The Decoded Podcast

U.S. officials bet on Novavax to provide a shot that could easily be shipped overseas. But its manufacturing problems have left global distributors without enough shots for poor and middle-income countries. POLITICO's Erin Banco reports.

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Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya was a former teacher and self-described housewife catapulted to run for president of Belarus when her candidate husband was arrested in 2020. Even in exile after the disputed election, she’s the biggest threat against strongman Alexander Lukashenko’s hold over Belarus. She has captivated Belarusians with her campaign for democracy and been nominated for the Nobel Prize. POLITICO’s Ryan Heath asks Tsikhanouskaya about how she plans to corral the international community for tighter sanctions and about how she’s working with informants within the Lukashenko regime to bring it down. 

Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya is an opposition leader, fighting to bring Democracy to Belarus. 
Ryan Heath is the host of the "Global Insider" podcast and authors the newsletter. 
Olivia Reingold produces “Global Insider.” 
Irene Noguchi  edits “Global Insider” and is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

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By making local officials the gatekeepers for million-dollar businesses, states have unintentionally created a breeding ground for bribery and favoritism. POLITICO's Mona Zhang reports. This episode is the second in a two-part series on the unintended consequences of marijuana legalization laws.

This episode originally aired in May 2021.

Mona  Zhang is POLITICO's states cannabis policy reporter.
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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Welcome to Ontario, Oregon, home of the tater tot — and now, a massive marijuana market for customers crossing the Idaho border. POLITICO's Natalie Fertig explains how the tiny town border town of 11,000 people became one of America's cannabis capitals — and what it means for other towns as weed legalization spreads. This episode is the first in a two-part series on the unintended consequences of marijuana legalization laws.

This episode originally aired in May 2021.

Natalie Fertig is POLITICO's federal cannabis policy reporter.
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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Gerrymandering: Depending on where you stand, it’s either the cause of, or solution to, many of America’s political problems. Here’s what that fight looks like — from the outside looking in, and from the inside looking out. Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza dives into the subject with GOP strategist (and former gerrymanderer) Jeff Timmer, Common Cause North Carolina executive director Bob Phillips and Politico’s Ally Mutnick.

Jeff Timmer  is a senior advisor for the Lincoln Project.
Bob Phillips is the executive director of Common Cause North Carolina.
Ally Mutnick covers House campaigns and redistricting for POLITICO.
Ryan Lizza is a Playbook co-author for POLITICO.
Annie Rees is a producer for POLITICO audio.
Carlos Prieto is a producer for POLITICO audio.
Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO audio.
Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO audio.

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Funding the federal government. Preventing a default on the national debt. Voting on Build Back Better. Congress has a lot to do in one month. POLITICO’s Nicholas Wu reports. Plus, the Biden administration asks a court to lift an order halting its vaccine-or-test mandate for private employers. And a bipartisan group of senators asks for cannabis banking provisions in the defense spending bill.

Nicholas Wu is a Congress 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.

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Covid cases are once again rising, and holidays are just around the corner. POLITICO’s Dan Goldberg reports. Plus, the White House says about 95 percent of federal workers have complied with their vaccine mandate. And a congressional committee investigating the Trump administration’s Covid response wants to question former FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn.

Dan Goldberg is a deputy health 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.

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President Joe Biden has been wrestling for weeks with whether to reappoint the current chair of the Federal Reserve or pick someone new. But he just can’t seem to pull the trigger. POLITICO’s Jonathan Lemire reports. Plus, White House adviser Brian Deese says he’s optimistic the Senate will pass President Biden's social spending legislation. And Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg says federal vaccine mandates will not impact holiday travel.

Jonathan Lemire is POLITICO's White House Bureau Chief.
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: Biden has a major economic decision to make and he can’t seem to pull the trigger

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It’s one of the most demanding jobs in Washington journalism: tracking down a lawmaker who’s in the news but doesn’t necessarily want to talk. For the Congress press corps, scoring that story-making quote might mean standing on a marble staircase for hours — if the senator or representative decides to talk at all. Playbook co-author Rachael Bade takes us inside the Capitol Hill media “scrum” — as reporters like CNN’s Manu Raju reveal their tricks of the trade… and former Senator Jeff Flake discloses all the times he pretended to talk on his phone while walking past reporters.

Rachael Bade  is a Playbook co-author for POLITICO.
Jeff Flake is former Republican Senator from Arizona  and current Ambassador-designate to Turkey.
Manu Raju is CNN's chief congressional correspondent.
Annie Rees is a producer for POLITICO audio.
Carlos Prieto is a producer for POLITICO audio.
Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO audio.
Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO audio.

Special thanks to Nicholas Wu, Kyle Cheney, Oriana Pawlyk, Nolan McCaskill, Juliegrace Brufke, Paul Kane who were also featured reporters in this episode.

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Federal officials are preparing to expand access to extra shots. And some states are already moving ahead. POLITICO’s Adam Cancryn reports. Plus, Republicans overtake Democrats in voter registration in Florida. And the Pentagon rushes to combat rising housing and food costs for troops.

Adam Cancryn 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.

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