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Presented by PhRMA: POLITICO's must-read briefing on what's driving the afternoon in Washington. | | | | | |  | | By Ryan Lizza, Garrett Ross and Eli Okun | | | With the Delta variant of coronavirus raging and having missed his stated goal of getting 70% of Americans fully vaccinated by Independence Day, President JOE BIDEN this afternoon will kick off a renewed vaccine push. Per a White House official, the administration is zeroing in on these five areas, which Biden will discuss in remarks scheduled for 3:15 p.m.: — “Targeted, community by community, door to door outreach to get the remaining Americans vaccinated by ensuring they have the information they need on how both safe and accessible the vaccine is. — “A renewed emphasis on getting the vaccines to more and more primary care doctors and other health care providers so more Americans can get a shot at their doctor’s office. — “Stepped up efforts to get vaccines to pediatricians and other providers who serve younger people – so that adolescents ages 12 to 18 can get vaccinated as they go for ‘back to school’ check ups or get ready for fall sports. — “Continue expanding efforts to make the vaccine accessible for workers, including setting up vaccination clinics at work and PTO for employees. — “Expanding our mobile clinic efforts.” There’s been a lot of talk about whether nationally prominent political figures might be helpful in turning back the tide of vaccine misinformation that appears to be affecting the low rates in various communities, such as white Southerners. But the White House message is mostly about hyper-local surrogates and efforts that penetrate hard-to-reach areas. Thus the emphasis on door-to-door outreach, mobile clinics and using physicians and other trusted health care experts as the main vaccine advocates. So don’t expect Biden to ask DONALD TRUMP to cut a pro-vaccine PSA anytime soon. THE HALF-YEAR MARK — It’s been six months since the deadly insurrection at the Capitol. Despite some short-term changes and Speaker NANCY PELOSI’s introduction of a select committee to investigate Jan. 6, the Capitol Police force is still languishing, CNN’s Whitney Wild, Jeremy Herb, Zachary Cohen, Jamie Gangel and Katie Bo Williams report. “Amid mounting concern about a fresh wave of pro-Trump violence in August, more than a dozen current and former Capitol Police officers, Capitol security officials, lawmakers and aides tell CNN that not nearly enough has been done to address the security failures exposed by the January 6 attack on the US Capitol six months ago.,” they write. “They need a radical restructure. They need to decouple it from any political structure whatsoever,” Rep. JOHN KATKO (R-N.Y.) told CNN, adding: “They've definitely made strides in the right direction. … But they're nowhere near where they should be.” “Morale remains low among Capitol Police officers, who say they're stuck working longer hours amid dwindling ranks. More than 75 officers have left since January 6, at a rate of about three per week, according to union leaders. ‘We're losing guys left and right,’ said one officer, who like others interviewed for this story requested anonymity to speak candidly about the state of the US Capitol Police. ‘The young guys don't want to be here and the old guys who are eligible are just rolling out.’ As a result, the department has already exceeded its overtime projections for the fiscal year, which doesn't end for another three months, according to a Senate aide.” The story — “‘So, So Angry’: Reporters Who Survived the Capitol Riot Are Still Struggling,” by Vice’s Cameron Joseph: “Some reporters who were there won’t go back into the building. A number have sought therapy to deal with the trauma. One longtime Capitol Hill reporter opted for early retirement shortly after living through the riot. Many still aren’t sleeping well.” | | | | A message from PhRMA: The way insurance covers your medicine is too complicated. See how we can make the system work for patients. Not the other way around. | | | INFRASTRUCTURE YEAR — As we previewed this morning, the House Problem Solvers Caucus, which includes 29 Democrats and 29 Republicans, released a statement today endorsing the bipartisan infrastructure proposal and calling on the House to take it up: “The bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus strongly supports the Senate infrastructure framework, which is closely aligned with our ‘Building Bridges’ proposal released last month. In light of the bipartisan, bicameral genesis of the framework, we encourage an expeditious, stand-alone vote in the House and thank our bipartisan Senate partners and the Biden Administration for working so closely with us to demonstrate that cooperation is still possible in Washington.” Good Tuesday afternoon. THESE ARE NOT THE CONTRACTS YOU’RE LOOKING FOR — “Pentagon cancels $10 billion JEDI cloud contract that Amazon and Microsoft were fighting over,” CNBC: “The JEDI, or Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure, deal has become one of the most tangled contracts for the Department of Defense. In a press release Tuesday, the Pentagon said that ‘due to evolving requirements, increased cloud conversancy, and industry advances, the JEDI Cloud contract no longer meets its needs.’ “But the fight over a cloud computing project does not appear to be completely over yet. … The agency said it plans to solicit proposals from both Amazon and Microsoft for the contract, adding that they are the only cloud service providers that can meet its needs. But, it added, it will continue to do market research to see if others could also meet its specifications.” JUICY BOOK DEETS — “Some RNC staffers did not vote for Trump amid 2020 campaign power struggle, new book claims,” Fox News: “Some Republican National Committee (RNC) officials didn't vote for then-President Trump in last November's election, according to a forthcoming book by Wall Street Journal reporter Michael Bender. “And excerpts from ‘Frankly, We Did Win This Election: The Inside Story of How Trump Lost,’ that were exclusively obtained by Fox News on Tuesday, also spotlight the alleged friction between RNC chair RONNA MCDANIEL and BILL STEPIEN, who took over as Trump reelection campaign manager last summer. And according to another excerpt from the book, Trump son-in-law JARED KUSHNER, after losing a power struggle with McDaniel over a new online fundraising program implemented by the national party, said he didn't ‘give a f—k’ about the future of the GOP.” ABORTION POLITICS — “A hidden abortion crew prepares to confront a post-Roe America,” by Darius Tahir: “The Supreme Court’s decision to review Mississippi’s stringent restrictions on abortion — putting Roe vs. Wade under its roughest stress test yet — is being seen as a call to action for the nation’s community of underground abortion activists. And they make it clear they’re prepared to defy any laws banning abortion. “The community had spent the pandemic dealing with the ‘abortionpocalypse’ — a wave of red state restrictions on procedures to terminate pregnancies — by recruiting new members and online providers, adding new privacy features that could shield them from law enforcement and organizing. And now, with the court’s decision to hear the Mississippi case in its upcoming term, they’re confronting a new threat.” POLICY CORNER — “Biden’s Pre-K Proposal Faces Questions Over Federal Role,” by WSJ’s Catherine Lucey and Tarini Parti: “President Biden’s $200 billion proposal to expand publicly funded prekindergarten through a program that requires buy-in and funds from states is facing questions from Republicans over how it will be implemented. … Mr. Biden is seeking to provide prekindergarten to all 3- and 4-year-olds as part of his $1.8 trillion families plan, which also includes investments in child care, paid leave and community college. … “The White House says an expansion will improve educational outcomes, while enabling parents of young children to participate fully in the workforce. But while many Republican leaders support public prekindergarten, some have expressed skepticism about what role the federal government should play in funding it and what strings will come with the money.” | | | | 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. | | | | | FOR YOUR RADAR — “Nikole Hannah-Jones to join Howard faculty after UNC tenure controversy,” WaPo: “Journalists NIKOLE HANNAH-JONES and TA-NEHISI COATES are joining Howard University’s faculty, school officials announced Tuesday in a major recruiting victory for the private institution in the nation’s capital. It was a simultaneous setback for the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to lose Hannah-Jones after a long and remarkably contentious effort to recruit her. “The surprising development came less than a week after trustees for UNC-Chapel Hill voted to award tenure to Hannah-Jones. … In an interview Tuesday on CBS This Morning, Hannah-Jones said she would not join the UNC faculty. ‘Very difficult decision,’ Hannah-Jones told Gayle King. ‘Not a decision I wanted to make.’ Now Hannah-Jones will have tenure at Howard in the new position of Knight Chair in Race and Journalism, starting this summer at the historically Black university in Washington.” 2022 WATCH — “Sen. Lankford responds to 'unheard of' lack of neutrality from state GOP chairman,” by Tulsa World’s Blake Douglas: “In addition to challengers in the Republican primary for U.S. Senate next year, incumbent Sen. JAMES LANKFORD said he is contending with opposition from a high-ranking member of his own party. “JOHN BENNETT, who was elected Oklahoma Republican Party chairman April 10, spoke later at the OKC Freedom Rally organized by Lankford’s Republican challenger, JACKSON LAHMEYER, and is supporting him in his challenge to Lankford. According to The Oklahoman, Bennett told reporters after the June 26 rally that Lankford’s decision not to object to the results of the 2020 presidential election after the Jan. 6 insurrection was proof that the senator couldn’t keep promises made to constituents. … ‘It’s more unheard of than it is rare,’ Lankford said of Bennett’s supporting the incumbent Republican’s opponent.” — “Trump sees Walker as ‘unstoppable’ candidate, but many in GOP are wary,” by Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Greg Bluestein: “[HERSCHEL] WALKER’S sudden rise in Georgia politics from his estate in Texas has alternately energized, mystified and frustrated state conservatives who see the football great’s potential candidacy as a chain reaction of events that could only play out in the Donald Trump era. … “Walker has only confirmed he’s still considering a bid, but his likely candidacy is an open secret in Georgia’s political world. In recent weeks, he’s lined up advisers and started building the foundation of a campaign. Senior Republicans who once heard zip from Walker now see him as a surefire contender. He would be the rare celebrity candidate in Georgia, a state where famous sports figures and media personalities have mainly steered clear of politics.” RANKED CHOICE RECAP — “New York’s ‘head-swirling’ mistake puts harsh spotlight on ranked-choice voting,” by Maya King and Zach Montellaro FOR YOUR RADAR — “Tropical Storm Elsa gaining strength, lashing Florida Keys,” AP | | | | SUBSCRIBE TO WOMEN RULE : The Women Rule newsletter explores how women, in Washington and beyond, shape the world, and how the news — from the pandemic to the latest laws coming out of statehouses — impacts women. With expert policy analysis, incisive interviews and revelatory recommendations on what to read and whom to watch, this is a must-read for executives, professionals and rising leaders to understand how what happens today affects the future for women and girls. Subscribe to the Women Rule newsletter today. | | | | | MEDIAWATCH — “Fox’s New Channel Changes the Climate for Weather TV,” by NYT’s Michael Grynbaum: “Later this year, Rupert Murdoch is set to debut Fox Weather, a 24-hour streaming channel that promises to do for 7-day forecasts what Fox has done for American politics, financial news and sports. Not to be outdone, the Weather Channel — granddaddy of television meteorology — announced the creation of a new streaming service, Weather Channel Plus, that the company believes could reach 30 million s by 2026. “Amid a waning appetite for political news in the post-Trump era, media executives are realizing that demand for weather updates is ubiquitous — and for an increasing swath of the country, a matter of urgent concern.” (Thought bubble: POLITICO Weather? cc: Steve Shepard) — Conn Carroll is returning to the Washington Examiner as commentary editor. He most recently was comms director for Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and worked at the Examiner from 2011-2013. WHERE ARE THEY NOW — “Former Fox, NBC star Megyn Kelly lines up SiriusXM talk show,” AP THIS ONE GOT OUR ATTENTION — Veteran Democratic strategist Joe Trippi is joining the Lincoln Project as a senior adviser. “I'm joining the Lincoln Project to make sure Republicans don't win Congress in 2022,” Trippi writes for USA Today. TRANSITIONS — Jacqueline Ferko and James Kaplan are now directors of government relations at Raytheon Technologies. Ferko is the former deputy assistant secretary of Defense for product support and is an Air Force and Boeing alum. Kaplan most recently was senior adviser for comms and congressional relations at the Defense Intelligence Agency and is an NSC, ODNI and U.S. Navy alum. … Andrew Lock is now a senior professional staff member for the House Homeland Security GOP. He previously was a legislative assistant for Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.). … … Roberto Jose Coquis is now director of operations at the Golden Key Group, a consulting firm. He most recently was deputy assistant secretary of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and is also an HHS alum. … Sarah-Hope Nail will be special assistant to the CEO of Texas 2036. She most recently was a legislative assistant for Rep. Michael Cloud (R-Texas). … Mikeisha Anderson Jones is now chief diversity, equity and inclusion officer at Milbank. She most recently was VP for global inclusion and diversity at American Express. ENGAGED — Joel Wanger, political director at Democratic Majority for Israel, and Molly Mitchell, press secretary at the National Democratic Redistricting Committee, got engaged Monday. The two met at the DCCC during the 2018 cycle. WEDDING — TRUMP ALUMNI: Tom Joannou, director of special projects for House Republican Conference Secretary Rep. Richard Hudson (R-N.C.) and former special assistant to the president and adviser to Kellyanne Conway, and Michelle Iacono recently got married. The couple went to high school together on Long Island and have been dating since senior prom eight years ago. | | | | A message from PhRMA:   Getting to what you pay for medicines shouldn’t be a maze. Let’s make out-of-pocket costs transparent, predictable and affordable. See how. | | | | | | | 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 | | | | |  |
