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In the scramble to get the entire world vaccinated, countries like China and Russia are trying to use vaccine sales and donations to lift their standings on the global stage. POLITICO’s Ryan Heath breaks down the tricky world of vaccine diplomacy. Plus, Joe Manchin says he supports Deb Haaland’s nomination to lead the Interior Department. And embattled postmaster general Louis DeJoy tells Congress...

Sexism. Double-standards. White male privilege. Those are some of the charges activists and Democrats are lobbing as Neera Tanden’s nomination to the Office of Management and Budget slips away over divisive tweets. POLITICO’s Laura Barrón-López reports on how Tanden's nomination as the first Asian American to lead the OMB fell apart. Plus, four board members of Texas’ power grid operator are resig...

The 117th Congress has a record number of women and people of color. But when it comes to the congressional staff working behind the scenes at the Capitol, diversity is still a huge problem. POLITICO’s Maya King reports. Plus, Xavier Becerra faces his first of two confirmation hearings. And the FDA says vaccine boosters will require less extensive trials. Maya King covers race and politics for POL...

Are you confused about what you can and can’t do during the pandemic? Have you had a dispute with a family member or a coworker about Covid safety? You’re not alone. Welcome to Covid Court, where POLITICO’s Renu Rayasam issues rulings on how to get through the pandemic without losing your mind. Plus, Merrick Garland gets his second chance. And Boris Johnson says all British adults will get a first...

It’s a curse that’s hung over New York politics for the last 50 years: No Governor since Nelson Rockefeller has made it past the third term in office. A few weeks ago, it looked like Andrew Cuomo was on track to break the curse. But now, roiled in a scandal involving Covid deaths at nursing homes, Cuomo’s political future is looking less certain. POLITICO’s Terry Golway reports. Plus, the heads of...

Right now, the problem is not enough vaccines. But in a few months, when we have a bigger supply, we could be looking at a scenario where there aren’t enough people willing to take the vaccines we have. POLITICO’s Sarah Owermohle breaks down what she learned from conversations with nine state and local health officials about how to avoid that situation. Plus, Biden picks Obama-veteran Chiquita Bro...

He’s not King yet, but Crown Prince Muhammed bin Salman is the leader of Saudi Arabia in all but name. He’s also one of the biggest thorns in the side of Biden’s Middle East policy plans. POLITICO’s Nahal Toosi reports. Plus, Trump attacks McConnell in a fiery statement. And NASA looks at whether it might have to delay a trip to the moon. Nahal Toosi is a foreign affairs reporter for POLITICO.Jere...

Biden promised to “follow the science” throughout his campaign. But a month into his presidency, he’s learning the hard way that — from school reopenings to wearing masks — politics and science don’t always mesh. POLITICO’s Adam Cancryn reports. Plus, Pelosi says an independent commission will investigate the Capitol insurrection. And the WHO grants emergency approval for the Oxford/AstraZeneca va...

Nikki Haley is no stranger to political tightropes. During her time in the Trump administration, she enjoyed the MAGA glow while avoiding Trump's brash brand of politics. But in the aftermath of the Capitol insurrection, that position is becoming less and less tenable — especially as a leading 2024 presidential contender. POLITICO's Tim Alberta reports. Plus, the White House secures 200 million mo...

Sure, the vaccine rollout in the U.S. hasn’t been smooth. But … it could be worse. Just look at Europe. POLITICO Europe’s Jillian Deutsch tells the complicated story of how the EU fell behind on vaccines. Plus, the Biden administration asks the Supreme Court to uphold Obamacare. And the South Africa variant is discovered in California. Jillian Deutsch is a health reporter for POLITICO Europe. Jere...

Donald Trump talked with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the phone at least a dozen times during his presidency — sometimes for hours — but transcripts were never released. Now, President Biden’s team is trying to piece together whether those conversations could come back to haunt them. POLITICO’s Natasha Bertrand reports. Plus, Biden’s most controversial cabinet nominee faces a second day of...

It's virtually impossible for Democrats to get the votes they need to convict Donald Trump. So what's the point of this week's trial? Playbook's Rachael Bade says it's more about convincing the American public — not lawmakers — that Trump should never be able to hold office again. Plus, the final race of the 2020 election cycle finally ends. And the Biden administration drops a Trump-era lawsuit o...

In Ohio, it’s already 2022. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are jockeying for a shot at the Senate after Republican Sen. Rob Portman’s announcement last month that he won’t seek reelection, giving Democrats an unlikely opening. POLITICO’s James Arkin breaks down why the race will be a bellwether of Rust Belt politics in the post-Trump era. Plus, South Africa suspends its AstraZeneca vaccine p...

This week is only the beginning. The Republican party is bitterly divided, and the fringe views embodied by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Green aren’t going anywhere. POLITICO’s Melanie Zanona reports on how House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy is trying to keep it all together. Plus, Johnson & Johnson files for emergency use authorization. And Trump won’t testify at his impeachment trial. Melanie Zanona i...

The CDC says vaccinations aren't a necessity for safely reopening schools. But many teachers unions aren't backing down. POLITICO's Mackenzie Mays reports on the fight over reopening schools in California — and how it could pose a major problem for President Biden. Plus, Democrats move to strip freshman Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of her committee assignments. And the House adopts a budget resolut...

Go big. Go fast. And, if need be, go without the GOP. That’s been President Biden’s credo while signing a record number of executive actions during his first days in office. POLITICO’s Natasha Korecki looks at the strategy behind the effort — and whether Biden is muffling his own message of bipartisanship and unity. Plus, Defense Secretary Austin roots out Trump appointees at the Pentagon. And Nee...

On the campaign trail, President Biden promised to promote democracy and fight authoritarianism across the globe. Now, he’s facing a foreign policy crisis that puts those promises to the test: A military coup in Myanmar. POLITICO’s Nahal Toosi breaks down how the White House plans to respond — and how the situation could escalate tensions with China. Plus, the Senate will vote on confirming two ca...

President Biden wants $1.9 trillion. Republicans want a lot less. POLITICO’s Victoria Guida breaks down what would really save the Covid economy —  and why we shouldn’t care too much about the price tag … for now. Plus, Blinken condemns Russia for arresting protestors. And a new CDC rule requiring travelers to wear face masks takes effect later today. Victoria Guida covers economic policy for POLI...

Every day has a theme. Every day has a briefing. Every day has some executive orders. The first full week of the Biden administration has certainly followed a pattern. POLITICO’s Sam Stein breaks down the strategy behind the blandness — and explains why boring isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Plus, Rep. Jim Jordan won’t run for Senate next year. And Novavax says early data from a U.K. trial shows it...

There’s an app for everything. There’s also data on everyone. POLITICO’s Mohana Ravindranath breaks down how companies are slyly buying and selling the information we share with health apps — and explains why that data isn’t protected like medical records. Plus, spending on food stamps jumped by nearly 50 percent in 2020. And DHS warns of continued violence by domestic extremists. Mohana Ravindran...

We’re in a race against the clock. New variants are popping up around the world, and slowing the spread is essential. POLITICO’s Sarah Owermohle breaks down what sort of progress the U.S. is making in its vaccination efforts — and whether we’ll be able to take on the new strains. Plus, Trump’s conviction is looking unlikely after nearly every GOP Senator voted against holding a trial. And a federa...

President Biden made some big immigration promises. And he’s already delivered on some of them, signing executive orders to repeal the so-called “Muslim travel ban” and halt construction of the border wall. But the centerpiece of his plan — a bill providing a pathway to citizenship for millions of immigrants — faces a steep uphill battle in Congress. POLITICO’s Laura Barrón-López reports. Plus, Bi...

If you can’t win, change the rules of the game. That appears to be the rule state Republicans are following across the country in the aftermath of Trump’s loss, as they push for new voting restriction laws. POLITICO’s Zach Montellaro reports on how Georgia is leading the effort. Plus, Biden health officials are hopeful vaccine supply problems will ease in March. And the Kremlin criticizes the U.S....

The global economy is still fighting the pandemic and digging itself out of a recession, while jobs and training will surely change going forward. What other actions need to be taken by government, business, education and other institutions to ensure that people have access to the resources necessary for good jobs? Hosts Ryan Heath and Luiza Savage talk with leaders in job training and tech about...

Democrats have control of the House, the Senate and the White House. But if they want to get anything done, like a massive Covid bill, they're gonna have to work across the aisle. POLITICO's Alex Thompson reports on how President Biden's decades-long relationship with Mitch McConnell could take center stage. Plus, Senate Democrats file an ethics complaint against Hawley and Cruz over their electio...