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After more than two months in office, President Biden gave his first press conference on Thursday. Spoiler: It wasn’t that exciting. POLITICO’s Emily Cadei breaks down why the most notable moments came in the questions that Biden didn’t answer — and the questions that the press didn’t ask. Plus, the FEC says members of Congress can use campaign cash to hire bodyguards. And Pelosi urges California Democrats not to run in the Gov. Newsom recall.Emily Cadei is POLITICO's deputy White House 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: Biden meets the press and the pandemic disappears Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There are PR disasters … and then there’s whatever the heck happened with AstraZeneca this week. POLITICO’s Sarah Owermohle breaks down how and why the drug maker got into a public spat with U.S. health officials over the efficacy of its Covid vaccine. Plus, Biden makes Harris the point person on immigration issues. And Virginia bans the death penalty.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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the aftermath of the Sandy Hook shooting in 2012, President Obama tapped then-Vice President Biden to help push through gun reforms, but they ended up going nowhere in the Senate. Now, in the aftermath of two mass shootings in less than a week, Biden’s hoping to avoid a repeat — and activists are wondering why he isn’t doing more. POLITICO’s Anita Kumar reports. Plus, Biden extends the special enrollment season for Obamacare. And the Government Accountability Office launches an investigation into Biden's freeze on border wall funding.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 wants quick action on gun violence, even as he moves slowly Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the aftermath of last week’s mass shooting in Georgia that killed eight people — six of them women of Asian descent — activists, political leaders and the Asian American community are grieving and calling for justice. POLITICO’s Maya King and Catherine Kim report from a rally and a prayer service held in Atlanta over the weekend. Plus, Biden taps a prominent tech industry critic to join the FTC. And the U.S. and some allies announce sanctions on China.Catherine Kim is a reporter for POLITICO.Maya King covers race and politics 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 in The Recast newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

U.S. and Chinese officials met in Alaska for their first in-person talks under the Biden administration last week and things ... got pretty testy. POLITICO’s Stuart Lau gives the play-by-play for a meeting he says “was as frosty as the weather suggests.” Plus, lawmakers condemn violence against Asians and Asian Americans. And Republican Julia Letlow wins a special election to replace her late husband in Congress.Stuart Lau is POLITICO Europe's China correspondent.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 in the China Direct newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

POLITICO’s Sabrina Rodriguez looks at how and why migration is surging — and explains why we should pay more attention to the stories of asylum seekers. Plus, Sen. Coons considers calling for testimony from Facebook and Twitter’s CEOs. And more New Yorkers want Cuomo gone, just not immediately.Sabrina Rodriguez is an immigration correspondent 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 administration lacks a system for tracking Covid at the southern borderMayorkas defends Biden administration's handling of border situationRepublicans take Trump's playbook to the border Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

More than half of the countries in the EU have paused AstraZeneca vaccinations amid panic that the shot could cause blood clots — despite lack of evidence. POLITICO Europe’s Sarah Wheaton breaks down the three reasons why Europe freaked out. Plus, the White House defends a controversial measure in the Democratic Covid package. And the IRS pushes back Tax Day.Sarah Wheaton is POLITICO Europe's chief policy correspondent.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:Politics threaten to cloud EU countries’ pause of Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccineMore countries pause Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine against EU regulator’s advice Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2020 sucked for all of us. But it was really bad for California Gov. Gavin Newsom. POLITICO’s Kevin Yamamura reports on an effort to get him kicked out of office that could go to voters this year. Plus, Biden will hold his first news conference later this month. And intelligence officials say Russia tried to interfere in the November election.Kevin Yamamura is POLITICO's California 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

New documents obtained by POLITICO shed light on the FTC’s decision not to file an antitrust suit against Google in 2013, allowing the company to grow into the giant that it is today. Leah Nylen reports on how regulators appear to have misread the evidence in front of their eyes. Plus, Rep. Deb Haaland becomes first-ever Native American in a presidential Cabinet. And the FAA plans to extend its unruly passengers policy.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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

An 84-year-old man body-slammed in a driveway. A 27-year-old Air Force veteran jumped and called racial slurs in LA's Chinatown. POLITICO’s Irene Noguchi reports on the rise in anti-Asian attacks. Plus, Dr. Fauci warns that pulling back safety measures could delay Biden’s goal for a semi-normal Fourth of July. And Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen defends Biden’s stimulus package.Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO audio.Jeremy Siegel is a host for POLITICO Dispatch.Jenny Ament is the senior producer of POLITICO audio.Read about how race and identity are shaping politics, policy and power in The Recast newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices