Sinema's holiday gift to Biden

Presented by United Indian Nations of Oklahoma and 141 Tribes Standing for Tribal Sovereignty:

Dec 09, 2022 View in browser   By Eli Stokols , Sam Stein and Alex Thompson Presented by United Indian Nations of Oklahoma and 141 Tribes Standing for Tribal Sovereignty Welcome to POLITICO's West Wing Playbook, your guide to the people and power centers in the Biden administration. With help from Myah Ward.   Send tips | Subscribe here | Email Alex | Email Eli When President JOE BIDEN traveled Tuesday to Phoenix to highlight a huge new semiconductor manufacturing facility, he invited every Democratic lawmaker from Arizona to fly with him aboard Air Force One, an administration official said. Many took him up on the offer, including Sen. MARK KELLY, his wife, former Rep. GABRIELLE GIFFORDS , and Rep. RUBEN GALLEGO, who tweeted a few photos. But one person notably didn't. Sen. KYRSTEN SINEMA's absence wasn't perceived as a major slight inside the White House. But no one there had any idea what was coming next. The Senator announced on Friday she was switching party affiliation from Democrat to Independent. That came as a surprise to the White House — though not a shock to its staffers who have grown familiar with her mercurial and unpredictable nature. In their book "This Will Not Pass," POLITICO's JONATHAN MARTIN and ALEX BURNS detailed numerous instances over the last two years where Sinema befuddled Biden and his aides. She has threatened to walk out of meetings with the president, argued about having to mask up in his presence and requested he not travel to her home state. "One person close to the president likened Biden's perplexity at Sinema to his difficulty grasping his grandchildren's use of the viral-video app TikTok," Martin and Burns wrote. "He wanted to relate, but he just didn't quite get it." In the wake of Sinema's defection, the White House has chosen to play nice. Press secretary KARINE JEAN-PIERRE called her a "key partner" on Biden's agenda and insisted the move "does not change the new Democratic majority control of the Senate." Though other Democrats, including Galleo, who is exploring a run for her seat in 2024, issued fiery statements, party leaders in Washington refrained from the barbs, concluding — for now, at least — that Sinema's move was more about salvaging a path to reelection than upsetting the balance in what is now a 51-49 Democratic Senate. Because Sinema and Majority Leader CHUCK SCHUMER appear to have agreed that she will keep her committee assignments, Democrats will still hold a one-seat edge on Senate panels. And although Jean-Pierre expressed optimism about continuing to work with Sinema on legislation, there's concern that she might drift even further away. "She has voted with the president 93 percent of the time," Jean-Pierre noted several times, delivering what seemed like a subtle shiv to a politician seeking distance from the president. Sinema's shift throws a new wrinkle into an already difficult legislative dynamic for the White House. Her need to demonstrate independence could make her more inclined to lead on bipartisan legislation. Or it could lead her to try to block Biden's nominees or other legislative priorities. Or both. Biden, for his part, has experience with these dynamics. He played an instrumental role in convincing ARLEN SPECTER to defect from the Republican Party and become a Democrat in 2009 — a project he spent years pursuing over numerous Amtrak rides with the late Pennsylvania senator. "It was a continuing conversation over decades," recalled a former Specter aide. "It was not a one-and-done conversation by any means." But Biden also was on the other side of the party defection coin. Before Specter switched to the Democrats, Sen. JOE LIEBERMAN had drifted further away from the party, punctuated by his decision to speak at the 2008 Republican convention on behalf of its nominee, JOHN MCCAIN. When Democrats emerged from that election controlling the White House and healthy majorities in the House and the Senate, the party's progressive wing wanted Lieberman, by then officially an Independent, stripped of his committee assignments. Then-Sen. Majority Leader HARRY REID (D-Nev.) said no. And Reid's aides recalled that Biden echoed his position: It was better to have Lieberman inside the tent than pissing on it. They expect Biden to adopt the same philosophy now. "You're gonna have to grin and bear it. You may not like it but you're gonna have to suck it up," said longtime Reid aide JIM MANLEY. Lieberman ended up being a thorn in the side of the Obama administration. Biden never badmouthed him, but there were subtle signs he found the entire exercise annoying. When he traveled to Munich in February 2009 to give remarks at the security conference there, Biden offered regrets that McCain was not in attendance. As Forbes noted at the time : "Noticeably absent in this condolence was any mention of Joe Lieberman, who for years has been the co-leader of the congressional delegation to the Munich conference alongside McCain." MESSAGE US — Are you JOE LIEBERMAN? We want to hear from you! And we'll keep you anonymous. Email us at westwingtips@politico.com.   A message from United Indian Nations of Oklahoma and 141 Tribes Standing for Tribal Sovereignty: 141 federally recognized tribes from across America are warning Congress that H.R. 2758 and S. 3443 endanger the culture and identity of every tribe in the nation. Federal acknowledgment of tribes should be based on verified and authentic historical records, not on politics and backroom horse-trading. Click to watch the video and learn more: https://www.uinoklahoma.com/advocacy   POTUS PUZZLER This one is from Allie. Which president was part of Yale University's prestigious and secret society, Skull and Bones? That we know of… at least... because it's a secret. (Answer at the bottom.) Cartoon of the Week Cartoon by Bill Bramhall | Courtesy TGIF! It's that time of the week where we feature a cartoon! This one's by BILL BRAMHALL. Our very own MATT WUERKER publishes a selection of cartoons from all over the country. View the cartoon carousel here. The Oval BUT DID YOU TRY THE COCONUT CHIFFON CAKE? There was plenty of food on hand for the White House's first holiday party with the press in five years. Attendees, all from the world of broadcast news, were still talking Friday about the lamb chops, jumbo shrimp and crab cocktails, crispy coconut chicken and the abundance of bûche de noël cakes. And, judging by the two boxes of champagne bottles chilling outside the briefing room Friday, the bar did not run dry. Sorry, members of Congress. Maybe he's just not that into you. Network bosses, like CNN's CHRIS LICHT and MSNBC's RASHIDA JONES, mingled in resplendent rooms full of correspondents, producers, camera operators and their guests, according to a source. Biden senior adviser GENE SPERLING held court in a corner with "The View" host SUNNY HOSTIN and MSNBC anchor JOY REID. OMB Director SHALANDA YOUNG exchanged baby pictures with NBC's KRISTEN WELKER. Biden, who received guests and took photos with them in the Diplomatic Room, sang happy birthday to three attendees who mentioned they were celebrating. He congratulated Fox correspondent PETER DOOCY and wife HILLARY VAUGHN on expecting their first child next month and welcomed back former aides JEN PSAKI and SYMONE SANDERS, both now on-air talent at MSNBC. Two boxes of champagne sit outside the press briefing room at the White House. | Eli Stokols MORE GRAY LADY DRAMA: As an attempt to find some middle ground between management and their colleagues who were striking on Thursday, NYT's White House reporters PETER BAKER and MICHAEL SHEAR said they would continue to file articles but would not allow their bylines to appear on them. It didn't work. Management refused to let Baker and Shear take their names off the stories, like the one they co-wrote about the deal to release BRITTNEY GRINER from Russia, people familiar with the union battle told West Wing Playbook. Many New York Times reporters seethed about HUMAN FAILURE MAX TANI's report that Baker and Shear were "skipping the walkout." Withholding their bylines, one D.C. Times staffers said, "wouldn't have changed the fact that they were working." Baker declined to comment and Shear did not respond to an email. NYT spokesperson DANIELLE RHOADES HA did not respond to an email seeking comment. Unfortunately, the bureau's holiday party happens to be Friday night. In an email to everyone who took part in Thursday's walkout, MARK MAZZETTI urged colleagues to attend even as he recognized "some of you don't feel particularly motivated by it." And bureau chief ELIZABETH BUMILER reportedly acknowledged to some colleagues the inevitable awkwardness surrounding the gathering at her Bethesda home, which company CEO MEREDITH KOPIT LEVIN is said to be attending. HOW DOES UNION JOE FEEL ABOUT IT ALL? We asked the White House about the NYT union effort and spokesperson ROBYN PATTERSON said in a statement: "The President supports the fundamental rights for workers under the National Labor Relations Act, including the rights to organize, bargain collectively, and engage in protected concerted activity, which includes the right to strike."   LISTEN TO POLITICO'S ENERGY PODCAST: Check out our daily five-minute brief on the latest energy and environmental politics and policy news. Don't miss out on the must-know stories, candid insights, and analysis from POLITICO's energy team. Listen today .     THE BUREAUCRATS ON THE MOVE: ELLIE SCHAACK LANDES has joined USAID as director of speechwriting for Administrator SAMANTHA POWER, DANIEL LIPPMAN has learned. She previously was a senior director at West Wing Writers. MAANY PEYVAN, the current director, is moving to a new role in the front office as senior director for communications and policy. Agenda Setting A PICTURE SAYS A THOUSAND WORDS: The White House has added a few more items to its Flickr feed. Among them, a couple of shots of Biden walking alongside Florida Gov. RON DESANTIS, as the two surveyed hurricane damage in Florida in early October. The entire album is meant to document the work done over the past few months. But a notable handshake shot of the two potential presidential rivals is a nice little shot across the bow, too. A screenshot of the White House Flickr feed. | POLITICO A BOOSTER SHOT IN YOUR STOCKING: First lady JILL BIDEN delivered remarks Friday at a "Virtual Event on COVID-19 and the Holiday Season." During them, she offered a warning that the pandemic doesn't take a break for Christmas. "The most important thing you can do to prepare for the holidays is get your updated COVID vaccine," she said. MAYBE NOT: There are some limits to the aid we're willing to send to Ukraine. As our colleagues, LARA SELIGMAN and ALEXANDER WARD report : "The Biden administration has "concerns" about fulfilling Ukraine's request for cluster munitions, weapons banned by more than 100 countries that Russia is using to deadly effect on the battlefield, National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said."   A message from United Indian Nations of Oklahoma and 141 Tribes Standing for Tribal Sovereignty:   What We're Reading Griner swap reveals dilemma US faces in freeing detainees (AP's Rebecca Santana and Eric Tucker) This Secret Society in Washington, D.C., Has One Agenda: Fly, Eagles, Fly (The Ringer's Bryan Curtis) Biden to Back African Union Becoming a Permanent G-20 Member (WSJ's Catherine Lucey) Biden confidant Brian McKeon leaves State Department (WaPo's John Hudson)   POLITICO AT CES 2023 : We are bringing a special edition of our Digital Future Daily newsletter to Las Vegas to cover CES 2023. The newsletter will take you inside the largest and most influential technology event on the planet, featuring every major and emerging industry in the technology ecosystem gathered in one place. The newsletter runs from Jan. 5-7 and will focus on the public policy related aspects of the event. Sign up today to receive exclusive coverage of CES 2023.     What We're Watching BIDEN'S ANGEL: This afternoon, Biden and the first lady pre-taped an interview on "The Drew Barrymore Show." The interview will air on Dec. 19 on CBS. POTUS PUZZLER ANSWER We don't have much detail on the society because, well, it's secret. We guess that's the point, but GEORGE W. BUSH confirmed in his autobiography that he was in the group during his senior year at Yale. Skull and Bones is "so secret, I can't say anything more," Bush wrote. A CALL OUT — Do you think you have a harder trivia question? Send us your best one about the presidents with a citation and we may feature it. Edited by Eun Kyung Kim and Sam Stein.   A message from United Indian Nations of Oklahoma and 141 Tribes Standing for Tribal Sovereignty: One hundred forty-one federally recognized tribes across America are standing up and warning Congress that H.R. 2758 and S. 3443 will undercut their sovereignty and lead to mass cultural appropriation. As Congress considers including these bills in year-end legislative packages, tribes are escalating their opposition. The United Indian Nations of Oklahoma has released a mini-documentary featuring a geographically and culturally diverse group of leaders explaining their opposition to recognizing groups like the Lumbee and MOWA without examination of their cultural claims. Titled Why We Stand, the video highlights how politicizing federal recognition and creating a path for false groups threatens the sovereignty, culture, and identity of every tribal nation in the country. Tribal leaders say culture and proven history should define tribes, not backroom deals and political horse-trading. Click to watch the video and learn more: https://www.uinoklahoma.com/advocacy     Follow us on Twitter Alex Thompson @AlexThomp Eli Stokols @EliStokols Allie Bice @alliebice   Follow us

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