“If we miss this opportunity, God help us.” Joe Manchin and Lisa Murkowski. Two moderate senators smack in the middle — and on either side — of a split 50-50 Senate. On our first episode of Playbook Deep Dive, the two friends open up in a rare interview with POLITICO’s Burgess Everett. They get personal: about reconciliation, frustration over the Senate’s hurdles — even why Murkowski hogs the best fishing holes. And Manchin reveals a major endorsement, heard first on this show.

Subscribe to our new weekly politics show, Playbook Deep Dive, wherever you listen to podcasts.

Rachael Bade is a co-author of POLITICO Playbook.
Burgess Everett is co-congressional bureau chief at POLITICO.
Adrienne Hurst is a producer for POLITICO audio.
Annie Rees is a producer for POLITICO audio.
Jenny Ament is senior producer for POLITICO audio.
Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO audio.

Special thanks to Elana Schor, Anthony Adragna and Ben Lefebvre

SHOW NOTES

• Democrat Manchin backs Republican Murkowski's reelection, by Burgess Everett

Presenting a sponsored episode of “Global Translations”: 

Over the past year, businesses, employees and families across the globe were forced to rethink what it means to “go to work.” Now, with the COVID-19 vaccine rollout underway, many corporate leaders are focused on ensuring the return to work is equitable for all employees.

In 2006, a young man holding no political office brought down a 180+ years program and reshaped Congress forever. Scott Bland talks to POLITICO magazine reporter Zack Stanton, a former House page who leaked transcripts of sexual messages that former Congressman Mark Foley sent to teen pages... which resulted in his resignation and torpedoed the Republican hold on power for years.

Scott Bland is a politics editor at POLITICO.
Zack Stanton is an editor at POLITICO magazine. 
Annie Rees is a producer for POLITICO audio.
Jenny Ament is senior producer for POLITICO audio.
Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO audio.

Read the full POLITICO Magazine article here: 
https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2015/11/the-page-who-took-down-the-gop-mark-foley-dennis-hastert-213378

On a special episode of POLITICO's Nerdcast:

"It became clear that Scott Pruitt had sought to purchase a used mattress from the Trump hotel. And I thought, 'This is not what I expected this job would look like.'" At the close of Donald Trump's presidency, POLITICO's reporters and editors share their strongest memories of the last four years. Shocking moments they witnessed, conversations they overheard and what will stay with them forever. Plus, new Playbook co-author Tara Palmeri talks to Scott Bland about what she really wants to see in Biden's first days in office.

Scott Bland is a politics editor at POLITICO.
Tara Palmeri is a POLITICO Playbook co-author. 
Annie Rees is a producer for POLITICO audio.
Jenny Ament is senior producer for POLITICO audio.
Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO audio.

"Off Message" presents Episode 9 of the new season of POLITICO's podcast "Global Translations": 

The pandemic sent shockwaves through a global labor market already upended by digitization and the green energy transition. It left tens of millions jobless and amplified skills gaps. Even as we spent trillions keeping the economy on life support, investment in the skills of the future has been scarce. So how do we get the right skills to the right people, to get the economy motoring again? Hosts Ryan Heath and Luiza Savage speak with experts about these major labor disruptions.

Ryan Heath is the host of "Global Translations". 
Luiza Savage is a host of "Global Translations".
Saadia Zahidi is a managing director at the World Economic Forum.
Marianne Wanamaker is a economics professor at the University of Tennessee and former chief domestic economist on the White House Council of Economic Advisors.

Annie Rees is a producer for POLITICO Audio. 
Kara Tabor is a producer for POLITICO Audio. 
Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio. 
Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

Check out Ryan Heath's article on how workers are struggling for skills support here: 
https://www.politico.com/news/2021/01/06/workers-are-struggling-for-skills-support-during-pandemic-455063

And check out the other POLITICO newsletters: 

Global Translations: https://www.politico.com/newsletters/global-translations
Weekly Shift (labor): https://www.politico.com/newsletters/weekly-shift
Transition Playbook: https://www.politico.com/newsletters/transition-playbook
 

"Off Message" presents Episode 8 of the new season of POLITICO's podcast "Global Translations": 

[Sponsored Content] As the world looks to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to net zero by 2050, the financial sector is playing a critical role in facilitating this low-carbon transition through the deployment of innovative financing solutions and by rethinking how climate risk is analyzed and managed.

"Off Message" presents Episode 7 of the new season of POLITICO's podcast "Global Translations": 

What will it take to secure access to the critical minerals we need for the future — and can we solve one environmental challenge without creating a new one? Hosts Luiza Savage and Ryan Heath talk to political leaders around the world about what they are doing to shore up access to critical minerals. 

Luiza Savage is the host of "Global Translations".
Ryan Heath is a host of "Global Translations". 
Annie Rees is a producer for POLITICO Audio. 
Kara Tabor is a producer for POLITICO Audio. 
Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio. 
Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) is Chairman of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
Ambassador Kirsten Hillman is Canada’s Ambassador to the United States
EU Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič is Vice-President of the European Commission for Interinstitutional Relations

Read Luiza Savage's article on how US, Canada & Europe's policymakers are scrambling to secure critical minerals to develop clean energy:
https://www.politico.com/news/2020/12/09/renewables-mining-clean-energy-443844

And check out the other POLITICO newsletters: 

Global Translations: https://www.politico.com/newsletters/global-translations
Morning Energy: https://www.politico.com/morningenergy/
The Long Game: https://www.politico.com/newsletters/the-long-game
China Watcher: politico.com/china
Morning Tech: https://www.politico.com/morningtech/

"Off Message" presents Episode 6 of the new season of POLITICO's podcast "Global Translations": 

To understand how essential critical minerals are to our world, we turn to a case study: cobalt. This mineral is proving key to the future of green energy, defense and high tech manufacturing — not to mention electric vehicles. But cobalt has its challenges. Hosts Luiza Savage and Ryan Heath look at China’s dominant role in global cobalt mining and the serious problems that can arise if other countries can't get enough supplies.

Luiza Savage is the host of "Global Translations".
Ryan Heath is a host of "Global Translations". 
Annie Rees is a producer for POLITICO Audio. 
Kara Tabor is a producer for POLITICO Audio. 
Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio. 
Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

Nedal T. Nassar is Chief of Materials Flow Analysis Section at the U.S. Geological Survey.
Bryce Crocker is the CEO of Jervois Mining
Aimee Boulanger is the executive director of Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA)

Read Luiza Savage's article on how America got outmaneuvered in a critical mining race:
https://www.politico.com/news/2020/12/02/china-cobalt-mining-441967

And check out the other POLITICO newsletters: 

Global Translations: https://www.politico.com/newsletters/global-translations
Morning Energy: https://www.politico.com/morningenergy/
The Long Game: https://www.politico.com/newsletters/the-long-game
China Watcher: politico.com/china
Morning Tech: https://www.politico.com/morningtech/
 

"Off Message" presents Episode 5 of the new season of POLITICO's podcast "Global Translations": 

The technologies that protect us, move us and power our daily lives require mining minerals and metalsin distant places. But access to these essential materials is increasingly under threat. Hosts Luiza Savage and Ryan Heath talk with experts who are sounding the alarm. 

Luiza Savage is the host of "Global Translations".
Ryan Heath is a host of "Global Translations". 
Annie Rees is a producer for POLITICO Audio. 
Kara Tabor is a producer for POLITICO Audio. 
Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio. 
Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

Sharon Burke is a senior advisor for the International Security Program and Resource Security Program at New America. 
Nedal T. Nassar is Chief of Materials Flow Analysis Section at the U.S. Geological Survey.
Tom Duesterberg is a senior fellow at Hudson Institute. He is an expert on trade and foreign policy. 

Luiza Savage's article on how America's dependence on critical minerals from China: https://www.politico.com/news/2020/11/18/china-could-strangle-biden-agenda-437171

And check out the other POLITICO newsletters: 

Global Translations: https://www.politico.com/newsletters/global-translations
Morning Energy: https://www.politico.com/morningenergy/
The Long Game: https://www.politico.com/newsletters/the-long-game
China Watcher: politico.com/china
Morning Tech: https://www.politico.com/morningtech/

"Off Message" presents Episode 3 of the new season of POLITICO's podcast "Global Translations": 

The pandemic and the rise of China are prompting Republicans and Democrats to turn to government power to grow industries important to America’s security and place in the world. “Industrial policy” is an idea long reviled among Washington policymakers. Hosts Luiza Savage and Ryan Heath talk to the people trying to make industrial policy cool again.

Luiza Savage is the host of "Global Translations".
Ryan Heath is a host of "Global Translations". 
Annie Rees is a producer for POLITICO Audio. 
Kara Tabor is a producer for POLITICO Audio. 
Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio. 
Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

Jennifer Harris  is a sentior fellow at the Hewlett Foundation, formerly at the US State Department during the Obama administration.
Mariana Mazzucato is an internationally recognized economist and professor at University College London (UCL), and Founder/Director of UCL's Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose.

Check out and subscribe to POLITICO's Global Translations, and China Watcher newsletters. Read Luiza Savage's article on the new industrial policy emerging in the US to counter China's ascent.

Global Translations newsletter: https://www.politico.com/newsletters/global-translations
China Watcher newsletter: https://www.politico.com/newsletters/politico-china-watcher

POLITICO article: https://www.politico.com/news/2020/11/04/china-us-economy-industrial-policy-global-translation-433954

"Off Message" presents the second episode of the new season of POLITICO's podcast "Global Translations": 

Once there is a working Covid vaccine, manufacturers across the globe will need to scale up production to produce billions of doses — meaning billions of pharmaceutical-grade glass vials, rubber stoppers, packaging and storage and refrigeration. In a special airing of POLITICO's Global Translations podcast, hosts Luiza Savage and Ryan Heath look at the challenges of making enough vaccines for the world.

Luiza Savage is the host of "Global Translations"
Ryan Heath is a host of "Global Translations"
Annie Rees is a producer for POLITICO Audio
Kara Tabor is a producer for POLITICO Audio
Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio
Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio

Sarah Owermohle is a POLITICO health reporter covering vaccines. 
Dr. Anthony Fauci is the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
Jim Robinson is a former MERCK executive (manufacturing lead for ebola project); currently with CEPI (Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations).
Dan Diamond is a POLITICO health care reporter and the host of the "Pulse Check" podcast and newsletter. 

Check out and subscribe to POLITICO's Global Translations, POLITICO Pulse, and Global Pulse newsletters. Read Luiza Savage's article on why nationalism is the next big challenge for Covid-19 vaccines. 

Global Translations newsletter: https://www.politico.com/newsletters/global-translations
POLITICO Pulse newsletter: https://www.politico.com/politicopulse/
Global Pulse newsletter: https://www.politico.com/newsletters/global-pulse
POLITICO article: "The next vaccine challenge: Nationalism": https://www.politico.com/news/2020/10/28/covid-vaccine-challenge-nationalism-433023