Biden Tested By Unscripted Crises

Economic issues and violence in the Middle East challenge the president [View this email online]( [NPR]( [( Elijah Nouvelage/Bloomberg via Getty Images The Big Picture: Looming Crises President Biden [continues to get good marks]( for his handling of the most pressing issue of the day — the coronavirus pandemic. He also remains on average [above 50%]( for his handling of the economy, which is closely tied to COVID-19. But as things start to open up more and get back to normal, there are crises or potential crises looming on the horizon. We’ve seen for a while that Americans have had [less confidence in his handling of immigration]( for example. There has been a surge of migrants at the Southern U.S. border, and the Biden administration has struggled to respond — with critics on [the right]( and [the left](. This week, some new things got added to Biden’s plate. [Inflation was the economic word of the week](. It went higher than expected, which sent some jitters through Wall Street. Gas prices are up, and renewed travel this summer looks likely to keep them high. [Long gas lines]( across the East Coast, due to the ransomware attack on a major pipeline, [have caused a degree of panic]( at the pump. ([Remember]( do not fill plastic bags with gasoline.) Add onto that [smaller-than-expected job growth]( at the beginning of the month and [burgeoning Middle East fighting](. Much of this is out of Biden’s control, and the White House sees inflation, for example, as a temporary COVID-related blip. But Republicans have already seized on inflation and gas prices and are already attempting to compare Biden to Jimmy Carter. Let’s be clear: This is not close to the 1970s yet. Inflation was [4.2%]( not [14%](. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t a potential political problem out there for Biden. The president has shown a desire to stay the course on his agenda. Just this week, [he had two meetings on his infrastructure proposal]( trying to negotiate a bipartisan bill. But every president has to deal with unscripted crises. And Biden’s ability to handle them is about to be tested. — Domenico Montanaro, NPR’s senior political editor/correspondent [Read more]( --------------------------------------------------------------- Newsletter continues after sponsor message --------------------------------------------------------------- Alex Wong/Getty Images ICYMI: Top Stories New mask guidance: The CDC says that adults fully vaccinated against the coronavirus can [safely resume activities indoors or outdoors without masks or distancing]( in gatherings large or small. Masks will still be required on [planes, trains, buses and other forms of transportation](. Republicans oust Cheney: House Republicans voted this week [to remove Rep. Liz Cheney as conference chair]( in retaliation for her criticism of former President Donald Trump and his false claims about the 2020 election. They later voted [to replace her with Rep. Elise Stefanik]( who began her career in Congress as a moderate but has [since transformed into a staunch Trump loyalist](. Insurrection commission: House lawmakers reached a deal on [a bipartisan commission to investigate the Jan. 6 insurrection]( at the U.S. Capitol and to recommend changes to further protect the complex. The 9/11-style commission would have subpoena power and would be required to issue a report of its findings by Dec. 31. Biden cyber order: President Biden signed [an executive order aimed at boosting U.S. cybersecurity]( by updating security standards for government networks and creating a new playbook for federal response to cyber incidents. A White House official says the order "reflects a fundamental shift in our mindset from incident response to prevention, from talking about security to doing security." Arizona voting law: Arizona GOP Gov. Doug Ducey signed a new bill that [could remove tens of thousands of voters]( from the state's early-ballot mailing list. The law could remove voters from the list if they don't use their early ballot at least once in two straight two-year election cycles. — Brandon Carter, NPR Politics social media producer --------------------------------------------------------------- [Illustration of a person in prison]( Cornelia Li for NPR Going Deeper Hard time: “Old Law” prisoners, or federal prisoners who committed crimes prior to the abolition of parole, are having difficulties getting out of the system. Such is the case for [66-year-old Kent Clark]( who was involved in complicated robbery and home invasion in 1985 where he was also accused of rape. He was sentenced to life but is now finding it increasingly difficult to care for himself in prison. ([See our series on parole and second chances here]( Is Biden more FDR or LBJ?: Sam Sanders sat down with Doris Kearns Goodwin, one of the preeminent presidential historians in the United States, for [the latest episode of It’s Been A Minute](. Goodwin, who recently participated in a private meeting with Biden and a group of esteemed historians, discusses Biden’s similarities and differences with presidents of the past and his first 100 days in office. — Claire Oby, NPR Politics intern --------------------------------------------------------------- [Members of the Montana Conservation Corps]( Claire Harbage/NPR The Shot: Back To The New Deal President Biden is proposing to bring back an FDR-era program — but this time with a new mission for the 21st century. The Civilian Climate Corps would seek to combat climate change, strengthen the country's natural defenses and maintain its ailing public lands. NPR followed a group of young people already engaged in a similar program in Montana to document what this kind of program could look like and what would need to change from the Civilian Conservation Corps of the 1930s (inclusivity, for starters). — Claire Oby, NPR Politics intern [Read more]( --------------------------------------------------------------- Stream your local NPR station. Visit NPR.org to find your local station stream. --------------------------------------------------------------- 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=Saturday%20Newsletter%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. 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