Welcome back to 10 Things in Politics. Sign up here to receive this newsletter. Plus, download Insider's app for news on the go — click here for iOS and here for Android. Send tips to [email protected].
- Note: We apologize for the delay in sending out today's edition.
Here's what we're talking about:
- Kamala Harris' allies lash out at the media and one another as the bad press piles up
- Biden stresses 'simple, straightforward competition' with China
- An exclusive look at Republicans' long-awaited bill to legalize cannabis
1. INSIDE THE WHITE HOUSE: Vice President Kamala Harris' advisors are turning on one another. Harris' vice presidency continues to be the subject of unflattering portrayals, which is causing those close to her to increasingly lash out in all directions as the negative headlines pile up. The infighting comes with the White House seeking to sell President Joe Biden's massive infrastructure overhaul, which he signed into law on Monday.
Here's how some Democrats say the White House should try to right the ship:
Major shake-ups continued to be talked about: "They almost need to have a public scalp," one Democratic strategist who has worked with presidential campaigns told my colleague. Others say Biden and his top staffers need to do a better job shutting down the gossip from within.
- But some in Harris' orbit think things are unlikely to change anytime soon: "It's not like one issue or one confrontation or one group of people that aren't getting along — it feels like the whole thing is upside down," another Democratic strategist offered of the situation.
Much of the finger-pointing is directed at journalists: "What the media has done to her office is appalling," Howard Dean, the former Democratic National Committee chairman, told Insider. Many Democrats feel that Harris is being judged by a different set of standards given her status as the first woman and first person of color to hold the office.
- Key quote: "None of this is helpful. I don't care if you work for Joe Biden or Kamala Harris," one former Harris aide said. "My advice to everyone is to stop using the media as your therapist."
Read more about how Kamala Harris' allies are responding to bad press.
2. Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping try to end tensions during their meeting: The leaders of the world's two largest economies talked for more than three hours during a virtual meeting and agreed on the need to find a better path forward amid increasing tensions, Reuters reports. "Just simple, straightforward competition," Biden told Xi about his desire to make sure concerns about Taiwan's future, human-rights abuses, and trade practices wouldn't veer into outright conflict. The meeting ended without any major announcement or joint statement after the two sides tried to lower expectations for it. More on what Biden and Xi discussed.
3. Republicans to introduce a bill to legalize cannabis: Rep. Nancy Mace, a freshman Republican from South Carolina, is set to introduce a bill that would federally decriminalize cannabis. The legislation proposes to regulate pot much more like alcohol and if passed would allow for cannabis to be carried across state lines, though final say on many areas would be up to states. The proposal shows the increasing bipartisan support for action on cannabis-related issues, but it is unlikely to pass anytime soon. Here are 4 key details from the 131-page bill.
4 Jurors are set to begin deliberations in Kyle Rittenhouse's trial: A Wisconsin jury spent two weeks listening to dozens of witnesses and poring over countless pieces of visual evidence during Rittenhouse's trial for fatally shooting Joseph Rosenbaum and Anthony Huber, as well as injuring Gaige Grosskreutz, amid civil unrest in Kenosha in August 2020. Rittenhouse has pleaded not guilty and testified he was acting in self-defense. For all the emotional testimony, there are some key details the jurors weren't allowed to hear. Here are 6 things the jury won't consider, including videos in which Rittenhouse boasted about shooting people as well as the criminal records of the three people he shot.
5. Corey Lewandowski said Trump knew the election was over but wanted to sow doubt: Lewandowski, who served as Donald Trump's first presidential campaign manager, said Trump knew the 2020 election was over when the major news networks projected his loss. But Lewandowski told ABC News' Jonathan Karl for a new book that Trump wanted to "create enough doubt about Biden's victory so that when he leaves he can say he didn't lose and that it was stolen from him." More than a year after the election, Trump continues to cling to this narrative.
6. Steve Bannon remains defiant after court appearance: The former Trump administration chief strategist said he was "taking on the Biden regime" following an appearance in which he faced two federal counts of criminal contempt for refusing to comply with a subpoena issued by lawmakers investigating the January 6 Capitol riot, the Associated Press reports. Here's what's expected next in the case.
7. #FreeBritney activists say they're not done fighting: A judge ended Britney Spears' 13-year conservatorship on Friday. #FreeBritney fans and activists celebrated the ruling but told Insider they weren't going anywhere. Organizers hope to use the movement's platform to fight conservatorship abuse. "This is bigger than Britney. It's not just about Britney," one activist said.
8. Former Rep. Beto O'Rourke says he's running for Texas governor: O'Rourke announced plans to challenge the incumbent Republican, Greg Abbott, in 2022. The onetime lawmaker rose to national prominence with his closer-than-expected campaign to oust Sen. Ted Cruz in 2018 before a disastrous presidential campaign. O'Rourke's liberal positions he took during his brief presidential run could haunt his latest effort, but he remained somewhat defiant during an interview with Texas Monthly over his push for mandatory buybacks of certain guns. More what's expected from O'Rourke's uphill push to turn Texas blue.
9. The longest-serving current US senator is set to retire: Sen. Patrick Leahy, a Democrat from Vermont, leaves his Senate seat open ahead of next year's midterms. The race to replace Leahy is not expected to be competitive, though, after Biden's over 2-to-1 victory over Trump last year. He was first elected to the Senate as part of the "Watergate Babies" Democratic wave in 1974. More on Leahy's retirement.
10. Brendan Fraser became a TikTok obsession and sparked "the Brenaissance": Fraser has been out of the limelight for years. But content about the actor has racked up over 166 million views on TikTok. More on how nostalgic creators see Fraser as a welcome contrast to the "dark and dreary" side of the internet.
Today's trivia question: Who is the longest-serving senator in American history? Email your answer and a suggested question to me at [email protected].
- Yesterday's answer: Herbert Hoover is the most recent Cabinet secretary to immediately rise to the presidency. In fact, no major party has even nominated a Cabinet secretary for president since Hoover in 1928.