Axios Sneak Peek: 3 Biden Scoops - OMB Plan B, Nord Stream 2, Conflicted Science Adviser

1 big thing: Scoop - Biden's OMB Plan B | Monday, February 22, 2021

Open in app View in browser   Presented By Facebook   Axios Sneak Peek By Alayna Treene, Hans Nichols and Kadia Goba ·Feb 22, 2021 Today's newsletter — edited by Glen Johnson — is 694 words, a 2.5-minute read.     1 big thing: Scoop - Biden's OMB Plan B Neera Tanden. Photo: Leigh Vogel-Pool/Getty Images   House Democratic leaders are quietly mounting a campaign for Shalanda Young, a longtime congressional aide, to replace Neera Tanden as nominee for director of the Office of Management and Budget, people familiar with the matter tell Axios' Hans Nichols and Kadia Goba. Why it matters: The nascent campaign for Young, who would be OMB's first Black female leader, reflects a stark reality taking hold in the Democratic Party: Tanden's prospects are rapidly fading. The intrigue: Young, who is currently waiting for a confirmation hearing in the Senate to be deputy OMB director, may still face competition from Gene Sperling, who has the distinction of twice leading the National Economic Council. House Democratic leaders are prepared to push for Young, who also has support from some prominent members of the Congressional Black Caucus, people familiar with the matter tell Axios. Go deeper.     2. Scoop - Allies worried Biden shaky on Putin's pipeline Eniola Odetunde/Axios. Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images   Russia's adversaries in central and Eastern Europe are worried President Biden isn't willing to fight hard to stop the Russia-Germany gas pipeline Nord Stream 2 — one of Vladimir Putin's core priorities, Axios' Jonathan Swan reports. Why it matters: The fight is the first significant test of whether Biden's tough rhetoric against the Russian leader will be matched by action. Russian opponents fear Biden doesn't want to antagonize Angela Merkel and won't inflict serious costs on the Germans. Driving the news: Until now, messages of concern have been conveyed to the Americans privately. But on Monday, a source close to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told Swan: "The Ukrainians are a bit disappointed that President Biden did not commit during the Munich [Security] Conference to use every tool in his power to stop Nord Stream 2." "But it is not too late," the source close to Zelensky added, "for the U.S. to take decisive action, and the Ukrainians are hopeful the Biden administration will do so." State Department spokesperson Ned Price said in a statement: "The Biden administration is committed to using all available tools to counter Russian malign influence and to support transatlantic energy security goals." Price added: "We have been clear that companies risk sanctions if they are involved in the Nord Stream 2 project. We continue to examine entities involved in potentially sanctionable activity." Go deeper.     3. Scoop: Biden science adviser conflicted out of some COVID work Dr. Eric Lander. Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images   Biden's pick for top government scientist will have to refrain from working on COVID vaccine matters until he divests as much as $1 million of stock in a company manufacturing one, the White House tells Axios' Lachlan Markay. Why it matters: Dr. Eric Lander also won't work on any other issues that could affect his sizable portfolio until he's fully divested, the White House said. That could take months, potentially handicapping a key administration hand at a crucial time. What's new: In financial disclosure paperwork made public Monday, Lander, a renowned MIT geneticist nominated to lead the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, disclosed owning stock worth between $500,000 and $1 million in the company BioNTech. The company is manufacturing a vaccine with Pfizer that was among the first two to receive emergency use authorization What they're saying: A White House spokesperson told Axios that Lander, who is working with the White House even as the Senate considers his nomination, is not participating in decisions that would constitute financial conflicts. The BioNTech divestment could take up to 90 days, Lander told federal ethics officials, and he's joining an administration working to roll out the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine at a breakneck pace. Go deeper.     A message from Facebook It's time to update internet regulations     The internet has changed a lot in 25 years. But the last time comprehensive internet regulations were passed was in 1996. We support updated internet regulations to set clear guidelines for addressing today's toughest challenges. Learn More     4. A racial breakdown of the House Data: Brookings Institution and House Press Gallery; Note: The Democratic numbers add up to more than 221 because five Democratic representatives were counted in two race/ethnicity categories. Chart: Sara Wise and Andrew Witherspoon/Axios The 117th Congress is the most ethnically and racially diverse Congress yet, but the House Republican ranks remain far more white than that of their Democratic counterparts, according to a data analysis by Axios' Stef Kight. Why it matters: American demographics are rapidly changing, with the nation projected to be majority minority in 2045. Representation has improved in Congress, but only about 28% of House members are Black, Hispanic, Asian or indigenous — even though those groups make up 39% of the total population, according to census data.     5. Missing Marine sparks White House questions Photo: Sarah Silbiger/Getty Images   The absence of a Marine sentry outside the West Wing on Monday raised questions about whether the president was keeping the schedule publicly outlined by his aides, Sarah Mucha writes in her debut piece for Axios. Why it matters: A sure way to tell if the president is inside the Oval Office is if the spit-shined Marine is at the post, opening the door to the West Wing. A pool reporter questioning whether there had been a change in policy received a simpler, circa-2021 response: the Marine was getting a COVID test. "The president was in the Oval Office this morning working, receiving the PDB and all the things that you're aware of from the schedule. There hasn't been a change of policy," White House press secretary Jen Psaki said during the daily briefing. Go deeper.     6. Pic du jour Photo by Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images   President Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and their spouses were surrounded by 500 candles as they led a moment of silence tonight for the nation's 500,000 COVID-19 victims.     A message from Facebook Internet regulations need an update     It's been 25 years since comprehensive internet regulations were passed. But a lot has changed since 1996. We support updated regulations to set clear guidelines for protecting people's privacy, enabling safe and easy data portability between platforms and more. Learn More   🙏 Thanks for reading. You can sign up for email delivery of Sneak and our other free newsletters through this link.   Axios thanks our partners for supporting our newsletters. Sponsorship has no influence on editorial content. 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