Axios Sneak Peek: Scoop — U.S. ambassador resists Russia ... Washington braces for Chauvin verdict

Plus: Twin Exclusives — Senate fundraising, Koch Network | Monday, April 19, 2021

Open in app View in browser   Presented By PhRMA   Axios Sneak Peek By Alayna Treene, Hans Nichols and Kadia Goba ·Apr 19, 2021 Welcome back to Sneak. A lot of attention was on Minneapolis, not Washington. ⚡ Situational awareness: The Republican Study Committee will unveil its "Max Pressure Act" — expanding sanctions on Iran and aiming to prevent reentry into the Iran deal — alongside former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Wednesday. Today's newsletter — edited by Glen Johnson — is 563 words, a 2-minute read.     1 big thing: Scoop — U.S. ambassador refuses Kremlin push to leave Russia U.S. Ambassador to Russia John Sullivan. Photo: Anton Novoderezhkin/TASS via Getty Images   The United States ambassador to Russia is refusing to leave the country after the Kremlin "advised" him to return home following new Biden administration sanctions, two sources briefed on the situation tell Axios' Jonathan Swan and Hans Nichols. Why it matters: John Sullivan, a respected career diplomat who President Biden has, so far, retained from the Trump era, is at the center of one of the most important early tests of Biden's resolve. Russia's foreign ministry announced Friday it would expel 10 American diplomats and bar current officials, such as Attorney General Merrick Garland, from visiting Russia. But the Russians didn't expel Sullivan. Instead, the Kremlin summoned him to meet with a top foreign policy official, Yuri Ushakov, who recommended he go back to Washington for consultations with Biden officials. Sullivan's view, according to people familiar with his thinking, is that if Putin wants him to leave, he'll have to force him. A State Department spokesperson declined to comment. Keep reading.     2. Congress, White House brace for Chauvin verdict Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios   Lawmakers on Capitol Hill are anxious as the nation awaits the verdict in former police officer Derek Chauvin's trial, fearing a not-guilty decision could exacerbate racial tensions and spark a new wave of riots, Axios' Alayna Treene writes. Why it matters: Leaders on both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue are trying to figure out how to calibrate any personal or legislative response, while also acknowledging how the final outcome in Chauvin's murder trial in the death of George Floyd could affect their district and them politically. "I'm very worried," Rep. Karen Bass (D-Calif.), said Sunday on CNN's "State of the Union." "I don't think anyone in Minneapolis, frankly, anyone in the United States or over a good part of the world would understand any other verdict other than guilty." This is also a huge moment for Biden. During a closed-door meeting last week with members of the Congressional Black Caucus, Biden said he was concerned about the potential fallout. The president is not planning to leave Washington this week, and is likely to address the outcome of the trial, CNN reports. Keep reading.     3. Exclusive: Dems' Senate campaign arm raises $9.3M in March Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios   The Democrats' Senate campaign arm raised nearly $9.3 million in March and will report more than $13 million in the bank when it files its monthly financial report Tuesday, Axios' Lachlan Markay has learned. Why it matters: The haul for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee topped its Republican counterpart for the month. But its total for the first quarter trailed slightly, and the DSCC still has a sizable chunk of debt to pay off. What they're saying: "The DSCC's record-breaking fundraising reflects the strength of our grassroots support and is powered by Americans across the country who understand the importance of protecting and expanding Democrats' Senate majority," executive director Christie Roberts said in a statement. The National Republican Senatorial Committee, meanwhile, paid off its remaining $5.4 million in debt last month. Keep reading.     A message from PhRMA Instead of breaking what works, let's fix what's broken     America's unique R&D ecosystem delivered multiple COVID-19 medical breakthroughs in recordbreaking time. As we continue our work to help end the pandemic, we have a common sense plan for better, more affordable health care — for everyone.     4. Exclusive: Koch Network, Bush Center team up on immigration Visitors view immigration exhibit at the George W. Bush Presidential Center in Dallas. Photo: Stand Together   The Koch Network and the George W. Bush Presidential Center are partnering on an interactive immigration exhibit aimed at countering stereotypes and promoting immigration reform, Axios' Russell Contreras reports. The big picture: The partnership — to be announced Tuesday — between the right-wing network's philanthropic arm, Stand Together, and the Dallas center comes as Congress is expected to debate immigration reform proposals amid resistance from many Republicans. The yearlong exhibit is launching in Dallas alongside a new book and portrait exhibit by former president Bush called "Out of Many, One: Portraits of America's Immigrants." "I set out to accomplish two things: to share some portraits of immigrants, each with a remarkable story I try to tell, and to humanize the debate on immigration and reform," Bush recently wrote in a Washington Post op-ed. Keep reading.     5. Pic du jour Photo: Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images   White House press secretary Jen Psaki arrives for her briefing armed with the usual color-coded, collated background binder.     A message from PhRMA Instead of breaking what works, let's fix what's broken     America's unique R&D ecosystem delivered multiple COVID-19 medical breakthroughs in recordbreaking time. As we continue our work to help end the pandemic, we have a common sense plan for better, more affordable health care — for everyone.   🥂 Thanks for reading tonight's Sneak. Remember, you can sign up for email delivery through this link. This newsletter is written in Smart Brevity®. Learn how your team can communicate in the same smart, clear style with Axios HQ.   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: