| | | | | |  | | By Rachael Bade, Eli Okun and Garrett Ross | Presented by |  | | | SCOOP — "Kamala Harris is set to visit the border," by Daniel Lippman: "Harris is heading to the U.S.-Mexico border this week, amid an unrelenting chorus of criticism from Republicans over her failure to visit there. Harris, who was tasked by President JOE BIDEN to lead diplomatic efforts to stem the flow of migrants arriving on the southern border, will make a stop in El Paso, Texas on Friday … She is expected to be accompanied by Homeland Security Secretary ALEJANDRO MAYORKAS." This news comes just hours after the House Republican Study Committee announced about a dozen of its members are heading to the border next week with DONALD TRUMP. Harris is clearly trying to get ahead of what's become a favorite GOP talking point: hitting her for not having visited the border. MEANWHILE, Biden is using his bully pulpit this afternoon to confront another issue being talked about in GOP circles more than his own party's: the nationwide uptick in violent crime. It's a recognition that the president realizes the GOP is seizing on what's likely to be a major issue in the midterms. More from Bloomberg's Josh Wingrove and Jordan Fabian: "Biden Floats Using Covid Aid for Hiring Cops Amid Gun Crime" FALLOUT ON VOTING RIGHTS FAIL — Democratic leaders are scrambling to calm the fury of the left in the wake of the failure of H.R. 1/S. 1, the party's sweeping election legislation. We told you Tuesday morning that the left was livid at the lack of White House action. And administration officials — as well as Hill leaders — appear to be getting the message. — Around lunchtime, Harris participated in an event with advocates on the topic after telling reporters Tuesday night, "The fight is not over." Today she touted the fact that all 50 Democratic senators backed the S. 1 procedural vote and said the party is all on the same page about the need for action. — In the Senate, Rules Chair AMY KLOBUCHAR (D-Minn.) is now planning a field hearing in Georgia to try to raise awareness of Republican efforts to curb access to voting and grow support for the legislation. — And this morning, House Democratic Caucus Chair HAKEEM JEFFRIES (N.Y.) reiterated that the chamber will vote this fall on H.R. 4, the more narrow voting rights bill named after the late JOHN LEWIS. BUT, BUT, BUT … When it comes to H.R. 1/S. 1, these efforts won't make a difference. That bill won't pass while the filibuster still exists. And the upper chamber's 60-vote threshold won't go anywhere. Sen. ANGUS KING (I-Maine) this morning became the latest moderate to say he's not ready yet to jettison the filibuster to pass voting rights legislation, per CNN's Manu Raju. Speaking at the funeral today of the late Sen. JOHN WARNER (R-Va.), Biden made a pitch for governing across ideological difference. "He understood that democracy is more than a form of government. Democracy is a way of being," Biden said of Warner. "He understood it begins and grows in an open heart, and with a willingness to work across the aisle and come together in common cause. And that empathy — empathy — is the fuel of democracy. The willingness to see each other as opponents, not as enemies. Above all, to see each other as fellow Americans, even when we disagree. From John's perspective, especially when we disagree." Good Wednesday afternoon. | | A message from the American Investment Council: This summer looks a lot better because of private equity's investments over the past year. Millions of Americans got vaccinated, many of the small businesses we know and love survived the pandemic and are thriving, and the travel sector is rebounding. Learn more at https://www.investmentcouncil.org/summer. | | | SCOTUS WATCH — "Supreme Court finds FHFA structure unconstitutional," HousingWire: "The case questioned whether the Biden administration would have the power to fire the agency's director, MARK CALABRIA, a Trump-appointee and vocal critic of the government-sponsored enterprises. The court found that restricting his removal was unconstitutional. … "In a blow to Fannie Mae investors, the Supreme Court also dismissed claims that the FHFA exceeded its authority under federal law. … Few expect Calabria to stay in the role if the Biden administration can appoint a director more amenable to its priorities." Katy O'Donnell reports Biden is already planning to replace Calabria — "U.S. Supreme Court sides with a cussing Pa. cheerleader in student free-speech case," Philadelphia Inquirer: "[I]n their 8-1 ruling Monday, the justices held that while there are some instances where a school district has a legitimate interest in punishing students for disruptive, off-campus speech — like harassment, bullying or threats of violence — the Mahanoy Area School District [BRANDI] LEVY attended went too far in her case." — "Supreme Court rules California farms can keep union organizers off private land," L.A. Times: "The Supreme Court on Wednesday struck down part of a historic California law inspired by CESAR CHAVEZ and the farm workers union … The justices by a 6-3 vote said the state's 'right of access' rule violates property rights protected by the Constitution." ANTITRUST THE PROCESS — "GOP riven by infighting over Big Tech crackdown," by Melanie Zanona, Olivia Beavers and Emily Birnbaum: "The House Judiciary Committee will consider a package of sweeping bills on Wednesday to crack down on the country's largest tech companies … But these efforts have also exposed deep divisions in the GOP over how best to rein in Silicon Valley's power, with House Republicans sparring over the legislative push. "Some GOP lawmakers have blamed leadership-aligned lobbyists for working behind the scenes to tank the measures, while others in the conference claim their colleagues went behind leaders' backs to hash out a deal with Democrats. … A handful of Republicans on the Judiciary panel could join Democrats in support of the antitrust bills even as [Rep. JIM] JORDAN rails against the measures, creating an unusual head-butting moment between a ranking member and the rank-and-file." — SAME STORY, DIFFERENT PARTY: "Progressives, moderate Democrats tussle over tech antitrust package," by Leah Nylen and Cristiano Lima: "The push to crack down on those tech giants has drawn support from a broad coalition of lawmakers fed up with Silicon Valley, from progressive leaders like Reps. PRAMILA JAYAPAL (D-Wash.) and DAVID CICILLINE (D-R.I.) to outspoken allies of former President Donald Trump … But a growing number of moderate Democrats are also voicing concern about the proposals under consideration this week, which they warn could have a vast impact on the U.S. economy. "That includes at least two key California Democrats that sit on Judiciary, ZOE LOFGREN and LOU CORREA, who will have a say Wednesday on which bills make it out of the panel and which don't. … Lofgren, whose district includes the San Jose area, has 'major concerns' about the measures, a Democratic staffer said. … Democratic apprehension isn't limited to California." | | | | 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. | | | | | CLASSY — "New book says Trump talked of COVID killing John Bolton," by Axios' Mike Allen: "'Nightmare Scenario,' a book out next week on President Trump's handling of COVID, reports that he said he hoped it would take out his former national security adviser, JOHN BOLTON, who had just written an explosive tell-all about his time in the White House. "When asked about the quote, Bolton gave Axios' Jonathan Swan this classic reply: 'Fooled me — I thought he was relying on his lawyers.' … The authors' sources thought Trump was deadly serious." The $24 book from Yasmeen Abutaleb and Damian Paletta WHAT FRANCIS COLLINS IS READING — "Biden has proposed a new agency to turbocharge medical treatments. But there's a fight over where it should live," by WaPo's Jacqueline Alemany: "There's at least one proposal left over from the Trump administration that President Biden is set on reviving: the creation of the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health … "Some medical experts and lawmakers say that for the agency to successfully innovate, it should be a stand-alone entity within the Department of Health and Human Services, and free of what many experts view as NIH's bureaucratic and time-consuming approach to innovation and research. … The White House and NIH Director FRANCIS COLLINS, however, are making a full-court press to house the entity inside NIH and are lobbying lawmakers to get behind their approach." WATCH: Is America reopening too fast? The CDC is stressed: It seems like the pandemic is close to over. But the CDC wants to pump the breaks on fully reopening the country, which is causing some tension. On this episode of The Breakdown, RYAN discusses the politics of Covid-19 and the underlying tension between Biden and ROCHELLE WALENSKY, the CDC director. While Biden faces the political pressure of reopening America and declaring the end of the pandemic, Walensky is keeping an eye on the Delta variant. Ryan breaks down why tensions are running high, how the CDC is trying to rebuild credibility in a politically polarized environment and what could happen if infections rise again. | 
| ABOUT LAST NIGHT — BIG WIN FOR THE LEFT: "India Walton claims upset in Buffalo mayoral race; Byron Brown pins hopes on absentees," Buffalo News … The NYT notes she'd be the first socialist big-city mayor in America since 1960 BIG INVESTIGATION — "Millions of People With Felonies Can Now Vote. Most Don't Know It," by The Marshall Project's Nicole Lewis and Andrew Calderón: "Only a fraction of the thousands of formerly incarcerated people whose voting rights were restored in time for the 2020 election made it back on to the voter rolls in four key states — Nevada, Kentucky, Iowa and New Jersey, a Marshall Project analysis found. … "Many people working to register newly eligible voters said the low registration numbers for formerly incarcerated people reflect more than apathy and political alienation. Most don't even know they now have the right to vote. None of the states in our analysis required corrections departments or boards of elections to notify newly eligible voters of their rights. The task was left to political organizers." | | | | SUBSCRIBE TO "THE RECAST" TODAY: Power is shifting in Washington and in communities across the country. More people are demanding a seat at the table, insisting that politics is personal and not all policy is equitable. The Recast is a twice-weekly newsletter that explores the changing power dynamics in Washington and breaks down how race and identity are recasting politics and policy in America. Get fresh insights, scoops and dispatches on this crucial intersection from across the country and hear critical new voices that challenge business as usual. Don't miss out, SUBSCRIBE . Thank you to our sponsor, Intel. | | | | | 2022 WATCH — "Pelosi challenges Democrats on economic messaging," by The Hill's Scott Wong and Mike Lillis: "Speaker NANCY PELOSI (D-Calif.) is challenging rank-and-file Democrats to get more aggressive in selling voters back home on President Biden's economic agenda, specifically touting a provision providing thousands of dollars to working families through child tax credits. … "Calling the tax credit 'Social Security for kids' [in a closed-door meeting today], the Speaker pressed fellow Democrats to become better messengers for both the benefits they've already enacted this year, and the additional relief they're fighting to adopt under the president's enormous infrastructure proposal. 'If you're offended by me asking you to do more, then be offended,' Pelosi told her colleagues." BEYOND THE BELTWAY — "'Rogue city leaders': How Republicans are taking power away from mayors," by Liz Crampton: "The bigfooting of local officials accelerated as the pandemic turned public health decisions into political minefields, but it also also touched on other wedge issues, like police funding, gun control and climate change. "The move by GOP lawmakers represents a sharp ideological shift for a party that has long championed states rights and local control. Republicans, their influence growing in statehouses and shrinking in cities, see an opening to extend their reach into urban centers. And Democrats, typically the targets of these preemption laws, fear they could be left powerless." RECALL ME MAYBE — "Faulconer outdraws GOP rivals as Newsom dominates recall money race," by Jeremy White in Oakland: "Millions of dollars are pouring into California recall coffers, crystallizing two dynamics: Republicans can't keep up with Gov. GAVIN NEWSOM, and GOP establishment favorite KEVIN FAULCONER is outdrawing other challengers." KEEPING TRACK — "The government has fallen short on contracts with woman-owned businesses for decades," by The 19th's Chabeli Carrazana: "Nearly three decades ago, the Small Business Administration set a goal of granting 5 percent of federal contracts to women-owned small businesses. It has only met that goal twice, in 2015 and 2019, according to a new report from the Bipartisan Policy Center and Goldman Sachs. "Survey data shared exclusively with The 19th … found a widening gender gap for contracts at the federal level that shows how women-owned small businesses have been shut out from the largest contracts." MEDIAWATCH — The Washingtonian editorial staff made public today that they've formed a union and are asking management for recognition. Announcement — Alex Ward will join POLITICO as a national security reporter and author of a new "National Security Daily" newsletter. He most recently has covered the White House for Vox. — Renita Jablonski will be director of audio at WaPo. She most recently has been an editorial lead on Gimlet's new formats team at Spotify. Announcement FIRST IN PLAYBOOK — Mary Baskerville is now a manager of external affairs at Philip Morris International. She most recently worked for Mastercard's Center for Inclusive Growth and is a Clinton Foundation and Obama administration alum. TRUMP ALUMNI — Sarah Arbes is now VP for federal affairs and alliance development at biotech company bluebird bio. She previously was assistant HHS secretary for legislation. | | | | A message from the American Investment Council:   This summer looks a lot better because of private equity's investments over the past year. Learn more about private equity's investments at https://www.investmentcouncil.org/summer. | | | | | | | 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 | | | | |
