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10 Things in Politics: How Biden plans to spend $2 trillion

Apr. 1, 2021
10 Things in Politics: How Biden plans to spend $2 trillion

Good morning! Welcome back to 10 Things in Politics. Sign up here to get this newsletter in your inbox each day. Send your tips and suggestions to bgriffiths@insider.com or tweet me @BrentGriffiths.

With Jordan Erb

Here's what you need to know:

1. BIDEN MAKES A MASSIVE PITCH: President Joe Biden's $2 trillion infrastructure plan seeks to reorient the US economy with a "once-in-a-generation investment" that redefines what is considered infrastructure. His expansive definition means the plan reach far beyond everyday transportation, but it also underlines the political fight that is just getting started.

Here are some key details: We also have a guide on where the money is going.

One of the most important parts may be what's not in it: Traditionally, user taxes like a gas tax fund transportation infrastructure. But, in a sign of how politically toxic that has become, the plan is instead offset by increasing the corporate tax rate to 28% and increasing the global minimum tax to 21%.

The plan's sweeping scope touches many other areas: Housing, public schools, community college, child care, higher wages for home care workers, research and development, and care for the elderly and people with disabilities all feature.

Biden pitched infrastructure as an area for bipartisan agreement: But early Republican reaction suggests this may be a tough sell. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell called the plan "a Trojan horse" full of tax increases. Sen. Rob Portman of Ohio, a potential vote, said the plan includes areas "a far cry away from what we've ever defined as infrastructure."

2. 4 people, including a child, were killed in a California shooting: "At least four people were killed, including a child, during a shooting Wednesday evening at an office complex in Orange, California, located in Orange County just south of Los Angeles." Here's what we know. A police press conference is due at 10 a.m. local time/ 1 p.m. ET.

3. Matt Gaetz's media blitz is adding to his legal woes: DOJ veterans said any professional investigator would be listening closely to Gaetz's comments in search of evidence to use against him in an indictment and trial. More on why they're saying Gaetz should remain silent.

The crowd of onlookers grew larger as officer Tou Thao sought to keep them off the street, while they yelled that Floyd was unconscious and not moving. YouTube/KARE 11

4. Derek Chauvin's defense began (kind of): For the first time ever, Chauvin or another Minneapolis officer defended their treatment of George Floyd that led to his death. Newly disclosed bodycam footage shows Chauvin defending his actions to a bystander, saying Floyd was "probably on something" and officers need to "control" him. More graphic footage was shown to jurors that shows Floyd struggling to breathe.

More takeaways from Day 3 of the trial: A bystander broke down after seeing footage of Floyd sobbing for his mother. Charles McMillian, 61, told Floyd at the time he "couldn't win" as officers were arresting him.

5. Trump is trying to bring order to his post-presidency: The former president has tapped longtime Florida political operative Susie Wiles to help lead his post-White House political operation, Insider scooped last night. Her elevation comes as Donald Trump Jr. and Trump's former campaign manager Bill Stepien have jostled with others over how to handle Trump's endorsement. More on what this could mean for 2024.

6. Georgia Republicans hit Delta after its CEO criticized its new voting law: Georgia's House voted to end a tax break on jet fuel just hours after Delta CEO Ed Bastian blasted the new law as "based on a lie," The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp and top Republicans were taken aback by Bastian and Coca-Cola CEO James Quincey bashing the law, which put two of the state's largest companies against it. More on the unfolding situation.

Here are the facts on Georgia's law: Insider's full explainer here.

7. The top things for your calendar, all times Eastern:

8. Some migrant families are being freed without any paperwork: US authorities "are releasing migrant families on the Mexican border without notices to appear in immigration court or sometimes without any paperwork at all," the Associated Press reports. The move has left migrants confused.

9. The Supreme Court appears poised to hand a victory to college athletes: Justices grilled the NCAA about its restrictions on compensation, questioning whether the organization that governs major college sports should still be entitled to anti-trust exemptions. Justice Brett Kavanaugh went so far as to question whether such an exemption has led to "the exploitation of college athletes." More on the case here.

VW's rebrand was all just a late-March April Fools' Day prank. Volkswagen/Tim Levin

10. Not everyone is amped over Volkswagen's early April Fools' Day joke: The automaker said it would rebrand as "Voltswagen," signaling its commitment to electric mobility. Unfortunately, almost no one got the joke — including Wall Street. Volkswagen's stock popped more than 10% Tuesday. Here's how a prank gone wrong affected the company's stock. Reporters are also understandably upset too.

One last thing.

Today's trivia question: Who was the first sitting president to throw out a ceremonial first pitch? Email your guess and a suggested question to me at bgriffiths@insider.com.


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