| | | | | |  | | By Rachael Bade, Ryan Lizza, Tara Palmeri and Eugene Daniels | Presented by |  | | | | | | |  | DRIVING THE DAY | | It didn't happen with Covid relief. But President JOE BIDEN says he really, really wants to go bipartisan on infrastructure. At this early stage, however, there's every indication that GOP cooperation is less likely on a massive public works bill than it was on the pandemic legislation. Here's why: 1) Cost: Biden campaigned on a $2 trillion infrastructure-climate plan, but already there's talk among Democrats about going as high as $4 trillion. The bigger the number, the harder it will be to garner GOP support — especially because Congress just spent $1.9 trillion. Also: Only three House Republicans supported Democrats' $1.5 trillion version of a similar proposal pairing transportation and climate last year, a bill then-Senate Majority Leader MITCH MCCONNELL called a "multithousand-page cousin of the Green New Deal masquerading as a highway bill." We're told from a good House source that the same plan will probably be the "starting point" for the House's infrastructure package this year — and then go higher from there. 2) Scope: With the Senate filibuster clogging up the rest of Democrats' agenda, progressives see this as possibly their last chance to get something major through Congress. They're talking about lowering the Medicare eligibility age or tucking in a health care public option (both are long shots). Other Democrats want to make the newly expanded child tax credit permanent (more likely), which Bloomberg reports would cost $1 trillion on its own. That's to say nothing about expanding broadband, combating climate change and addressing racial inequities — all top priorities for Biden in his "Build Back Better" plan. Republicans want few if any of these add-ons: Keep it to bridges, roads and the like, they say. 3) Tone: Our colleague Sam Mintz, who covers transportation, points out that Transportation Secretary PETE BUTTIGIEG seems to have adopted the White House's new definition of "bipartisanship" — i.e. support from some GOP voters, not necessarily from Republicans on the Hill. Not a good sign for getting GOP votes. 4) Pay-fors: During the campaign, Biden proposed taxing corporations and the wealthy to pay for his plan. But Republicans aren't going to vote for tax hikes, especially when it would mean giving Biden a win heading into the midterms, when they have a solid shot at flipping both chambers. Buttigieg has been suggesting maybe they don't need to pay for the plan at all, pointing out low interest rates for borrowing. But going that route to pay for the package would also repel the GOP, not to mention further balloon the deficit. BOTTOM LINE: Sam, who will be our guest on POLITICO's "Nerdcast" this Friday (everybody listen!), gives Democrats about a 7 out of 10 chance of getting something big passed on infrastructure. But if they do, he says it's not likely going to be bipartisan. "I don't think the question in the Senate is going to be, 'Can you get 10 Republicans to vote for this bill?' … Given what they've talked about wanting to do with the bill, how big they want it to be, I think the question is going to be, 'Can you get Joe Manchin to vote for it?'" — Related: "Democratic centrists balk at more red ink after Covid spending spree," by Sarah Ferris and Burgess Everett | | A message from the American Beverage Association: At America's beverage companies our plastic bottles are made to be remade. We're carefully designing them to be 100% recyclable, including the caps—so every bottle can become a new one. That means less plastic waste in our environment. Please help us get Every Bottle Back. EveryBottleBack.org | | | THE LEFT COMES FOR RICCHETTI — As we've reported, progressives have been thrilled so far with Biden's early picks when it comes to regulation of Big Tech. There has been an antitrust renaissance on the left since Democrats last held the White House, and Biden has embraced this movement by picking two of its intellectual leaders: TIM WU, now a White House economic adviser, and LINA KHAN, whom Biden plans to nominate to the FTC. But the advocates cheered by these moves are a suspicious lot, always prepared to be sold out with a new round of appointments that appease industry. So while they adore Wu and Khan, they have repeatedly told us that they are reserving judgment until they know who will fill the two most important administration positions when it comes to regulation: chair of the FTC and assistant A.G. for antitrust. This week, to keep the pressure on, the Revolving Door Project, which keeps an eye on corporate influence, sent a letter , obtained exclusively by Playbook, to chief of staff RON KLAIN warning about the influence of Amazon on the AAG spot. Why Amazon? "Such a powerful corporation will no doubt expend enormous political and economic capital to limit the power of anti-monopoly forces and their ability to curb its power," JEFF HAUSER, the group's executive director, wrote. "Of particular note is Amazon's direct route into influencing Oval Office strategy and policy conversation, by way of White House Counselor STEVE RICCHETTI." The letter continues: "Amazon hired Ricchetti's brother Jeff as a lobbyist in December 2020, as part of Jeff's most lucrative quarter in a decade as a lobbyist. The reason why is self-evident: Jeff's brother has the ear of the most powerful man on earth, and the Ricchetti brothers are close — they opened their eponymous lobbying firm together. Then-fellow Democratic lobbyist TONY PODESTA once compared himself and the Ricchettis to the Medicis of Renaissance Florence." The letter also singles out LISA MONACO, Biden's nominee for deputy A.G., because she has done legal work for Apple and was a founder of WestExec Advisors, which has advised Google. We admit that these kinds of letters are often little more than press releases, but the issue that the group is trying to spotlight is legitimate: How will the Biden administration enforce potential conflicts of interest when it comes to personnel decisions? In this case Hauser asks Klain to set a high standard: "To close discrete avenues for undue corporate influence over personnel decisions, the administration must demand that those who are entangled with Big Tech — through past employment or present family ties — recuse themselves from deliberations over antitrust policy and personnel." | | | | A message from the American Beverage Association:   Every Bottle Back is one way we're driving solutions together. Starting another 100 years with a new look, American Beverage will continue with our shared leadership. Ameribev.org | | | BIDEN'S THURSDAY — Biden will deliver his first primetime speech to the nation on the anniversary of the pandemic shutdown from the Oval Office at 8:02 p.m. It's expected to last under 20 minutes. He'll talk about the lives lost to and changed by Covid-19, the vaccination effort thus far, and what's coming next to tackle the pandemic. The president and VP KAMALA HARRIS will also receive the President's Daily Brief at 11:30 a.m. and a weekly economic briefing at 3:15 p.m. — Harris will meet virtually with Americans she's met over the first 50 days in office to talk Covid relief at 1:45 p.m. She'll swear in MERRICK GARLAND as A.G. at 5:15 p.m. — Press secretary JEN PSAKI will brief at 12:30 p.m. THE HOUSE will meet at 9 a.m. to vote on universal background checks bills. Speaker NANCY PELOSI will hold her weekly press conference at 10:45 a.m. Postmaster General LOUIS DEJOY will testify before an Appropriations subcommittee at 2 p.m. THE SENATE: Secretary of State ANTONY BLINKEN will brief the Foreign Relations Committee behind closed doors at 10 a.m. | | | | SUBSCRIBE TO "THE RECAST" TO JOIN AN IMPORTANT CONVERSATION: Power dynamics are changing. "Influence" is changing. More people are demanding a seat at the table, insisting that all politics is personal and not all policy is equitable. "The Recast" is our new twice-weekly newsletter that breaks down how race and identity are recasting politics, policy and power in America. And POLITICO is recasting how we report on this crucial intersection, bringing you fresh insights, scoops, dispatches from across the country and new voices that challenge "business as usual." Don't miss out on this important new newsletter, SUBSCRIBE NOW. Thank you to our sponsor, Intel. | | | | | | | PLAYBOOK READS | | | 
PHOTO OF THE DAY: Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer sign the $1.9 trillion Covid-19 relief bill during a bill enrollment ceremony at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, March 10. | Drew Angerer/Getty Images | CONGRESS BAD BLOOD — Burgess Everett has a classic POLITICO piece on the long-running acrimony between Senate Majority Leader CHUCK SCHUMER and Sen. SUSAN COLLINS (R-Maine) — and the implications for any faint hope of bipartisanship in the Biden era: "More than four months after Collins handily dispatched Schumer's efforts to deny her a fifth term, the moderate Maine Republican and the Senate majority leader have no relationship to speak of. And that awkward dynamic could make problems for Schumer in the coming months if his narrow Democratic majority needs Collins's vote." Best Schumer zinger: "[O]n Tuesday night Schumer fired back to blame Collins' fiscal conservatism for exacerbating the last financial crisis. The New York Democrat said in a nationally televised interview that his party's courtship of three GOP votes for its Obama-era stimulus bill shrunk the legislation too much: 'We made a big mistake in 2009 and '10. Susan Collins was part of that mistake.'" Best Collins zinger: "'Why Chuck seems to be going out of his way to alienate the most bipartisan member of the Senate is a mystery to me,' Collins said. 'And it must just reflect his extraordinary frustration at having wasted $100 million in the state of Maine in an attempt to defeat me. And for me to win by a strong margin.'" Read the full story here MEANWHILE, IN THE GOP CIVIL WAR … "McConnell, amid Trump's threats, tells GOP senators their political operation has out-raised the former president's," NYT: "Mr. McConnell said several times that the Senate Leadership Fund, the super PAC that backs the Republicans' Senate efforts, had out-raised Mr. Trump's super PAC in 2020 … To underscore his point, the usually taciturn minority leader shared data he had prepared on small cards — headlined 'Super PAC money raised' — that he distributed to Republican senators. "It showed the totals raised by the Senate Republican super PAC and for the two Georgia Senate races that cost the party its majority. 'Total: $612+ million.' 'In 3 cycles: nearly $1 billion,' the card said. Below that were the former president's statistics: 'Trump: $148+ million,' referring to America First, the outside group that was formed to support Mr. Trump in 2020." ALMOST DONE — "House Passes $1.9 Trillion Covid-19 Stimulus Bill; Biden to Sign Friday," WSJ POLITICS ROUNDUP SIREN — "Trump Call to Georgia Lead Investigator Reveals New Details," WSJ: "Then-President Donald Trump urged the chief investigator of the Georgia Secretary of State's office to look for fraud during an audit of mail-in ballots in a suburban Atlanta county, on a phone call he made to her in late December. During the six-minute call, which was reviewed by The Wall Street Journal, Mr. Trump repeatedly said that he won Georgia. 'Something bad happened,' he said. "'When the right answer comes out, you'll be praised,' Mr. Trump told the chief investigator, Frances Watson. … The Washington Post reported on the call in January, but this is the first time the recording has been released." With audio ALRIGHT ALRIGHT ALRIGHT — "Run for Texas governor now 'a real consideration,' Matthew McConaughey says," KABC SPEAKING OF CELEBRITY CANDIDATES — "Geraldo Rivera considering run for U.S. Senate in Ohio," Cleveland Plain Dealer JOHN HARRIS column: "Why So Many Politicians Are Such A--holes": "Why are so many people in the business of being likable actually so unlikable? Not unlikable merely in the awkward, eye-rolling, prefer-not-to-spend-much-time-with-that-clod sense. Unlikable in the toxic, misanthropic, something-must-be-wrong-with-him sense. In other words: in the Andrew Cuomo sense. Or at least, it is now clear, the way many subordinates and fellow politicians experienced Cuomo on many occasions. … "One element is probably ageless. Professions that demand public performance attract ambitious, creative, and often needy people who feel under intense psychic pressure and often take it out on people when the spotlight is not on (or they wrongly assume it is not on.) There are even examples, or so I've heard, of this phenomenon afflicting people in the news media. But an important factor is distinctly a product of this age: The cult of bad-ass, trash-talking that has come to politics, including or especially to political-media relations." FIRST IN PLAYBOOK — House Majority Forward, the outside progressive group, is launching a $1.4 million ad blitz this week to bolster nine vulnerable House Democrats who backed the Covid relief package. Democrats say they're not going to repeat the mistake they made in 2009, when the party failed to defend their stimulus bill — then paid a political price. The group is one of the first to go on offense for these front-line Democrats, all top GOP targets in 2022, for passing assistance. The ads will run in districts for the following House Dems: CINDY AXNE (Iowa), LAUREN UNDERWOOD (Ill.), ANDY KIM (N.J.), ANTONIO DELGADO (N.Y.), MATT CARTWRIGHT (Pa.), LIZZIE FLETCHER (Texas), VICENTE GONZALEZ (Texas), ELAINE LURIA (Va.) and RON KIND (Wis.). The ad for Kind | | | | A message from the American Beverage Association:   Our plastic bottles are made to be remade. Help us get Every Bottle Back. EveryBottleBack.org | | | AMERICA AND THE WORLD — "Biden's deal with Seoul points to a swift shift on alliances," AP — "After holding out, Biden administration acknowledges ongoing Uyghur genocide in China that 'cannot be ignored,'" Washington Examiner — "A tough-on-China GOP is split on whether to boycott the China Olympics," by Nahal Toosi and Andrew Desiderio MEDIAWATCH MCCAMMOND FALLOUT — "Beauty Brand Ulta Pulls Teen Vogue Ads Over New Editor-in-Chief's Old Racist Tweets," The Daily Beast: "Popular cosmetics and skincare retailer Ulta Beauty said in a statement to The Daily Beast on Wednesday that it is halting its current advertising campaign with the Condé Nast-owned publication. According to people familiar with the situation, the deal was worth seven figures." McCammond apologized for her decade-old tweets in a statement Wednesday, noting that she will "be putting together and sharing a more comprehensive plan about Teen Vogue's editorial commitment to uplifting and reflecting the true complexities and beauties of the [Asian American and Pacific Islander] community." TUCKER'S LATEST TARGET — "New York Times Defends Reporter Taylor Lorenz From Tucker Carlson's 'Cruel' Attack," Variety: "Carlson said Lorenz, a tech and internet culture reporter, was 'at the top of journalism's repulsive little food chain' and that she is 'far younger' and 'much less talented' than other prominent New York Times reporters in a segment discussing 'powerful people claiming to be powerless.' "'You'd think Taylor Lorenz would be grateful for the remarkable good luck that she's had. But no, she's not,' Carlson said. He then read a tweet from Lorenz, posted on International Women's Day, saying how online harassment and smear campaigns have destroyed her life." PAIR OF 'REPLY ALL' INVESTIGATIONS — "What Really Happened at 'Reply All'?" NYT … "What Went Wrong at Gimlet?" Vulture A LONG WAY FROM CAT PICS — "BuzzFeed Is in Talks to Go Public Via 890 5th Avenue SPAC," Bloomberg | | | | TODAY: HEAR FROM GOVERNORS ACROSS AMERICA : 2020 was marked by crisis —from the global pandemic and ensuing economic recession to racial injustice protests and the fallout from the presidential election and its aftermath. Governors have been left to pick up the pieces. "The Fifty: America's Governors," is a series of live conversations featuring various governors on the unique challenges they face as they take the lead and command the national spotlight in historic ways. REGISTER HERE. | | | | | | | PLAYBOOKERS | | SPOTTED: Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg filming a video with husband Chasten and dogs at the corner of H and 2nd streets SE. Pic SPOTTED at Palm Beach's Cucina restaurant Tuesday night: Hogan Gidley, Holly Peterson, Nick Mele, Ned Grace, Bettina Anderson, Ryan Williams and Michelle Rosin. They were there for a fundraiser hosted by Stacey Leuliette to benefit the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. The event was outside at the restaurant's parking lot turned "beach." SPOTTED at a private virtual reception Wednesday ahead of the Bipartisan Policy Center's Legislative Action Awards honoring Sens. Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) and Todd Young (R-Ind.) and Reps. Don Bacon (R-Neb.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) and Dean Phillips (D-Minn.): John Delaney, Jason Grumet, Bill Hoagland, Katherine Lugar, Olympia Snowe, Michael Steele, Candi Wolff and Neal Simon. SPOTTED at a virtual launch for Julia Sweig's new book, "Lady Bird Johnson: Hiding in Plain Sight," ($32) hosted by Mike Abramowitz with an interview by Lynn Novick: Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) and Sarah Bloom Raskin, Mark Salter, Juliet Eilperin, Diana Negroponte, Dan Balz, Peter Baker, Elizabeth Becker, Sara Bloomfield, David Cole and Nina Pillard, David Tatel, Marcus Brauchli, Tamera Luzzatto, Fred Hiatt, James Jones, Katrina Vanden Heuval, Bernard Aronson and Donna Edwards. REAL ESTATE SECTION — "Former Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen Finds a Buyer for Alexandria Townhome," Realtor.com: "The upscale abode in the city's Old Town neighborhood came on the market earlier this year for $1.02 million." With pics FIRST IN PLAYBOOK — Daniela Fernández will be mid-Atlantic finance director at the DSCC. She most recently has been national finance director at the Latino Victory Fund. — Maura Keefe and Dana Singiser recently launched a new consulting firm, Keefe Singiser Partners. Keefe previously was chief of staff to Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), and Singiser is a Planned Parenthood and Obama White House alum. They're focusing on health care and key progressive issues. TRANSITIONS — An America United, Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan's nonprofit, has moved up David Weinman to be executive director and added Jordan Riggs as digital director. Riggs most recently managed Republican Lance Harris' Louisiana congressional campaign. … Madi Shupe is joining Deloitte to work in human capital consulting. She previously was comms director for Rep. Chris Stewart (R-Utah). … … California consulting firm SCRB Strategies is rebranding as Bearstar Strategies and bringing on two new partners, DCCC alum Erica Kwiatkowski-Nielsen and creative director George Ross. They'll join current Bearstar partners Ace Smith, Sean Clegg and Juan Rodriguez. The firm guided campaigns for VP Kamala Harris and Sen. Alex Padilla and is taking a lead role in fighting the possible recall of Gov. Gavin Newsom. … Adriana McLamb is now a digital marketing manager for the Independent Women's Forum. She previously was a digital strategist for Stand Together. — "Congressional Hispanic Caucus's political arm taps new executive director," The Hill: "In her new role at BOLD PAC, the CHC's political action committee, [Victoria] McGroary will be charged with recruiting and electing Latino candidates and mobilizing voters at a time … McGroary previously served as the deputy political director for the New Democrat Coalition Action Fund." ENGAGED — Zack Colman, a climate reporter at POLITICO, and Kim Hassell, a senior health communication manager at CommunicateHealth, got engaged Friday along the river outside the AirBnB they were staying at in Middleburg, Va. Pic HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Rupert Murdoch (9-0) … Michael Holley … Curt Cashour … Perri Peltz … MC Gonzalez Noguera, SVP of global public affairs at Estée Lauder … Sam Donaldson (87) … Adam Piper … Matt Sobocinski … Ben Becker of Precision Strategies … Claire Burghoff of Cornerstone Government Affairs … NBC News' Miguel Almaguer … former Interior Secretary Gale Norton (67) … CNN's Emily Riley … former Wyoming Gov. Matt Mead (59) … Christina Arvanites, producer at MSNBC's "The Last Word" with Lawrence O'Donnell … Micaela Rodríguez … Alice Stewart, CNN political commentator and NPR political contributor … Joe Quinn, VP of external affairs and industry relations at the Aluminum Association … DOD's Jeff Hayes … NEA's Carrie Pugh … Tim Mack, comms director for Rep. Madeleine Dean (D-Pa.) … Amy Weiss, CEO of Weiss Public Affairs … Christian Healy, director at the Herald Group … Michal Grayevsky … Alexandria, Va., Mayor Justin Wilson … Jon Cohen, chief research officer at SurveyMonkey … Jen Mullin … Nick Shapiro … Charles McElwee … Virginia state Del. Will Wampler … Sam Donaldson Got a document to share? A birthday coming up? Do you know why Biden's speech is starting at 8:02? Drop us a line at playbook@politico.com or individually: Rachael Bade, Eugene Daniels, Ryan Lizza, Tara Palmeri. Playbook couldn't happen without our editor Mike Zapler and producers Allie Bice, Eli Okun and Garrett Ross. | | A message from the American Beverage Association: America's leading beverage companies, The Coca-Cola Company, Keurig Dr Pepper and PepsiCo, are working together to reduce our industry's plastic footprint through our new Every Bottle Back initiative. 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c. Raising awareness – we're placing a voluntary, uniform message on packaging that shows consumers our bottles should be recycled so they can be remade.
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