- Biden handed Harris a political grenade. Can she defuse it? (Politico) – The VP is being asked to solve the riddle on the southern border. She has a vision. The question is: can she make it work?
- Biden Pushes Mask Mandate as C.D.C. Director Warns of ‘Impending Doom’ (New York Times) – The administration is stepping up the pace of vaccinations and expanding access to shots, but it remains in a race against a virus on the upswing.
- Kamala Harris will play ‘diplomatic’ role in migration crisis, White House says (Fox News) – Vice president to be ‘focused on addressing root causes in the region,’ Psaki says.
- US ratchets up pressure on Myanmar’s military after its bloodiest weekend since the coup (Vox) – Reports indicate Myanmar’s junta killed about 140 people over the weekend. The Biden administration is responding with trade restrictions.
- White House dramatically increased tax proposal as it sought to address tensions over next big spending plan (Washington Post) – Biden aides see next major legislative effort as comparable to LBJ’s Great Society but face divisions among key allies.
- Biden administration launches major push to expand offshore wind power (Washington Post) – Initiative by Commerce, Energy, Interior and Transportation departments aims to tackle climate change while boosting union jobs.
- Biden’s Lesson From Past Green Stimulus Failures: Go Even Bigger (New York Times) – As vice president, Joe Biden oversaw a “green jobs” stimulus package that produced notable failures. This time, with more money and more demand for clean technology, will be different, Democrats say.
- Trump launches ‘the official website of the 45th President’ (The Hill) – The website, 45office.com, is meant to allow supporters to request their participation in events, submit letters and ask for personalized greetings.
- ‘Active and dangerous scene’: Mount Rushmore closed, 400 homes evacuated as multiple wildfires spread in South Dakota (USA Today) – The fires are burning timber with very high potential for spread due to elevated winds.
