Supporting actor in chief

Jun 17, 2022 View in browser   By Sam Stein, Alex Thompson and Max Tani Welcome to POLITICO's West Wing Playbook, your guide to the people and power centers in the Biden administration.  Send tips | Subscribe here| Email Alex | Email Max JOE BIDEN is on the cusp of the most pronounced advancements in gun policy in a generation. And much of it will have happened with him applying a light touch. The likely confirmation of a director for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and Explosives for only the second time in the bureau's history, along with the potential passage of bipartisan gun and mental health legislation next week ( though that may now be a bit up in the air), illustrate the dichotomy defining Biden's presidency. He quietly enjoys pockets of success in an era defined by polarization. He oversaw a relatively drama-free hike of the debt ceiling. He put his John Hancock on an infrastructure bill. And he's signed bipartisan bills on Postal Service reform, the formal criminalization of lynching , economic innovation, combating Asian hate crimes and enhancing veterans benefits. On Thursday, the Senate passed legislation to bring health care benefits to service members who were exposed to burn pit toxins — a bill near and dear to the president's heart due to his belief that his son BEAU was among the afflicted. But Biden is also increasingly playing a supportive role in these political dramas despite being cast as the lead actor. Some of this is a calculated decision that distance from the legislative process enhances prospects of success. Having led the failed gun reform effort under BARACK OBAMA, Biden chose this go-around to let senators negotiate while his team kept tabs. When he did give a primetime address, the Hill viewed it as slightly counterproductive and mostly immaterial. But it yielded two results. The first was the creation of a framework that fell short of what Biden wanted but well beyond the do-nothing status quo. The second was the further cementing of the perception of a president shepherding progress rather than sculpting it. That perception's been increasingly forced elsewhere. Inflation may be the main ingredient in the president's current downfall. But his team points to Federal Reserve Chair JEROME POWELL as the one to solve the matter. His aides may obsess over high gas prices. But this week's action was a stern letter encouraging the CEOs of leading oil companies to ostensibly throw the country a bone. Biden may have pledged to make MOHAMMED BIN SALMAN, Saudi's crown prince, a "pariah" for his role in dismembering Washington Post journalist JAMAL KHASHOGGI. But he will now meet with him in hopes of getting help on a variety of fronts, including those pesky prices at the pump. "The trip to the Middle East is an attempt to move beyond adolescence and a more balanced approach," said BRIAN KATULIS, vice president of policy at the Middle East Institute. "None of the actors in the Middle East are great. But they're a factor. And you just have to deal with it." To a degree, this makes Biden just like every president before him. The Fed is independent. Energy markets aren't altered by presidential decree. There is no all-powerful chief executive who can shape global affairs or bend Congress to his will. The Green Lantern theory of the presidency is a myth. But it also is a contrast from how Biden started early on in his tenure in the Oval. His team scripted those early months expertly. They found success, not through triangulation or strategic distance, but by building legislative momentum. "He's smiling while he steamrolls," was how HOWARD DEAN, the former Democratic National Committee chair, put it to me . Even their stumbles (mainly, the drawdown of troops from Afghanistan) were done on their terms. Democrats now see the Biden presidency differently — more reactive than decisive. That's not necessarily bad. Biden's response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine has earned widespread praise for his ability to unite the western world while keeping the conflict from spiraling out of control. On the domestic front, he could still get major components of his climate legislation through a mix of perseverance and accommodation.. But some Democrats also argue that the approach has hurt the White House, having left Biden himself in a place a president doesn't necessarily want to be…. humbled. "He's at the point in his presidency that made me think of the Eminem song 'Lose Yourself' and the line that goes, 'snap back to reality, whoop there goes gravity,'" said Katulis, who co-edits the Liberal Patriot with fellow Democratic think tank types. "These problems he has right now, you could see this coming down the pike with inflation, his legislative agenda stalled, his attempts to jumpstart voting rights. A lot of things just got stuck in the mud." PROGRAMMING NOTE: West Wing Playbook will be off Monday for Juneteenth. We'll be back in your inbox on Tuesday. Try not to miss us too much. TEXT US — Are you TONA BOYD, SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT AND SPECIAL COUNSEL TO THE PRESIDENT? We want to hear from you. And we'll keep you anonymous if you'd like. 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 Alex at 8183240098.   DON'T MISS CONGRESS MINUTES: Need to follow the action on Capitol Hill blow-by-blow? Check out Minutes, POLITICO's new platform that delivers the latest exclusives, twists and much more in real time. Get it on your desktop or download the POLITICO mobile app for iOS or Android. CHECK OUT CONGRESS MINUTES HERE.     POTUS PUZZLER The presidential record for having the most children is 15. Yes, 15. Which president was it? (Answer at the bottom) Cartoon of the Week Courtesy of the Sacramento Bee Every Friday, we'll feature a cartoon of the week — this one is courtesy of Jack Ohman of The Sacremento Bee. Our very own MATT WUERKER also publishes a selection of cartoons from all over the country. View the cartoon carousel here. The Oval A SOMBER STOP: In Pittsburgh today, Vice President KAMALA HARRIS stopped at the Tree of Life Or L'Simcha Synagogue, where a mass shooting claimed the lives of 11 worshippers in October 2018. She was accompanied by her husband, DOUG EMHOFF. And according to the pool report, they "placed a rock in remembrance in an outdoor courtyard." "They are inspired by the strength of this community after such a devastating tragedy, and continue to bring people together to fight anti-semitism and confront the epidemic of hate in our nation," said HERBIE ZISKEND, Harris' senior comms adviser. SPEAKING OF THE VEEP: POLITICO's NICHOLAS WU published a redacted copy of Harris' schedule from Jan. 6, 2021 — if you're into that sort of thing. BUILD BACK BETTER LATE THAN NEVER: After appearing stalled out for months, Biden's domestic agenda — or what's left with it — could be coming back to life. Our BURGESS EVERETT reports that Sens. CHUCK SCHUMER (D-N.Y.) and JOE MANCHIN (D-W.Va.) "have taken significant steps behind the scenes to cobble together another bill on climate and tax reform." WHITE HOUSE v. DeSANTIS: The White House and Florida Gov. RON DeSANTIS are at it again. After DeSantis touted Florida's status as the only state not to preorder Covid shots for kids under 6, the White House accused him on Friday of flip flopping — pointing to new orders it had just received from Florida health providers. That prompted denials from DeSantis' office, which said there'd been no policy change. In reality, the truth was somewhere in between: Only states could preorder the vaccines on behalf of providers — an opportunity Florida refused. But on Friday, access opened up, allowing pediatricians to place orders without needing the state's permission. The upshot: Florida kids will get their shots, just a couple weeks later than every other state. LET JOE BE JOE?: Former Sen. DOUG JONES (D-Ala.), a close Biden ally who helped lead the recent Supreme Court nomination fight, told CHUCK TODD that he wishes Biden's staff would let him face the public more often. "He wears that office very well, he can be very presidential, but I think they overcorrected. And I think they need to let Joe be Joe," Jones said. HERE KITTY: Willow the cat is living her best life. According to the first lady's press secretary, MICHAEL LAROSA, the former barn cat-turned-presidential pet, is allowed to roam sections of the White House and frequently spends weekends at Camp David and in Delaware. LaRosa told CNN's KATE BENNETT that Willow enjoys sunning on the South Portico, taking naps on the press secretary's desk and "chasing her toys in and out of offices." He also said that Willow and the dog Commander now have a "warm and playful relationship." "We don't anthropomorphize their relationship with human terms like 'boss,'" he says, before adding, "However, my money would be on Willow every time." THE BUREAUCRATS FIRST IN WEST WING PLAYBOOK: KATHERINE MILLER, an adviser to counselor STEVE RICCHETTI, and TAIWO DOSUNMU, an adviser to deputy chief of staff JEN O'MALLEY DILLON, are leaving the White House this summer, DANIEL LIPPMAN has learned. In long-planned moves, they both will attend law school this fall. They join a cadre of numerous junior aides leaving the administration for grad school. Their bosses praised them to West Wing Playbook, with Ricchetti calling Miller "one of the most impressive aides I've worked with." O'Malley Dillon called Dosunmu "an incredible talent and I'm going to miss his wise counsel greatly." Agenda Setting A BIG WIN FOR THE LOLLIPOP INDUSTRY: The FDA authorized Covid-19 vaccines by Pfizer and Moderna for babies and toddlers, LAUREN GARDNER and KATHERINE ELLEN FOLEY report. The announcement was a huge relief for parents of young kids, many of whom could soon be getting their jabs along with the sugary treats that come afterward to get them to stop crying. The CDC's panel of expert advisers will consider whether to recommend the shots' administration during meetings through Saturday. NOT TO BRAG OR ANYTHING, BUT: POLITICO's ADAM CANCRYN reported in April that the Biden admin may need to wait until Juneto authorize a Covid vaccine for children under 5. And, lo and behold, it's June. What We're Reading The Democrats' New Spokesman in the Culture Wars (The Atlantic's Ron Brownstein) He Tried to Reform the Way a Top D.C. Think Tank Gets Money. Now the FBI Is Looking into Him . (POLITICO's Michael Schaffer) What We're Watching Our own SAM STEIN is guest hosting for ALI VELSHI on MSNBC on Sunday, from 8-10 a.m. Fans of train wrecks, set your DVR. National Economic Council director BRIAN DEESE on Fox News Sunday at 9 a.m. POTUS PUZZLER ANSWER President JOHN TYLER had 15 children. His second wife – who he married during his presidency – was 30 years younger so he kept having children into his sixties. His lineage was so … robust … that he appears to still have one living grandchild (Tyler was born in 1790!). As the Washington Post reported in November of 2020, Harrison Ruffin Tyler was born in 1928 and resides in a nursing home in Virginia. We couldn't find any obituary or funeral announcement so we are hoping he is still kicking. A CALL OUT — Do you think you have a more difficult trivia question? Send us your best question on the presidents with a citation and we may feature it. Edited by Eun Kyung Kim and Sam Stein.   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.       Follow us on Twitter Alex Thompson @AlexThomp Maxwell Tani @maxwelltani Allie Bice @alliebice   Follow us

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