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Presented by Google: POLITICO's must-read briefing on what's driving the afternoon in Washington. | | | | | |  | | By Eli Okun and Garrett Ross | | | HE’S BAAACK — Few Washington banishments last forever. Our colleagues Betsy Woodruff Swan and Daniel Lippman have the scoop on a major lobbying figure teaming up with one of the most reviled clients — on both sides of the aisle — for his grand return: “Huawei hiring former Democratic super lobbyist Tony Podesta”: “Podesta will aim to help the controversial Chinese telecom giant warm relations with the Biden administration. Podesta will work to advance a variety of the company’s goals in Washington … “Podesta — a colorful K St. personality known for his loud ties and elaborate art and wine collection — previously helmed the Podesta Group, his eponymous lobbying shop. But in 2017, special counsel ROBERT MUELLER scrutinized the firm for its work with DONALD TRUMP’s 2016 campaign chief PAUL MANAFORT. … Podesta is expected to soon pick up more clients. He has known President JOE BIDEN for decades and is friendly with a number of his advisers.” POT, MEET KETTLE — “Democrats embrace ‘cook-the-books’ tactic they bashed under Republican reign,” by Jennifer Scholtes and Caitlin Emma: “When Republicans have used dynamic scoring in the past, BERNIE SANDERS called it a ‘gimmick’ … Democratic leaders are relying on that murky budget tactic to shrink the official cost of a $3.5 trillion plan to enact President Joe Biden’s most liberal commitments without Republican support … The hypocrisy is not lost on Republicans. … “Democrats dismiss the GOP backlash as a bit rich. ‘They introduced the concept!’ Sanders said this month … It’s an imperfect science, indeed. Under the gambit, budget forecasters estimate how much a policy change might boost the economy and send more cash flowing to the federal government. This time, Democrats are pinning their revenue hopes on the idea that major investments in the social safety net, climate policy and tax reform will yield robust, long-term economic growth.” THE WEEK AHEAD — Biden will travel to Macungie, Pa., on Wednesday to tout manufacturing, buying American and jobs. Happy Friday afternoon. It’s a slow summer almost-weekend day in Washington, so we’re keeping things on the shorter side today. Go watch the Olympics. | | A message from Google: Google’s AI-driven security protects billions of people. Google keeps more people safe online than anyone else in the world by blocking malware, phishing attempts, spam messages, and potential cyberattacks. Google is also partnering with public and private sectors to develop and implement security technologies to make us all safer. Learn more. | | | GOOD LUCK WITH THAT — “House Freedom Caucus asks McCarthy to try to remove Pelosi as speaker,” by Olivia Beavers: “In a letter Friday, the far-right group asked [House Minority Leader KEVIN] MCCARTHY to file and bring up a privileged motion by July 31 ‘to vacate the chair and end NANCY PELOSI’s authoritarian reign as Speaker of the House.’ … “The motion is all but guaranteed to fail in the Democratic House, but it signals a stewing anger on the right towards the speaker. The Freedom Caucus’ letter indicates that McCarthy would need to initiate the motion, and if he were to do so, it would further escalate partisan acrimony in the House that has remained high, and occasionally gotten personal, since Jan. 6.” The full letter THE LOOMING CLIFF — “Tenants at Risk for Eviction as Pandemic Protections Are Set to Expire,” by WSJ’s Andrew Ackerman: “State and local governments are struggling to distribute $47 billion in federal money aimed at helping tenants who can’t pay rent because of the Covid-19 crisis, leaving many people at risk of being thrown out of their homes when an eviction moratorium expires on July 31. “Meanwhile, many landlords have been squeezed because they have been unable to collect rent but remain on the hook for taxes, maintenance and other bills. Problems distributing the funds—which can be used to cover back rent, future rent and utilities—often stem from bureaucratic bottlenecks.” — BUT, BUT, BUT: “Biden Administration Announces More Help to Stem Foreclosures,” Bloomberg: “Enhanced assistance will be provided to homeowners with government-backed mortgages who have been negatively impacted by the pandemic, with the aim cutting some monthly payments by roughly 25%.” WHAT’S GIVING MCCONNELL A HEADACHE — “A scandal-scarred Senate candidate wants Donald Trump’s endorsement. Other Republicans worry he’ll give it,” by WaPo’s Michael Scherer and Josh Dawsey: “Few candidates have done more in recent months to court Trump, or to compare his own controversy to the scandals that enveloped the former president. Yet in a state that Trump won by 15 points in 2020, the [ERIC] GREITENS campaign has tested the question of just how far the former president and Republican voters are willing to go to overlook past misdeeds. … “Two people who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe their private conversations with Trump said he was not likely to endorse soon. … One concern is that Trump not get too far out ahead of his own voters, as he did in the 2017 Senate primary in Alabama.” Flashback: “Guilfoyle signs up with Greitens — and incurs Trump’s wrath,” July 9 | | | | STEP INSIDE THE WEST WING: What's really happening in West Wing offices? Find out who's up, who's down, and who really has the president’s ear in our West Wing Playbook newsletter, the insider's guide to the Biden White House and Cabinet. For buzzy nuggets and details that you won't find anywhere else, subscribe today. | | | | | BARRACK’S ROW — “Two Democrats in Congress call on Justice Department watchdog to investigate if Barrack case ‘was inappropriately suppressed,’” by CNN’s Erica Orden 2024 WATCH — “Trump World is already weighing veeps for 2024. Hint: It ain’t Pence,” by Meridith McGraw: “Donald Trump and his advisers are convinced that if he runs again for president in 2024, the Republican nomination will be his. Their confidence is so supreme that they view almost all of the emerging field not as competition but as possible vice presidential picks. … “The list [of shadow campaigns] so far includes lawmakers like Florida Gov. RON DESANTIS, South Dakota Gov. KRISTI NOEM, ex-Ambassador to the United Nations NIKKI HALEY, former Secretary of State MIKE POMPEO, and Sens. TIM SCOTT, TED CRUZ, TOM COTTON and JOSH HAWLEY.” STOCKPILING SHOTS — “Biden administration purchases extra Pfizer doses to prepare for possibility of children vaccine needs and booster shots,” by CNN’s Betsy Klein and Naomi Thomas: “The Biden administration purchased an additional 200 million doses of Pfizer-BioNTech’s Covid-19 vaccine to prepare for potential additional vaccine needs in the US, an administration official familiar with the contract tells CNN. “Despite the slowing demand for Covid-19 vaccines, the administration official said the additional shots would be needed for children under 12, pending approval from the US Food and Drug Administration, and the possibility of booster shots for vaccinated individuals.” EYE-POPPING STATS — “AP-NORC poll: Most unvaccinated Americans don’t want shots,” by Tammy Webber and Emily Swanson: “Among American adults who have not yet received a vaccine, 35% say they probably will not, and 45% say they definitely will not … What’s more, 64% of unvaccinated Americans have little to no confidence the shots are effective against variants — including the delta variant.” — “‘Don’t You Work With Old People?’: Many Elder-Care Workers Still Refuse to Get COVID-19 Vaccine,” by ProPublica’s Jenny Deam, Ryan Gabrielson and Bianca Fortis: “Amid a ‘pandemic of the unvaccinated,’ more than 40% of the nation’s nursing home and long-term health care workers have yet to receive vaccinations.” | | | | Be a Policy Pro. POLITICO Pro has a free policy resource center filled with our best practices on building relationships with state and federal representatives, demonstrating ROI, and influencing policy through digital storytelling. Read our free guides today . | | | | | RECALL ME MAYBE — “Coronavirus surge squeezes Newsom with California recall approaching,” by Jeremy White and Victoria Colliver in Oakland: “[Gov. GAVIN] NEWSOM is trying to steer the conversation toward anything but Covid: shoplifting, homelessness, rent relief, broadband, wildfires and the drought. But that’s become difficult after Los Angeles County shocked Californians last week with an indoor mask mandate and other large counties urged residents to mask up, regardless of vaccination status. “The sudden whiplash evoked unwelcome memories of past lockdowns and fueled frustration with the unvaccinated residents who have allowed the more contagious Delta variant to spread. The situation has put the Democratic governor in a more precarious political position just weeks ahead of a recall vote.” TIT FOR TAT — “China imposes counter-sanctions on former U.S. commerce secretary Ross, others,” Reuters: “[They’re] in response to U.S. sanctions on Chinese officials with Beijing's liaison office in Hong Kong. The sanctions are the first imposed by China under its new anti-foreign sanction law, passed in June, and come days before U.S. Deputy Secretary of State WENDY SHERMAN is due to visit China amid deeply strained ties.” PULLOUT FALLOUT — “To reach a peace deal, Taliban say Afghan president must go,” by AP’s Kathy Gannon in Islamabad: “In an interview with The Associated Press, Taliban spokesman, SUHAIL SHAHEEN, who is also a member of the group’s negotiating team, laid out the insurgents’ stance on what should come next in a country on the precipice. … “Shaheen said the Taliban will lay down their weapons when a negotiated government acceptable to all sides in the conflict is installed in Kabul and [ASHRAF] GHANI’s government is gone. ‘I want to make it clear that we do not believe in the monopoly of power.’” SPORTS BLINK — “An open letter to Tokyo Olympics’ Team USA,” by first lady Jill Biden for NBC: “Your entire nation is cheering you on — and we are so grateful for what you’ve given us.” — And the former Cleveland Indians will henceforth be known as … the Guardians. More from the Plain Dealer TRANSITIONS — Michael Witt is now VP and chief sustainability officer at Northrop Grumman Corp. He previously was corporate director of EH&S and sustainability at Dow. … Joshua Westfall will be national director of foundation relations at Boys and Girls Clubs of America. He previously was director of policy and programs at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation. BONUS BIRTHDAY: Jane Rayburn of EMC Research | | | | A message from Google:   Cybersecurity requires technology that is secure by default. Learn how Google supports the White House cybersecurity executive order. | | | | | | | Follow us on Twitter | | | | Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook family Playbook | Playbook PM | California Playbook | Florida Playbook | Illinois Playbook | Massachusetts Playbook | New Jersey Playbook | New York Playbook | Brussels Playbook | London Playbook View all our politics and policy newsletters | | Follow us | | | | |  |
