Biden could ditch nerd prom for Mondale

Apr 14, 2022 View in browser   By Max Tani, Allie Bice and Alex Thompson Welcome to POLITICO's West Wing Playbook, your guide to the people and power centers in the Biden administration. With help from Allie Bice.  Send tips | Subscribe here | Email Alex | Email Max In his campaign against DONALD TRUMP, JOE BIDEN promised a return to normalcy for Washington. But the White House is still weighing whether the president will participate in one of Washington's most high-profile (and, for some, highly-mocked) traditional social events — the annual White House Correspondents Dinner. A person familiar with the ongoing plans said the Biden team still hasn't made up its mind about whether the president will attend — press secretary JEN PSAKI said as much last week during a press conference. White House aides, the person said, are weighing whether the event is worth the scheduling efforts, including the staff time and resources dedicated to preparing a speech and participating. They also have some concerns about the president's risk of contracting Covid at the event, the person familiar told West Wing Playbook. The White House Correspondents Association is planning for both possibilities. Last week, WHCA president STEVEN PORTNOY told us that the organization had previous discussions with the White House about implementing strict safety protocols for anyone who may be in close contact with the president, which would be in place if Biden attends the dinner. All attendees will also be required to be vaccinated and tested before the event. Biden chose to skip another formal D.C. dinner, hosted by the exclusive journalism organization the Gridiron Club, earlier this month that ended up being a super-spreader — nearly 100 people tested positive for Covid after attending the event. He did, however, attend the Kennedy Center Honors last December, a similarly high-profile social event which was held just as the Omicron wave was kicking off. Instead of attending the WHCD, where the president traditionally gives a comedic speech, Biden could opt to travel to Minnesota for the memorial service of former Vice President WALTER MONDALE, which is set to take place the afternoon of May 1, though Biden has not indicated publicly that he'll attend that event either (the president's schedule tends to be fairly fluid further than a few days out). The lack of a concrete decision for one of the marquee weekends on Washington's social calendar reflects the strange moment the White House finds itself in as D.C. confronts another possible uptick in Covid cases. While the Biden team has gone to great lengths to protect the president from the virus over the past two years, it has simultaneously attempted to project a nearly total return to normalcy, and argued that there's little evidence that the latest Covid variant will drive a surge similar to the Delta or Omicron waves. While cases have increased slightly, they still sit far below their January 2022 peak. Regardless of whether Biden makes the dinner or there's another Covid wave, it's going to be a packed house on April 30. People involved in the planning told West Wing Playbook last week that the dinner was still on despite jitters from some in the press corps after the Gridiron outbreak. One source with knowledge of the event planning told West Wing Playbook that no news outlets have changed their table reservation plans for the WHCD. The only potential pullout so far has been from a more conservative news organization that has expressed frustration at the mandatory vaccine requirement the WHCA instituted in an email to members last week. If anything, the WHCA has continued to field requests for tickets. Multiple news organizations (including POLITICO) did not get their requested number of seats due to high demand for space. Some news outlets have, however, curtailed their plans for events surrounding the dinner amid the Covid spread. The Washington Post, which was hit hard by numerous Covid cases following the Gridiron dinner, announced on Tuesday it had canceled a party it was planning beforehand. A spokesperson said the paper still plans to host its journalists and high-profile guests at its table. The servers and staff on hand at the Washington Hilton hotel are also preparing for the big event despite Covid concerns. BENJY CANNON, a spokesperson for UNITE HERE Local 25, a union representing service workers in the Washington, D.C. area, told West Wing Playbook that "as of now we're comfortable with the mitigation efforts in place in the hotel and know that most of the members there tend to be masked. They wear high quality ones if they need to." As of now, "people are not overwhelmingly concerned about Covid in the hotel," he said. "We just really hope the event organizers are also taking this seriously … if cases continue to rise we hope they take the health and safety of our members and the workers of the hotel really seriously." TEXT US — Are you the guest of a news organization at this year's White House Correspondents Dinner? We want to hear from you (we'll keep you anonymous).  Or if you think we missed something in today's edition, let us know and we may include it tomorrow.  Email us at westwingtips@politico.com or you can text/Signal/Wickr/WhatsApp Alex at 8183240098 or Max at 7143455427. WHAT YOU TEXTED: In response to yesterday's newsletter about JAKE SULLIVAN's nest of China hawks, one administration official said that NSC China director JULIAN GERWITZ shouldn't be thrown in with all the other hawks. "Julian often holds down the other end of the debate," the official said. "I wouldn't say single handedly, there are others. But I for one appreciate that Julian has a nuanced approach."   DON'T MISS ANYTHING FROM THE 2022 MILKEN INSTITUTE GLOBAL CONFERENCE: POLITICO is excited to partner with the Milken Institute to produce a special edition "Global Insider" newsletter featuring exclusive coverage and insights from the 25th annual Global Conference. This year's event, May 1-4, brings together more than 3,000 of the world's most influential leaders, including 700+ speakers representing more than 80 countries. "Celebrating the Power of Connection" is this year's theme, setting the stage to connect influencers with the resources to change the world with leading experts and thinkers whose insight and creativity can implement that change. Whether you're attending in person or following along from somewhere else in the world, keep up with this year's conference with POLITICO's special edition "Global Insider" so you don't miss a beat. Subscribe today.     POTUS PUZZLER From the University of Virginia's Miller Center  Which president valued the honor of being selected captain of his state militia company more than his nomination for the presidency? (Answer at the bottom.) The Oval KIRBY MAKES THE MEDIA ROUNDS — West Wing Playbook has noted repeatedly that Pentagon press secretary JOHN KIRBY has become one of the administration's go-to voices on Fox News. He put in double duty on Thursday, making an appearance on both MARTHA MACCALLUM's 3 p.m. ET show and Fox & Friends, the network's flagship morning show. Kirby was doing the full morning cable rounds: He also hit MSNBC's "Morning Joe" and CNN's "New Day" and "The Lead with Jake Tapper." Kirby wasn't the only Biden administration figure to pop up on Fox on Thursday: new Covid czar ASHISH JHA also appeared on NEIL CAVUTO's 4 p.m. show. FRESHMAN FIFTEEN : Speaking today at the Economic Club of Washington, D.C, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan acknowledged he hasn't been super disciplined in his diet. "I'm not in fighting shape, physically," Sullivan said. "I would say that the thing I've probably fallen down on the job most since beginning has been keeping up a really good exercise regimen and a good sleep regimen and a good diet. I mean, honestly, I've reverted to a certain extent to eating like I did in college." @NEERA's TAKE: Staff Secretary NEERA TANDEN doesn't seem enthusiastic about the prospect of ELON MUSK taking over Twitter. "Why would he 'need' to take it private?," she tweeted this morning. THE BUREAUCRATS NOT WHAT IT SEEMS — The White House has been consistent in its messaging that the U.S. has reached a new phase of the pandemic , but in private there's anxiety amongst officials and experts about the situation, our ADAM CANCRYN reports. Some health officials have remained on edge about another coronavirus resurgence, as they watched spikes hit Europe. Some are also concerned that poor data collection in the U.S. isn't showing the most accurate picture of the nation's handle on the pandemic. ONE IN, ONE OUT: White House climate adviser GINA McCARTHY is planning to leave her job "as soon as next month," Reuters' JARRETT RENSHAW and JEFF MASON report. McCarthy had planned to stay in the role for one year and had delayed her departure. Spokesperson VEDANT PATEL , however, told our EUGENE DANIELS that, "This is not true. There are no such plans underway. Gina and her entire team continue to be laser focused on delivering on President Biden's clean energy agenda." MICHAEL HALLE, who has worked as a senior adviser to PETE BUTTIGIEG when he ran for president and TERRY McAULIFFE when he ran for governor, is now a senior adviser at the Transportation Department, per Insider's ADAM WREN. What We're Reading Why has Biden's approval plunged with young people? (WaPo's Philip Bump) Biden administration unveils steps to boost equity in government (AP's Darlene Superville) Thinking small: Biden scrounges for ways to break through (AP's Chris Megerian and Zeke Miller) U.S. cannot 'take lightly' threat Russia could use nuclear weapons - CIA chief (Reuters' Jonathan Landay and Michael Martina) What We're Watching VALERIE BIDEN OWENS will be on MSNBC's "The Last Word with Lawrence O'Donnell" tonight at 10 p.m. EST to talk about her new book "Growing Up Biden." Where's Joe Biden received the President's Daily Brief this morning. He traveled to Greensboro, N.C. Aides who traveled with him included: Director of the Office of Public Engagement CEDRIC RICHMOND, Director of Oval Office Operations ANNIE TOMASINI, Deputy Homeland Security Adviser JOSHUA GELTZER, Principal Deputy Press Secretary KARINE JEAN-PIERRE and Trip Director TRAVIS DREDD, among others. The president visited North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University and met with faculty and students studying robotics and cybersecurity. He also delivered remarks about the supply chain, infrastructure and the economy. He left North Carolina and headed to Camp David, where he arrived around 5:10 p.m. Where's Kamala Harris spoke on the phone with Israeli President ISAAC HERZOG, where she extended Passover greetings and reiterated the U.S.'s support for Israel, according to a readout of the call. She and second gentleman DOUG EMHOFF spoke at the virtual White House Passover celebration in the evening.   INTRODUCING DIGITAL FUTURE DAILY - OUR TECHNOLOGY NEWSLETTER, RE-IMAGINED:  Technology is always evolving, and our new tech-obsessed newsletter is too! Digital Future Daily unlocks the most important stories determining the future of technology, from Washington to Silicon Valley and innovation power centers around the world. Readers get an in-depth look at how the next wave of tech will reshape civic and political life, including activism, fundraising, lobbying and legislating. Go inside the minds of the biggest tech players, policymakers and regulators to learn how their decisions affect our lives. Don't miss out, subscribe today.     The Oppo Book We've previously noted that AVRIL HAINES, the director of national intelligence, owned a Baltimore bookstore cafe (which hosted nights where patrons read erotica...). What we didn't note back then was that the store was such a hit, Haines had the opportunity to turn it into a franchise. But she said in a 2017 interview with Harvard University's Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs it wasn't the direction she wanted to take her career. "What I quickly realized in running a bookstore cafe is that it's still a business and you end up working for the bottom line," she said. "That wasn't what I was interested in. I wanted to try something with the community." And look at her now! POTUS PUZZLER ABRAHAM LINCOLN. At 23 years old, he was elected captain of his Illinois State Militia company by his fellow soldiers. Later in life he said it was, "a success which gave me more pleasure than any I have had since." For more on Lincoln's path to the presidency, visit millercenter.org. A CALL OUT — Do you have a more difficult trivia question? Send us your best question on the presidents with a citation and we may feature it.   Follow us on Twitter Alex Thompson @AlexThomp Maxwell Tani @maxwelltani Allie Bice @alliebice   Follow us

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