Decoded by POLITICO

Over the next couple months, President-Elect Joe Biden needs to put together a team to help him rebuild a shattered economy, fight a global pandemic and recover from one of the most polarizing elections in U.S. history. Sounds easy, right? POLITICO's Megan Cassella breaks down who is in contention for some of the toughest jobs in the nation. Plus, federal health officials announce a vaccine agreement with pharmacies. And Trump signs an order barring investments in some Chinese companies.

Megan Cassella covers the Biden 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: Meet the contenders for Biden’s Cabinet 

Sign up for POLITICO's Transition Playbook newsletter.

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

Pfizer says preliminary data on its Covid vaccine shows 90 percent effectiveness. Pretty awesome, but does that mean we're on the road back to normal life? It's complicated. POLITICO's Sarah Owermohle and Dan Diamond explain why. Plus, Texas hits 1 million cases. And the CDC says masks protect the wearer, not just other people.

Sarah Owermohle covers drug policy for POLITICO.
Dan Diamond is health policy 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.

Subscribe to the POLITICO Pulse newsletter for the latest on the pandemic.

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

It’s the election that keeps on giving! After indecisive results last week, two Georgia races that will decide the fate of the Senate are headed to runoffs in January. POLITICO’s Elena Schneider breaks down how both parties plan to win — and how Trump’s refusal to concede could shape the campaigns. Plus, world leaders acknowledge the results of the election even as Trump doesn’t. And Biden promises that Americans won't lose health coverage during the pandemic.

Elena Schneider is a national political 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:
'We need his voters' in Georgia: Why Republicans embrace Trump's last stand
Biden swung Georgia left. Now Democrats are racing to do it again.

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

The U.S. has a long history of candidates conceding when results are decisive. Or … it had a long history. POLITICO’s Nancy Cook breaks down why Trump is refusing to accept reality while much of the world already has — and why it could spell trouble for President-Elect Biden’s transition. Plus, two Republican senators from Georgia are calling on the state’s GOP secretary of state to resign. And the State Department’s representative of Syria and ISIS steps down.

Nancy Cook 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.

Read more:
Trump campaign summons staff and vows to keep fighting election results
GOP-led states back Trump’s legal drive to challenge election

Sign up for POLITICO's Transition Playbook newsletter.

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

The nation might've been fixated on the election outcome last week, but that didn't put the pandemic on hold. In fact, Covid cases are at record-high levels. POLITICO’s Alice Miranda Ollstein breaks down President-Elect Biden’s plans for fighting the outbreak — and how another two months of a Trump presidency could complicate things. Plus, Stacey Abrams says the Georgia runoffs will be competitive. And Boris Johnson says he’ll work closely with Biden.

Alice Miranda Ollstein 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: Joe Biden will inherit a raging pandemic. Here’s what he plans to do next.

Sign up for the Transition Playbook newsletter.

 

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

The pandemic and the rise of China are prompting Republicans and Democrats to turn to government power to grow industries important to America’s security and place in the world. “Industrial policy” is an idea long reviled among Washington policymakers. Hosts Luiza Savage and Ryan Heath talk to the people trying to make industrial policy cool again.

Luiza Savage is the host of "Global Translations".
Ryan Heath is a host of "Global Translations". 
Annie Rees is a producer for POLITICO Audio. 
Kara Tabor is a producer for POLITICO Audio. 
Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio. 
Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

Jennifer Harris  is a sentior fellow at the Hewlett Foundation, formerly at the US State Department during the Obama administration.
Mariana Mazzucato is an internationally recognized economist and professor at University College London (UCL), and Founder/Director of UCL's Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose.

Check out and subscribe to POLITICO's Global Translations, and China Watcher newsletters. 

Read Luiza Savage's article on the new industrial policy emerging in the US to counter China's ascent.

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

It's official: Joe Biden has been elected the 46th President of the United States. POLITICO's Alex Thompson breaks down what's to come over the next two months before he takes office.

Alex Thompson is a national political 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.

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

Joe Biden is closing in on a victory. But he's staring at a deeply divided nation — and an opponent who's refusing to accept the results. POLITICO's Natasha Korecki breaks down how Biden is preparing for a rocky transition. Plus, Pelosi announces expanded Covid testing for lawmakers. And Defense Secretary Mark Esper is expected to resign.

Natasha Korecki is a national 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.

Follow POLITICO's coverage of the election results here.

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

Joe Biden is inching his way toward a win, but Congress is on track to be more divided than ever. POLITICO's Dan Diamond explains how the coronavirus pandemic split the nation — and how polarized views of President Trump's response shaped results up and down the ballot. Plus, McConnell wants a Covid relief deal before the end of the year. And one in three Americans now live in a state where weed is legal.

Dan Diamond is health policy 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.

Follow POLITICO's coverage of the election results here.

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

We warned you it might happen. So buckle up and get ready for what could be days of uncertainty. POLITICO’s Scott Bland breaks down what to watch for as votes continue to be tallied in one of the most consequential presidential elections in U.S. history.

Scott Bland is a politics editor POLITICO and host of Nerdcast.
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.

Follow POLITICO's coverage of the election results here.

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