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March 12, 2021 | by Lauren Dezenski, Chris Cillizza and Sonnet Swire
Biden tees up a hopeful Independence Day
As the pandemic’s one-year mark came and went, President Joe Biden dangled a major piece of hope in front of the American people: a taste of (nearly) normal on July Fourth, if only we stay the course.
It’s a bold benchmark, but unlike other dates offered before (ahem, Easter 2020), this feels feasible. Vaccinations are ticking up and Biden committed to directing all states to open Covid-19 vaccinations to all adults by May 1.
But staying the course could prove tough, especially as states continue to roll back restrictions despite public health guidance against it.
The July Fourth announcement came the same day Biden signed the $1.9 trillion Covid relief package into law -- a massive legislative achievement, even if no Republicans voted for it. The package is popular with the public, too, on both sides of the aisle, according to new polling from CNN and SSRS.
Meanwhile in New York, Gov. Andrew Cuomo again told reporters he would not resign, but the ground has shifted since last week. More allegations of misconduct have emerged, and now a majority of the Empire State’s Democratic members of Congress have called on him to step aside. Cuomo said Friday that the allegations against him did not happen, and that "I have not had a sexual relationship that was inappropriate, period.”
As Biden shifts to highlighting the Covid relief benefits in a cross-country sales pitch next week, a crisis looms at the US-Mexico border (even if the administration won’t use that term specifically). A surge of unaccompanied minors threatens to overwhelm facilities and has officials scrambling to accommodate them.
The Point: As a potential post-pandemic return to normal comes into view, another crisis is brewing, this time at the border.
-- Lauren
QUOTE OF THE DAY
"We are reading evolution’s lab notebook."
-- Dr. Francis Collins, director of the National Institutes of Health, said the Covid-19 variants are clearly showing how evolution works – something that has rarely been seen as clearly as now.
THANK GOODNESS IT'S TRIVIA TIME
Question: Which of these men did NOT move directly from the Senate to the White House?
a. Warren G. Harding
b. John F. Kennedy
c. Barack Obama
d. George H.W. Bush
Send your answers to [email protected] and [email protected]! Test your political trivia prowess with The Point trivia on Chris' Instagram stories.
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CHRIS' GOOD READS
"Can Cyrus Vance Jr. Nail Trump?"
RIP, bipartisanship
What President Biden didn't say Thursday night
The lessons of a truly terrible year
The fall of Armie Hammer
The rise of Gothic fiction
Is Freddie Gibbs the best rapper alive?
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MUSICAL INTERLUDE
Jimbo Mathus (of the Squirrel Nut Zippers) and Andrew Bird have just released a new album of music called "These 13." And it is beautiful.
Today's episode: Biden’s July Fourth benchmark.
THE WEEK IN 13 HEADLINES
This week, Biden marked the pandemic anniversary with his first prime-time address as President. He gave an emotional speech after signing a landmark Covid-19 recovery bill into law on Thursday. Meanwhile, more states moved to limit voter access in upcoming elections.
Monday
- Georgia Senate approves sweeping election bill that would repeal no-excuse absentee voting
- Democrats still face tricky path to gutting filibuster despite Manchin's openness to reforms
Tuesday
- Arkansas governor signs near-total abortion ban
- Supreme Court dismisses case related to Trump era 'public charge' rule
- Biden forges ahead with his pro-union agenda on several fronts
Wednesday
- Negotiator-in-chief Biden notches his first win but a bipartisan governing loss
- Senate confirms Merrick Garland as attorney general
- Biden announces plans to purchase 100 million more Johnson & Johnson coronavirus vaccine doses
Thursday
- Biden signs historic $1.9 trillion Covid-19 relief into law
- Biden directs states to open vaccinations to all adults by May 1
- Arizona Republican lawmakers join GOP efforts to target voting, with nearly two dozen restrictive voting measures
Friday
ONE BIG DEPARTURE
Arizona Democratic Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick announced Friday she won’t seek a sixth term in Congress. Kirkpatrick is the first House member this year to announce their intention not to run again. Kirkpatrick said she is "sort of term-limiting" herself. Her announcement will set off what is expected to be a heated race for the open seat.
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