Axios Sneak Peek: Scoop - Biden meeting Quad ... "Cat in the Hat" means cash in the bank

Plus: Democrats eye reconciliation for immigration | Thursday, March 04, 2021

Open in app View in browser   Presented By Facebook   Axios Sneak Peek By Alayna Treene, Hans Nichols and Kadia Goba ·Mar 04, 2021 Welcome back to Sneak. We have a lot of news, so let's get right to it. 🚨 Breaking: "Federal investigators are examining records of communications between members of Congress and the pro-Trump mob that attacked the Capitol," CNN reports. ⚡ Situational Awareness: Former Defense secretary Mark Esper has been named the first John S. McCain Distinguished Fellow at Arizona State University's McCain Institute, Cindy McCain announced. Today's newsletter — edited by Glen Johnson — is 591 words, a 2-minute read.     1 big thing: Scoop - Biden meeting Quad amid own pivot toward Asia Artists paint portraits of President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris in Mumbai, India. Photo: Anshuman Poyrekar/Hindustan Times via Getty Images   President Biden plans to meet this month with the leaders of Japan, Australia and India in a virtual summit of the so-called Quad, people familiar with the matter tell Axios' Hans Nichols. Why it matters: By putting a Quad meeting on the president's schedule, the White House is signaling the importance of partnerships and alliances to counter China's growing influence in the Indo-Pacific region. Biden has spoken with each leader individually, but putting them together gives an early boost to the burgeoning group, which some have suggested could grow into an Asian version of NATO. The White House declined to confirm the upcoming meeting. Go deeper.     2. "Cat in the Hat" puts cash in the bank for GOP Illustration: Annelise Capossela/Axios   The House Republicans' campaign arm is offering donors copies of the Dr. Seuss classic "The Cat in the Hat," seeking to capitalize on a new front in the culture war, Axios' Lachlan Markay writes. Why it matters: The offer, while gimmicky, shows how potent appeals to "cancel culture" can be for grassroots Republicans, even amid debates about more weighty policy matters like coronavirus relief and voting rights. What's happening: The National Republican Congressional Committee is sending the books to donors who give $25 to GOP efforts to retake the House. "We won't be able to speak or think freely by the time the Dems are through. Chip in $25 now and we'll send 'Cat in the Hat' right to you," the NRCC writes in the final verse of a Seussian passage on its online donation page. The committee is seeking to capitalize on consternation over the decision by Seuss' publisher to cease printing six books deemed racially or culturally insensitive. Go deeper.     3. Democrats eye reconciliation for immigration Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images   Comprehensive immigration reform is a pipe dream, but some Senate Democrats are hoping to tie key immigration provisions to the next big reconciliation push, Axios' Stef Kight and Kadia Goba write. Why it matters: Immigration is one of the most controversial and partisan issues in U.S. politics, which is why the budget reconciliation process — which allows for bills to pass the Senate with a simple majority rather than the usual 60 votes — is so attractive. Democrats want to use it to force hundreds of thousands of green cards for Dreamers, temporary protected status holders and essential workers. What we're hearing: If the measures fail to get the 10 Republican votes needed to meet the 60-vote Senate threshold, some Democrats hope to tack them on to whatever infrastructure and economic recovery package evolves this spring. 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. AOC challenges Puerto Rico governor over statehood Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez at New York's Puerto Rican Day Parade in 2019. Photo: Erin Lefevre/NurPhoto via Getty Images   Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Nydia Velázquez are pushing ahead with a bill in Congress that would let Puerto Rico decide its future — a proposal threatening Gov. Pedro Pierluisi's determination to pursue statehood for the island, Axios' Alexi McCammond reports. Why it matters: There's an urgency among supporters of statehood to get it done while Democrats control both chambers of Congress, and President Biden has been publicly supportive. But there's a growing divide within the party about whether statehood is actually the best solution for the U.S. territory. During a joint phone interview with Axios on Thursday, Ocasio-Cortez said she still hasn't heard from Pierluisi, and Velázquez said she met with him virtually a few weeks ago. What they're saying: "The principled position — especially for the head of that colonizing power — is to say that people should have a process of self-determination and to not put your thumb on the scale of one direction or another," Ocasio-Cortez told Axios. Go deeper.     5. Ro Khanna accuses Biden of quitting Middle East Rep. Ro Khanna. Photo: Cody Glenn/Sportsfile for Web Summit via Getty Images   An outspoken progressive Democrat is wary of Biden's approach to the Middle East, arguing it's like "conceding defeat of the aspiration" to win a Nobel Peace Prize, Axios' Sarah Mucha reports. Why it matters: A number of members of the president's own party dislike his Middle East strategy, as his administration signals the region is no longer the priority it was for President Obama and his predecessors. "Obama strove for greatness," California Democrat Rep. Ro Khanna told Axios. "He, at least, tried." In a five-point plan shared exclusively with Axios, he suggests the administration withdraw all remaining U.S. forces in Iraq. Khanna, 44, who backed Sen. Bernie Sanders for president, also proposes announcing additional resources for security and stability, including aid and development. And Khanna's plan effectively asks other regional players to increase their presence in the region as the United States withdraws. The White House declined comment on Khanna's suggestions. Go deeper.     6. Mayor Pete makes it to the Oval Photo: Oliver Contreras/The New York Times/Bloomberg via Getty Images   Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg joined President Biden today for a meeting with House members.     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. Have a great weekend. We'll be back Sunday. To sign up for any of Axios' free newsletters, click here.   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: