Axios Sneak Peek: Liz Cheney's long game ... How Biden benefits from Trump bans

Plus: Biden's plan to work with — or bail on — the GOP | Wednesday, May 05, 2021

Open in app View in browser   Presented By Facebook   Axios Sneak Peek By Alayna Treene, Hans Nichols and Kadia Goba ·May 05, 2021 Welcome back to Sneak. Facebook's decision reverberated from Silicon Valley to Washington — and West Palm Beach. 📚 Worthy of your time: Politico posted an anniversary piece over the weekend in which Garrett Graff — son of famed Vermont AP newsman Chris Graff — re-creates the raid to kill Osama bin Laden. Link here. Today's newsletter — edited by Glen Johnson — is 531 words, a 2-minute read.     1 big thing: Cheney's long game Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios   Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) is all but rolling out the red carpet for her own ouster as House GOP conference chair next week and her expected replacement with Trump defender Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.), Axios' Alayna Treene writes. Why it matters: Cheney's political falling out with House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) is the ultimate proxy war between Republicans who remain beholden to a former president who falsely claims the election was stolen from him, or breaking free from Donald Trump to refocus on traditional conservative values. Driving the news: "We must be brave enough to defend the basic principles that underpin and protect our freedom and our democratic process," Cheney wrote today in a Washington Post op-ed. "I am committed to doing that, no matter what the short-term political consequences might be." "I am a conservative Republican, and the most conservative of conservative values is reverence for the rule of law." Keep reading.     2. Social media's "in-kind contribution to Biden" Photo illustration: Annelise Capossela/Axios. Photo: Mark Wilson/Getty Images   Facebook's continued suspension of Trump's account extends the silencing of Joe Biden's most potent critic — and the current president's control over the national political narrative into his second 100 days, Alayna and Axios' Stef Kight report. Why it matters: Biden has been able to successfully focus on COVID-19 relief, his infrastructure plan and fielding his new administration, in part, because Trump hasn't been able to shake his social media muzzle and bray about the migration crisis or any White House misstep. "Social media bans on Trump are basically an in-kind contribution to Biden," Cliff Sims, a former Trump administration official, told Axios. It's the second lucky political break for Biden in a year, after the emergence of the coronavirus pandemic curtailed the kind of traditional campaigning and media events prone to produce gaffes by a famously long-winded politician. Keep reading. 🎧 On today's Axios Re:Cap podcast, Dan Primack spoke with Jonathan Swan of Axios and Mike Isaac of the New York Times about the Facebook decision.     3. Biden's plan to work with — or bail on — the GOP President Biden, after remarks on Wednesday. Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images   Biden plans to test Republicans' appetite to pay for any part of his proposed $4.1 trillion in infrastructure and social spending before deciding whether to pursue one big tax-and-spend package or two smaller ones, Axios' Hans Nichols has learned. Driving the news: Biden is wary of boxing himself in, since it would dictate whether he seeks a bipartisan or all-Democratic approach. He told reporters on Wednesday, "I'm willing to compromise. But I'm not willing to not pay for what we're talking about. I'm not willing to deficit-spend." Why it matters: If Republicans agree to pay for it, Biden is more likely to settle for a smaller, bipartisan bill focused on traditional infrastructure such as roads, bridges and broadband. The one-two approach could require Biden to sacrifice many of the progressive priorities in his Build Back Better agenda. Keep reading.     A message from Facebook The internet has changed a lot since 1996 - internet regulations should too     It's been 25 years since comprehensive internet regulations passed. See why we support updated regulations on key issues, including: Protecting people's privacy Enabling safe and easy data portability between platforms Preventing election interference Reforming Section 230     4. Exclusive: Lawmakers seek COVID-19 money for opioid treatment Rep. Abigail Spanberger. Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images   A bipartisan trio of lawmakers is asking Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen for latitude to use some of the president's $1.9 trillion coronavirus stimulus package for addressing the opioid crisis, Axios' Sarah Mucha reports. Why it matters: The opioid crisis — America's other rampant public health crisis — appears to be getting even worse, likely exacerbated by the isolation and economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Democratic Reps. Abigail Spanberger (D-Va.) and David Trone (D-Md.), along with Republican Rep. David McKinley of West Virginia, are teaming up in the appeal. The three members represent areas heavily affected by opioid abuse. Keep reading. ☎️ The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-8255) provides 24/7, free and confidential support for anyone in distress, in addition to prevention and crisis resources. It's also available for an online chat.     5. Pic du jour Photo: Jim Lo Scalzo/EPA/Bloomberg via Getty Images   President Biden makes a Cinco de Mayo run to Las Gemelas taqueria in Northeast D.C., where he also touted $28.6 billion in federal coronavirus relief for restaurants.     A message from Facebook Why Facebook supports updated internet regulations     2021 is the 25th anniversary of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, the last major update to internet regulation. It's time for an update to set clear rules for addressing today's toughest challenges. See how we're taking action on key issues and why we support updated internet regulations.   🎉 Thanks for reading Sneak! Please invite your family, friends and colleagues to sign up here for this free newsletter.   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. 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