Axios Sneak Peek: Scoop - Team Biden eyes McCain, Flake as ambassadors ... Inside Trump's defense

1 big thing: 🇬🇧 Scoop - Team Biden eyes McCain, Flake as ambassadors | Thursday, February 11, 2021

Open in app View in browser   Presented By AT&T   Axios Sneak Peek By Alayna Treene, Hans Nichols and Kadia Goba ·Feb 11, 2021 Today's newsletter — edited by Glen Johnson — is 519 words, a 2-minute read.     1 big thing: 🇬🇧 Scoop - Team Biden eyes McCain, Flake as ambassadors Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios   Biden officials are weighing nominating prominent Republicans to ambassadorships — including Cindy McCain and Jeff Flake — to highlight the importance of bipartisanship in U.S. foreign policy, according to people familiar with their thoughts, Axios' Margaret Talev and Hans Nichols report. Why it matters: President Biden hasn't put any Republicans in his Cabinet, but a move like this would symbolize a return to the Truman-era adage that partisan politics stops "at the water's edge." It also would signal to other nations the Trump era is over, and Biden speaks for all Americans, not just Democrats. What we are hearing: McCain, the widow of Sen. John McCain, has been discussed for the United Kingdom, while Flake, a former senator from Arizona, has been mentioned for South Africa, as well as postings in Europe. The potential nominations of two Arizona Republicans who clashed with former President Trump and endorsed Biden also could boost Democrats, signaling a big-tent approach in a once-red state the new president won by some 10,000 votes. Biden aides say it's premature to discuss either name and that no decisions have been made about ambassadorships. Go deeper.     2. Inside Trump's impeachment defense Trump defense attorneys Bruce Castor (left) and Michael van der Veen. Photo: Michael Reynolds/EPA/Bloomberg via Getty Images   Donald Trump's legal defense will focus entirely on process, Axios' Alayna Treene has learned. Why it matters: The attorneys representing the former president know it's fruitless to continue defending his actions preceding the Capitol attack. Instead, they'll say none of that matters because the trial itself is unconstitutional — an argument many Republican senators are ready to embrace. The House impeachment managers homed in Thursday on how Trump repeatedly encouraged violence among his supporters and how it affected not just lawmakers but the largely minority support staff who care for and protect them in the Capitol. What we're hearing: Trump's lawyers will focus, beginning tomorrow, on four key points about the impeachment: It's unconstitutional. No due process. Violates First Amendment. Won't unify the country. A compilation of today's impeachment manager slides. Photo: Congress.gov via Getty Images Go deeper.     3. White House urged to disclose virtual "visitors" Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios   Political transparency groups are asking the White House to disclose information about the people who participate in virtual White House meetings, according to a letter obtained by Axios' Lachlan Markay. Why it matters: Biden has committed to releasing White House visitor logs on a quarterly basis. But good-government advocates say disclosure of in-person meetings isn't sufficient with COVID forcing so much remote work via teleconference. White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters last week: "At this point, there's not a discussion of making virtual meetings a part of what's released." Virtual meetings "shouldn't serve as an end-run around transparency," said Jordan Libowitz, a spokesperson for Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, one of the letter's signatories. The White House declined to comment on the letter, which was being sent Friday. Go deeper.     A message from AT&T Nearly 17 million kids lack high-speed internet for learning     The homework gap has existed for decades, but the pandemic made the problem – and the need for a solution – more pressing. AT&T has a plan to connect students to brighter futures. Read it today to learn how we can commit to closing the homework gap together.     4. Trump's final-year record for regulations Reproduced from GW Regulatory Studies Center; Chart: Sara Wise/Axios The Trump administration published a record number of regulations considered economically significant during its final year, spurred on by the coronavirus and a last-minute policy push. Why it matters: It's hard to know the long-term impact, but any single rule "could entail hundreds of millions, if not billions, of dollars in annual costs and benefits," George Washington University expert Daniel Perez told Axios' Stef Kight. Some will be harder than others for Biden to retract. Go deeper.     5. Pic du jour Stefani Reynolds/Bloomberg via Getty Images   More than a month after the Jan. 6 attack, a pair of workers replace broken glass and make repairs on the main doors leading into the U.S. Capitol Rotunda. Some in the public had suggested the damage remain — as a reminder.     A message from AT&T We can close the homework gap together     AT&T has invested more than $125 billion in American infrastructure since 2015 and is backed by one of the largest private full-time union workforces in America. Read the plan to learn how together we can connect students to brighter futures.   🙏 Thanks for reading. We're going to be off for President's Day week. You can follow impeachment news at Axios.com, and also 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. Axios, 3100 Clarendon B‌lvd, Suite 1300, Arlington VA 22201   You received this email because you signed up for newsletters from Axios. Change your preferences or unsubscribe here.   Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up now to get Axios in your inbox.   Follow Axios on social media: