Decoded by POLITICO

It’s a curse that’s hung over New York politics for the last 50 years: No Governor since Nelson Rockefeller has made it past the third term in office. A few weeks ago, it looked like Andrew Cuomo was on track to break the curse. But now, roiled in a scandal involving Covid deaths at nursing homes, Cuomo’s political future is looking less certain. POLITICO’s Terry Golway reports. Plus, the heads of Facebook, Google and Twitter agree to testify before lawmakers again. And the Biden administration says it won’t share vaccines with poor countries until most Americans are vaccinated.

Terry Golway is the Albany editor for POLITICO New York.
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.

Read more:
Republican senators push to investigate Cuomo over New York nursing home deaths
New York assemblymember: Cuomo 'berated me,' asked me to lie about alleged cover-up
Cuomo makes frenemies with fellow Democrats amid crisis

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Right now, the problem is not enough vaccines. But in a few months, when we have a bigger supply, we could be looking at a scenario where there aren’t enough people willing to take the vaccines we have. POLITICO’s Sarah Owermohle breaks down what she learned from conversations with nine state and local health officials about how to avoid that situation. Plus, Biden picks Obama-veteran Chiquita Brooks-LaSure to head the agency in charge of Medicare and Medicaid. And a judge orders two of the most notorious Capitol insurrection suspects to remain in jail.

This story is part of POLITICO's Recovery Lab series that looks at the smartest new ideas for combating the pandemic.

Read more:
Policy hackathon: How to fix vaccination
9 states getting it right
How Covid-19 could make Americans healthier

Sarah Owermohle covers drug policy 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.

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He’s not King yet, but Crown Prince Muhammed bin Salman is the leader of Saudi Arabia in all but name. He’s also one of the biggest thorns in the side of Biden’s Middle East policy plans. POLITICO’s Nahal Toosi reports. Plus, Trump attacks McConnell in a fiery statement. And NASA looks at whether it might have to delay a trip to the moon.

Nahal Toosi is a foreign affairs 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.

Read more:
To speak or not to speak: Saudi Arabia poses a princely dilemma for Biden
Attack in Iraq highlights Biden's Saudi problem

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Biden promised to “follow the science” throughout his campaign. But a month into his presidency, he’s learning the hard way that — from school reopenings to wearing masks — politics and science don’t always mesh. POLITICO’s Adam Cancryn reports. Plus, Pelosi says an independent commission will investigate the Capitol insurrection. And the WHO grants emergency approval for the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine.

Adam Cancryn is a health care 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.

Read more: 
Biden’s follow-the-science mantra on school meets political reality
White House tiptoes around governors relaxing coronavirus rules

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Nikki Haley is no stranger to political tightropes. During her time in the Trump administration, she enjoyed the MAGA glow while avoiding Trump's brash brand of politics. But in the aftermath of the Capitol insurrection, that position is becoming less and less tenable — especially as a leading 2024 presidential contender. POLITICO's Tim Alberta reports. Plus, the White House secures 200 million more vaccine doses. And Biden moves to dismantle Trump’s Medicaid work rules.

Tim Alberta is POLITICO's chief political correspondent.
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.

Read more: Nikki Haley’s Time for Choosing

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Sure, the vaccine rollout in the U.S. hasn’t been smooth. But … it could be worse. Just look at Europe. POLITICO Europe’s Jillian Deutsch tells the complicated story of how the EU fell behind on vaccines. Plus, the Biden administration asks the Supreme Court to uphold Obamacare. And the South Africa variant is discovered in California.

Jillian Deutsch is a health reporter for POLITICO Europe.
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.

Read more:
How Europe fell behind on vaccines
Production snags likely to leave EU lagging in vaccinations for months to come

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Donald Trump talked with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the phone at least a dozen times during his presidency — sometimes for hours — but transcripts were never released. Now, President Biden’s team is trying to piece together whether those conversations could come back to haunt them. POLITICO’s Natasha Bertrand reports. Plus, Biden’s most controversial cabinet nominee faces a second day of hearings. And Trudeau says Canadians returning from the U.S. by land will need to show negative Covid tests.

Natasha Bertrand is a White House correspondent 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.

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It's virtually impossible for Democrats to get the votes they need to convict Donald Trump. So what's the point of this week's trial? Playbook's Rachael Bade says it's more about convincing the American public — not lawmakers — that Trump should never be able to hold office again. Plus, the final race of the 2020 election cycle finally ends. And the Biden administration drops a Trump-era lawsuit over California's net neutrality law.

Rachael Bade is a Playbook co-author 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.

Read more in the POLITICO Playbook newsletter.

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In Ohio, it’s already 2022. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are jockeying for a shot at the Senate after Republican Sen. Rob Portman’s announcement last month that he won’t seek reelection, giving Democrats an unlikely opening. POLITICO’s James Arkin breaks down why the race will be a bellwether of Rust Belt politics in the post-Trump era. Plus, South Africa suspends its AstraZeneca vaccine plans. And Rep. Liz Cheney still has no plans to resign.

James Arkin is a campaigns 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.

Read more: Democrats seek a reset button in Ohio

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This week is only the beginning. The Republican party is bitterly divided, and the fringe views embodied by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Green aren’t going anywhere. POLITICO’s Melanie Zanona reports on how House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy is trying to keep it all together. Plus, Johnson & Johnson files for emergency use authorization. And Trump won’t testify at his impeachment trial.

Melanie Zanona is a Congress reporter for POLITICO.
Jeremy Siegel is a host for POLITICO Dispatch. 
Jenny Ament is the senior producer of POLITICO audio.
Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO audio.

Read more: 
How Kevin McCarthy fought off a party revolt
House strips Marjorie Taylor Greene of her committee posts

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