- Biden eyes Gene Sperling to serve as Covid rescue plan czar (Politico) – Sperling served on the economic teams in both the Obama and Clinton administrations.
- Biden breaks his silence on Cuomo sexual harassment scandal, declines to call for his resignation (Fox News) – New York Democratic Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand and Chuck Schumer joined New York Democratic Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Jerry Nadler on Friday in calling for their state’s governor to leave his position as allegations of inappropriate conduct continue to emerge.
- Pelosi declines to call on Cuomo to resign despite having ‘zero tolerance’ for sexual harassment (Fox News) – House speaker sticks with Cuomo talking point that investigation should be completed.
- More than 4,000 unaccompanied migrant children in CBP custody (CNN) – The accelerated pace at which children are arriving is adding greater stress to the system.
- Georgia’s GOP lieutenant governor rules out Senate run but says ‘Trump’s divisive tone and strategy is unwinnable’ for the future of the Republican party (Business Insider) – Geoff Duncan, the lieutenant governor of Georgia, called Trump’s strategy “unwinnable” going forward.
- Massive Facebook study on users’ doubt in vaccines finds a small group appears to play a big role in pushing the skepticism (Washington Post) – Internal study finds a QAnon connection and that content that doesn’t break the rules may be causing ‘substantial’ harm.
- White House Weighs New Cybersecurity Approach After Failure to Detect Hacks (New York Times) – The intelligence agencies missed massive intrusions by Russia and China, forcing the administration and Congress to look for solutions, including closer partnership with private industry.
- As Cuomo Reels, Pleas for Political Support Come From His Vaccine Czar (New York Times)
- Vaccine brawl riles House (Axios) – Larry Schwartz, whom Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo put in charge of the state’s vaccination efforts, called some county executives about support for the governor.
