Playbook PM: The Biden admin’s cold logic on boosters and Afghanistan

From: POLITICO Playbook - Wednesday Aug 18,2021 05:05 pm

Aug 18, 2021

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Two bits of news came out of this morning’s Covid briefing:

— First, with today’s numbers, the U.S. will cross the threshold of 200 million Americans having received at least their first shot of the vaccine, according to White House Covid-19 Response Coordinator JEFF ZIENTS.

— Second, it’s official: “Covid-19 vaccine booster shots to be offered to all Americans beginning September 20, health officials say,” CNN

Surgeon General VIVEK MURTHY explained that while the data shows that vaccinated Americans are still protected from Covid’s worst outcomes, the vaccines’ effectiveness in preventing infection and mild to moderate illness appears to wane over time, necessitating booster shots.

Even so, the U.S. is under pressure from some in the international community not to give third doses while so many poorer countries are still struggling to get first shots for their residents. The WHO has blasted wealthy countries for prioritizing boosters, and the ONE Campaign today declared the prospect “outrageous” and said it will “further exacerbate global vaccine inequities and prolong the pandemic at home and abroad.”

U.S. officials insist that it’s a false choice: The country is vaccinating Americans and sharing vaccine doses abroad, they say, and will keep doing so in the months to come. (Of course, this logic simply doesn’t make sense on its face: The U.S. might be doing some of both, but there isn’t an infinite vaccine supply at the moment, and many countries still have insufficient doses.)

Facing questions from reporters, Murthy gave something closer to a real answer: It is, indeed, a choice. “When we see data that is giving us essentially indications that protection is starting to diminish in terms of mild/moderate disease, when we recognize that if this trajectory continues that people who are well protected today may see more vulnerability in the future, we have to act,” he said. “And that was a collective decision of the top public health and medical experts in this administration.”

It’s not difficult to draw a line from this calculus to President JOE BIDEN’s steely defense of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan: Biden administration officials are clocking the limits of American power abroad, prioritizing their constituents — and hoping it doesn’t come back to bite them.

TALIBAN TAKEOVER — As Taliban rule again takes hold throughout Afghanistan, we’re seeing hints of the brutality that defined the group’s reign over the country decades ago.

— In Jalalabad, Taliban militants opened fire on anti-Taliban protesters, killing at least three and injuring more than a dozen others, reports Reuters. Similar protests erupted in other Afghan cities, per the BBC , and in “the Panjshir Valley — one of the last bastions of anti-Taliban resistance — there are unverified videos of a huge caravan of motorbikes flying flags of the former Northern Alliance. They are being called the ‘resistance army’ of former Vice-President AMRULLAH SALEH, who has proclaimed himself acting president.”

— On the other side of the country, Iran has closed its border to Afghans fleeing the Taliban.

— Meanwhile in Kabul, the Taliban has blocked off routes to the airport as masses of Afghans desperate to flee the country search for a way out. “The Taliban once again repulsed these crowds with violence, beating and whipping families trying to get through the checkpoints and unleashing volleys of gunfire in the air, according to witnesses,” reports WSJ’s Yaroslav Trofimov. One Afghan interpreter who formerly worked with the Australian military was reportedly shot in the leg by the Taliban while trying to board a flight out of the country, per SBS News’ Rashida Yosufzai.

— But the number and pace of evacuation flights appears to be increasing. From Reuters: “About 5,000 diplomats, security staff, aid workers and Afghans have been evacuated from Kabul in the last 24 hours, a Western official told Reuters on Wednesday. The evacuations by military flights will continue around the clock, he said, adding that clearing the chaos outside the airport was a challenge.” … NBC’s @RichardEngel: “At kabul airport, military side, more order than before. Evacuations picking up. Seeing more Afghan families being taken through. Planes taking off. Base well guarded.”

— Former Afghan President ASHRAF GHANI has been taken in by the UAE.

— Defense Secretary LLOYD AUSTIN and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chair Gen. MARK MILLEY will hold a news conference at 3 p.m. at the Pentagon.

Good Wednesday afternoon.

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MORE ON AFGHANISTAN

LETTER FROM KANDAHAR — “In the Taliban’s Birthplace, White Flags, Jailbreaks and Fears of Revenge,” by Shelly Kittleson in POLITICO Magazine: “Some 20 years after they were pushed out, residents here claimed that neither the country’s judicial system nor the national security forces had succeeded in making the resurgent, better-funded and more highly-trained Taliban afraid, and — with the U.S. pullout imminent — the city seemed unlikely to be able to withstand their assaults. The question then and now was, once back in control, would this ‘new version’ of the Taliban be as brutal as the ‘old’ one?”

WHAT WENT WRONG — “‘They drink the Kool-Aid then wonder why things go wrong’: How the Biden administration misjudged Afghanistan,” by The Independent’s Andrew Feinberg: “[C]urrent and former national security officials and experts … describe a dysfunctional situation at the National Security Council, in which top aides did not fully grasp the seriousness of the intelligence being delivered to them by those on the ground because they lacked the operational experience to recognize the situation for what it was.

“Others say the failure of the U.S. project in Afghanistan stems from a fundamental misunderstanding of the motivations of America’s erstwhile Afghan allies. … People in Biden’s orbit who were contacted for this story pushed back on the characterization of ‘panic’ within the NSC.”

DEVASTATING — “We Spoke to the Family of the Afghan Teenager Who Fell to His Death From a US Military Plane,” Vice

WATCH: Will Afghanistan define Biden’s legacy? As the world watches the Taliban’s chaotic return to power in Afghanistan, the Biden administration grapples with a firestorm of criticism that they have not dealt with in seven months in office. Lawmakers and political pundits are saying that this will define Biden’s legacy. This week, Ryan breaks down the political fallout for America’s rapid withdrawal from Afghanistan and how it will affect Biden’s presidency and future elections for Democrats.

PANDEMIC

LEFT IN THE DARK — “How CDC data problems put the U.S. behind on the delta variant,” by WaPo’s Yasmeen Abutaleb and Lena Sun: “When Pfizer representatives met with senior U.S. government health officials on July 12, they laid out why they thought booster shots would soon be necessary … But officials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention disagreed, saying their own data showed something quite different … Other senior health officials in the meeting were stunned. Why hadn’t the CDC looped other government officials on the data? …

“That episode, say senior administration officials and outside experts, illustrates the growing frustration with the CDC’s slow and siloed approach to sharing data, which prevented officials across the government from getting real-time information about how the delta variant was bearing down … an information gap they say stymied the response. … [Critics] say the CDC’s inability to share real-time information led top administration officials, including the president himself, to offer overly rosy assessments of the vaccines’ effectiveness against delta.”

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POLITICS ROUNDUP

AD WARS — “Progressive group gives air cover to moderate Democrats on Biden’s $3.5 trillion budget,” by NBC’s Sahil Kapur: “[Future Forward USA Action] said it will spend $1.4 million next week in seven key districts represented by Rep. CAROLYN BOURDEAUX, D-Ga., Rep. CINDY AXNE, D-Iowa, Rep. CHRIS PAPPAS, D-N.H., Rep. ANDY KIM, D-N.J., Rep. TOM MALINOWSKI, D-N.J., Rep. MATT CARTWRIGHT, D-Pa., and Rep. SUSIE LEE, D-Nev.”

CORI BUSH IN THE SPOTLIGHT — “Cori Bush tests the bounds of what an activist turned lawmaker can accomplish,” by WaPo’s Marianna Sotomayor in St. Louis: “Democratic Rep. CORI BUSH (D-Mo.) is not going to apologize for using the politically fraught slogan ‘Defund the Police.’ … To hear her tell it, the controversy over the phrase is less about whether it accurately conveys the policing policies she and her allies are pursuing and more about creating a distraction from the inaction over police violence against communities of color. ..

“The controversy over the defunding movement encapsulates the challenge facing Bush, 45, as she attempts to bring her activist background and style to the legislative realm in service of poor communities, like those found in her St. Louis-based district, which she says Congress has long neglected or actively discriminated against for decades. When should an activist’s zeal give way to a legislator’s finesse or the search for compromise and the best deal possible?”

AMERICA AND THE WORLD

MYSTERY AILMENT STRIKES AGAIN — “U.S. Officials in Germany Hit by Havana Syndrome,” by WSJ’s Bojan Pancevski in Berlin: “At least two U.S. officials stationed in Germany sought medical treatment … The symptoms, which included nausea, severe headaches, ear pain, fatigue, insomnia and sluggishness, began to emerge in recent months and some victims were left unable to work, according to the diplomats. They are the first cases to be reported in a NATO country that hosts U.S. troops and nuclear weapons.

“U.S. diplomats said that similar incidents had been registered among American officials stationed in other European nations but declined to provide any detail. Some victims were intelligence officers or diplomats working on Russia-related issues such as gas exports, cybersecurity and political interference.”

BORDER TALES — “Biden administration pitches changes to speed up asylum process at the border,” USA Today: “Under the plan, asylum officers would be allowed to adjudicate requests for United States protection rather than the immigration courts, which are experiencing a backlog.

“The asylum officer will be able to decide whether people are eligible for asylum, withholding of removal, or Convention Against Torture cases. If the person is denied, they may request an administrative review by an immigration judge. … The proposal would also allow the Department of Homeland Security to grant parole to people when ‘detention is unavailable or impracticable,’ prior to a credible fear determination.”

JAN. 6 AND ITS AFTERMATH

FAR-REACHING CONSEQUENCES? — “Wrangling over Jan. 6 footage could force open congressional records,” by Josh Gerstein: “A new lawsuit is demanding that Congress release a vast trove of Capitol riot surveillance video currently the subject of legal tussles involving judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys and the press.

“Past efforts to use the courts to force disclosure of congressional records like the videos have gotten little traction, but the Jan. 6-related case seizes on an opinion a D.C. Circuit judge issued in June. The new legal fight has the potential to set a new precedent for what kinds of information Congress must disclose, and when — and is squarely aimed at upending decades of law that shielded the institution from public scrutiny.”

THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION

THE WAIT GOES ON — “National Park Service still waiting for Biden to pick a director,” by Roll Call’s Benjamin Hulac: “The last time the National Park Service had a Senate-confirmed director, Joe Biden was vice president. … JEFF RUCH of the Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, a nonpartisan advocacy group that works with government whistleblowers and frequently sues the executive branch, said in an interview that it was baffling Biden had not yet picked someone, noting the congressional calendar will be busy in the fall and finding time for nominations may be difficult.”

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THE ECONOMY

MEGATREND — “The U.S. could be on the verge of a productivity boom, a game-changer for the economy,” by WaPo’s Heather Long: “The United States is currently experiencing a surge in worker productivity that could rival that of the tech boom 20 years ago — if it lasts. As companies and customers embrace new technologies, making it easier for Americans to produce more with fewer workers, a growing number of economists say this is not a blip and could turn into a boom — or, at least, a ‘mini boom’ ― with wide-ranging benefits for years to come. …

“The optimism this time derives partly from Congress and the White House taking steps to make significant investments in physical and digital infrastructure, and partly from the coronavirus pandemic forcing rapid and widespread adoption of the digital economy, robots and artificial intelligence.”

BEYOND THE BELTWAY

DEMOCRACY WATCH — “Georgia board starts inquiry of Fulton election problems,” Atlanta Journal-Constitution: “The State Election Board appointed a bipartisan panel to investigate Fulton County’s elections management Wednesday, a performance review that could lead to a state takeover of the heavily Democratic county. The review is allowed by Georgia’s new voting law … Fulton County Commission Chairman ROBB PITTS said the effort to scrutinize Fulton is driven by the ‘big lie’ that the election results were fraudulent.”

INCOMING FROM EVERY DIRECTION — “The School Culture Wars: ‘You Have Brought Division to Us,’” by NYT’s Sarah Mervosh and Giulia Heyward: “As summer fades into fall, nearly all of the major issues dividing the country have dropped like an anvil on U.S. schools. … Schools were already facing a crisis of historic proportions. … But at this critical moment, many school officials find themselves engulfed in highly partisan battles, which often have distracted from the most urgent issues.

“The tense environment comes amid a growing movement to recall school board officials, over everything from teachings on race to school closures. … The debates have been stoked in large part by politicians and political groups that are injecting partisanship into questions of education and public health.”

PLAYBOOKERS

NEW SHERIFF IN TOWN — “The Daily Beast selects Tracy Connor as its top editor,” by NYT’s Katie Robertson: “A native New Yorker, Ms. Connor worked at the city’s tabloids, The New York Post and The Daily News, for more than a decade. She then moved to NBC News and spent time in its investigative unit, where she helped to lead an investigation into serial sexual abuse by the former gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar.

“In 2018, she joined The Daily Beast as executive editor … ‘I really want to double down on investigations and impact,’ she said, adding, ‘What we want to do is find the scandal before the scandal breaks.’ Ms. Connor said she also planned to expand The Daily Beast’s opinion section.”

MORE MEDIA MOVES — NBC News has tapped three new executive producers for NBC News NOW shows: Jill Billante for Hallie Jackson’s new show, Lisa Crivelli for Joshua Johnson’s new show and Mike Milhaven for Morning News NOW.

STAFFING UP — The Small Business Administration today announced dozens of senior leadership and other staff appointees: Daniel Krupnick, Arthur Plews, Kendall Corley, Scott Harriford, Diedra Henry-Spires, Cynthia Jasso-Rotunno, Jeri Sparling, Katie Frost, Isabelle James, Bajeyah Eaddy, Shea Martinson, Taylor Wright, Lauren Kerner, Patrick Kelley, Veronica Pugin, Nicola Montagna, Bibi Hidalgo, Tiffany Townsend, Sal DeFrancesco, Han Nguyen, Terrence Clark, Christina Carr, Emilie Surrusco, Tate Mitchell, Kevin Wheeler, David Brown, Alejandro Renteria, Preston Hardge, Mark Madrid, Natalie Madeira Cofield, Shalei Holway, Julie Verratti, Bailey DeVries, Jonathan Alter, Peggy Delinois Hamilton and Juan Sempertegui.

TRANSITIONS — Ayodele Okeowo is joining the Democratic Attorneys General Association as deputy political director. He most recently worked on Jennifer Carroll Foy’s Virginia gubernatorial campaign, and is a Qasim Rashid and Pete Buttigieg alum. … Robert Gardner is now a public policy adviser in Baker Donelson’s government relations and public policy practice. He is a Chuck Schumer alum. …

… Kylie Patterson is now director of diversity and inclusion for the House Financial Services Committee. She most recently was a professional staff member for the Senate Small Business Committee. … Karriem Watson will be chief engagement officer for NIH’s All of Us Research Program. He previously was at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

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