POLITICO Tech

Lady Gaga. Garth Brooks. Billy Joel. Those are some of the celebs the health department wanted for a taxpayer-funded advertising campaign to “defeat despair” about the coronavirus. Instead, they got Dennis Quaid and some lesser-known musicians. POLITICO’s Dan Diamond breaks down the sputtering ad blitz and why it’s getting scrutiny from lawmakers. Plus, the presidential debate commission says it’ll change formats after Tuesday night’s debacle. And a judge delays the release of grand jury recordings in the Breonna Taylor case.Dan Diamond is health policy 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.POLITICO's Daniel Lippman first put the spotlight on HHS' campaign. Read more:HHS bids $250 million contract meant to 'defeat despair and inspire hope' on coronavirusHHS ad blitz sputters as celebrities back away Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Interruptions. Insults. Chaos. POLITICO's Gabby Orr breaks down the key moments from Tuesday night's showdown between President Trump and Joe Biden — and what it all means for the final stretch of the campaign. Plus, the Senate is on track to avert a government shutdown. And Amy Coney Barrett doesn't pledge to recuse herself from 2020 election cases in a Senate questionnaire.Gabby Orr is a White House 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: The most bitter clashes from Trump and Biden's first debate showdown Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

All eyes were on President Trump's pick for the Supreme Court. Then, The New York Times released a bombshell on Sunday showing that Trump has paid next to nothing in federal income taxes in recent years. POLITICO's Natasha Korecki breaks down why the report puts the President in a tricky position ahead of his first debate with Joe Biden tonight. Plus, the White House is shipping 100,000 rapid Covid tests to U.S. states. And massive airline layoffs could hit in a matter of days.Natasha Korecki is a national 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For the right, her nomination seals the deal on a conservative majority for years to come. To the left, it's a rushed political attempt to undo abortion rights and Obamacare. POLITICO's Nancy Cook breaks down the partisan fight brewing over President Trump's Supreme Court nominee, Amy Coney Barrett. Plus, new polling shows Biden ahead in two key swing states. And both campaigns have agreed on details for Tuesday night's debate.Nancy Cook is a White House 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

The killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor sparked a summer of outrage and calls for legislative action. But months later, not much has happened. POLITICO’s Nolan McCaskill looks at why police reform efforts have hit a wall — and whether this week’s renewed outrage over Taylor's killing could inspire tangible legislative change. Plus, House Democrats are reworking the Covid relief proposal. And U.S. cyber officials are urging the public not to panic about election hacking.Nolan McCaskill 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

With kids at home and classes online, students are extra reliant on technology. But that's not an easy lift in lower-income districts that lack funding and resources. POLITICO's Nicole Gaudiano and Maya King explain how the pandemic — and decades of education policy — have exacerbated the digital divide. Plus, a Republican-led report investigating Joe Biden and his son doesn't really have anything new in it. And California's governor wants to ban gas-fueled cars by 2035.Nicole Gaudiano is an education reporter for POLITICO.Maya King covers race, demographics and the 2020 election 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 2016, Russia and China attacked American democracy by muddying the political discourse online. The virtual strikes, which included disinformation campaigns, online bots, and e-mail server hackings, marked one of the most direct interferences into American democracy by foreign actors in history. POLITICO's Steven Overly, on the lessons learned from the 2016 attacks, and how the federal government and tech giants are preparing to secure the 2020 election.Steven Overly covers technology policy for POLITICO.Carlos Prieto is a podcast producer for POLITICO.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

Just a handful of states could decide who becomes the next president. POLITICO reporters from across the country break down what it will take for Donald Trump and Joe Biden to win over the most critical voters.Laura Barrón-López is a national political reporter for POLITICO.David Siders is a national political correspondent for POLITICO.Natasha Korecki is a national correspondent for POLITICO.Marc Caputo covers Florida and the 2020 election 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: The 8 states where 2020 will be won or lost: A POLITICO deep dive Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Just a handful of states could decide who becomes the next president. POLITICO reporters from across the country break down what it will take for Donald Trump and Joe Biden to win over the most critical voters.Tim Alberta is chief political correspondent for POLITICO.Elena Schneider is a national political reporter for POLITICO.Holly Otterbein covers the 2020 race for POLITICO.Michael Kruse is a senior staff writer 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: The 8 states where 2020 will be won or lost: A POLITICO deep dive Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's the semester nobody wanted: Kids sitting at home behind monitors, teachers trying to figure out how to unmute themselves and parents stuck wondering whether their children are going to lose a year of education. POLITICO's Renuka Rayasam looks at a school year unlike any other. Plus, Pennsylvania's Supreme Court extends the due date for mail ballots. And the House delays a vote on marijuana legalization.Renuka Rayasam covers the coronavirus pandemic for POLITICO and writes the POLITICO Nightly newsletter.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