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Presented by Facebook: POLITICO's must-read briefing on what's driving the afternoon in Washington. | | | | | |  | | By Ben Schreckinger, Tara Palmeri, Garrett Ross and Eli Okun | Presented by Facebook | BREAKING: A pair of Republican senators sent letters to federal law enforcement agencies seeking more information about an October 2018 incident involving HUNTER BIDEN and a discarded gun that we wrote about Thursday. The senators are asking for records from the Secret Service, the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The letters came in response to POLITICO’s report Thursday detailing the incident. Hunter Biden’s gun went missing after HALLIE BIDEN — widow to his late brother Beau, who was involved with Hunter romantically at the time — disposed of it in a trash can outside a Delaware grocery store, which was near a high school. That prompted a response from state and federal law enforcement. Two people familiar with the episode — one with direct knowledge and another briefed by a Secret Service agent afterward — told POLITICO that, on the day of the incident, Secret Service agents had attempted to take possession of paperwork related to Hunter Biden’s purchase of the firearm from a Delaware gun shop. At the time, neither JOE BIDEN nor his relatives were under Secret Service protection, and a Secret Service spokesperson told POLITICO it has no record of any involvement in the incident. The ATF and the FBI also responded to the incident, which was investigated by the Delaware State Police and did not result in arrests or charges. The ATF referred POLITICO’s questions about the incident to the Delaware State Police, which declined to comment. The FBI also declined to comment. The senators, Judiciary Committee ranking member CHUCK GRASSLEY of Iowa and Investigations Subcommittee ranking member RON JOHNSON of Wisconsin, have asked the agencies to respond by April 8. Happy Friday afternoon. Press secretary JEN PSAKI said at today’s press briefing that Biden will issue a statement, likely this afternoon, on the new voting restrictions in Georgia. LATEST ON GUNS — “Ghost-Gun Concerns Prompt Feds to Meet With Firearms Makers,” WSJ: “Federal firearm regulators will meet with gun industry representatives Friday to discuss weapons that can be made from parts purchased online, a signal the Biden administration may tackle the proliferation of weapons known as ghost guns. “The discussion between officials from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and firearms manufacturers is expected to focus on a possible expansion of the definition of what counts as a firearm … Such a move could subject ghost guns to the same regulations as other firearms.” — BUT, BUT, BUT: “Biden’s focus on infrastructure after two mass killings angers gun control advocates,” NYT: “‘I’m disappointed he has the nerve and audacity to say he’s going to do things in sequential order,’ said Maisha Fields, the vice president of organizing for Brady: United Against Gun Violence, a nonprofit group, on a group conference call Friday morning. ‘It’s out of order to have to bury your child. It’s out of order to be shopping for eggs and to have your life disrupted.’” — Psaki said executive actions on guns are forthcoming, though she declined to provide a timetable. As for gun reform groups upset at Biden’s inaction: “The frustration should be vented at the members of the House and Senate who voted against the measures the president supports, and we’d certainly support their advocacy in that regard.” | | A message from Facebook: It’s time to update internet regulations
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See how we’re making progress on key issues and why we support updated regulations to set clear rules for addressing today’s toughest challenges. | | | FILIBUSTER DEATH WATCH — “Chuck Schumer controls the future of the filibuster. Dems aren’t sure what he’ll do,” by Burgess Everett and Marianne LeVine: “Senate Republicans are adamant that Chuck Schumer is maneuvering toward one endgame: Killing the filibuster. But Schumer’s own Democratic colleagues aren’t as confident. … “The reality is more complicated. Schumer is an expert at channeling the feelings of his caucus, and Democratic senators have no clear agreement on the topic. A source close to Schumer said that ‘when he says they’ll have a discussion as a caucus and everything is on the table, he means it.’” — “Abortion rights groups break with progressive counterparts on filibuster,” by Alice Miranda Ollstein: “[T]hey see how easy it would be for a future Republican Senate to roll back progressive policies and implement new bans, and they keenly recall getting burned by the GOP’s similar rules change for Supreme Court nominees in 2017. That puts them at odds with unions, social justice groups and others who think that the filibuster should be abolished so they can get their current priorities through.” Sen. MITT ROMNEY (R-Utah) is this year’s recipient of the Kennedy family’s Profile in Courage Award for his vote to impeach DONALD TRUMP (the first time). Announcement on the “Today” show SURPRISE — JEFF ZIENTS said at today’s Covid-19 briefing that Johnson & Johnson will in fact meet its goal of delivering 20 million vaccine doses by the end of the month, with a surge of 11 million coming next week. That milestone had been in doubt in recent days. More from Susannah Luthi — Zients also announced that the federal government would increase the number of active-duty military members administering shots from 2,900 to more than 6,000 “in the coming weeks.” He also announced three new federal vaccination sites in Boston, Norfolk, Va., and Newark, N.J. THE EXCESS SUPPLY CHALLENGES — “For Biden, a New Virus Dilemma: How to Handle a Looming Glut of Vaccine,” NYT: “Biden administration officials are anticipating the supply of coronavirus vaccine to outstrip U.S. demand by mid-May if not sooner … Whether to keep, modify or redirect those orders is a question with significant implications, not just for the nation’s efforts to contain the virus but also for how soon the pandemic can be brought to an end. … “Vaccine manufacturers and some top federal officials say decisions about what to do with extra orders must be made within weeks, or the uncertainty could slow production lines. … [T]he administration is leaning toward keeping the doses it has ordered then at some point directing the excess to other nations in bilateral deals or giving it to Covax.” SELLING THE VACCINE — “Biden Administration Plans Localized Approach to Promote Covid-19 Vaccine,” WSJ: “More than two thirds of the overall messaging budget will be spent on such localized outreach, with less than a third to be spent on ads for television, digital, print and radio. The White House didn’t provide a total budget for the campaign … “The localized campaign’s focus will be built around the slogan ‘We Can Do This’ … The Biden administration’s strategy is a shift from a nationwide media push that many public-health leaders and advocacy groups had expected in January … The administration’s internal polling showed that a national advertising blitz may not be as effective at overcoming skepticism as face-to-face interaction with medical professionals and local leaders.” | | | | SUBSCRIBE TO "THE RECAST" TO JOIN AN IMPORTANT CONVERSATION : Power dynamics are shifting in Washington and across the country, and more people are demanding a seat at the table, insisting that all politics is personal and not all policy is equitable. "The Recast" is a new twice-weekly newsletter that breaks down how race and identity are recasting politics, policy, and power in America. 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Thank you to our sponsor, Intel. | | | | | WHAT STEPHEN MILLER IS UP TO — “Stephen Miller to launch a new legal group to give Biden fits,” by Gabby Orr: “The group, which will be known as America First Legal, will help organize Republican attorneys general against perceived executive branch abuses in addition to filing lawsuits of its own, according to six people familiar with the planning.” REALITY CHECK — “Congress backed a trillion-dollar job-saving program. ‘No one really knows’ if it’s working,” by Zachary Warmbrodt: “When the Senate on Thursday voted to extend the nearly $1 trillion Paycheck Protection Program, there were few dissenters for a pandemic-relief program that lawmakers say has sustained tens of millions of small-business jobs. “Yet many economists say the jobs claim is exaggerated. And in reality, almost a year after the popular program’s launch, Congress, the Biden administration and even small-business advocates have no firm estimate of how many jobs it saved. Federal watchdog agencies say the data isn’t available, and academics offer a wide range of estimates.” FRAUD FILES — “Justice Dept. has charged 474 people with trying to steal more than $569 million in covid-related fraud schemes,” WaPo: “The Justice Department has charged 474 people over the past year with trying to swipe more than $569 million by using criminal fraud schemes connected to the coronavirus pandemic and seized at least $580 million in civil proceedings, officials announced Friday.” WOMP WOMP — “White House nixed Deb Haaland’s Southwest-themed party over Covid concerns,” by Daniel Lippman: “Jennifer Van der Heide, the Interior chief of staff, had wanted a [50-person] reception held for Haaland’s friends and allies and had even sought a catering estimate for New Mexican-style food, but senior Biden administration officials raised red flags about the party.” AFTERNOON READ — “The ‘Green Energy’ That Might Be Ruining the Planet,” by POLITICO Magazine’s Michael Grunwald in Northampton, N.C.: “The biomass industry is warming up the South’s economy, but many experts worry it’s doing the same to the climate. Will the Biden Administration embrace it, or cut it loose?” | | | | TUNE IN TO GLOBAL TRANSLATIONS: Our Global Translations podcast, presented by Citi, examines the long-term costs of the short-term thinking that drives many political and business decisions. The world has long been beset by big problems that defy political boundaries, and these issues have exploded over the past year amid a global pandemic. This podcast helps to identify and understand the impediments to smart policymaking. Subscribe and start listening today. | | | | | STAFFING UP — “A Biden Administration Strategy: Send In the Scientists,” NYT: “More than a decade ago, a woman at a bar near the Columbia University campus turned to Gavin Schmidt and asked if he knew the main component of air. “Yes, nitrogen,” he replied. His answer lost her a bet about whether the average stranger at the bar would know anything about atmospheric chemistry. Two years later, they were married. “Sometimes the nerds win. Today Dr. Schmidt is one of the most prominent scientists warning the world about the risks of a warming world. Recently he was named to a newly created position as senior climate adviser to NASA … The Biden team is adding positions throughout the government for policymakers and experts like Dr. Schmidt who understand the threats facing our planet.” — The White House announced plans for several new nominations, including Seema Nanda at the Labor Department, Victoria Wassmer at the Transportation Department, Maryanne Donaghy at the VA, Ronald Davis as director of the U.S. Marshal Service, Jocelyn Samuels as an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission member and Gayle Conelly Manchin (yes, Joe’s wife) as federal co-chair of the Appalachian Regional Commission. STAFFING DOWN — “Biden administration guts Homeland Security Advisory Council,” by Daniel Lippman: “The Biden administration has fired 32 members of the Homeland Security Advisory Council … [DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas] said he would reconstitute the council in the next few weeks as he transitions to a new model for the committee.” WHITE HOUSE ARRIVAL LOUNGE — “Schiff aide moves to White House as Biden rounds out press team,” CNN: “Emilie Simons will join the White House as an assistant press secretary after working for members in both chambers of Congress, most recently as the communications director for House Intelligence Chairman Adam Schiff, a California Democrat.” MEDIAWATCH — “Dominion Voting sues Fox for $1.6B over 2020 election claims,” AP: “Dominion argues that Fox News, which amplified inaccurate assertions that Dominion altered votes, ‘sold a false story of election fraud in order to serve its own commercial purposes, severely injuring Dominion in the process’ … Even before Dominion’s lawsuit on Friday, Fox News had already filed four motions to dismiss other legal actions against its coverage.” — “‘I’m Afraid To Open Twitter’: Next-Level Harassment Of Female Journalists Is Putting News Outlets To The Test,” Vanity Fair: “No journalist is above criticism. But what female journalists described to me goes beyond legitimate scrutiny of a headline or story framing and into their sex lives, their families, and other topics unrelated to their work, a wildly disproportionate level of pushback to any perceived journalistic offense. The old newsroom motto ‘don’t feed the trolls’ seems increasingly quaint as top editors and media executives grapple with how and when to respond publicly to the deluge of smears filling a reporter’s inbox or chasing them across social media. … “Another reason media organizations may still be struggling with how to deal with this abuse is their failure to respond to the digital moment: So-called trolls no longer live only in the comment section at the bottom of an article or in hate mail. The nature of online abuse has evolved along with online media itself.” — Paula Reid is joining CNN next week as senior legal affairs correspondent. She most recently has covered DOJ, the White House and more at CBS. … Michael de Adder is joining WaPo’s opinions desk as a political cartoonist. He won the Herblock Prize last year. Announcement — “Media Startups Axios and the Athletic Discuss Merger, Eyeing SPAC Deal,” WSJ WELCOME TO THE WORLD — Joe Kildea, VP of comms at the Club for Growth, and Lauren Kildea, a manager at Guidehouse, welcomed Anna Clare Kildea on Sunday morning at Sibley hospital. Pic | | | |   | | | | | | | 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 | | | | |  |
