🤫 Scoop: Fight stuns senators

Plus: Dems' new war plan | Sunday, May 01, 2022

Open in app View in browser   Presented By American Bankers Association   Axios Sneak Peek By the Axios Politics team · May 01, 2022 Welcome back to Sneak. Brunch was a popular choice on the day after the night before. Smart Brevity™ count: 1,184 words ... 4.5 minutes. Edited by Glen Johnson.     1 big thing: Scoop - Fight stuns senators Sen. Cory Booker. Photo: Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images   Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) had a tense back-and-forth with Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack during a closed-door lunch last Thursday over the Biden administration's efforts to address nutrition in minority communities, people familiar with the matter tell Axios' Hans Nichols. Why it matters: The heated exchange, which left some senators stunned, is an indication Booker — who, like Joe Biden, ran for president in 2020 — isn't going to be shy about challenging Biden officials on issues about which he feels strongly. The confrontation also reflects a level of frustration some Democrats have with the administration's efforts to address food deserts and the prevalence of junk food in inner cities, tribal lands and rural America. "Sen. Booker appreciated the opportunity for a robust discussion with Secretary Vilsack and looks forward to continuing his work with the administration on these critical issues," Maya Krishna-Rogers, Booker's press secretary, told Axios. "Sen. Booker believes that access to affordable, nutritious food should not be dictated by your race, income or ZIP Code," she said. "He also knows that corporate agriculture consolidation is driving small farmers and ranchers out of business while pushing prices up for American families." A Vilsack spokesperson didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. Driving the news: Vilsack, a close Biden confidant and former Iowa governor, was invited to the weekly Democratic Policy and Communications Committee lunch. The discussion was largely focused on corporate consolidation in the agriculture industry, and how Democrats can improve their appeal in rural communities. Booker, a passionate vegan, appeared to catch Vilsack off-guard when he questioned what the department was doing to reform agribusiness and help provide healthier food to poorer Americans. Vilsack responded, in part, that consumers sometimes prefer unhealthier foods — triggering an even stronger response from Booker. Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), who chairs the DPCC, tried to calm the tensions, but the meeting ended without Booker and Vilsack resolving their differences. Keep reading.     2. Dems' new war plan Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios   Democrats are starting to fight back against the bludgeoning they've taken since the Republicans seized on socially charged issues to help win this fall's midterms, report Axios' Alexi McCammond, Alayna Treene and Andrew Solender. Why it matters: Recent research has shown the barrage of "culture war" messaging — on everything from critical race theory to bashing LGBTQ communities — is working, and Democrats now realize they can't ignore it any longer. They want make 2022 a referendum on MAGA nation and its agenda. President Biden himself got more aggressive while traveling to Ohio last Wednesday to honor 2022's Teacher of the Year: a history instructor who teaches courses about oppression and Black history. "Today, there are too many politicians trying to score political points trying to ban books — even math books. I mean, did you ever think ... that when you'd be teaching, you'd be worrying about book burnings and banning books? All because it doesn't fit somebody's political agenda," the president said. "We ought to stop making them a target of the culture wars." The American Federation of Teachers, along with 214 other parent groups and unions, is also placing ads in more than a dozen newspapers, including the New York Times, across 13 key states this week to coincide with Teacher Appreciation Week, Axios has learned. "Sadly, political extremists are making their job much harder than it should be," AFT president Randi Weingarten said in a statement. "We want every teacher and educator out there to hear one important message during Teacher Appreciation Week: 'Your work matters and we are grateful.'" But, but, but: Republicans argue Democrats are to blame for their own position in the polls. "Democrats are pushing defund the police, irreversible transition surgery for minors, critical race theory and taxpayer-funded abortion," said Rep. Jim Banks (R-Ind.), chair of the conservative Republican Study Committee. "Americans overwhelmingly reject this insanity." Keep reading.     3. Charted: Women of color in Congress Data: U.S. Census Bureau, Congressional staff associations' analysis; Note: The census group "American Indian and Alaska Native" was used to provide U.S. population estimates for the "Native American" group and the census groups "Asian and Native Hawaiian" and "Other Pacific Islander" were used for the "Asian American or Pacific Islander" group; Chart: Simran Parwani/Axios The number of women of color holding senior staff roles in Congress trails the general population by a factor of three, reports Axios' Sophia Cai. Why it matters: While the membership of Congress is getting more diverse, the senior staff making the most important policy decisions remains largely white and male. That limits the perspectives driving the debate. What we're watching: Across both chambers, women of color make up less than 6% of all chiefs of staff, legislative directors and communications directors, according to data collected by respective racial and ethnic staff associations. That's less than a third of the 19% of the U.S. population who identify as female and any of the following: Hispanic/Latino, African American/Black, Asian, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander — according to 2020 American Community Survey five-year estimates. What they're saying: "Honestly, some of these numbers are pretty upsetting," said Moh Sharma, chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Staff Association and vice president of the Congressional South Asian American Staff Association. Sharma and others say the low numbers, in part, can be attributed to the pandemic, Jan. 6 insurrection and a lack of diversity on campaigns. They also argued there's a bias against women of certain races being able to lead, thus relegating them to deputy roles. They also say Democratic administrations typically draw more diverse staffers from Capitol Hill, reducing their ranks in Congress. Keep reading.     A message from American Bankers Association America's banks protect seniors from scams and fraud     One in five seniors is a victim of financial exploitation, costing older adults billions of dollars annually. Thanks to the ABA Foundation's Safe Banking for Seniors program and other industry initiatives, banks across the U.S. continue to step up to protect their older customers. Learn more.     4. Worthy of your time An open West Wing door offers a unique perspective as White House press secretary Jen Psaki meets the press on Friday. Photo: Sarah Silbiger/Getty Images   📊 The Ohio primary is on Tuesday, and an Emerson College poll shows venture capitalist J.D. Vance shooting up from 8% in February to 26% after former President Trump endorsed him, Axios' Andrew Solender reports in this evening's Sneak roundup. Vance now leads former state Treasurer Josh Mandel at 24%, state Sen. Matt Dolan at 21% and investment banker Mike Gibbons at 17%. 🐘 Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R) said on CNN's "State of the Union" that he's considering a run for president, and a potential run by former President Trump is "not a factor in my decision-making process." Hutchinson said: "I'm not aligned with him on ... the direction he wants to take our country." 💥 Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.), one of Congress' most vocal proponents of U.S. involvement in Ukraine, introduced a resolution to authorize the use of U.S. military force in the region if Russia uses biological, chemical or nuclear weapons. 🦠 Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) said during a CBS "Face the Nation" interview that his "long-COVID" symptoms have included "a bizarre, nerve-tingling sensation that feels like my skin is dipped in Alka-Seltzer that's just going off 24/7." 🇺🇦 House Speaker Nancy Pelosi held a news conference in Poland today after she and several top House Democrats — including Intelligence Committee Chair Adam Schiff of California and Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Gregory Meeks of New York — met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv. Biden also spoke with her today, the White House pool reported. 📺 Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) cut an ad endorsing Rep. David McKinley (R-W.Va.), who got drawn into a district with a more conservative colleague, Rep. Alex Mooney (R-W.Va.). In the ad, Manchin touts his and McKinley's shared opposition to Biden's social spending legislation, Build Back Better.     5. Pic du jour Photo: Nicholas Kamm/AFP via Getty Images   President Biden recalled a friend, former Senate colleague and former fellow vice president, Walter Mondale, during his memorial service in Minneapolis.     A message from American Bankers Association America's banks protect seniors from scams and fraud     One in five seniors is a victim of financial exploitation, costing older adults billions of dollars annually. Thanks to the ABA Foundation's Safe Banking for Seniors program and other industry initiatives, banks across the U.S. continue to step up to protect their older customers. Learn more.   🚀 Thanks for starting your week with us! Please tell your family, friends and colleagues they can subscribe to Sneak or any of Axios' other free local and national newsletters through this link. Like this email style and format? It's called Smart Brevity®. 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