| | | | | |  | | By Eugene Daniels, Tara Palmeri, Ryan Lizza and Rachael Bade | Presented by Facebook | | | | |  | DRIVING THE DAY | | There's almost nothing President JOE BIDEN loves more than talking to voters. It's where he's at his most empathetic, if loquacious, best. Tuesday night's CNN town hall in Milwaukee put Biden's virtues and flaws on full display: There were genuine moments of reflection, a few policy reveals and meandering monologues without a clear point — leading to many apologies for talking too much (at least five according to our count). Here are Playbook's superlatives from the hour-plus event, Biden's first with voters since he took office. Quickest real-time backtrack: When Anderson Cooper asked when everyone who wants to be vaccinated would be, Biden answered: "By the end of July of this year." That would be a fast timeline and a difficult promise to keep. Biden then clarified that the vaccines would be available to all by the end of July. Not the same thing. Most tender moment: Biden loves kids — and it showed when a mom said her daughter (standing alongside her) was scared of dying from Covid-19. Consoling the girl, the president explained that children are less likely to get the disease. "I wouldn't worry about it, baby," he said. "I promise you." Harshest toss under the bus: There had been a bit of … confusion about whether the administration would consider a school that's open just one day a week as an "open school." Biden cut Cooper off, saying: "No, that's not true. That's what was reported. It was a mistake in the communication." As in, the press secretary got it wrong. Best moniker: In the first of several times that DONALD TRUMP came up Tuesday night, Biden referred to his predecessor as "the former guy." Biggest progressive slap-downs: So far, Biden and the progressive wing of his party have had a nice honeymoon. But two things some liberal activists really want got the "no-from-me-dawg" treatment: Biden reiterated he doesn't want to defund the police, but instead thinks "we have to put more money in police work." Later, a woman asked about the government canceling $50,000 in student loan debt per borrower. "What will you do to make that happen?" she asked Biden. "I will not make that happen," he answered. Most relatable quote: Talking about his new life in the White House, Biden said: "I don't know about you all, but I was raised in a way that you didn't look for anybody to wait on you. And it's — I find myself extremely self-conscious. [There are] wonderful people working at the White House." Best shade: Biden said he's talked to his living predecessors since he took office. "All of them, with one exception, picked up the phone and called me," he said with a smirk. We wonder who that might be? Most surprising reveal: Biden said he'd never been in the White House residence before he moved in, despite his eight years as veep. Most vulnerable moment: Biden can be an introspective guy. Reflecting on his first few weeks in the job, he said at the conclusion of the town hall: "I literally pray that I have the capacity to do for the country what you all deserve need be done." Headlines from the town hall: — NYT: "Biden suggests vaccines will be available for every American 'by the end of July'" — POLITICO: "Biden focuses on K-8 in recasting benchmark on opening schools" — WAPO: "Biden indicates he's open to negotiation on $15 minimum wage" | | A message from Facebook: It's time to update internet regulations
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Learn More | | | THE GAUNTLET IS THROWN — "Trump attacks McConnell in fiery statement," by Matthew Choi, Marianne LeVine, Meredith McGraw and Gabby Orr: "Former President Donald Trump issued a caustic and highly personal statement against Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell on Tuesday, effectively declaring war on the Kentucky Republican for failing to back his attempts to undermine the 2020 election. "'Mitch is a dour, sullen, and unsmiling political hack, and if Republican Senators are going to stay with him, they will not win again,' Trump said in the statement released by his PAC. … A person familiar with the crafting of the statement confirmed that it could have been far worse. An earlier draft mocked McConnell for having multiple chins." The statement A few points here: — Trump has McConnell to thank for his biggest accomplishment as president — confirming three Supreme Court justices and a raft of lower court judges. — McConnell won the Senate years ago without Trump, and arguably lost it in Georgia this year because of him. Trump also presided over the GOP's loss of the House in 2018. — Among actual Republican voters — i.e. the people who've dictated GOP politics the past five years — Trump is way more popular than McConnell. That was true before Jan. 6 and it's true now. Our latest POLITICO/Morning Consult poll has McConnell at 34% favorable, 53% unfavorable among Republicans. Trump's numbers: 81% favorable, 18% unfavorable. The upshot: McConnell has the inside game wired. Trump has the hearts and minds of the GOP faithful. If we're really looking at a showdown between the two men for control of the party, it's advantage Trump at the outset. Sen. LINDSEY GRAHAM (R-S.C.) gave McConnell some unsolicited advice on Hannity on Tuesday night: "What I would say to Sen. McConnell, I know Trump can be a handful, but he is the most dominant figure in the Republican Party. We don't have a snowball's chance in hell of taking back the majority without Donald Trump. If you don't get that, you're just not looking." SURVEY SAYS — Voters want parents and local administrators to decide whether to reopen schools, according to our latest POLITICO/Morning Consult poll. Two-thirds of respondents said they trust parents to make the right decision, 59% trust local school administrators, 54% trust local boards of education, and 54% trust local teachers unions. More than half of respondents, 55%, said teachers should be vaccinated before schools reopen, but the question divides voters along partisan lines. The topline results and crosstabs | | | |   | | | BIDEN'S WEDNESDAY — The president and VP KAMALA HARRIS will receive the President's Daily Brief at 11:30 a.m. and have lunch together at 12:30 p.m. They'll meet with labor leaders to talk Covid relief and infrastructure at 3:30 p.m. in the Oval Office. — The White House Covid-19 response team and public health officials will brief at 11 a.m. — Press secretary JEN PSAKI will brief at 12:30 p.m. along with ANNE NEUBERGER, deputy national security adviser for cyber and emerging technology. | | | | GET TRANSITION PLAYBOOK TO 100K: In three months, our scoop-filled Transition Playbook newsletter has grown from zero to more than 90,000 subscribers. Find out what's really happening inside the West Wing, who really has the ear of the president, and what's about to happen, before it occurs. Transition Playbook chronicles the people, policies, and emerging power centers of the Biden administration. Don't miss out, subscribe today. And once you do, we'd be grateful if you could spread the word to your friends and colleagues, or, even better, post about Transition Playbook on Facebook or Twitter using this link: politico.com/newsletters/transition-playbook | | | | | | | PLAYBOOK READS | | | 
PHOTO OF THE DAY: Houston resident Victor Zelaya tries to start a fire using a barbecue grill Tuesday amid massive power outages in the state and lethal cold weather sweeping much of the nation. | Go Nakamura/Getty Images | SPEAKING OF THE STORMS — "'We're in it alone': Power outages leave millions of Texans desperate for heat and safety," Texas Tribune: "A grandmother slept in her car. Parents who ran out of firewood burned belongings to keep their children warm. A Richardson resident watched the battery level of her partner's oxygen machine drain away and desperately sought help to have it recharged. "As Texas utility operators and politicians squabbled over responsibility for 'load shedding' and 'rolling blackouts' Tuesday, many residents scrambled simply to stay warm and alive." THE WHITE HOUSE TODAY'S MEETING — "Biden to Meet With Unions Pushing for Infrastructure Spending," WSJ: "President Biden is scheduled to meet in the White House Wednesday with senior labor union leaders, who are hoping to win commitments for a massive federal investment in infrastructure as well as efforts to create jobs in clean-tech and alternative energy, according to people familiar with the matter. "Sean McGarvey, president of North America's Building Trades Unions, will be meeting with the president and Vice President Kamala Harris in the Oval Office, and may be joined by AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka and other labor leaders, according to some of the people." IMMIGRATION FILES — "Democrats and Biden prepare to unveil bill that would provide a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants," CNN: "Biden's bill will also likely join a series of other immigration measures that are narrowly focused on undocumented immigrants who were brought to the US as children, are in the US under a form of humanitarian relief, and are working in agriculture -- setting up a dizzying number of attempts to provide legalization to the undocumented population. … "Biden's bill, titled U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021, addresses the millions of undocumented immigrants living in the US, boosts border technology, and targets the root causes of migration, according to a White House fact sheet." PANDEMIC TRACKER: The U.S. reported 1,353 Covid-19 deaths and 56,000 new coronavirus cases Tuesday. DEEP DIVE — "Who has died from Covid-19 in the U.S,?" Vox: "To get a clearer sense of the shifting burden of Covid-19 deaths over time, Vox analyzed coronavirus mortality by age, region, and race from the past year, based on data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Johns Hopkins University. "We found that while Covid-19 spared no group, it impacted certain populations more than others. Throughout the pandemic, people of color have consistently been disproportionately sickened and killed by the virus. They also died young: Of Covid-19 deaths in people under the age of 45, more than 40 percent were Hispanic and about a quarter were Black." JUST WHAT WE NEEDED — "Crippling storm hampers vaccinations as FEMA opens new sites," AP: "A paralyzing winter storm wrought havoc with COVID-19 vaccination efforts around the country on Tuesday, forcing the cancellation of appointments and delaying vaccine deliveries just as the federal government rolled out new mass vaccination sites aimed at reaching hard-hit communities." JAN. 6 AND ITS AFTERMATH KNOWING THE INSURRECTIONISTS — "Brent Bozell IV, Son Of Prominent Conservative Activist, Charged In Capitol Riot," HuffPost IMPEACHMENT FALLOUT — "Stumbles, Clashes and Egos: Behind the Scenes With Trump's Legal Team," NYT: "The lawyers assembled by the former president to represent him in his Senate impeachment trial hardly knew one another. They prevailed in the end, but it wasn't pretty." FOR NOW … "Giuliani not currently representing Trump 'in any legal matters,' adviser says," CNN (MY)PILLOW TALK — "Dominion says it will sue MyPillow CEO Mike Liddell for spreading election fraud conspiracy," by The Daily Beast's Asawin Suebsaeng, Lachlan Cartwright and Adam Rawnsley | | | |   | | | AMERICA AND THE WORLD THE FOREVER WARS — "Stay or Go? Biden, Long a Critic of Afghan Deployments, Faces a Deadline," NYT: "The previous two presidents of the United States declared they wanted to pull all American troops out of Afghanistan, and they both decided in the end that they could not do it. … Now President Biden is facing the same issue, with a deadline less than three months away. "The Pentagon, uncertain what the new commander in chief will do , is preparing variations on a plan to stay, a plan to leave and a plan to withdraw very, very slowly — a reflection of the debate now swirling in the White House. The current deadline is May 1, in keeping with a much-violated peace agreement that calls for the complete withdrawal of the remaining 2,500 American forces." THE MBS QUESTION — "To speak or not to speak: Saudi Arabia poses a princely dilemma for Biden," by Nahal Toosi: "Whether and how to engage that powerful figure, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, is among the thorniest diplomatic dilemmas facing Biden and his aides, one that exemplifies how hard it will be to keep their promises to promote both human rights and America's national interest on the world stage. … "Some former U.S. officials as well as Saudi and American analysts say the Biden team has no choice but to directly engage the young royal, who is often referred to as 'MBS,' if it wants to accomplish goals such as ending the war in Yemen and constraining Iran's nuclear program. … Others stress that, barring the sudden death of the monarch, there's no rush, and that any U.S. engagement with the crown prince should be zero to minimal or indirect." MISCELLANY WELCOME HOME — "Marine gone! Demolition crews rip out Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago helipad after exception to Palm Beach's helicopter-free zone is revoked now he has left office," Daily Mail: "Construction workers were seen at the former president's sprawling estate Tuesday with a red digger and concrete cutting equipment, demolishing the concrete helicopter landing pad set among the towering palm trees. … The town of Palm Beach issued a permit for the helipad's demolition on February 2." LINCOLN PROJECT LATEST — "Senior Partners at Firm Hired to 'Review' Lincoln Project Scandal Have Donated Thousands to Group," Washington Free Beacon: "Paul Hastings, the law firm hired to conduct a 'comprehensive review' of the Lincoln Project's 'operations and culture,' could be hard-pressed to deliver a credible result given several of its senior partners have donated to the scandal-plagued super PAC. "Greg Nitzkowski, the firm's managing partner of more than two decades, donated $3,000 to the Lincoln Project in 2020, according to federal election records. Elena Baca, who chairs the firm's employment law department, has donated almost $2,000 to the Lincoln Project." — "George Conway, a Lincoln Project founder, backs shuttering the group amid a harassment crisis," by NYT ZOINKS — "Hacker Claims to Have Stolen Files Belonging to Prominent Law Firm Jones Day," WSJ: "A hacker claims to have stolen files belonging to the global law firm Jones Day and posted many of them on the dark web. Jones Day has many prominent clients, including former President Donald Trump and major corporations. Jones Day, in a statement, disputed that its network has been breached. … "The posting by a person who self-identified as the hacker, which goes by the name Clop, includes a few individual documents that are easily reviewed by the public, including by The Wall Street Journal. One memo is to a judge and is marked 'confidential mediation brief,' another is a cover letter for enclosed 'confidential documents.' The Journal couldn't immediately confirm their authenticity." | | | | A MUST-READ ON CAPITOL HILL: Looking for the latest insight on the power dynamic in House GOP Leadership? Want to listen in on the whispers coming out of the Speaker's Lobby? Trying to understand what is really going on inside the cloakrooms? Olivia Beavers delivers the scoop in Huddle, our morning Capitol Hill must-read, with assists from POLITICO's deeply sourced Congress team that reveal the state of play in the House and Senate. Subscribe to Huddle today. | | | | | | | PLAYBOOKERS | | MEDIAWATCH PALACE INTRIGUE — "Zucker lieutenant is a top candidate to replace him at CNN's helm," NBC: "Allison Gollust, a CNN executive and top lieutenant to Jeff Zucker, has emerged as the leading internal candidate to take over the network if Zucker steps down as president … Zucker and Gollust's business relationship dates back to their days at NBCUniversal … Gollust did a brief stint as communications director for New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo before rejoining Zucker at CNN shortly after he became president in 2013." — CNN's Brooke Baldwin announced she will be leaving the network in April. More from Variety … Twitter thread from Baldwin THE LOCAL NEWS CRISIS — "Alden Global Capital Agrees to Buy Rest of Tribune Publishing," WSJ: "A New York hedge fund that is the largest shareholder in Tribune Publishing Co. has reached a deal to acquire the rest of the newspaper company which owns some of the biggest papers in the country, including the Chicago Tribune and New York Daily News." THE NYT SAGA — "NY Times Star Donald McNeil Privately Dismisses Accusations Against Him as 'Recovered Memories,'" The Daily Beast: "'I'm amazed at what's happening. I feel like I'm facing students "recovered memories" from two years ago,' Donald McNeil Jr. wrote in the email sent this week to close friends. 'And other papers are eating it up. I said "racism is over?" Huh?' "He continued: 'I said "ghetto"? I don't think I've said "ghetto" except 1. about Warsaw or 2. ironically, with air quotes, since Elvis released that ridiculous song in 1969. A teenager "corrected" me and was upset that I failed to apologize to her/him? I don't even know how to respond to that. Somehow I think I'd remember it if it had happened.' … [H]e told friends he has been 'writing out long answers to everything' which he promised to have finished by March 1—the same day he is due to leave the Times." — "'BULLSH*T!' Fox News Hot Mic Catches Larry Kudlow Raging at Kamala Harris For Claim About Vaccines," Mediaite — The Columbia Journalism School and NBCU News Group are launching a $1 million multi-year scholarship fund to support students from underrepresented populations who seek careers in journalism. The announcement — John Simons is joining Time as executive editor. He previously was deputy health and science editor and bureau chief for health business at the WSJ. TRANSITIONS — Michael Atkinson is joining Crowell & Moring as a partner. He previously was inspector general of the U.S. Intelligence Community, a position from which Trump fired him after he investigated a whistleblower complaint in the events leading up to Trump's first impeachment. … Ali Pardo is now PAC and political comms director for Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.). She previously was deputy comms director for the Trump campaign. … Doug Dziak is now senior counsel for the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission. He most recently was general counsel and staff director for the Senate Budget Committee. … … Eric Heighberger is now minority policy director for the House Homeland Security Committee and minority staff director for the Oversight, Management and Accountability Subcommittee. He most recently was COS at FEMA. … Pia Carusone has joined SKDK as a managing director and co-head of SKDKPolitical. She is owner of Republic Restoratives Distillery, most recently was a partner at Left Hook and is a State Department and Gabby Giffords alum. … Ryan Rodgers is moving up to be president of the Strategy Group Company. He previously was chief marketing officer. WEEKEND WEDDING — Taylor Weeks, former NASA adviser, and Clay Armentrout, legislative director for Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.), got married Saturday in her hometown of Houston. They met in 2018 through mutual friends. Pic … Another pic HAPPY BIRTHDAY: DHS' Sam Vinograd … Reps. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), Suzan DelBene (D-Wash.) and Jake LaTurner (R-Ohio) … Brian Jack … Axios' Lachlan Markay and Lindsey Sullivan … Cliff Sims … Betsy Fischer Martin … McClatchy's Kristin Roberts … CNN's Dianna Heitz … Keegan Goudiss … Ashley Berrang … Sean Cartwright … Surya Gunasekara … Boeing's Fred Schwien … Cara Camacho … AARP's Barbara Shipley … POLITICO's Kelsey Tamborrino … Mark Shriver of Save the Children … Catherine De Bolle … Curtis Tate … Google's Will Hayworth … Edith Honan … Danielle Most … Annamarie Rienzi … Kelsey Rohwer … Frederick Hill of FTI Consulting … former Rep. Randy Forbes (R-Va.) … Howard Megdal … Maddie Carlos, comms director for Rep. Deborah Ross (D-N.C.) … Baillee Brown, legislative director for Rep. Scott Peters (D-Calif.) … Katherine Culligan … Cara Camacho of the Bank Policy Institute … Taylor Hawkins Got a document to share? A birthday coming up? A copy of Biden's immigration bill? 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