The Decoded Podcast

Robert Califf sailed through his Senate confirmation hearing on Tuesday, despite some opposition from Democrats ranging from Bernie Sanders to Joe Manchin. A confirmation vote in January would give the agency a permanent political leader for the first time during the Biden presidency. Adam Cancryn reports.

Adam Cancryn is a health care reporter for POLITICO.
Annie Rees is a host for POLITICO Dispatch.
Jenny Ament is the senior producer of POLITICO audio.
Raghu Manavalan is a senior editor for POLITICO audio.

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In the land of beignets and Jazz, the Democratic Governors Association had its winter meeting to discuss reversing nationwide trends at the polls after losses last month in Virginia and New Jersey. If next year’s races are going to be any different, Democratic governors say the party needs to do a better job of hearing voters’ concerns about a frustratingly persistent pandemic. Zach Montellaro reports.

Zach Montellaro is a  reporter covering state politics for POLITICO.
Annie Rees is a host for POLITICO Dispatch.
Jenny Ament is the senior producer of POLITICO audio.
Raghu Manavalan is a senior editor for POLITICO audio.

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After a wave of blue wins in 2020 in Georgia, the GOP-led state legislature is taking steps toward dismantling the Atlanta-area engine that turned Georgia blue. Maya King reports.

Maya King  is a national politics reporter for POLITICO.
Annie Rees is a host for POLITICO Dispatch.
Jenny Ament is the senior producer of POLITICO audio.
Raghu Manavalan is a senior editor for POLITICO audio.

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The Supreme Court’s S.B. 8 ruling on Friday was mixed. It allows for some cases brought by opponents of the restrictive law to proceed — but closed major avenues for legal challenges, including one that has been sought by the Biden administration. Josh Gerstein reports.

Josh Gerstein is a senior legal affairs reporter for POLITICO.
Annie Rees is a host for POLITICO Dispatch.
Jenny Ament is the senior producer of POLITICO audio.
Raghu Manavalan is a senior editor for POLITICO audio.

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While athletes prepare to travel to Beijing this February for the Winter Olympics, Canada, Australia and the U.K. joined the United States this week in announcing diplomatic boycotts of the Chinese Olympic games. Phelim Kine reports.

Phelim Kine is a DC-based China correspondent for POLITICO.
Annie Rees is a host for POLITICO Dispatch.
Jenny Ament is the senior producer of POLITICO audio.
Raghu Manavalan is a senior editor for POLITICO audio.

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President Biden on Monday nudged members of his party in Congress push through his signature Build Back Better plan, which includes health provisions to change prescription drug pricing. Democrats’ ability to meaningfully impact drug prices, however, depends heavily on Congress passing the party’s $1.7 trillion social spending bill in the coming weeks. Alice Miranda Ollstein reports.

Alice Miranda Ollstein is a health care reporter for POLITICO.
Annie Rees is a host for POLITICO Dispatch.
Jenny Ament is the senior producer of POLITICO audio.
Raghu Manavalan is a senior editor for POLITICO audio.

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In a 36-page memo to the Jan. 6 committee, Col. Earl Matthews slams the Pentagon's inspector general for what he calls an error-ridden report. Plus, Marc Short, former chief of staff to Mike Pence, is cooperating with the Capitol riot committee. Meridith McGraw reports.

Meridith McGraw is a national political correspondent for POLITICO.
Annie Rees is a host for POLITICO Dispatch.
Jenny Ament is the senior producer of POLITICO audio.
Raghu Manavalan is a senior editor for POLITICO audio.

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What will it take to declare victory over Covid? POLITICO's Sarah Owermohle reports.

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In North Carolina, the race for the Senate reveals the party’s internal conflict over race and the best strategy to win a crucial seat. POLITICO's Michael Kruse reports.

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After seven Senate terms and three runs for president, Joe Biden has mastered his folksy image. But behind "the Delaware way" are secrets in Joe's family tree and son Hunter's foreign deals. National political correspondent Ben Schreckinger tells Playbook's Ryan Lizza about what he uncovered while investigating his book, “The Bidens: Inside The First Family’s Fifty-Year Rise to Power.”

Ryan Lizza is a co-author of POLITICO Playbook.
Ben Schreckinger is a national political correspondent for POLITICO and the author of "The Bidens: Inside The First Family’s Fifty-Year Rise to Power."
Adrienne Hurst is a producer for POLITICO audio.
Annie Rees is a producer for POLITICO audio.
Jenny Ament is senior producer for POLITICO audio.
Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO audio.

Read an excerpt of Ben's book in Politico Magazine here: https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2021/09/14/how-joe-biden-became-irish-511637

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