Neera Tanden is back. Could she be more powerful

Neera Tanden is back. Could she be more powerful?-politico:  When Neera Tanden assumed a role as senior adviser at the White House last week, after her bid for a Cabinet post went off the rails, it was viewed as a consolation prize. In reality, Tanden may have just stepped into a more quietly powerful position: entering President Joe Biden’s inner sanctum and avoiding the scrutiny from her detractors that would have come with a more public-facing role.

How the pandemic changed America’s ideas about infrastructure

How the pandemic changed America’s ideas about infrastructure-politico:  Almost exactly a year ago, homebound, stir-crazy Bostonians learned they’d soon get a break from Covid-era isolation. Two months into a state stay-at-home advisory, Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker announced that restaurants would be allowed to seat diners again — outdoors.

Poll: Most voters oppose Newsom recall as Covid optimism rises

Poll: Most voters oppose Newsom recall as Covid optimism rises-politico:  California's rebound from the Covid-19 crisis is complicating the drive to recall Gov. Gavin Newsom, with a strong majority of state voters now approving of his pandemic management and just 40 percent saying they would remove him, a new Public Policy Institute of California poll shows.

Top negotiators report progress on police reform: "We remain optimistic"

Top negotiators report progress on police reform: "We remain optimistic"-thehill:  The trio of lawmakers spearheading bipartisan negotiations on police reform legislation say they “remain optimistic” despite missing President Biden’s deadline to pass a bill by Tuesday, the first anniversary of George Floyd’s death.

Biden’s bank shot to win GOP support for his infrastructure bill

Biden’s bank shot to win GOP support for his infrastructure bill-politico:  The Biden White House is aware how hard it will be to convince congressional Republicans to support an ambitious infrastructure and jobs proposal.  And so, they’ve enlisted other Republicans to help them do the convincing.

Investors object to CEO pay in judgment on pandemic response

Investors object to CEO pay in judgment on pandemic response-rollcall:  Rejections of executive pay packages in shareholder votes mandated by the Dodd-Frank Act more than a decade ago reached a record high this month as investors judge how CEOs handled the coronavirus pandemic.

Anti-Asian American hate crimes bill passes House, heads to Biden

Anti-Asian American hate crimes bill passes House, heads to Biden-politico:  The House on Tuesday passed a modest measure aimed at combating a surge in hate crimes directed at Asian Americans amid the coronavirus pandemic, its final step before being signed into law.

Val Demings to run for Senate against Rubio

Val Demings to run for Senate against Rubio-politico:  Florida Rep. Val Demings is planning to run for the U.S. Senate, rather than governor, providing Democrats with a big-name candidate to take on Republican Sen. Marco Rubio next year.

White House to release full fiscal 2022 budget request May 27

White House to release full fiscal 2022 budget request May 27-rollcall:  The White House will release its fully fleshed out fiscal 2022 budget request May 27, providing a detailed look at how President Joe Biden wants Congress to address taxes and spending during the next decade.

A shot at a million: Ohio offers vaccinated a chance to win big bucks

A shot at a million: Ohio offers vaccinated a chance to win big bucks, college scholarships-politico:  Ohio will give away $1 million each to five vaccinated adults within the coming weeks as an incentive for residents to get the shot, Gov. Mike DeWine announced on Wednesday.

Medicare cost crunch raises questions in telehealth debate

Medicare cost crunch raises questions in telehealth debate-rollcall:  Telehealth advocates are struggling to allay lawmakers’ fears about increased Medicare costs as they seek to capitalize on momentum from the pandemic’s shutdown on in-person care. 

California has a staggering $75.7B budget surplus

California has a staggering $75.7B budget surplus-politico:  California expects a staggering $75.7 billion surplus despite a year of pandemic closures — an amount that surpasses most states' annual spending and prompted Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday to propose sending cash back to residents as he faces a recall election.

Chuck Grassley is the 80-something everyone's waiting on

Chuck Grassley is the 80-something everyone's waiting on-politico:  Chuck Grassley still gets up at 4 a.m. every day and often goes for a 2-mile run. The 87-year-old does push-ups, too.  “You want me to do 35 for you?” he responded when asked about his regimen as he waited for a burger at Bambino’s, a haunt in this town of about 800 people.

Frontline, farm-state Democrats push back against Biden tax plan

Frontline, farm-state Democrats push back against Biden tax plan-rollcall: A group of 13 House Democrats, led by Iowa’s Cindy Axne and California’s Jim Costa, is pressing party leaders to exempt family farms from a tax increase President Joe Biden has proposed on inherited assets to help pay for new child care, education and other spending.

Biden urges at least 70 percent of US adults to get first shot by July 4

Biden urges at least 70 percent of US adults to get first shot by July 4-rollcall: President Joe Biden announced Tuesday that he wants 70 percent of American adults to receive at least one COVID-19 vaccination and more than half of U.S. adults to be fully vaccinated by the Fourth of July.

GOP’s earmark schism evident in ‘earmark’ disclosures

GOP’s earmark schism evident in ‘earmark’ disclosures-rollcall:  Second-term Florida Rep. Greg Steube sums up Republicans’ soul-searching when it comes to earmarking federal dollars for their home states and districts.

Allies of GOP leader vow to oust Liz Cheney

Allies of GOP leader vow to oust Liz Cheney-politico:  Top allies of House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) are vowing to oust Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.), one of the harshest critics of former President Trump in either party, from her leadership post by the end of the month.

Biden is talking to Republicans, but for only so long

Biden is talking to Republicans, but for only so long-politico:  As vice president, Joe Biden was among those repeatedly pushing President Barack Obama to negotiate with Republicans on everything from health care to fiscal crises — even if it led to delays, watered-down policies or nothing at all.