Axios Sneak Peek: Scoop — Biden weighs job for L.A. Mayor Garcetti ... Trump and inner circle await Facebook

Plus: Alabama Senate candidates already tacking hard right | Tuesday, May 04, 2021

Open in app View in browser   Presented By Facebook   Axios Sneak Peek By Alayna Treene, Hans Nichols and Kadia Goba ·May 04, 2021 Welcome back to Sneak. A hot mic catches another Washington politician, as Axios' Kadia Goba scooped. 🚨 Breaking: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis set a special election to fill Rep. Alcee Hastings' seat for January, despite Democrats' hopes it would be filled sooner. Hastings died in April. Today's newsletter — edited by Glen Johnson — is 552 words, a 2-minute read.     1 big thing: Scoop — Biden weighs posting L.A. Mayor Garcetti to India Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti. Photo: Marcus Yam/Pool/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images   President Biden is considering naming Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti to a high-profile ambassadorship, possibly India, people familiar with the matter tell Axios' Hans Nichols. Why it matters: The potential exit of the Democratic executive for the nation's second-largest city would come as L.A. faces record homelessness and a court order to find shelter for a massive Skid Row population by the end of September. It could further destabilize California politics amid a recall attempt against Gov. Gavin Newsom, also a Democrat. The big picture: Garcetti was a co-chair of Biden's campaign and remains a key political ally. India, with 1.4 billion people, is the world's most populous democracy — giving its political and economic future outsized stakes. The Biden administration has signaled India will play a key role in helping to counter China's ambitions in the Indo-Pacific region. In March, the president held his first virtual leader's summit with members of the so-called Quad, including Japan, India, Australia and the United States, to underscore his commitment to the region's democracies. India is currently in the grips of the COVID-19 pandemic with more than 20 million cases, and the true death toll is believed to greatly exceed an official count of 220,000+. A Garcetti spokesman declined to comment. Keep reading.     2. Trump and inner circle hang on Facebook verdict Illustration: Annelise Capossela/Axios   Donald Trump and his inner circle are anxiously awaiting Facebook's decision about whether to reinstate him to the platform, viewing it as the propellant for an increasingly likely second presidential campaign in 2024, Axios' Jonathan Swan and Sara Fischer report. Why it matters: The decision, due tomorrow morning, could shape the campaign, because Trump's confidants view Facebook as the linchpin to his fundraising and online political strategy. The big picture: While Trump is known for his connection to Twitter, Facebook has always been central to his campaign strategy. His team used the social network relentlessly in 2016 and 2020 to raise money and energize hardcore supporters. Trump spent around $160 million on Facebook ads in 2020, microtargeting key supporters. Biden spent $117 million on the same effort. Keep reading.     3. By the numbers: Faith breakdown of presidential support Data: Pew Research Center; Chart: Danielle Alberti/Axios Just 23% of white evangelicals approve of Biden's work in office, after staunchly supporting Trump throughout his presidency, according to new data from the Pew Research Center reviewed by Axios' Stef Kight. By the numbers: On the other side, Biden has overwhelming support from those who are atheist, agnostic or unaffiliated with religion. Biden — who is only the second Catholic president in U.S. history — also enjoys much stronger approval of the way he's handling his job among Catholics than Trump did at roughly the same point of his administration. Between the lines: Race plays a big factor, and can divide some religious groups over politics. For example, 89% of Black Protestants and 80% Hispanic Catholics support the current president — compared to just about half of white Catholics and white, nonevangelical Protestants.     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. Alabama Senate candidates already tacking hard right Rep. Mo Brooks (R-Ala.) addresses the rally preceding the Capitol insurrection on Jan. 6. Photo: Eric Lee/Bloomberg via Getty Images   Two candidates for the Alabama Republican Senate nomination are trying to out-do each other with early, far-right appeals over Second Amendment rights and criticism of transgender athletic participation, Axios' Lachlan Markay reports. Why it matters: Rep. Mo Brooks (R-Ala.) and former U.S. Ambassador to Slovenia Lynda Blanchard were expected to tack toward the fringe in deep-red Alabama. They are, but they're also differing in one respect: who they're targeting with their ads. Blanchard's paid posts on Facebook and Instagram have uniformly targeted users in Alabama, according to the sites' political ad disclosure database. Brooks' advertising is broader; some focused on his home state but many of his ads on the platforms are running nationally. The pattern suggests Brooks is looking to fundraise, while Blanchard, running against a Trump-backed candidate in a state that voted for him by a 25% margin, is focused on persuasion. Keep reading.     5. Pic du jour Photo: Alex Edelman/CNP/Bloomberg via Getty Images   President Biden listens to a reporter's question after delivering remarks about the administration's coronavirus vaccine efforts.     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. We hope you have a wonderful Cinco de Mayo!   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? 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