GOP LASHES OUT AT “WOKE” COMPANIES — While corporate America battles Democrats on taxes, many big companies are also now at odds with the GOP over social issues like the Georgia voting rights legislation. Via our Gabby Orr and Meridith McGraw: “Livid at what they see as corporate America’s progressive posturing on cultural issues, top Republicans are pushing for swift retribution and targeting those companies’ bottom lines. “In recent days, GOP leaders have encouraged boycotts against a group of companies that have condemned or pulled business from states that have passed more restrictive voting laws. "The appetite for punitive measures hasn’t ended there. Republicans are also encouraging state and federal officials to utilize the tax code as a means of hitting back at, what they deem to be, ‘woke capitalism.’ And they’re targeting some of the most iconic American brands — from Delta and Coca Cola to Major League Baseball — in the process.” HOT CLICK: HOW CORONA CHANGED THE WORKFORCE — NBC News this week “will feature in-depth coverage on how the coronavirus forever changed the country’s workforce. “With reporting across TODAY, NBC Nightly News, MSNBC & Nbcnews.com, the series will examine the devastating economic impact of Covid-19 on the American workforce, including the staggering loss of jobs, how women have been disproportionately impacted and the widening pay gaps.” DEMS GET ANOTHER RECONCILLIATION SHOT — Speaking of slamming through a giant infrastructure/tax bill with no GOP votes … Our Caitlin Emma: “Democrats can pass another major piece of legislation — such as … Biden’s $2 trillion-plus infrastructure plan — by revisiting the budget process they used to approve his coronavirus relief package without Republican support, a spokesperson for Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said “The interpretation of the ruling from the Senate parliamentarian … could give Democrats significantly more opportunities to push their legislative priorities past a filibuster. But ... [a]ll 50 Democratic senators will have to go along with the approach, which moderates like Sens. Joe Manchin (D-W.V.) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) have advised against using a second time” PPP HITS NEW WALL — Our Zachary Warmbrodt: “Washington's nearly $1 trillion small business rescue … is about to slam into a new obstacle — it’s already running out of money. “The Small Business Administration is warning lawmakers that funds for the Paycheck Protection Program, which offers forgivable loans to small businesses, will likely dry up later this month, well before the May 31 deadline for firms to request aid. As of last week, it had about $66 billion remaining out of the nearly $292 billion appropriated by Congress since December.” HOW COVID CHANGED EXPECTATIONS FOR WORK — Via Aubree: “Looking ahead to the idea of a post-Covid future, many workers are looking for ways to incorporate their beloved remote work into their regular schedules. According to Prudential’s latest American worker survey, 87 percent of workers who have been working remotely during the pandemic want to continue to work remotely, at least one day a week, even after the pandemic abates. “And more than two-thirds of workers — 68 percent — say that their ideal workplace model involves having the option of working both remotely and at the office. In fact, 1 in 3 employees say they would not want to work for an employer that required them to be on-site full time.” | 
