“If we miss this opportunity, God help us.” Joe Manchin and Lisa
Murkowski. Two moderate senators smack in the middle — and on either
side — of a split 50-50 Senate. On our first episode of Playbook Deep
Dive, the two friends open up in a rare interview with POLITICO’s
Burgess Everett. They get personal: about reconciliation, frustration
over the Senate’s hurdles — even why Murkowski hogs the best fishing
holes. And Manchin reveals a major endorsement, heard first on this
show.
Subscribe to our new weekly politics show, Playbook Deep Dive, wherever
you listen to podcasts.
Rachael Bade is a co-author of POLITICO Playbook.
Burgess Everett is co-congressional bureau chief at POLITICO.
Adrienne Hurst is a producer for POLITICO audio.
Annie Rees is a producer for POLITICO audio.
Jenny Ament is senior producer for POLITICO audio.
Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO audio.

Special thanks to Elana Schor, Anthony Adragna and Ben Lefebvre
SHOW NOTES

-   Democrat Manchin backs Republican Murkowski's reelection, by Burgess
    Everett

Bonus: The Senators at the center of the 50-50 split

Presenting a sponsored episode of “Global Translations”: 
Over the past year, businesses, employees and families across the globe
were forced to rethink what it means to “go to work.” Now, with the
COVID-19 vaccine rollout underway, many corporate leaders are focused on
ensuring the return to work is equitable for all employees.

The page who took down the GOP

On a special episode of POLITICO's Nerdcast:

"It became clear that Scott Pruitt had sought to purchase a used
mattress from the Trump hotel. And I thought, 'This is not what I
expected this job would look like.'" At the close of Donald Trump's
presidency, POLITICO's reporters and editors share their strongest
memories of the last four years. Shocking moments they witnessed,
conversations they overheard and what will stay with them forever. Plus,
new Playbook co-author Tara Palmeri talks to Scott Bland about what she
really wants to see in Biden's first days in office.

Scott Bland is a politics editor at POLITICO.
Tara Palmeri is a POLITICO Playbook co-author. 
Annie Rees is a producer for POLITICO audio.
Jenny Ament is senior producer for POLITICO audio.
Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO audio.

"I haven't been able to get this moment out of my head"

"Off Message" presents Episode 9 of the new season of POLITICO's podcast
"Global Translations": 

The pandemic sent shockwaves through a global labor market already
upended by digitization and the green energy transition. It left tens of
millions jobless and amplified skills gaps. Even as we spent trillions
keeping the economy on life support, investment in the skills of the
future has been scarce. So how do we get the right skills to the right
people, to get the economy motoring again? Hosts Ryan Heath and Luiza
Savage speak with experts about these major labor disruptions.
Ryan Heath is the host of "Global Translations". 
Luiza Savage is a host of "Global Translations".
Saadia Zahidi is a managing director at the World Economic Forum.
Marianne Wanamaker is a economics professor at the University of
Tennessee and former chief domestic economist on the White House Council
of Economic Advisors.
Annie Rees is a producer for POLITICO Audio. 
Kara Tabor is a producer for POLITICO Audio. 
Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio. 
Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

Check out Ryan Heath's article on how workers are struggling for skills
support here: 
https://www.politico.com/news/2021/01/06/workers-are-struggling-for-skills-support-during-pandemic-455063
And check out the other POLITICO newsletters: 
Global Translations:
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/global-translations
Weekly Shift (labor): https://www.politico.com/newsletters/weekly-shift
Transition Playbook:
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/transition-playbook
 

Cures for an Ailing Labor Market

"Off Message" presents Episode 8 of the new season of POLITICO's podcast
"Global Translations": 
[Sponsored Content] As the world looks to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG)
emissions to net zero by 2050, the financial sector is playing a
critical role in facilitating this low-carbon transition through the
deployment of innovative financing solutions and by rethinking how
climate risk is analyzed and managed.

Digging for Solutions: Securing Minerals for Green Energy

"Off Message" presents Episode 6 of the new season of POLITICO's podcast
"Global Translations": 
To understand how essential critical minerals are to our world, we turn
to a case study: cobalt. This mineral is proving key to the future of
green energy, defense and high tech manufacturing — not to mention
electric vehicles. But cobalt has its challenges. Hosts Luiza Savage and
Ryan Heath look at China’s dominant role in global cobalt mining and the
serious problems that can arise if other countries can't get enough
supplies.
Luiza Savage is the host of "Global Translations".
Ryan Heath is a host of "Global Translations". 
Annie Rees is a producer for POLITICO Audio. 
Kara Tabor is a producer for POLITICO Audio. 
Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio. 
Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.
Nedal T. Nassar is Chief of Materials Flow Analysis Section at the U.S.
Geological Survey.
Bryce Crocker is the CEO of Jervois Mining
Aimee Boulanger is the executive director of Initiative for Responsible
Mining Assurance (IRMA)
Read Luiza Savage's article on how America got outmaneuvered in a
critical mining race:
https://www.politico.com/news/2020/12/02/china-cobalt-mining-441967
And check out the other POLITICO newsletters: 
Global Translations:
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/global-translations
Morning Energy: https://www.politico.com/morningenergy/
The Long Game: https://www.politico.com/newsletters/the-long-game
China Watcher: politico.com/china
Morning Tech: https://www.politico.com/morningtech/
 

Why green energy means mining: the case of cobalt

"Off Message" presents Episode 5 of the new season of POLITICO's podcast
"Global Translations": 
The technologies that protect us, move us and power our daily lives
require mining minerals and metalsin distant places. But access to these
essential materials is increasingly under threat. Hosts Luiza Savage and
Ryan Heath talk with experts who are sounding the alarm. 

Luiza Savage is the host of "Global Translations".
Ryan Heath is a host of "Global Translations". 
Annie Rees is a producer for POLITICO Audio. 
Kara Tabor is a producer for POLITICO Audio. 
Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio. 
Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.
Sharon Burke is a senior advisor for the International Security Program
and Resource Security Program at New America. 
Nedal T. Nassar is Chief of Materials Flow Analysis Section at the U.S.
Geological Survey.
Tom Duesterberg is a senior fellow at Hudson Institute. He is an expert
on trade and foreign policy. 
Luiza Savage's article on how America's dependence on critical minerals
from China:
https://www.politico.com/news/2020/11/18/china-could-strangle-biden-agenda-437171
And check out the other POLITICO newsletters: 
Global
Translations: https://www.politico.com/newsletters/global-translations
Morning Energy: https://www.politico.com/morningenergy/
The Long Game: https://www.politico.com/newsletters/the-long-game
China Watcher: politico.com/china
Morning Tech: https://www.politico.com/morningtech/

Critical Minerals: The next dirty fight over clean energy

"Off Message" presents Episode 3 of the new season of POLITICO's podcast
"Global Translations": 

The pandemic and the rise of China are prompting Republicans and
Democrats to turn to government power to grow industries important to
America’s security and place in the world. “Industrial policy” is an
idea long reviled among Washington policymakers. Hosts Luiza Savage and
Ryan Heath talk to the people trying to make industrial policy cool
again.

Luiza Savage is the host of "Global Translations".
Ryan Heath is a host of "Global Translations". 
Annie Rees is a producer for POLITICO Audio. 
Kara Tabor is a producer for POLITICO Audio. 
Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio. 
Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.
Jennifer Harris  is a sentior fellow at the Hewlett Foundation, formerly
at the US State Department during the Obama administration.
Mariana Mazzucato is an internationally recognized economist and
professor at University College London (UCL), and Founder/Director of
UCL's Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose.
Check out and subscribe to POLITICO's Global Translations, and China
Watcher newsletters. Read Luiza Savage's article on the new industrial
policy emerging in the US to counter China's ascent.
Global Translations newsletter:
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/global-translations
China Watcher newsletter:
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/politico-china-watcher

POLITICO article:
https://www.politico.com/news/2020/11/04/china-us-economy-industrial-policy-global-translation-433954

How can the US compete with China, Inc.?

"Off Message" presents the second episode of the new season of
POLITICO's podcast "Global Translations": 
Once there is a working Covid vaccine, manufacturers across the globe
will need to scale up production to produce billions of doses — meaning
billions of pharmaceutical-grade glass vials, rubber stoppers, packaging
and storage and refrigeration. In a special airing of POLITICO's Global
Translations podcast, hosts Luiza Savage and Ryan Heath look at the
challenges of making enough vaccines for the world.
Luiza Savage is the host of "Global Translations"
Ryan Heath is a host of "Global Translations"
Annie Rees is a producer for POLITICO Audio
Kara Tabor is a producer for POLITICO Audio
Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio
Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio
Sarah Owermohle is a POLITICO health reporter covering vaccines. 
Dr. Anthony Fauci is the director of the National Institute of Allergy
and Infectious Diseases.
Jim Robinson is a former MERCK executive (manufacturing lead for ebola
project); currently with CEPI (Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness
Innovations).
Dan Diamond is a POLITICO health care reporter and the host of the
"Pulse Check" podcast and newsletter. 
Check out and subscribe to POLITICO's Global Translations, POLITICO
Pulse, and Global Pulse newsletters. Read Luiza Savage's article on why
nationalism is the next big challenge for Covid-19 vaccines. 
Global Translations newsletter:
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/global-translations
POLITICO Pulse newsletter: https://www.politico.com/politicopulse/
Global Pulse newsletter:
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/global-pulse
POLITICO article: "The next vaccine challenge: Nationalism":
https://www.politico.com/news/2020/10/28/covid-vaccine-challenge-nationalism-433023

Can we get enough vaccine?

"POLITICO's Off Message" brings you a special episode of POLITICO's new
podcast series "Global Translations." 
From closed factories to closed borders, the Covid-19 pandemic exposed
the fragility of our systems, creating a period of scarcity where demand
skyrocketed — from freezers to PPE — and we couldn't supply items fast
enough. In this episode of "Global Translations", POLITICO hosts Luiza
Savage and Ryan Heath take a deep dive with experts into global supply
chains and what "decoupling" and "reshoring" are all about when it comes
to America’s reliance on China and the rest of the world.
Luiza Savage is the host of "Global Translations". 
Ryan Heath is a host of "Global Translations".
Annie Rees is a producer for POLITICO Audio.
Kara Tabor is a producer for POLITICO Audio.
Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio.
Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

Adegoke Oke is a professor of supply chain management at Arizona State
University.
Tom Duesterberg is a senior fellow at Hudson Institute. He is an expert
on trade and foreign policy. 
David Wertime is POLITICO's editorial director for China and author of
the China Watcher newsletter.

Check out and subscribe to POLITICO's Global Translations and China
Watcher newsletters, and Luiza Savage's in-depth piece on how the
pandemic is forging a new consensus on globalization.

Global Translations:
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/global-translations China Watcher:
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/politico-china-watcher Supply chain
tug-of-war article:
https://www.politico.com/news/2020/10/21/pandemic-forging-new-consensus-globalization-430605

Introducing... Global Translations: The world's tug-of-war

Rahm Emanuel — former Chicago mayor and former chief of staff to
President Barack Obama — talks to POLITICO founding editor John Harris
about his new book, "The Nation City: Why Mayors Are Now Running the
World," his "toy phone" in Bill Clinton's White House and his thoughts
on the 2020 field.

Rahm Emanuel weighs in on 2020

We're bringing you an episode of POLITICO's Global Translations, a show
about big global problems that will take a certain amount of creativity
to solve. 

Driven by a public clamoring for action and pressure from corporate
CEOs, lawmakers are noting an evolution in attitudes toward climate
action among some of their Republican colleagues – a subtle but
significant shift in tone that could pave the way for modest legislation
this year. Guests include:Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR)Rep. Francis Rooney
(R-FL)Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE)Catherine McKenna, Canada’s first foreign
minister for climate and the environmentDan Byers, U.S. Chamber of
CommerceIf you like the episode, check out the show wherever you
listen. 

A new tone from some in GOP on climate change -- but mostly behind closed doors

To get the inside view from the only people in the world who know what
it’s like to run in a primary field so large -- and do so in the shadow
of Donald Trump -- we invited the strategists for four of the top GOP
primary campaigns of 2016 into a Washington cigar bar, a literal
smoke-filled room, to talk shop. Which Democratic candidate has the most
raw political talent? What weaknesses of Donald Trump's would they
exploit in 2020? And why is everybody still so ticked off about the
Virginia primary?

Guests Danny Diaz (from the Bush campaign), Beth Hansen (Kasich), Jeff
Roe (Cruz), and Terry Sullivan (Rubio).

Which 2020 Democrat should Donald Trump most be afraid of?

Kirsten Gillibrand is a U.S. Senator with a soaring national profile,
but her presidential campaign has yet to take flight. She’s even at risk
of failing to have enough donors to make the debate stage under DNC
rules, leading her to ask people for just a dollar, to boost her
numbers. But that’s not what bothers her most about running for
president. 

This is what Kirsten Gillibrand hates about running for president

In a crowded field of Democratic presidential contenders, former
Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper makes an impression on voters as a
genuine candidate, even if he's a bit quirky. He colors outside the
lines of the political conventions -- a geologist by training, a brewer
and restauranteur by profession, and a politician only later in life. 

In this episode, he talks about his temper as a child, his pragmatic
approach to politics, and how he's managed to succeed in a people-driven
business despite a condition commonly known as face blindness, a
condition that keeps him from recognizing familiar faces. 

Is John Hickenlooper too normal to be president?

For our post-midterms edition of Off Message, we talked to Corry Bliss
and Charlie Kelly, the two men who led the largest House campaign
organizations in 2018. This election, Bliss led the Republican-aligned
Congressional Leadership Fund, and Kelly led its Democratic counterpart,
the House Majority PAC. They talk about what went on behind the scenes,
their biggest regrets of 2018, and where things go from here.

 

How it feels to win (and lose) a House majority

The strategist behind Obama's presidential campaigns gives his midterms
predictions, shares his lightning-round thoughts on 2020 candidates and
tells Tim whether he thinks any politician can recapture the Obama
magic.

David Axelrod doesn’t like the path the country—or the Democratic
Party—is on. 

The chief strategist who steered Barack Obama’s winning White House
campaigns worries that President Trump has laid a trap—and that his
party is walking right into it. “Escalation breeds escalation,” Axelrod
said in an interview for POLITICO’s Off Message podcast. “And within the
Democratic Party, I think there is a big debate about how to deal with
Trump because he has no boundaries. He’s willing to do anything and say
anything to promote his interests. It’s a values-free politics; it’s an
amoral politics. And so, there is this body of thought that you have to
fight fire with fire and so on. But I worry that we’ll all be consumed
in the conflagration.” 

Stressing that “civility actually is a really important element of
politics,” Axelrod criticized Hillary Clinton and former Attorney
General Eric Holder for recent comments they’ve made, and described the
backlash he has faced for urging Democrats to avoid confrontation. The
best way to defeat Trump, Axelrod argued, is by nominating someone who
can appeal to an exhausted electorate. 

“I don’t think people will be looking for a Democratic version of
Trump,” he said. “I don’t think they’ll be looking for people who can go
jibe for jibe and low blow for low blow. I think people are going to be
looking for someone who can pull this country out of this hothouse that
we’re in.” 

At his offices in Chicago, where he directs the University of Chicago’s
Institute of Politics, we discussed Axelrod’s predictions for the
midterm elections, the risk of overreach with a new House majority, and
the strengths and vulnerabilities of the top-tier 2020 Democratic
hopefuls. 

David Axelrod: Voters don't want a ‘Democratic version of Trump’

When Chip Roy was a top staffer for Ted Cruz, he was an architect of the
Texas senator’s strategy to shut down the government over Obamacare.

Now, in all likelihood, he’s heading for Congress with a House seat of
his own, and top Republicans worry he’s going to make Cruz look like a
squishy moderate.

Roy is ready to play hardball with GOP leaders in Congress. He has
pledged to support House Freedom Caucus founding chairman Jim Jordan for
speaker, and is expected to quickly establish himself as one of the
House GOP’s most outspoken and combative members.

As with so many conservatives, however, Roy is treading lightly when it
comes to Donald Trump. Once a fierce critic—described by friends as a
committed “Never Trump” advocate in 2016, when he was working in support
of Cruz’s presidential campaign—the congressional hopeful now talks
fondly of the president, praising his assault on “the swamp” and sharing
his concern about a “deep state” acting as a shadow government.

And while most Republicans campaigning for Congress this November are
touting the accomplishments of President Trump and his GOP majorities:
tax reform, regulatory relief and a soaring number of federal judicial
appointments. In the deep-red 21st congressional district of Texas, Chip
Roy is running on a different message: Republicans haven’t done nearly
enough.

“If there is a thousand miles to go, we’ve gone maybe 50 miles,” Roy
tells POLITICO’S “Off Message” podcast. “So now, we’ve got to focus on
the things that the people really want to see done. We’ve got to have
healthcare freedom, we’ve got to balance the budget and we’ve got to
secure the border.”

POLITICO's "Off Message" podcast is hosted by Tim Alberta, produced by
Zack Stanton and executive produced by Dave Shaw. Intro/outro music by
Podington Bear.

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