Welcome to POLITICO’s West Wing Playbook, your guide to the people and power centers in the Biden administration. With Allie Bice and Louis Nelson Send tips | Subscribe here | Email Alex | Email Tina Progressive activists have made it known — vociferously — since last year that they don’t want RAHM EMANUEL in any Biden administration post. But now that Emanuel has been announced as President JOE BIDEN’s pick to be U.S. ambassador to Japan, their lack of actual leverage is becoming more readily apparent. Several high-profile progressives, including Rep. JAMAAL BOWMAN (D-N.Y.), say they’re gearing up to block Emanuel’s nomination over lingering anger at his handling of the police murder of 17-year-old Laquan McDonald in Chicago in 2014. But House lawmakers and allied grassroots groups have little sway with the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, which will oversee Emanuel’s confirmation process. The committee hasn’t even received the documents required to start their vetting process. But their consideration of his nomination is likely to largely focus on Emanuel’s views toward Japan and the Sino-U.S. relationship, as opposed to his record as mayor of Chicago. Maryland Sen. BEN CARDIN , a senior Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has already said he backs Emanuel, saying he “brings a lifetime of public service to every task.” Other party leaders are also backing Emanuel, including House Speaker NANCY PELOSI, Rep. JIM CLYBURN (D-S.C.), Sen. DICK DURBIN (D-Ill.) and Sen. TAMMY DUCKWORTH (D-Ill.). Japan has given its blessing to the pick, as well, aware of the fact that Emanuel remains close to the president and his three top aides, RON KLAIN, STEVE RICCHETTI and BRUCE REED, and would give Tokyo direct access to the West Wing. In a statement on Emanuel’s nomination issued Monday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan said Japan understands he “assumed key positions in the U.S. political arena and has the deep confidence of President Biden.” A backlog of ambassador confirmations may also work in Emanuel’s favor. Cardin, for example, noted he was anxious to clear the logjam when announcing his support for Emanuel. Emanuel’s critics haven’t given up hope of blocking his nomination. Rep. MONDAIRE JONES (D-N.Y.) and Rep. CORI BUSH (D-Mo.) were among the first to oppose Emanuel’s ambassador nomination. “Rahm Emanuel covered up the murder of Laquan McDonald. He must be disqualified from ever holding an appointed position in any administration. Call your Senator and urge them to vote NO: (202) 224-3121,” Bush tweeted. And Rep. Bowman told West Wing Playbook the Senate must vote down Emanuel’s nomination “because Black Lives Matter.” “I'm disappointed that a White House which claims to value racial justice would nominate him, but I hope the U.S. Senate rights that mistake by rejecting his nomination,” Bowman told us. House members, however, don’t get a vote on confirmations, and influential progressives like Sen. BERNIE SANDERS (I-Vt.) and ELIZABETH WARREN (D-Mass.) have not yet weighed in on Emanuel’s nomination. With a 50-50 Senate, Emanuel would either need to get every Democratic vote or pick up the backing of some Republicans if he wanted to be confirmed. He already has one, in the form of Sen. SUSAN COLLINS (R-Me.), who praised his selection. Another, Sen. BILL HAGERTY (R-Tenn.), was noncommittal but congratulatory. As for the others... We contacted every Republican on the Foreign Relations Committee to get their stance on the nomination. Sen. MARCO RUBIO (R-Fla.), responded, telling us he will vote against Emanuel, citing — in his words — “Chicago’s decline” during his mayoralty. Meanwhile, the progressive group RootsAction.org blasted out an email urging supporters to email their two senators to oppose the nomination. The Emanuel nomination — which has been anticipated for months and months — came late last Friday afternoon, during a brutal week for the president. For once, bad news may be working in Emanuel’s favor. Do you work in the Biden administration? Are you in touch with the White House? Are you JOY NGUGI? We want to hear from you — and we’ll keep you anonymous: westwingtips@politico.com. Or if you want to stay really anonymous send us a tip through SecureDrop, Signal, Telegram, or Whatsapp here. | 
