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“If we miss this opportunity, God help us.” Joe Manchin and Lisa Murkowski. Two moderate senators smack in the middle — and on either side — of a split 50-50 Senate. On the first episode of Playbook Deep Dive, a new POLITICO podcast, the two friends open up in a rare interview with POLITICO’s Burgess Everett. They get personal: about reconciliation, frustration over the Senate’s hurdles — even why Murkowski hogs the best fishing holes. And Manchin reveals a major endorsement, heard first on this show.Rachael Bade is a co-author of POLITICO Playbook.Burgess Everett is co-congressional bureau chief at POLITICO.Adrienne Hurst is a producer for POLITICO audio.Annie Rees is a producer for POLITICO audio.Jenny Ament is senior producer for POLITICO audio.Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO audio.Subscribe to Playbook Deep Dive. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The NRA is decimated and the GOP is out of power. For Sen. Chris Murphy, it’s an opportunity to do what’s been undoable for the past two decades. But as POLITICO’s Nicholas Wu reports, partisan gridlock might be unavoidable when it comes to gun legislation. Plus, Senate Democrats reject Republicans’ counterproposal to Biden’s infrastructure package. And 200 million Americans now have received vaccinations.Nicholas Wu covers Congress 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Guilty on all three counts. But is it justice? POLITICO’s Brakkton Booker breaks down why activists say yesterday’s verdict is only the beginning. Plus, GOP senators float a $600-800 billion infrastructure counteroffer. And the U.S. considers more weapons shipments to Ukraine.Brakkton Booker is a national correspondent and author of The Recast newsletter 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:Chauvin is guilty. Now comes the hard road ahead.Is the Chauvin Verdict an Outlier — or a Sign of Transformation?Celebration is laced with warnings after Derek Chauvin conviction Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For nearly two decades, U.S. presidents have followed the advice of top military leaders and kept troops in Afghanistan. But last week President Biden ovverode the brass and announced a complete withdrawal. POLITICO’s Lara Seligman gives the inside story of how Biden’s team "sidelined’’ the Pentagon. Plus, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau cracks down on debt collectors evicting tenants. And Yellen’s pick for the Treasury’s climate czar sparks backlash on the left.Lara Seligman is a Pentagon 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:How Biden’s team overrode the brass on AfghanistanPentagon expects Afghanistan withdrawal orders 'ASAP' as fears of Taliban attacks grow Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kids aren’t just months behind in their classes, they’ve also been cut off from a key support system during the pandemic. POLITICO’s Delece Smith-Barrow — who sat down with a group of education leaders from across the nation to talk about bold, new ideas for post-pandemic schooling — breaks down how we can get schoolkids back on track. Plus, half of U.S. adults have now received a Covid shot. And Biden’s national security adviser warns “there will be consequences” for Russia if Navalny dies. This episode was produced as part of Recovery Lab, a new project from POLITICO on how to recover from the pandemic.Delece Smith-Barrow is POLITICO's education editor.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 to get schoolkids back on trackOnline school. Poor technology. Declining enrollments.Covid-19 changed education in America — permanently Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With tattoos and the looks of a WWE body double, Pennsylvania Lieutenant Governor John Fetterman isn’t your average politician. He says that will help win over working class Trump voters in his bid to flip an open Senate seat in 2022, but he’s facing resistance from fellow Democrats who think the party should pick the most progressive candidate possible — not another white man with Rust Belt appeal. POLITICO’s Holly Otterbein reports on how the race has become an inflection point in the party. Plus, Speaker Pelosi says she won’t bring progressive “court packing” legislation to the floor. And House Minority Leader McCarthy meets with scandal-ridden Congressman Matt Gaetz.Holly Otterbein is a national political 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sure, vaccines are the talk of the town. But Covid testing will still play a massive role in the return to some semblance of normalcy. POLITICO's David Lim reports on what's next for Covid tests — in schools and at home. Plus, prosecutors will not charge the U.S. Capitol Police officer who fatally shot a rioter on Jan. 6. And the White House Correspondents' Association cancels its 2021 dinner.David Lim is a health care reporter for POLITICO.Jeremy Siegel  is a host for POLITICO Dispatch.Jenny Ament is the senior producer of POLITICO audio.Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO audio.Subscribe to the Prescription Pulse newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

POLITICO’s Sarah Owermohle is one of more than 6 million people who got the Johnson & Johnson coronavirus vaccine before regulators pressed the pause button over fears of extremely rare blood clotting events. Owermohle joins Dispatch to break down regulators’ decision to halt the J&J shots — and what it could mean for vaccine hesitancy. Plus, new data shows that 80 percent of student loan borrowers would have their debt completely erased if Biden agrees to a progressive proposal. And HUD moves to restore fair housing rules weakened under Trump.Sarah Owermohle is a health care reporter for POLITICO.Jeremy Siegel  is a host for POLITICO Dispatch.Jenny Ament is the senior producer of POLITICO audio.Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO audio.Read more: Biden officials bracing for possibility of weekslong disruption to J&J vaccine supply Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Who is “Kacey Montagu”? POLITICO’s Christopher Cadelago tells the wild and weird story of how a fictitious correspondent rose from the depths of internet role playing to the White House briefing room. Plus, Biden plans to nominate Pentagon veteran Christine Wormuth to be the first female Army secretary. And Secretary of State Blinken names Gina Abercrombie-Winstanley as the department’s newly created chief diversity and inclusion officer.Christopher Cadelago is a White House reporter for POLITICO (seriously).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 an online ‘Lego’ gamer infiltrated the White House press corps Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Almost a year ago, the Navajo Nation had the worst Covid infection rate in America. Now, it's vaccinated more of its population than any state. Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez talks with Dispatch’s Jeremy Siegel about how the nation fought back against the virus. Plus, Secretary of State Blinken says China has been forthright on the virus. And some Republican leaders aren’t pleased with Trump’s fiery Mar-a-Lago speech over the weekend.Jonathan Nez is the President of the Navajo Nation.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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices