| | | | |  | | By Sam Stein, Myah Ward, Lauren Egan and Lawrence Ukenye | | | Welcome to POLITICO’s West Wing Playbook, your guide to the people and power centers in the Biden administration. With help from producer Raymond Rapada. Send tips | Subscribe here | Email Eli | Email Lauren President JOE BIDEN’s historic stop today at a picket line outside a GM plant made clear just how much he views the union movement as critical, both to the state of the nation’s economy and his own political future. Few presidents have so openly touted their pro-labor bonafides. No president has gone to these lengths to show them. But is there another step he and the Democrats could take? Some think so. Operatives within the ranks want the party to use the current rush of goodwill being directed toward striking United Auto Workers to reinvigorate momentum behind pro-union legislation. They note that the current moment is unique in modern political history, with leading Republicans, including DONALD TRUMP, offering support for the striking workers. And while they aren’t Pollyanna-ish that this will result in their most ambitious legislative hopes becoming reality, they see opportunity in putting lawmakers on the record. “Obviously I’d love the PRO Act, but even a vote on a resolution expressing support for UAW workers would be a valuable and elucidating endeavor,” FAIZ SHAKIR, an adviser to Sen. BERNIE SANDERS (I-Vt.) and executive director of the labor-focused nonprofit media organization More Perfect Union, said in reference to the Protecting the Right to Organize Act. Asked if the Democratic-controlled Senate was cooking anything up, Shakir replied with a shrug emoji and a single word: “Trying.” To Democrats, Republicans are opportunistically using the UAW strike to align themselves with workers without actually supporting pro-worker policies. And it’s becoming deeply agitating. On Tuesday morning, a researcher at the Democratic-allied think tank, Center for American Progress, blasted out an old video of Trump criticizing the unions in the midst of the Great Recession in 2008 — a sort of “hello folks!” type online missive.
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| “I think it would be important and powerful to force the Republicans who are posturing as friends of working people, to vote on the single most important piece of pro-worker legislation pending before Congress,” said SETH HARRIS, a former top labor adviser and deputy director of Biden’s National Economic Council. “The truth is they are rabidly anti-union. They do not support workers … So I fully expect that every one of those people talking the talk, would not walk the walk.” Biden allies also believe GOP lawmakers are trying to use the strike as a way to attack the administration’s electronic vehicle agenda while sidestepping questions about the union’s demands for wage increases, pension benefits and work week restructuring. A vote could potentially separate the wheat from the chaff. But it would have to be called. And even union advisers aren’t bullish that Democratic leadership would pull that trigger. That’s because few see Democratic unity on all these fronts. Biden included the PRO Act, the Democrats’ seminal pro-union legislation, as part of his Build Back Better plan. But the bill, which would implement the greatest expansion of worker’s rights since the 1935 National Labor Relations Act, was ultimately left out of what became the Inflation Reduction Act that Democrats passed on a party-line vote. The legislation remains fiercely opposed by business groups. And it’s uncertain whether it could clear 50 votes in the Senate, as moderate Arizona Sens. MARK KELLY and KRYSTEN SINEMA remain holdouts, let alone a filibuster-proof 60. Of course, with the House now in GOP control, it stands no chance of passage at all. For its part, the White House believes the contrast between Biden and Republicans on the labor issue is already quite stark. Officials note that the president has continuously supported the PRO Act, again calling on lawmakers last month to pass the legislation. The White House has also been pressing lawmakers to include some financial provisions from the PRO Act in a stopgap spending bill, namely increased fees for National Labor Relations Board violations. The president’s stop on Tuesday was a continuation of a contrast the White House welcomes, with or without an additional vote. “We’ve had too many presidents trying to crush unions — President Biden is here to make them stronger. He’s proud to be the most pro-union President. He’s proud that his signature legislation is creating good-paying union jobs for thousands of Americans,” said White House spokesperson ROBYN PATTERSON. “And he’ll continue to push Republicans in Congress to pass the Pro-Act and make it easier for workers to organize.” Nick Niedzwiadek contributed to this report. MESSAGE US — Are you SHAWN FAIN, president of United Auto Workers? We want to hear from you. And we’ll keep you anonymous! Email us at westwingtips@politico.com. Did someone forward this email to you? Subscribe here!
| | | | A message from Kroger and Albertsons Companies: Kroger’s success has always been rooted in delivering more for our customers - more choices, more value, more access to fresh food. Kroger joining together with Albertsons Cos. will allow us to do even more for customers by investing half a billion dollars to further lower prices and $1.3 billion to improve the customer experience. | | | | | Thanks to the White House Historical Association for this question! What famous portrait is displayed above the central mantle of the State Dining Room in the White House? (Answer at bottom.)
| | CHANNELING HIS BILLY BRAGG: As noted above, Biden became the first sitting president to join a picket line. “You deserve what you’ve earned and you’ve earned a hell of a lot more than you’re getting paid now,” Biden told a crowd of striking UAW workers in Detroit, Lauren and Myah report. It’s a bit hard to capture the enormity of the moment, a truly historical episode in the politics of labor. STEVE RATTNER, BARACK OBAMA’s car czar, wasn’t a fan at all. But his quote also gets to the remarkable decision to put Biden on the line. Oh, also, the politics: The visit is bound to make a split screen with Trump, who is scheduled to address auto workers in Michigan on Wednesday. We’ll see how that one goes tomorrow. SERIOUSLY, PAGING BILLY BRAGG: United Farm Workers announced on Tuesday they will endorse Biden’s reelection bid, LATimes’ ALEJANDRA MOLINA reports. UFW President TERESA ROMERO touted the administration’s commitment to organized labor and noted Biden has helped the union “accomplish things that we have never been able to accomplish with anybody else.” UFW now plans to deploy Spanish-speaking organizers to swing states including Arizona, Georgia, Michigan and Nevada. SNEAKERS, MORE THAN JUST AN UNDERRATED MOVIE: As West Wing Playbook has previously noted, Biden aides are doing their best to ensure he doesn’t make any stumbles in public — like when he tripped over a sandbag in June. Axios’ ALEX THOMPSON reports some of those efforts also include having the president work with a physical therapist to improve his balance and wearing sneakers more frequently to avoid slipping. “Democrats, including some in the administration, are terrified that Biden will have a bad fall — with a nightmare scenario of it happening in the weeks before the November 2024 election,” Thompson writes. The White House press shop poked fun at the story by showing off their sneakers in a post on X. “How did we get so old?” deputy press secretary ANDREW BATES asked. Rep. JARED MOSKOWITZ (D-Fla.) joined in on the fun by showing off his shoe game. Others online took some offense to the lack of sartorial decorum. WHAT THE WHITE HOUSE WANTS YOU TO READ: This piece by the Washington Post’s JEFF STEIN, MARIANNA SOTOMAYOR and MORIAH BALINGIT about how House Speaker KEVIN MCCARTHY is entertaining sweeping cuts to safety net programs to reach an agreement with some of his conference’s most conservative members. A plan put forth by Republican appropriators would drastically reduce funding for public schools that serve high numbers of poor students as well as a food assistance program benefitting pregnant women, the reporters write. White House communications director BEN LABOLT posted the piece on X. WHAT THE WHITE HOUSE DOESN’T WANT YOU TO READ: This piece by the Wall Street Journal’s RACHEL LOUISE ENSIGN about how Americans are increasingly feeling the effects of the Fed’s interest rate hikes. While the campaign is aimed at curbing inflation, Ensign writes that consumers are realizing that “their money gets them a lot less than it would have a few years ago.” Fed Chair JEROME POWELL signaled last week officials plan to keep rates high for the next year. IS 11 TIMES BAD? IT’S BAD, RIGHT? Biden’s dog COMMANDER has, yet again, bit a Secret Service agent. The Monday evening incident marks the German shepherd's 11th since Biden took office, CNN’s BETSY KLEIN reports. Judicial Watch, a conservative watchdog group, reported in July that Commander had been involved in 10 previous biting incidents spanning from last October through January. Just a reminder to the White House, dog whisperer CESAR MILLAN is still awaiting your call… WHAT WE’RE WATCHING: Vice President KAMALA HARRIS will join PBS NewsHour for an interview Tuesday night at 6 p.m. ET.
| | | | GO INSIDE THE CAPITOL DOME: From the outset, POLITICO has been your eyes and ears on Capitol Hill, providing the most thorough Congress coverage — from political characters and emerging leaders to leadership squabbles and policy nuggets during committee markups and hearings. We're stepping up our game to ensure you’re fully informed on every key detail inside the Capitol Dome, all day, every day. Start your day with Playbook AM, refuel at midday with our Playbook PM halftime report and enrich your evening discussions with Huddle. Plus, stay updated with real-time buzz all day through our brand new Inside Congress Live feature. Learn more and subscribe here. | | | | | | | | | HITTING THE ROAD: Biden’s campaign manager JULIE CHÁVEZ RODRIGUEZ met with members of United Farm Workers in California on Tuesday, a day ahead of the Republican presidential debate, KEVIN MUNOZ, the campaign’s spokesperson tweeted. FIRST IN WEST WING PLAYBOOK: MATTHEW ELLISON is now deputy executive secretary at the Treasury Department, our DANIEL LIPPMAN has learned. Ellison most recently was policy director for the House assistant Democratic leader. PERSONNEL MOVES: MANPREET TEJI is now director for immigration on the Domestic Policy Council at the White House. She most recently was counsel for the Senate Judiciary Committee. WHAT TAB IS TO RON KLAIN ... White Claws are to his predecessor, MARK MEADOWS, who apparently had no idea that they contained alcohol and got hammered on them at the White House.
| | | | A message from Kroger and Albertsons Companies:   | | | | | ALEXA, SHOW ME WHAT IT’S LIKE TO GET THE SCREWS PUT TO YOU BY THE FEDS: The federal government launched its antitrust suit against Amazon on Tuesday, marking the Biden administration’s opening salvo in curbing the tech giant’s power, our JOSH SISCO reports. The challenge to Amazon’s market muscle will “be a defining cornerstone of the Biden administration’s pledge to curb the power of the nation’s largest tech companies,” Josh writes. The suit represents another big opportunity for FTC Chair LINA KHAN to enforce the administration’s antitrust agenda after a series of high-profile losses, including failing to prevent Microsoft’s acquisition of gaming giant Activision Blizzard.
| | Americans Are Down on Biden. Why Does His Party Keep Winning Elections? (NYT's Reid J. Epstein) What is affected by a government shutdown and how it could impact you (WaPo's Jacob Bogage) Ralph Nader, wary of Trump, offers to help Joe Biden win (WaPo's Michael Scherer)
| | | | HAPPENING 9/28 — INSIDE THE CANCER MOONSHOT: Join POLITICO on Thursday, Sept. 28 for an in-depth discussion on the future of cancer treatment and innovation. Hear from experts including scientists, government officials and industry leaders as we explore the critical roles played by private industry, nonprofits, the National Cancer Institute and the new Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health in achieving the Biden administration's goal of cutting the cancer death rate in half over the next 25 years. Don't miss this opportunity to dive into the progress of cancer treatments and learn about the challenges patients encounter in accessing care. REGISTER HERE. | | | | | | | | | White House Counsel deputy communications adviser SHARON YANG’s parents didn’t quite understand her burgeoning interest in politics when she was a teenager but did their best to support her. That meant taking her to a young Republicans event in Pearland, Texas — not exactly Sharon had in mind. “It was like me and my Asian mom and everyone else in their coiffed hair and I definitely looked at my mom and I was like ‘this is not what I meant,’” Sharon said last year on the Modern Minorities podcast.
| | GEORGE PETER ALEXANDER HEALY’s portrait of ABRAHAM LINCOLN has been displayed in the White House State Dining Room for more than 75 years and “at times serves as a rhetorical tool for presidents while speaking to guests, dignitaries, and visiting heads of state in the historic room,” according to the White House Historical Association. To learn more about how the White House is a stage for hospitality and diplomacy, tune into The White House Historical Association’s “Entertaining at the White House,” streaming live from the Smithsonian Museum of American History on Sept. 26 at 7 p.m. ET. A CALL OUT! Do you think you have a harder trivia question? Send us your best one about the presidents, with a citation or sourcing, and we may feature it! Edited by Eun Kyung Kim and Sam Stein.
| | | | A message from Kroger and Albertsons Companies: Over the last 10 years, Kroger grew its unionized workforce by over 100,000 members, making it one of America’s largest unionized workforces. Kroger has raised wages and increased benefits to respect and reward associates who fuel the company’s success. Kroger’s merger with Albertsons Cos. will allow us to build on this track record by securing the long-term future of union jobs and further rewarding associates. That’s why Kroger has committed to invest $1 billion post-close to continue raising associate wages and providing comprehensive industry-leading benefits. | | | | | | | Follow us on Twitter | | | | Follow us | | | | |
