| | | | | |  | | By Eugene Daniels , Tara Palmeri, Rachael Bade and Ryan Lizza | Presented by |  | | | | | | |  | DRIVING THE DAY | | JOSEPH R. BIDEN started his first campaign for the White House on June 9, 1987 — 12,279 days ago. At noon today he'll be sworn in as America's 46th president in front of the smallest crowd in modern presidential history. Between those two poles lies a great deal of grief and loss, 36 years as a senator, two more presidential runs and eight years as the right hand to the first Black president. As Biden told his boss in 2010, today is a "big f---ing deal." After all the festivities (virtual and otherwise), Biden has promised to get straight to work, signing executive orders and taking other actions that don't require congressional approval to make good on a host of campaign promises. On a call with the Biden transition last night, senior aides laid out his first-day plans. Biden will sign 15 executive orders addressing, among other things, the pandemic, economic relief, immigration, climate change and racial equity. As Laura Barrón-López and Alice Miranda Ollstein put it in their piece this morning, "Today marks the start of the new administration's expansive effort to undo the last four years under Donald Trump." Biden will also sign orders for a nationwide mask and social distancing mandate on federal property. He's scuttling Trump's Muslim ban, revoking the Keystone XL pipeline permit and ending the Trump administration's harsh immigration enforcement regime. And while he's at it, Biden will halt construction of the border wall, rejoin the Paris climate accords, extend the federal eviction notice moratorium and pause interest and payments on student loans. This flurry of unilateral action will provide some comfort to supporters that the page has turned from the Trump era. But let's be real: He's inheriting a gigantic mess. A pandemic that's killed more than 400,000 people in the U.S.; an economy in tatters for tens of millions of people; and a guttural scream for racial justice by Black Americans that has exposed white Americans to systemic racism in a new and more visceral way. Not to mention the climate crisis, a badly strained health care system and a widening wealth gap. Each of those challenges alone would be enough to overtake and even derail a presidency. Arguably, they just did. But Biden just spent almost two years saying he was the one Democrat truly ready to do the job "on Day One." And here we are. On his actual first day, the rhetoric of the campaign trail will run headlong into reality. Biden needs some wins — quickly — to establish that the experience and know-how he touted as a candidate can actually produce something tangible. | | A message from Blue Cross Blue Shield Association: Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies have committed more than $7 billion to help the nation address the COVID-19 outbreak, by providing premium relief, eliminating patient treatment costs, and enhancing access to telehealth. Learn more. | | | Today is also the day that women of color will see someone who looks like them put their hand on two Bibles (one from Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, the other from a woman she calls "her second mother") and take the oath of office. Right before noon, KAMALA DEVI HARRIS will break the first executive office glass ceiling. I explored what she faces as the first with my colleague Christopher Cadelago. In part: Harris will confront a pressure that the white men she's joining in the exclusive vice presidential club never felt. With that comes a mission — as Harris, the daughter of immigrants from Jamaica and India, puts it — to "make sure you're not the last." And as the tie-breaking vote in the Senate, she'll preside over a chamber that, with her departure from it, no longer has any Black women serving. A senior veep-elect aide told me Harris is hoping she won't have to spend a lot of her time at the other end of Pennsylvania Avenue. Which means either Biden is really going to have to compromise with Republicans or push to … FILIBUSTER FIGHT BLOWS WIDE OPEN: MITCH MCCONNELL'S demand Tuesday that CHUCK SCHUMER promise to protect the filibuster has catapulted the contentious debate over the Senate's 60-vote threshold to the fore — and possibly created a serious roadblock for Biden's agenda. But Schumer, we predict, won't go there for two main reasons: First, he needs the leverage: Taking the so-called nuclear option off the table would mean he couldn't hold it over McConnell's head in future negotiations. The more compelling reason, though, is Schumer's own political future: The New York Democrat is up for reelection in 2022, and progressives eager to nix the filibuster to get their wish list enacted have their eyes on him. AOC lurks as a potential primary challenger. Progressives sent up a flare as soon as news of McConnell's request hit the Twitters. "Republicans would never negotiate their way out of governing power, why are we doing this?" warned Squad member/Rep. ILHAN OMAR (D-Minn.). Even House Majority Whip JIM CLYBURN (D-S.C.) backed the idea of chucking the filibuster, noting it was once used to stymie civil rights legislation. "We need to get rid of a lot of these things we've been holding onto," he told us at a Playbook Live event. | 
| THE UPSHOT: Advantage McConnell, at least in the short run. If Schumer doesn't meet McConnell's demand, the Republican can gum up Biden's agenda — starting with his $1.9 trillion coronavirus package — in the critical first 100 days. More here from our master of the Senate, Burgess Everett. ANOTHER GRAVE MILESTONE — "'Shameful': U.S. virus deaths top 400K as Trump leaves office," AP: "The 400,000-death toll, reported Tuesday by Johns Hopkins University, is greater than the population of New Orleans, Cleveland or Tampa, Florida. It's nearly equal to the number of American lives lost annually to strokes, Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, flu and pneumonia combined." | | | | A message from Blue Cross Blue Shield Association:   Taking action to fight the pandemic. See how we're meeting the challenge. | | | TRUMP'S WEDNESDAY — The president and first lady will depart the White House for Palm Beach, Fla., at 8 a.m. BIDEN'S WEDNESDAY — The incoming president will attend church at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle at 8:45 a.m. with Jill Biden, Kamala Harris and Doug Emhoff. They'll arrive at the Capitol at 10:30 a.m., and Biden and Harris will be sworn in at noon. They'll visit the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery at 2:25 p.m. Biden will sign executive orders at 5:15 p.m. and then swear in presidential appointees virtually. In the evening, they'll attend the "Celebrating America" inaugural program. — JEN PSAKI, the incoming White House press secretary, will brief at 7 p.m. | | | | TRACK FIRST 100 DAYS OF THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION: Track the first 100 Days of the Biden administration. Written for political insiders, this scoop-filled newsletter breaks big news and analyzes the initiatives, people and emerging power centers of the new administration. Subscribe today. | | | | | | | PLAYBOOK READS | | | 
PHOTO OF THE DAY: Doug Emhoff, Kamala Harris and the Bidens look out on lamps honoring 400,000 American Covid-19 victims along the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool on Tuesday, ahead of the inauguration. | Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images | BREAKING OVERNIGHT: "Trump pardons dozens, including Steve Bannon, as he exits White House," by Josh Gerstein and Kyle Cheney: "The last-minute clemency grant to Bannon, a right-wing firebrand and former Trump strategist facing trial on charges of swindling donors to a private group raising money for border wall construction, may prove to be the most controversial of the 73 pardons and 70 commutations Trump granted late Tuesday." Also on the list: LIL WAYNE, plus "the man whose relationship with Russian spy Maria Butina ignited a Washington firestorm," and "the wealthy doctor accused of paying bribes to Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.)." THE TEAM TALKS TO RICHMOND: The new Playbook crew will sit down with incoming White House senior adviser and director of the Office of Public Engagement CEDRIC RICHMOND on Thursday at 1:30 p.m. We'll discuss Biden's top legislative priorities and news of the day with Richmond. Register here CORONAVIRUS TRACKER: The U.S. reported 1,381 Covid-19 deaths and 137,885 new coronavirus cases Tuesday. THE BIDEN ERA BEGINS … NATASHA KORECKI: "Biden is about to give 'the most important inaugural speech since Lincoln'": "Joe Biden paces as he dictates long portions of his speeches to aides, spinning out thoughts that quickly pile into six, seven or eight paragraphs of copy, only to later be scrapped. On the 2020 campaign trail, he'd keep groups of supporters waiting inside while he'd hole up in a black car with aides, refining lines of his prepared remarks. … "Longtime aides and advisers expect the inaugural address to traverse territory that Biden has covered over the course of his nearly 50-year public career, while highlighting an agenda that offers up hope to a country ravaged by disease, economic struggles, and violent political insurrection." LESS CONFIRMATION COMMOTION: "Republicans take on Biden's Cabinet, but without the Trumpian fury," by Marianne LeVine and Andrew Desiderio: "Throughout a series of five back-to-back Cabinet confirmation hearings on Tuesday, Senate Republicans displayed a return-to-normal posture — staking out traditional conservative arguments and outlining their disagreements with the incoming Biden administration, but largely through a respectful back-and-forth with nominees. … It's a stark departure from the tumultuous, free-wheeling Cabinet fights that defined the Trump era." NOT COTTONING TO HIS PREVIOUS POSITION: Sen. TOM COTTON (R-Ark.), who supported a waiver to confirm Trump's first Defense secretary, has reversed course when it comes to Biden's. "I supported the waiver for Gen. Mattis with reservations four years ago, which I quickly came to view as a mistake and have since regretted," he said yesterday during Gen. LLOYD AUSTIN'S confirmation hearing. "For that matter, upon further reading of the historical record, I now believe the waiver for Gen. Marshall in 1950 was also a mistake. Under no foreseeable circumstances can I imagine supporting such a waiver again." THE GOP'S LIBERTARIAN TURN: The last two Democratic presidents followed Republicans who racked up record levels of debt. Each time, Republicans out of power quickly shifted from budget profligacy to austerity and pilloried Democrats as big spenders. As we watched JANET YELLEN'S confirmation hearing yesterday, when she made the case for a large stimulus package, we couldn't help notice that, as predicted, this pattern is repeating itself. Republicans who were relatively silent as Trump increased the national debt to historic levels are returning to their small-government talking points. "We're looking at another spending blowout," said Sen. PAT TOOMEY (R-Pa.). "The only organizing principle I can understand, it seems, is to spend as much money as possible, seemingly for the sake of spending it." Toomey's comment points to one reason we are deeply skeptical that the current divide in the GOP over Trumpism will translate into support for key aspects of the Biden agenda. Toomey has turned sharply anti-Trump since Election Day while simultaneously becoming sharply critical of the cost of Biden's legislative agenda. ENOUGH TO WONDER IF THIS WAS ALL WORTH IT: Like other recent presidents, Biden can have his favorite tech obsessions in the White House, but they will be stripped of all the cool features that spies can exploit. In the Obama era, it was his BlackBerry and iPad. This time, it's Biden's Peloton. | | | |   | | | A BIDEN HONEYMOON? — Some interesting nuggets from the latest POLITICO/Morning Consult poll, released this morning for Inauguration Day… 39% of respondents said Trump definitely or probably made America great again, vs. 57% who thought he definitely or probably did not. … 21% said he was one of the best presidents ever, 46% one of the worst. … 35% rated Trump's performance on the coronavirus as excellent or good vs. 51% who gave top marks to Biden for his handling of the pandemic. … … On the question of whether Biden should be an intentional one-term president, 31% said he should definitely or probably pledge he won't run for reelection in 2024, while 50% said he should not. Biden also enters the White House with a very healthy 57 to 39 favorable/unfavorable rating — suggesting he'll benefit from at least a mini-honeymoon that Trump never enjoyed. Check out the toplines and crosstabs … And more here from our polling guru Steve Shepard: "Poll: Biden gets modest 'honeymoon' ahead of inauguration" DEM STRATEGIST TO TEAM BIDEN: DELETE YOUR ACCOUNTS — Longtime Dem speechwriter Kenny Baer writes in The Washington Monthly : "The Biden Administration — every Cabinet member and senior official — should follow the President-elect's lead here and turn off Twitter. Take it off your phone. Block it on your laptop. Rely on your communications' staff to tell you when there's breaking news. That delay may actually lead to a better response. Put into perspective what a Twitter firestorm about your latest initiative actually means in the real world —almost always, nothing. Ignore it. So, too, the incoming administration should follow Biden's lead and make Twitter boring again." THE TRUMP ERA ENDS … "'Like a Ghost' in the White House: The Last Days of the Trump Presidency" — our Anita Kumar, Gabby Orr and Meridith McGraw go deep on the final days of Trump's term. TRUMP FLOATS CREATION OF NEW POLITICAL PARTY: Like most Trump ideas, it's difficult to know how serious to take the news, reported by the WSJ, that Trump has been discussing the creation of a new political party that he wants to dub the Patriot Party, which recalls the famous choice he offered VP MIKE PENCE before Jan. 6 . But it's certainly a bad time to be floating it. McConnell said yesterday that Trump "provoked" the Jan. 6 mob, and Senate Republicans are carefully weighing whether it's safe to jump on the conviction bandwagon when the impeachment trial begins. Many of them no doubt want to ban Trump from being able to hold office again but are still too scared of his voters to go public. By formally breaking with the GOP, Trump would make it a lot easier. An alternative view is that the threat of a new party will help keep Republicans in line. Trump adviser Jason Miller tells Ryan, "Republican senators need to think long and hard about what an impeachment vote would do to the party." OOPSIE: "A big chunk of Trump's 1776 report appears lifted from an author's prior work," by Tina Nguyen TRUMPOLOGY … MICHAEL KRUSE for POLITICO Magazine: "'He Was the Ringmaster in the Demise of His Own Circus': On the eve of Donald Trump's exit from power, four biographers who studied him up close reflect on what he wrought on the country. And what he'll do next." A LOOK BACK AT TRUMP'S TIME ON TWITTER, courtesy of NYT. This entry caught our attention: | 
| WEDNESDAY LISTENS — Streets are deserted. Stores are boarded up. Troops line the perimeter of the Capitol. This is the backdrop of Biden's inauguration — and as Tara reports on the latest episode of "Dispatch," it could be the backdrop of a new Washington for weeks to come. Listen and subscribe — How can countries ensure people have what they need to get good, lasting employment? In the season finale of POLITICO's "Global Translations" podcast, hosts Ryan Heath and Luiza Savage talk with leaders about the structural changes needed to help workers. Listen and subscribe | | | | KEEP UP WITH CONGRESS IN 2021: Tensions remain high on Capitol Hill as we inaugurate a new president this week. How are lawmakers planning to move forward after a tumultuous few weeks? How will a new Senate majority impact the legislative agenda? With so much at stake, our new Huddle author Olivia Beavers brings you the most important news and critical insight from Capitol Hill with assists from POLITICO's deeply sourced Congress team. Subscribe to Huddle, the essential guide to understanding Congress.
| | | | | | | PLAYBOOKERS | | TRUMP'S FIRST DAY IN PALM BEACH: When Trump arrives in Palm Beach, he will land in a small town unsure of how to deal with the former president and his entourage. A senior county official tells Tara he expects fireworks at a town council meeting Thursday, when members will debate whether to enforce a long-standing agreement that no Mar-a-Lago guest or member stay at the club for more than seven days at a time or 21 days per year — including its owner. "It's like a civil war down here," the official said. "Some Trumpers are trying to get on the board to protect the president." One of Trump's longtime friends pointed out that before he won the election, Trump stayed at the beach club every winter weekend for at least four months — clearly violating the existing agreement. The Palm Beach "Shiny Sheet" reports that Trump has still not told the town administrator where he plans to live. Meanwhile, DONALD TRUMP JR. and KIMBERLY GUILFOYLE are eyeing a home in the exclusive Admirals Cove in Jupiter, Fla. Sources in Florida tell Tara the two may close on a home in the exclusive community in a matter of weeks. A website for the country club community states : "Residents are brought together through their own, personal resort, which offers everything from 'happy life' essentials (like an early morning yoga class and a chef-designed, health-conscious lunch) to grand leisures (such as tying up your yacht at a fully-serviced dock, then heading over to play 18 holes on some of Florida's best golf courses)." 'SMALLEST CROWD EVER': Those are fighting words for Trump, but Deputy D.C. Mayor JOHN FALCICCHIO tells Tara that's the goal for Biden's inauguration. With the threat of riots gripping the city, it's deploying the same level of resources and law enforcement personnel it had to secure the largest inauguration ever, Barack Obama's in 2009. Falcicchio's advice to Playbookers: Stay home. See more from Falcicchio here: | 
| FOX PURGE — The Daily Beast: "Fox laid off at least 16 staffers, including [political editor] CHRIS STIREWALT, who defended the election-night call that pissed off Trump. Insiders say the firings are part of an ideological purge. … While the network's pro-Trump opinion hosts openly undermined the decision desk and political team's Arizona call, parroting the Trump campaign's complaints, Stirewalt refused to reverse course while also throwing cold water on the president's bogus claims of widespread voter fraud." A Fox News spox says: "As we conclude the 2020 election cycle, FOX News Digital has realigned its business and reporting structure to meet the demands of this new era. We are confident these changes will ensure the platform continues to deliver breakthrough reporting and insightful analysis surrounding major issues, both stateside and abroad." Notable: Newsmax was the only network to cover Trump's farewell address Tuesday. REUTERS' @JanNWolfe: "Katie Miller, a Pence aide and the wife of Trump aide Stephen Miller, said in a farewell email to reporters: 'Going forward if you need anything from Vice President Pence, please feel free to reach out as I'll be staying with Team Pence.'" BOOK NEWS: Don Lemon's upcoming "This Is the Fire: What I Say to My Friends about Racism," became available for presale yesterday. Release date is March 16. TRANSITIONS — Raul Alvillar is now EVP at Resolute Public Affairs. He previously was New Mexico state director for the Biden campaign. … Matthew Ramirez will be a content policy manager at Facebook. He previously was an outreach adviser in Speaker Nancy Pelosi's office. WELCOME TO THE WORLD — Adam Wren, contributing editor at POLITICO Magazine and Indianapolis Monthly, and Alison Wren, teacher at Forest Dale Elementary School, welcomed Clive Evanston Wren on Tuesday in Carmel, Ind. He arrived on the birthday of Transportation Secretary-designate Pete Buttigieg, whom Adam covered in the primary. Pic HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Kellyanne Conway … likely 2024 aspirant Nikki Haley … former Kamala spox Ian Sams, who was born on Inauguration Day 1989 when his mom was told by a Tennessee nurse to "push for Bush"… Rep. Dean Phillips … the un-cancelable Bill Maher … Diane Ruggiero … forever in the loop Al Kamen (h/t Jon Haber) … POLITICO's Gavin Bade and Megan Erickson … WSJ's James V. Grimaldi … former Reps. Bill Owens and Shelley Berkley … Natan Sharansky … Kevin Parker | 
| Got a document to share? Legislative language of Biden's new immigration proposal? A birthday coming up? Drop us a line at politicoplaybook@politico.com or individually: Eugene Daniels, Ryan Lizza, Tara Palmeri, Rachael Bade. Playbook couldn't happen without our editor Mike Zapler and producers Allie Bice, Eli Okun and Garrett Ross. | | A message from Blue Cross Blue Shield Association: Everyone should have access to health care, no matter who you are or where you live. See how Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies are working to improve health and expand access to quality care. | | | | | | | 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 political and policy newsletters | | Follow us | | | | |
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