A Tough Choice

Joe Biden has to make a consequential decision soon. Plus: The latest on coronavirus relief. [Joe Biden with Kamala Harris at a campaign rally.]( Jeff Kowalsky/AFP via Getty Images The Big Picture: A Tough Choice Even though the coronavirus pandemic is still dominating everyone’s lives, presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden has to make a consequential choice soon. He has to pick his vice presidential running mate. Biden has said he will pick a woman, but which woman? He has plenty to choose from. We have identified a [dozen women]( from Sens. Kamala Harris and Elizabeth Warren to Nevada Sen. Catherine Cortez-Masto and Georgia’s Stacey Abrams. The vice-presidential pick usually doesn’t mean much, but this year could be different. With Biden‘s age – he would be 78 and the oldest person ever to be sworn in as president — he knows it’s important to pick somebody who will be ready for the top job on day one. Biden is being pressured to pick a woman of color, but he also has to consider whether to select someone who might fire up the progressive left or someone who won’t alienate the middle. It’s not an easy choice. We lay out the pros and cons of each of the picks. [Read more]( — Domenico Montanaro, NPR’s senior political editor/correspondent --------------------------------------------------------------- [Dr. Anthony Fauci testifies virtually before a Senate hearing.]( Win McNamee/Pool/AFP via Getty Images Politics Roundup: The Coronavirus Crisis Keeping track of Congress’ relief bills: House lawmakers approved a plan to [add another $3 trillion in aid]( to address the coronavirus crisis. It’s the largest fiscal relief measure approved by a chamber during the pandemic. Congress has already authorized $3 trillion in relief in four separate measures. [Keep track of what the bills have funded](. FDA warns on testing reliability: The FDA is cautioning that a commonly used rapid test for the coronavirus, made by Abbott Laboratories, produces [falsely negative results](. The test has been promoted by the Trump administration as a key factor in controlling the pandemic and is used for daily testing at the White House. White House distancing: After Vice President Pence’s press secretary and President Trump’s valet tested positive for the coronavirus, the two leaders have been [keeping their distance]( on the advice of the White House Medical Unit. Top doc testifies: Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease expert, virtually joined a Senate health committee hearing to speak about the coronavirus pandemic. Fauci expressed his concern on a [premature opening of states]( saying “little spikes” could turn into outbreaks. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., had [sharp words]( for Fauci, telling him “I don't think you're the one person who gets to make a decision." Scientist-turned-whistleblower testifies: Rick Bright, who filed a complaint after being removed from his government post working on the coronavirus, [told a congressional panel]( he raised alarms about critical supply shortages early on. He said without a stronger federal response, the coronavirus could make 2020 the “darkest winter in modern history.” — Barbara Sprunt, NPR Politics producer --------------------------------------------------------------- Newsletter continues after sponsor message --------------------------------------------------------------- [mail-in voting]( Megan Jelinger/AFP via Getty Images ICYMI: Top Stories Explaining Michael Flynn’s “unmasking”: Acting Director of National Intelligence Richard Grenell declassified the names of a number of Obama-era officials who requested intelligence linked to former national security adviser Michael Flynn. [Here's what you need to know]( about the practice of "unmasking" — a common action for senior government officials. Burr steps aside from Intel: Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Richard Burr, R-N.C., is [stepping aside from that role]( during a Justice Department investigation of his stock trades before the coronavirus pandemic caused markets to crash. A senior DOJ official told NPR that the FBI executed a search warrant Wednesday and seized Burr's cellphone. SCOTUS arguments: The Supreme Court heard arguments in historic cases this week on [whether President Trump’s pre-presidential financial records]( are immune to subpoena. Listen back to [all of this week’s cases here](. No more office sleep?: Dozens of members of Congress [sleep in their own offices](. But the coronavirus pandemic has revived calls to ban the practice for health and safety reasons. GOP officials and vote-by-mail: Some state Republican officials campaigned on warnings of voter fraud. Now, [they're facing opposition]( from members of their own party as they try to expand voting-by-mail during the coronavirus pandemic. — Brandon Carter, NPR Politics social media producer --------------------------------------------------------------- [Don Gonyea's studio]( Don Gonyea/NPR The Shot: Quiet, Please NPR’s Don Gonyea is leaning into the quarantine with a new addition to his basement office. With a stick-on light, red electrical tape and Sharpie, he made a sign that is a remnant from some past NPR workspaces at some long ago political convention. [Follow Don on Instagram]( What do you think of today's email? We'd love to hear your thoughts, questions and feedback: [nprpolitics@npr.org](mailto:nprpolitics@npr.org?subject=Newsletter%20Feedback) Enjoying this newsletter? Forward to a friend! They can [sign up here](. Looking for more great content? [Check out all of our newsletter offerings]( — including Daily News, Code Switch, Health and more! You received this message because you're subscribed to Politics emails. This email was sent by National Public Radio, Inc., 1111 North Capitol Street NE, Washington, DC 20002 [Unsubscribe]( | [Privacy Policy](