Decoded by POLITICO

Eleven candidates. One running mate. Dispatch is spending three days with POLITICO campaign reporters to look at Joe Biden's top choices for vice president. First up: Natasha Korecki on Keisha Lance Bottoms, Tammy Duckworth, Michelle Lujan Grisham and Elizabeth Warren.

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.

Read more: Tracking Joe Biden's VP pick

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The makeup of Congress still doesn’t reflect the diversity of the United States. Candidates of color grapple with barriers like fundraising and electability. Sarah Ferris explains why Congress is still so white, male and privileged over 200 years after its founding -- and what it’s going to take to change that.

Sarah Ferris covers the House for  POLITICO's Congress team.
Erica Morrison is a host for POLITICO Dispatch and produced this episode.
Jeremy Siegel is a host for POLITICO Dispatch who helped produce this episode. 
Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO audio.
Jenny Ament is the senior producer of POLITICO audio.

Read Sarah Ferris's article on how candidates of color still grapple with barriers to Congress. 

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Virtual health care has surged during the coronavirus pandemic. Will it last? POLITICO's Mohana Ravindranath and Dan Diamond explain how the virus could change the future of medicine. Plus, more governors announce mask mandates. And Kansas Republicans kill a plan to delay the reopening of schools.

Mohana Ravindranath is a health care reporter for POLITICO.
Dan Diamond is a health care 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.

Read more on the future of telehealth in the Future Pulse newsletter.

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The CDC is deploying teams across the country to address racial disparities during the coronavirus pandemic. But the effort is running into a familiar problem: a lack of coordination from the highest levels of government. POLITICO's Alice Miranda Ollstein explains why the deep and deadly problem can't be fixed without a dramatic shift in federal policy. Plus, Congress passes a defense bill requiring the removal of Confederate names from bases. And America's daily death toll tops 1,000 for the first time in months.

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.

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Congress is back … and so is the battle over Covid relief that we've all come to know and love. POLITICO’s Marianne LeVine breaks down where lawmakers disagree — and why passing a sweeping, bi-partisan measure is going to be a lot tougher than it was at the start of the pandemic. Plus, Florida teachers sue over an emergency order to reopen their classrooms. And Democrats eye a voting rights package to honor John Lewis.

Marianne LeVine covers Congress 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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In 2016, the Trump campaign drove down turnout from Black voters in key battleground states by focusing on Hillary Clinton's past racist comments about "superpredators" and her support for legislation that led to increased incarceration, particularly among Black and Latino people. Now, they're trying to do the exact same thing with Biden. POLITICO's Holly Otterbein explains how Trump plans to weaken the former VP's support from minority voters. Plus, global Covid deaths top 600,000. And Trump doubles down on his opposition to removing Confederate symbols.

Holly Otterbein 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.

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The beginning of the summer looked good ... for, like, a minute. Then, states in the South and West started seeing new coronavirus surges. Now, the virus appears to be out of control in at least 18 states. POLITICO's Renu Rayasam explains why the worst has yet to come. Plus, Trump wants a payroll tax cut in the next relief bill. And the Supreme Court deals a blow to voting rights in Florida.

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

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Last year, POLITICO broke the story that a top Trump administration health official — CMS chief Seema Verma — was using tax dollars to hire GOP consultants to boost her image. Today, the health department's inspector general released a report confirming the story. POLITICO’s Adam Cancryn and Dan Diamond explain why the controversy is relevant to the fight against the coronavirus pandemic. Plus, Oklahoma’s governor tests positive for Covid. And American Airlines is telling 25,000 workers they could lose their jobs.

Adam Cancryn is a health reporter for POLITICO.
Dan Diamond is a health care 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.

Read more: Inspector general: Medicare chief broke rules on her publicity contracts

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The nursing home industry has been pushing for looser regulations for years. And they got what they wanted at the start of the pandemic. But now, advocates say lax standards are fueling the virus' spread. POLITICO's Maggie Severns has the story. Plus, the CDC chief predicts late 2020 could be “one of the most difficult times we have experienced.” And the Trump administration reverses its international student policy.

Maggie Severns covers politics and the coronavirus 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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Mark Meadows came to the West Wing with big plans, hoping his friendship with President Trump would help him avoid turbulence. Then reality — and the coronavirus pandemic — hit. POLITICO’s Nancy Cook breaks down why it’s not so easy being chief of staff in Trump’s White House right now … or, really, ever. Plus, California rolls back reopening plans. And the IRS is cancelling uncashed stimulus checks sent to the dead.

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.

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