Decoded by POLITICO

Crashing computers, three-week delays tracking infections, lab results delivered by snail mail. Health officials couldn’t keep up with Covid’s spread. Americans paid the price. POLITICO’s Erin Banco reports. Plus, Israeli PM Naftali Bennett will visit the White House later this month. And the Treasury moves to prevent the Taliban from receiving IMF aid.

Erin Banco 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.

Read more: Inside America’s Covid-reporting breakdown

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Haiti was already on the brink of political collapse following the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse. Then a catastrophic earthquake hit. POLITICO’s John Yearwood reports. Plus, the nation’s top election officials are calling for more stringent guidelines for post-election audits. And Twitter tests a new feature allowing users to report misinformation directly to the company.

John Yearwood is a global news 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.

Read more: U.S. sends aid to Haiti after quake but much more needed

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Biden campaigned on his foreign policy expertise. But the crisis in Afghanistan is destroying that image. POLITICO’s Natasha Korecki reports. Plus, American newspapers call on the White House to evacuate journalists from Kabul. And the Biden administration makes a record increase to food stamp benefits.

Natasha Korecki is a White House 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.

Read more: 'I stand squarely behind my decision': Biden holds firm on Afghanistan drawdown

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A Taliban offensive was expected. But nobody knew it would be like this. POLITICO’s Alex Ward explains how the Taliban was able to overtake Afghanistan’s capital as the U.S. evacuated its embassy. Plus, opponents of the White House’s eviction ban ask a federal court to block the policy. And the director of the NIH says undocumented immigrants are not causing the surge in Covid cases.

Alex Ward is a national security 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.

Subscribe to the National Security Daily newsletter.

Read more:
Taliban seize power amid chaos in Kabul
‘I Believed in the U.S. But That Turned Out to Be Such a Big Mistake’

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Senate passed Biden’s long-awaited bipartisan infrastructure bill earlier this week. But it’s fate is tied to a massive Democratic spending plan — and things are looking a little shaky. POLITICO’s Caitlin Emma reports. Plus, the nation’s largest teachers union backs vaccine mandates. And top Biden advisor Anita Dunn leaves the White House.

Caitlin Emma is a budget and appropriations 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.

Read more: Senate adopts budget that paves way for $3.5T spending plan

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A record number of children are being hospitalized with Covid — and experts expect it to get worse. POLITICO’s Dan Goldberg reports. Plus, Sen. Elizabeth Warren drops her opposition to Biden’s pick for the No. 3 spot at the Education Department. And a bipartisan group of senators introduces legislation targeting Apple and Google’s app stores.

Dan Goldberg 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.

Read more: Children's hospitals are swamped with Covid patients — and it may only get worse

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

He doesn’t have star power, and he’s facing attacks from Republicans and Democrats. But Gov. Greg Abbott has held onto power in Texas for seven years — and he plans to do it again in 2022. POLITICO’s Renuka Rayasam reports. Plus, a Democratic Rep. Ron Kind plans to retire from his competitive Wisconsin seat. And the White House taps a progressive for the No. 2 policy position at the Pentagon.

Renuka Rayasam is POLITICO's Texas correspondent and author of the POLITICO Nightly newsletter.
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.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Impeachment is impending and his inner circle is collapsing, but Cuomo remains indignant. POLITICO’s Anna Gronewold reports on why the New York governor won’t step down in the wake of an investigation into allegations of sexual harassment. Plus, the Pentagon wants to mandate vaccines for all 1.4 million of its troops. And Canada reopens its border to vaccinated American travelers.

Anna Gronewold co-authors POLITICO's New York Playbook newsletter.
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.

Subscribe to New York Playbook.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Millions of Americans have to work under the sun or in poorly ventilated spaces. And as climate change makes extremely high temperatures more frequent, these working conditions are becoming increasingly life-threatening. Today, POLITICO’s Zack Colman and E&E News’ Ariel Wittenberg explain the risks, and why it’s so hard for the government to take action.

Ariel Wittenberg covers public health for E&E News.
Zack Colman is an energy reporter for POLITICO.
Carlos Prieto is a Politico podcast producer.
Raghu Manavalan is an editor for POLITICO Audio.
Jenny Ament is the senior producer of POLITICO audio.
Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO audio.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Covid hospitalizations are surging in Florida. But that isn’t stopping Gov. Ron DeSantis from taking a hard line against public health restrictions. POLITICO’s David Kihara breaks down the political strategy behind it all. Plus, Texas’ governor calls a second special session to push GOP changes to election laws. And the Justice Department opens a probe into the Phoenix Police Department.

David Kihara is a senior 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.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices