The Hill’s 12:30 Report: Biden renominates Powell as Fed chair
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–> A midday take on what’s happening in politics and how to have a sense of humor about it.*
*Ha. Haha. Hahah. Sniff. Haha. Sniff. Ha–breaks down crying hysterically.
NEWS THIS MORNING
Three US presidents have nominated him, no big deal:
President Biden is nominating Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell for another term. https://bit.ly/3oTvp8C
What to know about Powell — Republicans and Democrats like him: “Powell, a Republican, has chaired the Fed board of governors since 2018 and enjoys support within both parties. He was appointed to lead the bank by former President Trump five years after he was first nominated to the Fed board by former President Obama.”
Who will be Powell’s deputy?: Fed Governor Lael Brainard, a Democrat, who is a popular choice among liberals.
More on the announcement, via The Hill’s Sylvan Lane: https://bit.ly/3oTvp8C
WATCH BIDEN’S FORMAL ANNOUNCEMENT:
He is scheduled to speak at 1:20 p.m. EST. Livestream: https://bit.ly/3qUyLLs
WHY THIS IS A PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT TIME FOR THE FEDERAL RESERVE:
Via The New York Times’s Jeanna Smialek, “Inflation has picked up sharply this year, with consumer prices increasing at the fastest pace in more than three decades in the year through October. The central bank is tasked with keeping consumer prices stable while striving for maximum employment, and striking that balance could require difficult policy choices in the months ahead.” https://nyti.ms/3Fxpg8W
Tidbit:
Hyperlink https://bit.ly/3HNj7aS
It’s Monday of the holiday week! Get those stretchy pants ready! I’m Cate Martel with a quick recap of the morning and what’s coming up. Send comments, story ideas and events for our radar to cmartel@thehill.com — and follow along on Twitter @CateMartel and Facebook.
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THIS WEEK
Everyone is bracing for Black Friday:
Via The Hill’s Alex Gangitano and Sylvan Lane, “Black Friday this week will kick off a crucial stretch for President Biden as the U.S. economy struggles to shake off the limits of the coronavirus pandemic.” https://bit.ly/3HJBqNP
“COVID-19 stifled the regular economic boost of the holiday season in 2020, but retailers and manufacturers are bracing for a surge of shopping and travel after three straight months of growing pressure on supply lines.”
What to expect: “Retail sales minus automobiles and gasoline during Thanksgiving week are expected to rise 10 percent from last year and 12.2 percent from 2019, according to data from Mastercard. The credit card company is projecting a 56 percent increase in apparel sales, a 40.2 percent jump in department stores sales, roughly 30 percent more spending on electronics and a nearly 40 percent increase in jewelry sales from the same time last year.”
Why the stakes are so high for Biden: https://bit.ly/3HJBqNP
BEFORE THE ANNOUNCEMENT, THERE WAS SPECULATION THAT POWELL COULD BE REPLACED:
The debate, via CNN’s Julia Horowitz: https://cnn.it/3DISsJA
IN CONGRESS
Senate Democrats are panicking a bit:
Via The Hill’s Alexander Bolton, “Senate Democrats are growing alarmed about bad polling numbers and are looking for a better strategy for selling President Biden’s climate and social spending agenda, which Republicans are attacking as a far-left tax and spending spree.” https://bit.ly/3oTWyZl
Another worry for Democrats: “The party also feels that it is getting killed politically by Republicans on culture war issues after Democrats lost the Virginia gubernatorial contest, which hinged in part on critical race theory.”
How they are looking to change the narrative: “Senate Democratic Steering Committee Chairwoman Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) organized a meeting with Democratic pollsters on Wednesday to review the surprisingly strong Republican performances in Virginia and New Jersey. One person familiar with the meeting said the message from some of the pollsters was an alarming wake-up call.”
Where do they go from here?: https://bit.ly/3oTWyZl
IN WISCONSIN
Via The Washington Post, “Five people were killed and more than 40 were injured after a driver in an SUV plowed through a Christmas parade in Waukesha, Wis., on Sunday, officials said — a violent end to the otherwise festive scene where children were dancing in the street and a marching band played ‘Jingle Bells.’ ” https://wapo.st/3oTJoLE
Who is responsible?: One person has been taken into custody.
“[Waukesha Police Chief Dan Thompson] said the investigation was still ‘very fluid’ and that it was ‘unknown at this time whether the incident has any nexus to terrorism.’ He did not comment on a possible motive.”
What we know so far: https://wapo.st/3oTJoLE
A SCENARIO INVESTIGATORS ARE LOOKING INTO:
Via The Associated Press’s Scott Bauer, Michael Balsamo and Mike Householder, investigators are looking into whether the suspect was fleeing another crime. https://yhoo.it/3FBn00v
LATEST WITH THE CORONAVIRUS
In an interview on CNN’s “State of the Union,” yesterday, Anthony Fauci said vaccinated families can “absolutely” spend the holidays together without wearing a mask. https://bit.ly/3FBnALJ
In Fauci’s words: “That’s what I’m going to do with my family. And that’s what I think people should do.
More from Fauci’s interview: https://bit.ly/3oSsD3v
‘OVER 90 PERCENT OF FEDERAL WORKERS VACCINATED BY DEADLINE, WHITE HOUSE SAYS’:
“Another roughly 5 percent are in compliance by having a valid exception or an extension request, a senior administration official said, bringing the total to 95 percent in compliance.” https://bit.ly/3kYqmmv
CASE NUMBERS:
Coronavirus cases in the U.S.: 47,734,988
U.S. death toll: 771,173
Breakdown of the numbers: https://cnn.it/2UAgW3y
VACCINATION NUMBERS:
Total number of vaccinations administered in the U.S.: 451 million shots have been given.
Seven-day average of doses administered: An average of 1.45 million doses
For context: The U.S. population is roughly 331 million.
Breakdown of the numbers: https://bloom.bg/3iVTPLH
58 YEARS AGO TODAY
You know, I’ve never seen this photo before:
Hyperlink https://bit.ly/3l0d5tp
Watch: https://bit.ly/3r0df7S
NOTABLE TWEETS:
I hope she ordered the French onion soup:
Watch: https://bit.ly/3HNkkPs
Photo of Harris and Emhoff’s table: https://bit.ly/3FEtMCA
ON TAP:
The House and Senate are out. President Biden and Vice President Harris are in Washington, D.C. Biden is heading to North Carolina this afternoon.
10 a.m. EST: President Biden and Vice President Harris received the President’s Daily Brief.
4 p.m. EST: President Biden and first lady Jill Biden travel to Fort Bragg, N.C.
6 p.m. EST: President Biden and first lady Jill Biden celebrate “Friendsgiving” with military members and military families.
9 p.m. EST: President Biden and first lady Jill Biden return to the White House.
WHAT TO WATCH:
1:20 p.m. EST: President Biden announces Jerome Powell to serve another term as the Federal Reserve Chair. Livestream: https://bit.ly/3qUyLLs
3 p.m. EST: First lady Jill Biden receives the White House Christmas Tree. Livestream: https://bit.ly/3HV93wz
3:30 p.m. EST: Vice President Harris delivers remarks on equity and our health care workforce. Livestream: https://bit.ly/3kXZOSh
4:30 p.m. EST: The White House COVID Response Team holds a press briefing. Livestream: https://bit.ly/3r7WXd8
4:50 p.m. EST: White House press secretary Jen Psaki speaks with reporters aboard Air Force One. Livestream: https://bit.ly/3FIZr69
IN LIGHTER NEWS:
Today is National Cranberry Relish Day.
Happy 95th birthday to the Gerber baby!:
Via CNN, Ann Turner Cook, who modeled as the original Gerber baby in 1928, just turned 95 years old (!) Photo — do you see the resemblance?: https://cnn.it/3kYstGU
And because you read this far on Monday, here’s an otter who is absolutely fascinated by a hot air balloon: https://bit.ly/3HHRHD2
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