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| Axios Sneak Peek |
| By Axios Sneak Peek ·Jan 10, 2021 |
| Welcome back to Sneak Peek, anchored by Alayna Treene, Hans Nichols and Kadia Goba. ⏱️ Tick, tick, tick: Speaker Pelosi calls President Trump "deranged, unhinged, dangerous" during an interview airing tonight on "60 Minutes." - The Capitol Police union reported today that one of its officers involved in last week's rioting has died by suicide.
Today's newsletter — edited by Glen Johnson — is 1,121 words, a 4-minute read. |
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| 1 big thing: Biden's plan to calm nation |
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| A hearse carrying the casket of Brian Sicknick, the Capitol Police officer who died from injuries following the siege, passes the Capitol today. Photo: Al Drago/Getty Images |
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| With America boiling, President-elect Biden plans to avoid stoking anger over the Capitol siege, and instead he'll focus his public comments this week on combating the coronavirus, advisers tell Hans Nichols and Alayna Treene. Why it matters: Biden staked his campaign on uniting America across cultural and political divides. While House Democrats pursue Impeachment II, he plans to keep talking to the whole country. Advisers are urging Biden to steer clear of the impeachment debate and keep the above-the-fray position he staked out Friday, when he said it was up to Congress. - After speaking about the violence twice last week, he hit pause for the weekend and didn't address the riot.
- His major public event for the week is a Thursday speech on COVID.
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| 2. Lawmakers frazzled, fearful |
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| A Capitol Police officer wears a mourning band today. Photo by Al Drago/Getty Images |
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| A member of Congress tells Mike Allen that lawmakers are working through post-siege emotions recalling the stages of grief: - Stress: Some House members heard the gunshot that killed a protester trying to break into the Speaker's Lobby, normally their sanctuary.
- The post-game: Video, first-hand stories in newspapers and chats with colleagues have all heightened their understanding of the magnitude of the assault on their workplace.
- Coronavirus: The Capitol physician told members today they may have been exposed to someone with a COVID-19 infection when they clustered together in hiding last week.
- Travel: Sens. Mitt Romney and Lindsey Graham were hounded as they made their way to and from Washington last week.
- Safety in D.C.: The House is expected to reconvene this week in a newly fortified Capitol amid internet chatter of another protest on Jan. 17, or linked to the inauguration on Jan. 20.
- Impeachment: A weighty topic has been foist upon the House and Senate — for the second time in two years.
- No end in sight: Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.) told CNN's Jake Tapper on "State of the Union" that the House may pass an impeachment resolution — but then not forward it to the Senate until after Biden's first 100 days.
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| 3. Dems demand State diversity |
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| Illustration: Eniola Odetunde/Axios |
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| Democratic lawmakers are calling on President-elect Joe Biden to pick ambassadors with the same focus on diversity he used to fill his Cabinet, according to a letter obtained by Hans Nichols. Why it matters: The demand for more minorities representing the country abroad shows how some Democratic interest groups will hold Biden to his diversity pledge throughout the federal government, including his sub-Cabinet, U.S. attorneys and diplomats. Reps. Joaquin Castro and Veronica Escobar wrote this weekend in a joint letter to Tony Blinken, Biden's nominee for secretary of state, to discuss the "grave disparities in racial and ethnic minority representation in the Foreign Service." - While under-representation predated President Trump, he appointed white people to more than 90% of his openings, Foreign Policy reported in 2018.
Go deeper. |
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| 4. Harris' huge tiebreaker |
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| Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios. Photo: Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call/Getty Images |
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| While Democrats relish Kamala Harris' power to cast tie-breaking Senate votes in their favor, it has the potential to define her as vice president — and as a possible 2024 presidential contender, writes Axios' Stef Kight. Why it matters: As Senate president and a 51st vote for Democrats, Harris faces the prospect of weighing in on specific bills she would have avoided after leaving Congress. Her domestic and international travel — a key perk for the vice presidency — also could be inhibited by the need to remain close to Washington. "That could be a game-changer," said former Democratic Sen. Tom Daschle, "from the perspective of creating a political narrative down the road." - A slim Senate majority allowed Vice President Mike Pence to cast more tie-breaking votes — 13 — than any vice president in the modern era, according to Pew Research Center.
- One vote confirmed Betsy DeVos as education secretary. Another backed a federal judge, and a third allowed for a vote on repealing the Affordable Care Act, which ultimately failed.
Go deeper. |
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| 5. ⏳ Data: 50-year Senate span |
 Data: Axios research. (Jon Ossoff will be sworn in after Georgia results are certified.) Chart: Sara Wise/Axios Jon Ossoff's runoff win will make him, at 33, the youngest senator in the current Congress — the first millennial in the chamber. - Ossoff will still be three years older than Biden when he entered the Senate. Biden will be the oldest president ever.
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| 6. Dems' new anti-Trump tool |
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| Sen. Chuck Schumer. Photo: Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images |
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| The Senate majority gives Democrats a fresh tool to reverse President Trump's policies, Stef reports. Why it matters: The Congressional Review Act (CRA) empowers a majority in Congress to undo recent rules issued by federal agencies — including immigration restrictions, environmental rollbacks and labor regulations. - The power can be used in tandem with executive orders from the White House. Biden told reporters Friday one of his first priorities will be to use his executive orders to "countermand" those issued by Trump.
How it works: Any rule enacted in the last 60 working days of a Congress — in this case since Aug. 21 — can be reviewed by the next Congress, according to Daniel Pérez. He's studied the CRA as a senior policy analyst at George Washington University's Regulatory Studies Center. - At least 1,354 rules would qualify for this review.
Go deeper. |
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| 7. Trump's new China demand |
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| Statue of Confucius on the campus of George Mason University in Virginia. Photo: Robert Knopes/Universal Images Group via Getty Images |
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| The Trump administration is trying to push through a last-minute policy to heighten scrutiny of Chinese government funding in American education, multiple administration officials familiar with the rule tell Stef. Why it matters: China's influence in U.S. classrooms — particularly through Confucius Institutes — has long concerned Republicans. The outgoing administration has been particularly outspoken, labeling them Chinese foreign missions last summer. - Just last month, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo urged universities to take seriously concerns of China's influence through funding and student programs and has called for Confucius Institutes to close.
- The institutes teach Chinese language and culture classes on U.S. campuses. They have caused alarm because they are funded and staffed by the Chinese Ministry of Education, and in numerous cases they have censored curricula and events.
Go deeper. |
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| 8. Racial justice leaders skeptical of Biden's police panel |
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| Police brutality rally in New York after the killing of George Floyd. Photo: Timothy A. Clary/AFP via Getty Images |
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| Several racial justice leaders remain skeptical of a police oversight panel being formed by the Biden transition team, and one leading Black Lives Matter activist turned down an offer to be part of it, Axios' Alexis McCammond writes. Why it matters: There was already an urgency for Biden to address police brutality following George Floyd's death, but there's little patience among some racial justice leaders who disagree with the way Biden still talks about policing. Some say Biden's team delayed moving ahead with a task force because it was concerned about affecting the outcome of last week's Georgia Senate runoff elections. - During a December meeting with civil rights leaders, the president-elect said outside pressure around police reform could hurt Democrats because of the way the GOP used phrases like "defund the police" to "beat the living hell out of us."
- The Black Lives Matter activist who turned down the oversight role asked not to be publicly identified.
Go deeper. |
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| 9. Sneak diary |
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| A couple takes a selfie in front of the Capitol today. Photo: Al Drago/Getty Images |
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| The House is expected to be called into session Tuesday to discuss possible impeachment articles. The Senate isn't in session. Trump will travel to Alamo, Texas, a town on the Mexico border, to talk about his efforts to build 400 miles of border wall. Biden plans to get his second dose of the coronavirus vaccine on Monday, where he will have an opportunity to make a statement or take questions from the media. - On Thursday, he will give a major address to the nation on his COVID-19 emergency action plan on Thursday.
- On Friday, he plans to detail his vaccine plan.
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| 10. Pic du jour |
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| Photo: Astrid Riecken for The Washington Post via Getty Images |
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| Roses adorn new security fencing around the Capitol. |
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| 🚀 Thanks for launching your week with Sneak! We'll be back in your app or inbox tomorrow. |
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