Decoded by POLITICO

Gerrymandering: Depending on where you stand, it’s either the cause of, or solution to, many of America’s political problems. Here’s what that fight looks like — from the outside looking in, and from the inside looking out. Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza dives into the subject with GOP strategist (and former gerrymanderer) Jeff Timmer, Common Cause North Carolina executive director Bob Phillips and Politico’s Ally Mutnick.

Jeff Timmer  is a senior advisor for the Lincoln Project.
Bob Phillips is the executive director of Common Cause North Carolina.
Ally Mutnick covers House campaigns and redistricting for POLITICO.
Ryan Lizza is a Playbook co-author for POLITICO.
Annie Rees is a producer for POLITICO audio.
Carlos Prieto is a producer for POLITICO audio.
Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO audio.
Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO audio.

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Funding the federal government. Preventing a default on the national debt. Voting on Build Back Better. Congress has a lot to do in one month. POLITICO’s Nicholas Wu reports. Plus, the Biden administration asks a court to lift an order halting its vaccine-or-test mandate for private employers. And a bipartisan group of senators asks for cannabis banking provisions in the defense spending bill.

Nicholas Wu is a Congress reporter for POLITICO.
Jeremy Siegel is a host for POLITICO Dispatch.
Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO audio.
Jenny Ament is the senior producer of POLITICO audio.
Raghu Manavalan is a senior editor for POLITICO audio.

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Covid cases are once again rising, and holidays are just around the corner. POLITICO’s Dan Goldberg reports. Plus, the White House says about 95 percent of federal workers have complied with their vaccine mandate. And a congressional committee investigating the Trump administration’s Covid response wants to question former FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn.

Dan Goldberg is a deputy health editor for POLITICO.
Jeremy Siegel is a host for POLITICO Dispatch.
Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO audio.
Jenny Ament is the senior producer of POLITICO audio.
Raghu Manavalan is a senior editor for POLITICO audio.

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President Joe Biden has been wrestling for weeks with whether to reappoint the current chair of the Federal Reserve or pick someone new. But he just can’t seem to pull the trigger. POLITICO’s Jonathan Lemire reports. Plus, White House adviser Brian Deese says he’s optimistic the Senate will pass President Biden's social spending legislation. And Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg says federal vaccine mandates will not impact holiday travel.

Jonathan Lemire is POLITICO's White House Bureau Chief.
Jeremy Siegel is a host for POLITICO Dispatch.
Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO audio.
Jenny Ament is the senior producer of POLITICO audio.
Raghu Manavalan is a senior editor for POLITICO audio.

Read more: Biden has a major economic decision to make and he can’t seem to pull the trigger

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It’s one of the most demanding jobs in Washington journalism: tracking down a lawmaker who’s in the news but doesn’t necessarily want to talk. For the Congress press corps, scoring that story-making quote might mean standing on a marble staircase for hours — if the senator or representative decides to talk at all. Playbook co-author Rachael Bade takes us inside the Capitol Hill media “scrum” — as reporters like CNN’s Manu Raju reveal their tricks of the trade… and former Senator Jeff Flake discloses all the times he pretended to talk on his phone while walking past reporters.

Rachael Bade  is a Playbook co-author for POLITICO.
Jeff Flake is former Republican Senator from Arizona  and current Ambassador-designate to Turkey.
Manu Raju is CNN's chief congressional correspondent.
Annie Rees is a producer for POLITICO audio.
Carlos Prieto is a producer for POLITICO audio.
Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO audio.
Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO audio.

Special thanks to Nicholas Wu, Kyle Cheney, Oriana Pawlyk, Nolan McCaskill, Juliegrace Brufke, Paul Kane who were also featured reporters in this episode.

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Federal officials are preparing to expand access to extra shots. And some states are already moving ahead. POLITICO’s Adam Cancryn reports. Plus, Republicans overtake Democrats in voter registration in Florida. And the Pentagon rushes to combat rising housing and food costs for troops.

Adam Cancryn is a health reporter for POLITICO.
Jeremy Siegel is a host for POLITICO Dispatch.
Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO audio.
Jenny Ament is the senior producer of POLITICO audio.
Raghu Manavalan is a senior editor for POLITICO audio.

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Republicans are pinning the price at the pump on Biden. But as POLITICO’s Ben Lefebvre reports, it’s a bit more complicated. Plus, Pfizer asks the FDA for emergency use authorization of its Covid pill. And the Senate confirms a key USDA climate official.

Ben Lefebvre is an energy reporter for POLITICO.
Jeremy Siegel is a host for POLITICO Dispatch.
Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO audio.
Jenny Ament is the senior producer of POLITICO audio.
Raghu Manavalan is a senior editor for POLITICO audio.

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The bipartisan infrastructure framework is now the bipartisan infrastructure law. POLITICO’s Tanya Snyder breaks down what the new funding will and won’t do. Plus, the CBO plans to score Biden’s social spending bill by Friday. And Florida moves forward with a rule banning school mask mandates and quarantine requirements.

Tanya Snyder is a transportation reporter for POLITICO.
Jeremy Siegel is a host for POLITICO Dispatch.
Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO audio.
Jenny Ament is the senior producer of POLITICO audio.
Raghu Manavalan is a senior editor for POLITICO audio.

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Nearly 200 countries are endorsing a new agreement to lower emissions. But a last-minute push by China and India weakened the deal and could hurt poorer nations. POLITICO's Lorraine Woellert reports. Plus, Treasury Secretary Yellen says Covid will determine when inflation eases. And Rep. Schiff says he thinks Steve Bannon’s indictment will lead others to comply with the Jan. 6 panel.

Lorraine Woellert manages POLITICO's sustainability coverage.
Jeremy Siegel is a host for POLITICO Dispatch.
Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO audio.
Jenny Ament is the senior producer of POLITICO audio.
Raghu Manavalan is a senior editor for POLITICO audio.

Sign up for POLITICO's 2021 Sustainability Summit

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For the first time in 12 years, a Republican won the governorship in Virginia. And it wasn’t just any victory — to claim the seat, Glenn Youngkin had to beat Terry McAuliffe, former governor and Democratic royalty. In this special presentation of Playbook Deep Dive, Ryan Lizza digs into the narrow win with Youngkin campaign strategists Jeff Roe and Kristin Davison, and the mistakes they think McAuliffe’s campaign made. Plus, senior politics editor Charlie Mahtesian on the significant places Youngkin gained the most votes.

Ryan Lizza is a Playbook co-author for POLITICO.
Charlie Mahtesian is senior politics editor for POLITICO.
Kristin Davison was a campaign strategist for Gov.-elect Glenn Youngkin.
Jeff Roe was a campaign strategist for Gov.-elect Glenn Youngkin.
Annie Rees is a producer for POLITICO audio.
Carlos Prieto is a producer for POLITICO audio.
Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO audio.
Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO audio.

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