America is back" as he aims to put forward an image of a steady commander in chief the whole world can count on. THE TRANSITION said they'll roll out more of Biden's economic team next week. PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP is continuing his election theatrics, tweeting false claims. He also considered leaving the White House for the first time since Election Day to travel to Pennsylvania with RUDY GIULIANI to a partisan event at a hotel on voter fraud. The trip, which was never on Trump's official schedule, then appeared to be off. Our own MATTHEW CHOI, today's pooler: "The traveling pool was getting ready to leave for Pennsylvania but was told at the last minute that their trip has been canceled." TO BE CLEAR: There is no evidence of widespread voter fraud in the state, or anywhere in the country. TRUMP is now starring in his own reality show that fewer and fewer people appear to care about. The world has turned the channel and he's still talking. TO WIT: BIDEN and VP-elect KAMALA HARRIS will be given their first Presidential Daily Briefing on Monday, per transition spokeswoman Jen Psaki. SIREN -- THE CORONAVIRUS IS RAGING: "A U.S. Record: Two Million New Virus Cases in Two Weeks," by NYT's Lauren Leatherby -- WAPO: "A growing number of Americans are going hungry," by Todd Frankel, Brittney Martin, Andrew Van Dam and Alyssa Fowers: "More Americans are going hungry now than at any point during the deadly coronavirus pandemic, according to a Post analysis of new federal data … Experts say it is likely that there's more hunger in the United States today than at any point since 1998, when the Census Bureau began collecting comparable data about households' ability to get enough food. "One in 8 Americans reported they sometimes or often didn't have enough food to eat in the past week, hitting nearly 26 million American adults … That number climbed to more than 1 in 6 adults in households with children. … Nowhere has there been a hunger surge worse than in Houston." WaPo THE UNEMPLOYMENT PICTURE -- "U.S. jobless claims rise to 778,000 as pandemic worsens," by AP's Paul Wiseman: "The Labor Department's report Wednesday said jobless claims climbed from 748,000 the week before. Before the virus struck hard in mid-March, weekly claims typically amounted to roughly 225,000. … "What's more, the intensifying pandemic is threatening to accelerate the pace of layoffs … Meanwhile, another economic threat looms: The impending expiration of two federal unemployment programs the day after Christmas could eliminate benefits for 9.1 million people." -- REBECCA RAINEY: "The labor market mess awaiting Joe Biden": "President-elect Joe Biden will inherit one of the weakest labor markets in U.S. history … Yet many of the solutions he's offering — massive infrastructure, clean energy and technology investments — will need the approval of a largely hostile Congress. That could undercut one of the central goals of his presidency: to come to the rescue of the nation's ailing workforce, rocked by widespread layoffs during the pandemic shutdowns. … "An analysis conducted by Moody's earlier this year found that if Democrats were able to fully adopt their economic agenda, 18.6 million jobs could be created during Biden's first term as president, and the economy could return to full employment by the second half of 2022. Biden has also called for raising the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour … But whipping the votes needed to pass those proposals would be tough going in a divided Congress." POLITICO Good Wednesday afternoon. | | | | A message from Facebook: Facebook supports updated internet regulations
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Read more | | | BORIS EPSHTEYN, a Trump campaign strategic adviser, has tested positive for the coronavirus and has mild Covid symptoms. -- GIULIANI and EPSHTEYN have spent a lot of time together of late. FOR YOUR RADAR -- "Exclusive: White House considers lifting European travel restrictions - sources," by Reuters' David Shepardson: "The White House is considering rescinding entry bans for most non-U.S. citizens who recently were in Brazil, Britain, Ireland and 26 other European countries, five U.S. and airline officials told Reuters. … "It is not considering lifting separate entry bans on most non-U.S. citizens who have recently been in China or Iran, the officials said. The plan has won the backing of White House coronavirus task-force members, public health and other federal agencies, the people briefed on the matter said, but President Donald Trump has not made a final decision and the timing remains uncertain." Reuters HEADS UP -- CNN'S @KaraScannell: "The Manhattan district attorney notified the chief judge that it wishes to appeal the ruling dismissing state charges against Paul Manafort. The letter comes as Trump considers pardoning some allies of federal charges." TOP-ED -- BRAD RAFFENSPERGER in USA TODAY: "Georgia secretary of state: My family voted for Trump. He threw us under the bus anyway": "By all accounts, Georgia had a wildly successful and smooth election. We finally defeated voting lines and put behind us Fulton County's now notorious reputation for disastrous elections. This should be something for Georgians to celebrate, whether their favored presidential candidate won or lost. For those wondering, mine lost — my family voted for him, donated to him and are now being thrown under the bus by him. … "In times of uncertainty, when the integrity of our political system is most at risk, the integrity of our politicians is paramount. Many of my fellow Republicans are men and women of integrity. They demonstrate it each and every day: fighting for their constituents, fighting for liberty, and fighting for fair and reliable elections. In times like these, we need leaders of integrity to guide us through." CABINET JOCKEYING -- "Carol Moseley Braun, the first Black female senator, eyes interior secretary post," by WaPo's Juliet Eilperin: "'It's just a natural fit for me,' said Moseley Braun … In a phone interview Monday, she noted that she first became interested in politics after fighting to preserve habitat for the bobolink, a native Illinois bird, in Chicago's Jackson Park. "Moseley Braun — who became U.S. ambassador to New Zealand at the end of Bill Clinton's second term — would be an unconventional pick. She has relatively little experience in environmental policy or public lands. … But the former senator is close with Biden, having served with him on the Senate Judiciary Committee and stumped for him on the campaign trail." WaPo | | | | TRACK THE TRANSITION: President-elect Biden has started to form a Cabinet and announce his senior White House staff. The appointments and staffing decisions made in the coming days send clear-cut signals about Biden's priorities. Transition Playbook is the definitive guide to one of the most consequential transfers of power in American history. Written for political insiders, it tracks the appointments, people, and the emerging power centers of the new administration. Track the transition and the first 100 days of the incoming Biden administration. Subscribe today. | | | | | THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION -- "Trump Races to Weaken Environmental and Worker Protections, and Implement Other Last-Minute Policies, Before Jan. 20," by ProPublica's Isaac Arnsdorf: "One proposal has raced through the process with little notice but unusual speed — and deadly consequences. This rule could reintroduce firing squads and electrocutions for federal executions … "Other less dramatic-sounding rules could prove harder to unravel and have broader consequences. In particular, the Environmental Protection Agency is on the cusp of finalizing several rules that would make it harder to justify pollution restrictions or lock in soot levels for at least five years." ProPublica XI SAID -- AP/BEIJING: "China's Xi congratulates Biden, hopes for 'win-win' ties": "Chinese President Xi Jinping congratulated U.S. President-elect Joe Biden on Wednesday and expressed hope for 'win-win cooperation' amid conflicts over trade, technology and security. China became one of the last major governments to congratulate Biden. … "In a congratulatory message, Xi told Biden that 'healthy and stable' relations were 'the common expectation of the international community,' according to a statement carried by the official Xinhua News Agency. 'We hope the two sides will uphold the spirit of non-conflict and non-confrontation, mutual respect and win-win cooperation, will focus on cooperation, control differences and promote healthy and stable development of Chinese-U.S. relations,' the statement said." AP HMM … "How a $17 billion bailout fund intended for Boeing ended up in very different hands," by WaPo's Yeganeh Torbati and Aaron Gregg: "Aircraft manufacturers including Boeing were the [Treasury] fund's intended recipients but balked at the terms and did not apply. Instead, the 11 companies that have tapped the fund so far include a company that has pitched its products as an enabling technology for the facial recognition tracking of immigrants, a manufacturer of roadblock barriers and surveillance firms. "One company that received a loan is an experimental spaceflight technology firm backed by deep-pocketed venture capital investors. Others have a history of financial losses. One manufacturer relies on minimum-wage prison labor to make wire harnesses for military and commercial customers." MUCK READ -- "Rep. Steven Palazzo ethics investigation: Is the congressman's campaign account a slush fund?" by Mississippi Today's Geoff Pender: "Palazzo spends thousands of dollars a year from his campaign account on meals, from the swankiest restaurants and clubs in Washington, D.C., and Mississippi, to Hooters, Newk's, pizza and fast food chains, and live music and barbecue joints. "In all, Palazzo has spent more than $115,600 on meals since he took office in 2010 — an average of $11,560 a year — not counting the nearly $188,000 he spent catering events and booking venues for his campaign. … Palazzo has also spent tens of thousands of dollars on hotel rooms in D.C., Mississippi and beachside Florida resorts, entertainment and golfing — including a $3,100 golf cart. The campaign also has spent nearly $42,000 on 'gifts.' "The Office of Congressional Ethics is investigating Palazzo's campaign spending after the Campaign Legal Center watchdog group in March filed a complaint." | | | | DON'T MISS THE MILKEN INSTITUTE FUTURE OF HEALTH SUMMIT 2020: POLITICO will feature a special edition Future Pulse newsletter at the Milken Institute Future of Health Summit. The newsletter takes readers inside one of the most influential gatherings of global health industry leaders and innovators determined to confront and conquer the most significant health challenges. Covid-19 has exposed weaknesses across our health systems, particularly in the treatment of our most vulnerable communities, driving the focus of the 2020 conference on the converging crises of public health, economic insecurity, and social justice. Sign up today to receive exclusive coverage from December 7–9. | | | | | IMMIGRATION FILES -- "Immigrant advocates to Biden: Be better than Obama," by Sabrina Rodríguez: "[I]mmigrant advocacy groups aren't planning to hold back on their demands. They expect Biden to follow through on his promise to quickly undo Trump's immigration policies — and while he's at it, atone for the mistakes of the Obama administration. So far, advocates are encouraged by Biden's pick to lead the Department of Homeland Security … "They want the former vice president to impose a 100-day moratorium on deportations, rescind many of Trump's more than 400 executive orders on immigration (like the so-called Muslim ban) and lay the groundwork for tougher goals like a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants." POLITICO -- WAPO: "U.S. border officials close Texas warehouse where chain-link 'cages' for migrants became a symbol of mistreatment," by Nick Miroff PERDUE WATCH -- "With U.S. in COVID-19 panic, Sen. Perdue saw stock opportunity," by AP's Brian Slodysko and Richard Lardner: "[F]or the second time in less than two months, Perdue's timing was impeccable. He avoided a sharp loss and reaped a stunning gain by selling and then buying the same stock: Cardlytics, an Atlanta-based financial technology company on whose board of directors he once served. "On Jan. 23, as word spread through Congress that the coronavirus posed a major economic and public health threat, Perdue sold off $1 million to $5 million in Cardlytics stock at $86 a share before it plunged … Weeks later, in March … Perdue bought the stock back for $30 a share, investing between $200,000 and $500,000. Those shares have now quadrupled in value, closing at $121 a share on Tuesday. … "There is no evidence that Perdue, who is among the wealthier members of the Senate, acted on information gained as a member of Congress or through his long-standing relationship with company officials. … But legal experts say the timing of his sale, the fact that he quickly bought Cardlytics stock back when it had lost two-thirds of its market value and his close ties to company officials all warrant scrutiny." AP OPIOID FILES -- "Money promised to combat U.S. overdose crisis sits unused," by AP's Geoff Mulvihill: "When it filed for bankruptcy last year, Purdue Pharma agreed to an innovative plan: It would make $200 million available immediately to help those those harmed by its signature painkiller, OxyContin, and ease the effects of the opioid crisis. More than a year later, with the crisis worsening, not a penny has been spent. … It's not Purdue that is holding up the money. Instead, it's lawyers representing the wide range of entities suing the company who cannot agree how best to use it." AP BEYOND THE BELTWAY -- "Tobacco industry submits signatures on California referendum to block ban on flavored products sales," by LAT's Patrick McGreevy in Sacramento: "A coalition representing the tobacco industry said Tuesday it has turned in more than 1 million signatures … If the Secretary of State's office determines there is a sufficient number of signatures to qualify the referendum, the new law, which was scheduled to take effect Jan. 1, would be suspended until the voters act on the ballot measure in November 2022." LAT MEDIAWATCH -- "ViacomCBS Sells Simon & Schuster for $2.2 Billion to Bertelsmann," by Bloomberg's Bhuma Shrivastava and Natalia Drozdiak: "The all-cash deal is expected to close next year, Bertelsmann said in a statement on Wednesday. The acquisition adds heft to Bertelsmann's publishing portfolio and fits with plans to expand the company's Penguin Random House unit. … "Jonathan Karp, chief executive officer of Simon & Schuster, and Dennis Eulau, chief financial officer, will continue in their roles. News Corp. had warned this month that Bertelsmann could have trouble getting regulatory approval to buy Simon & Schuster as it would create 'a serious antitrust issue.'" -- Joanne Kenen is moving up to become editor at large for health care at POLITICO. She previously was executive health care editor. TRANSITIONS -- "Tuberville names Stephen Boyd chief of staff," by Alabama Daily News' Todd Stacy: "In 2017, Boyd was nominated by President Donald Trump and confirmed by the U.S. Senate as Assistant Attorney General for Legislative Affairs, a position in which he acts as the department's top liaison to Congress." -- Angie Bakke will be executive director of Doctors for America. She most recently was chief care officer, chief program officer and interim CEO at EmBe. | | | |   | | | | | | | Follow us on Twitter | | | | Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook family Playbook | Playbook PM | California Playbook | Florida Playbook | Illinois Playbook | Massachusetts Playbook | New Jersey Playbook | New York Playbook | Brussels Playbook | London Playbook View all our politics and policy newsletters | | Follow us | | | | |
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