The Decoded Podcast

Several federal unemployment programs are set to run out the day after Christmas, cutting millions of Americans off from their financial lifelines if Congress doesn’t pass another relief package. But even if lawmakers do come to a deal this week and renew the programs, antiquated state systems will still cause missed checks across the country. POLITICO’s Rebecca Rainey breaks down why we ended up at the edge of an unemployment cliff. Plus, the U.S. starts shipping Pfizer's Covid vaccine. And Germany issues new lockdown orders.

Rebecca Rainey is a labor and immigration 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’re already too late’: Unemployment lifeline to lapse even with an aid deal

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What will it take to secure access to the critical minerals we need for the future — and can we solve one environmental challenge without creating a new one? Hosts Luiza Savage and Ryan Heath talk to political leaders around the world about what they are doing to shore up access to critical minerals. 

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.

Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) is Chairman of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
Ambassador Kirsten Hillman is Canada’s Ambassador to the United States
EU Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič is Vice-President of the European Commission for Interinstitutional Relations

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16 years ago, "The Facebook" was just another college student's idea. Now, federal and state authorities say the social media giant is, well, too giant — and they want to break it up. POLITICO's Leah Nylen explains how the company went from dorm room to antitrust lawsuit. Plus, Trump issues sweeping new asylum rules. And Schumer urges Republicans to cancel a hearing on the election.

Leah Nylen covers antitrust 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:
How Facebook grew into trouble
For Facebook, the breakup threat gets real

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President-elect Joe Biden has chosen the officials who will be at the center of his administration’s Covid response. POLITICO’s Tyler Pager and Dan Diamond break down how the picks for Biden’s health team were made — and what sort of turbulence they could face during the confirmation process. Plus, YouTube says it will remove videos claiming mass fraud changed the election results. And the House passes its second major piece of marijuana legislation in a week.

Tyler Pager is a White House reporter 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.

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If you felt FOMO while watching British seniors receive coronavirus vaccinations on Tuesday, you’re not alone. Host Jeremy Siegel talks with POLITICO’s Sarah Owermohle about why Britain beat the U.S. to those first doses — and when we can expect FDA authorization. Plus, Biden pledges to vaccinate tens of millions and reopen schools in his first 100 days. And the Supreme Court rejects an effort to overturn Biden’s win in Pennsylvania

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.

Read more: 
U.S. could face months of vaccine shortages amid global competition
FDA says Pfizer vaccine is safe and effective
Trump amps up pandemic politics at ‘vaccine summit’
Biden pledges to vaccinate tens of millions, reopen schools in first 100 days

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President Trump has passed more than 400 changes to U.S. immigration policy since he took office. Undoing all of that is going to be a major challenge for President-Elect Joe Biden — politically and logistically. POLITICO’s Anita Kumar explains why some of Trump’s immigration policies could end up sticking around for years. Plus, New York City could see new shutdowns next week. And federal investigators urge Trump to punish trade adviser Peter Navarro for violating the Hatch Act.

Anita Kumar is a White House correspondent and associate 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.

Read more: Biden pledged to undo Trump’s immigration policies. It will take time.

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Last semester didn’t go too well. But colleges and universities across the country are looking for a do-over in the Spring. POLITICO’s Juan Perez reports on how schools are trying to beat coronavirus next semester — and what lessons they’ve learned from the past year. Plus, the U.K. plans to start vaccinations Tuesday. And Trump says Giuliani has tested positive for Covid.

Juan Perez Jr. is an education 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: Spring surge of college students will challenge Covid defenses

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To understand how essential critical minerals are to our world, we turn to a case study: cobalt. This mineral is proving key to the future of green energy, defense and high tech manufacturing — not to mention electric vehicles. But cobalt has its challenges. Hosts Luiza Savage and Ryan Heath look at China’s dominant role in global cobalt mining and the serious problems that can arise if other countries can't get enough supplies.

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.

Nedal T. Nassar is Chief of Materials Flow Analysis Section at the U.S. Geological Survey.
Bryce Crocker is the CEO of Jervois Mining
Aimee Boulanger is the executive director of Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA)

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Despite warnings from the CDC, air travel soared over Thanksgiving week — and even more people are expected to travel in the coming weeks ahead of the holidays. POLITICO’s Sam Mintz breaks down what we know — and don’t know — about the safety of airplanes during the pandemic. Plus, Trump extends the National Guard’s Covid funding. And Fauci defends the FDA’s vaccine approval process.

Sam Mintz is a transportation 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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It’s a split-screen response: President Trump is virtually silent on the pandemic, while President-elect Biden is preparing to take office during the darkest period of the outbreak. POLITICO’s Dan Diamond breaks down how the two leaders’ teams are coordinating — and not — as the transition approaches. Plus, Obama urges people to trust a vaccine once its approved by health top officials. And Sen. Dianne Feinstein backs California Secretary of State Alex Padilla in filling Kamala Harris’ Senate seat after she takes over as Vice President.

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.

Sign up for the POLITICO Pulse newsletter to stay up on the latest on the pandemic.

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