Biden going old-school and meeting with newspaper columnists including @GeraldFSeib
Biden tells them why he's optimistic on bipartisanship: "Republicans are beginning to realize that there is a center that has to be responded to" wsj.com/articles/biden…
To the doubters, he says: "I’m going to be able to get stuff done in the environment none of you are going to believe,” he said, citing in particular changing views within the business community. “I could not have gotten it done six years ago.”
.@ktumulty was also part of the group.
She reports that Biden noted that he has taken some criticism for stocking his administration with many familiar figures
“One reason you need old hands is the old hands know where the old bodies might be buried.”
Per Tumulty: "Biden also said that, as a president who wants to avoid inflaming a closely divided Congress, he plans to tread lightly when it come[s] to using his executive power"
paging @SenWarren & @SenSchumer
Biden: "I’m going to get in trouble for saying this...it’s arguable that the president may have the executive power to forgive up to $50k in student debt...Well, I think that’s pretty questionable. I’m unsure of that. I’d be unlikely to do that.”
Biden’s recent addition to the National Economic Council who may disagree w/ the the president-elect’s take. Thread below
our "the oppo book" item is about Jake Sullivan playing "the senator game" w/ friends on the SCOTUS steps that @NatashaBertrand reported
.@zcolman@eleanor_mueller@RebeccaARainey report on Rep. Andy Levin getting some support from environmental groups for Labor Secretary, the latest jockeying for the post which includes CAPAC pushing for Julie Su and CBCPAC pushing for Patrick Gaspard. politico.com/news/2020/12/2…
NEW in tonight's TrAnSiTION playBOOK:
In 2016, Ron Klain chose Hillary over Joe and admitted: “I am definitely dead to them—but I’m glad to be on Team HRC.”
Now, he's been resurrected and the frontrunner to be Biden's Chief of Staff.
PLUS... (thread) politico.com/newsletters/tr…
More west wing musical chairs:
NSA: If it's Tony Blinken, Dems expect Coons or Rice to be the frontrunner for state. But the there's no clear spot for Jake Sullivan. If it's Jake for NSA, the Dems think Blinken is a shoo-in at State.
on the econ team, Jason Furman tells us that he is NOT joining the admin: "I’m very happy with my job, my family would never let me go back to DC at this stage of our lives.”
for National Econ Council, the contenders include Jeff Zients & Ben Harris
Other bits:
The GSA stand-off continues w/ a spokesperson telling us: "There are no updates at this time and GSA’s position remains the same. An ascertainment has not yet been made."
Many congressional Dems are furious. Here's one letter today.
NEWS in tn's transition Playbook.
The networks may have called the race but the GSA hasn't and the Biden transition can't official start until they do (talk to admin depts., get govt. $$$)
"an ascertainment has not yet been made," the GSA says politico.com/newsletters/tr…
This has pushed a low-key civil servant, Emily Murphy, center stage as the law gives her sole authority when to start the transition.
The GSA wants to avoid partisanship and Trump not conceding/pending lawsuits & recounts puts her in a tricky position.
David Marchik at the Presidential Transition Center is worried about a delay
"Every day counts in a transition, this year more than any transition since 1932. The formal transition process under law should begin quickly."
(his comment isn't in the newsletter b/c it came too late)