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POLITICO's must-read briefing on what's driving the afternoon in Washington. | | | | | |  | | By Rachael Bade, Eli Okun and Garrett Ross | HAPPENING SHORTLY: President JOE BIDEN speaking about the economy from the East Room. PIPELINE LATEST — AP/Washington: “Major U.S. pipeline company says it hopes to be largely back online by end of the week following cyberattack.” — “Thus far, Colonial has told us that it has not suffered damage and can be brought back online relatively quickly, but that safety is a priority, given that it has never before taken the entire pipeline down,” said ELIZABETH SHERWOOD-RANDALL, homeland security adviser and deputy national security adviser, at this afternoon’s White House briefing. She added that there is no fuel supply shortage currently. ANNE NEUBERGER, another deputy national security adviser, said “we need to look thoughtfully” at long-standing FBI advice that cyberattack victims not pay ransoms. JOE VS. JOE — Biden is meeting separately with Democratic Sens. JOE MANCHIN and TOM CARPER today to talk infrastructure and the American Jobs Plan, per pooler Katherine Doyle of the Washington Examiner. The latter should be easy — Carper, the chair of the Environment and Public Works Committee, is a longtime Biden ally who hails from the First State, too. But the Manchin meeting should be interesting. The two men have competing views on how to pay for Biden’s infrastructure proposals — and the president can’t do anything without the West Virginia Democrat due to the 50-50 split in the upper chamber. Just a recap: Manchin has said he’ll support increasing the corporate tax rate to 25%, not 28% as the president wants. He’s also expressed reservations about the overall size of the package. Ahead of the meetings, White House press secretary JEN PSAKI said this in response to a question about Democrats’ and Republicans’ red lines on pay-fors: “The president’s red lines are inaction and are anything that would raise taxes on people making less than $400,000 a year. Those are not areas where he is going to move. … He has been encouraged by the spirit in which Sen. [SHELLEY MOORE] CAPITO and other Republican colleagues are engaging with him.” For awareness: WaPo’s Seung Min Kim reported that Manchin’s meeting is at 4:30 p.m. and Carper’s at 6:30 p.m. UNWINDING TRUMP — Two new moves from the Biden administration today look to unwind key culture-war components of DONALD TRUMP’S presidency — including what may have been the most outlandish scandal from the past four years, Sharpiegate: — “New White House panel aims to separate science, politics,” AP: “A new 46-person federal scientific integrity task force with members from more than two dozen government agencies will meet for the first time on Friday. Its mission is to look back through 2009 for areas where partisanship interfered with what were supposed to be decisions based on evidence and research and to come up with ways to keep politics out of government science in the future. “The effort was spurred by concerns that the Trump administration had politicized science in ways that put lives at risk, eroded public trust and worsened climate change. One of the four task force co-chairs is FRANCESCA GRIFO, scientific integrity officer for the Environmental Protection Agency since 2013 … The others are ANNE RICCIUTI, deputy director for science at the Education Department’s Institute of Education Sciences; CRAIG ROBINSON, director of the Office of Science Quality and Integrity at the U.S. Geological Survey; and JERRY SHEEHAN, deputy director of the National Library of Medicine.” — “Biden administration announces reversal of Trump-era limits on protections for transgender people in health care,” NBC: “In a victory for LGBTQ advocates, the change will bar health care providers and other health-related organizations who receive federal funding from discriminating based on someone’s gender identity or sexual orientation.” Good Monday afternoon. | | | | SUBSCRIBE TO WEST WING PLAYBOOK: Add West Wing Playbook to keep up with the power players, latest policy developments and intriguing whispers percolating inside the West Wing and across the highest levels of the Cabinet. For buzzy nuggets and details you won't find anywhere else, subscribe today. | | | | | D.C. IS HEALING — Mayor MURIEL BOWSER announced today that most capacity limits in the city will be lifted May 21, with a full reopening June 11. Just a month away! — To wit: The coronavirus case numbers in the city are looking mighty good. This morning’s announcement of 15 new cases brings the seven-day average to 42 — down almost half from 75 just a week ago. — Lafayette Square has finally reopened in front of the White House. Pics via AFP’s Jérôme Cartillier MORE DETAILS ON TUESDAY’S MEETING — “Biden to talk with six governors about ways to get more people vaccinated against COVID-19,” USA Today: “Biden will meet virtually with the leaders of Ohio, Utah, Massachusetts, Maine, Minnesota and New Mexico to share best practices.” NUMBERS KLAIN IS LOVING — “AP-NORC poll: Biden approval buoyed by his pandemic response,” AP: “In the fourth month of his presidency, Biden’s overall approval rating sits at 63%. When it comes to the new Democratic president’s handling of the pandemic, 71% of Americans approve, including 47% of Republicans.” GRIM REALITY OF NARROW MARGINS — “‘We May Not Have a Full Two Years’: Democrats’ Plans Hinge on Good Health,” NYT/Upshot POST-MORTEM — Catalist is out this morning with its analysis of the 2020 election, including more up-to-date data on voter turnout and demographic breakdowns. One striking statistic: Even though Biden’s coalition of voters was much more diverse than Trump’s, and his win was fueled by young and minority voters, Trump made inroads with people of color — and white people without a college degree were still Biden’s largest bloc. The top takeaways THE DISSENTERS — “The ‘GOP Impeachment 10’ try to navigate Cheney’s demise and their own futures,” WaPo: “[S]ince that vote, the 10 lawmakers have cut different paths in grappling with the fallout as they consider their political futures in a party still beholden to Trump. … Mutual respect for casting a consequential vote has bonded the 10 pro-impeachment House Republicans, as has the backlash they have received … “In the early days after the vote, some of the 10 flirted with the idea of banding together to make joint statements on consequential issues, believing they could have influence based on their moral authority. … Although they never did much as a group once it became clear that opposing Trump was increasingly treacherous, some of these lawmakers, or aides familiar with their views, said the takedown of Cheney has been demoralizing to watch.” — But some of them, at least, are not going down quietly. Rep. ADAM KINZINGER (R-Ill.) this morning tweeted that House Minority Leader KEVIN MCCARTHY dismissed his warnings before Jan. 6: “A few days before Jan 6, our GOP members had a conference call. I told Kevin that his words and our party’s actions would lead to violence on January 6th. Kevin dismissively responded with ‘ok Adam, operator next question.’ And we got violence.” NOT ‘MY KEVIN’ TO THIS PRESIDENT — “Biden’s relationship with top House Republican is frosty,” The Hill: “Biden has a long relationship with Senate Minority Leader MITCH MCCONNELL … But there appears to be little relationship between Biden and McCarthy … [T]he White House shrugged off the idea that there’s any significance to the fact the two men have yet to speak or meet in the six months since Biden’s election. … “Officials on both sides of the relationship say Wednesday’s meeting will be an important step in showing the two can get along moving forward. … Current and former Biden advisers said the ball is in McCarthy’s court to show he is willing to be a working partner with the administration at a time when the Republican Party is fighting its own battles.” 2022 WATCH — “Republican former state Sen. Don Huffines launches primary challenge to Gov. Greg Abbott,” Texas Tribune: “Huffines has criticized Abbott as being too slow to fully reopen the state and he spoke at a protest outside the Governor's Mansion last fall.” — “Wall Street roots. NBA owner’s son. Wisconsin’s next Democratic senator?” WaPo: “[ALEX] LASRY, a 33-year-old Democrat who worked in the Obama White House, is running for the U.S. Senate seat occupied by Republican RON JOHNSON. But as the son of a billionaire and a former Goldman Sachs banker, he has drawn criticism from both sides. During a recent interview with The Washington Post, Lasry talked about his decision to seek office in the battleground state, why pro teams should not stick to sports and how the [Milwaukee] Bucks have navigated matters of racial equality in what has been called ‘the most segregated city in America.’” | | | | JOIN THURSDAY FOR A CONVERSATION ON TRANSGENDER POLITICIANS: More transgender people got elected to office at all levels across the country in 2020, in both blue and red states – and that number is likely to continue to grow. During the last year, constituents across America elected six transgender candidates at the state level as transgender rights gain more attention across the country. Join POLITICO Nightly: Daytime Edition for a conversation featuring transgender elected officials as they discuss their experiences running for and serving in public office. REGISTER HERE. | | | | | TOOLS OF THE TRADE — “Complaint Accuses Mexican Factories of Labor Abuses, Testing New Trade Pact,” NYT: “The complaint focuses on the Tridonex auto parts factories in the city of Matamoros … The complaint is being brought under a novel ‘rapid response’ mechanism in the trade deal that allows for complaints about labor violations to be brought against an individual factory and for penalties to be applied to that factory. “The complaint was filed by the A.F.L.-C.I.O., the Service Employees International Union, SNITIS and Public Citizen’s Global Trade Watch. … It remains to be seen how the Biden administration will respond.” COLD SHOULDER IN THE NORTHERN TRIANGLE — “Central American leaders resisting Biden’s anti-corruption efforts,” WaPo/Mexico City: “In a rebuff to the Biden administration, political leaders in El Salvador and Guatemala have forced out several senior judges known for their independence and anti-corruption zeal, underscoring the difficulties facing Washington’s new Central America policy. … “The administration is readying measures to increase pressure on El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras, known as the Northern Triangle countries — including a name-and-shame list of corrupt politicians who would be denied U.S. visas.” HEAD IN THE CLOUDS — “Pentagon Weighs Ending JEDI Cloud Project Amid Amazon Court Fight,” WSJ PENTAGON DEPARTURE LOUNGE — “Defense Digital Service chief stepping down from the Pentagon’s ‘Rebel Alliance,’” by Martin Matishak: “BRETT GOLDSTEIN, who was appointed DDS’ second-ever director in 2019, will finish his ‘nerd tour of duty’ at the end of June, he told POLITICO on Monday. … Deputy Director KATIE OLSON will become the unit’s acting chief. … It was not immediately clear who might be under consideration to permanently run the unit.” PULLOUT FALLOUT — “U.S. trashes unwanted gear in Afghanistan, sells as scrap,” AP/Bagram, Afghanistan: “They do so as a security measure, to ensure equipment doesn’t fall into militant hands. But to [BABA] MIR and the dozens of other scrap sellers around Bagram, it’s an infuriating waste. ‘What they are doing is a betrayal of Afghans. They should leave,’ said Mir. ‘Like they have destroyed this vehicle, they have destroyed us.’” — BIG TEST FOR WASHINGTON: “‘They will slaughter us’: Afghans who worked with U.S. beg for visas as troop withdrawal looms,” USA Today: “‘You will see the dead bodies in every street,’ [OMID] MAHMOODI said in a phone interview from Afghanistan, where he said he’s already being tracked by the Taliban. … “But the program is backlogged and limited. It takes an average of nearly three years for Afghans’ applications to be processed … Right now, there are about 18,000 Afghans waiting for approval – and fewer than 11,000 slots. … [Rep. MICHAEL WALTZ (R-Fla.)] and others say Congress needs to authorize more visas for the program, and the Biden administration needs to ensure these Afghans are allowed to come to the U.S.” AFTERNOON READ — “Why Confederate Lies Live On,” The Atlantic: “For some Americans, history isn’t the story of what actually happened; it’s the story they want to believe.” MEDIAWATCH — “Teen Vogue has a new top editor,” NYT: “VERSHA SHARMA, a managing editor at the news website NowThis, will be its next editor in chief. … She was part of a team that received an Edward R. Murrow award in 2018 for a documentary on the aftermath of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico. She was named to the job nearly two months after ALEXI MCCAMMOND, a former Axios journalist, resigned.” — “Vice Media Targets Valuation of Nearly $3 Billion in Proposed SPAC Deal,” WSJ: “Vice Media Group’s plan to go public later this year is coming into focus.” — Aaron Mehta will be editor-in-chief of Breaking Defense. He currently is deputy editor and Pentagon correspondent at Defense News. Announcement STAFFING UP — Jake Levine is now the inaugural chief climate officer of the U.S. Development Finance Corporation. He most recently was an attorney at Covington & Burling, and is an Obama White House alum. TRANSITIONS — Roger Ervin is joining Putnam Partners as a partner. He’s a D.C. and Wisconsin politics/public policy veteran who was a senior adviser to Biden’s campaign. … Krista O’Neill will be legislative director for Rep. David Trone (D-Md.). She previously worked in federal legislative affairs at Boeing, and is a Doris Matsui alum. … Caitlin Girouard is now senior manager for media relations at PayPal. She most recently was press secretary for New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, and is an Amy Klobuchar and Sean Patrick Maloney alum. | | | | 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 | | | | |  |
