🎶 Axios PM: Blinken's top tunes

⚽ Plus: Pelé remembered | Thursday, December 29, 2022

Open in app View in browser   Presented By BlackRock   Axios PM By Mike Allen · Dec 29, 2022 Happy Thursday afternoon. Today's PM — edited by Kate Nocera — is 414 words, a 2-min. read. Thanks to Kathie Bozanich for the copy edit.     1 big thing: Second gentleman's new mission Photo illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios. Photo: Kent Nishimura/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images   Doug Emhoff, America's first "second gentleman," has transcended his novelty title and built a policy portfolio inspired by his past legal work, Axios' Sophia Cai reports. Emhoff, 58, an entertainment and media lawyer, stopped practicing when Vice President Harris took office. He has an office in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building and comes to the White House campus most days. He's also teaching at Georgetown Law. Emhoff this month joined Attorney General Merrick Garland to kick off an annual legal aid roundtable focused on simplifying federal processes for people seeking help. "I've seen firsthand — both as a lawyer and seeing many other lawyers over the years — the difference a lawyer can [make," Emhoff said at the event. "In many cases, it's life or death. It's being able to get benefits. It's being able to get food. It's being able to keep a roof over your head." Emhoff has joined a half dozen listening sessions, visiting pro bono clinics and meeting with legal-aid lawyers and clients. At the event with Garland, Emhoff recalled being a young lawyer and experiencing "gratitude and thanks and that feeling of purpose as a lawyer when you were able to keep somebody in their home." Share this story.     2. ⚽️ Remembering Pelé Pele, waving the flags of Brazil and the U.S., is carried off the field in driving rain by players of both teams at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., after his final game on Oct. 1, 1977. Photo: Richard Drew/AP   Brazilian soccer legend Pelé died at 82 today after battling colon cancer. Pelé is considered the greatest soccer player of all time: He's the only player to win three World Cups in his international career. He helped elevate soccer in the U.S. with his brief stint at the New York Cosmos club in 1975, per Axios' Herb Scribner. Read the AP obit.     A message from BlackRock How BlackRock is helping Americans access retirement investing     According to AARP, over 57 million Americans don't have access to a workplace retirement savings plan. This access makes you 15 to 20 times more likely to save for retirement. Learn how BlackRock is expanding access to high-quality retirement options here.     3. Catch up quick Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after being sworn in. Photo: Amir Levy/Getty Images   Israel's new government was sworn in today, with Benjamin Netanyahu returning to the prime minister's post 18 months after he was ousted. Go deeper. Russia has launched its "most massive" missile attack on Ukrainian cities. Go deeper. Former White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham told the House Jan. 6 committee that former President Trump wanted to fire the White House chief usher for helping the Bidens move in. Go deeper.     4. 🎵 1 tune thing: Blinken's playlist Image via State Department   Secretary of State Antony Blinken released two year-end Spotify playlists: "At Home" features his favorite American hits of 2022, and includes Taylor Swift, Lizzo and Bad Bunny. "On the Road" highlights his favorite artists from the more than three dozen countries he visited this year. Listen to "At Home" ... "On the Road."     A message from BlackRock Invested in the future of first responders     We're proud to manage the pensions of those who serve others. All across the country, we're helping Americans invest for their future. Meet Joshua, one of the hundreds of thousands of first responders whose retirement plan assets are managed by BlackRock. Learn more.   Are you a fan of this email format? Your essential communications — to staff, clients and other stakeholders — can have the same style. Axios HQ, a powerful platform, will help you do it.   Axios thanks our partners for supporting our newsletters. Sponsorship has no influence on editorial content. Axios, 3100 Clarendon B‌lvd, Arlington VA 22201   You received this email because you signed up for newsletters from Axios. To stop receiving this newsletter, unsubscribe or manage your email preferences.   Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up now to get Axios in your inbox.   Follow Axios on social media: