The Point: The difficulty of deal-making

View this email in your browser   April 23, 2021  | by Lauren Dezenski, Chris Cillizza and Sonnet Swire The difficulty of deal-making It felt like the nation waited with bated breath this week as the jury deliberated -- and then delivered -- three guilty verdicts in ex-police officer Derek Chauvin's murder trial in the death of George Floyd.    But in Washington, Congress' latest efforts to answer this seemingly intractable issue, via a bipartisan, sweeping police reform bill, have hit stumbling blocks. That includes a major split over Democrats' efforts to make it easier to criminally prosecute police officers. GOP Sen. Tim Scott called the change "off the table for me."    There was some common ground between the parties, at least in the upper chamber. The Senate overwhelmingly passed a bill denouncing discrimination against Asian communities in the United States and creating a new position at the Justice Department to expedite reviews of potential Covid-19-related hate crimes.    The lone dissenting vote came from Missouri's Republican Sen. Josh Hawley -- which is a whole other story. The bill now goes to the House before being signed into law by President Joe Biden.   Congressional Republicans also rolled out their own infrastructure proposal, and they're keeping it traditional by largely limiting it to roads, bridges, ports and broadband. The price tag also includes fewer zeros: a just-shy-of $600 billion cost estimate -- still dwarfed by Democrats' multi-trillion-dollar proposal.    Biden made another big move on the global stage -- virtually, it is still a pandemic, after all -- by recommitting the United States to significantly reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, as outlined by the Paris climate accord.    The Point: Whether in life or in Congress, tackling big issues with people you don't always agree with is hard! But that doesn't mean it shouldn't be done.    -- Lauren QUOTE OF THE DAY "We are not a match." -- A dating app user's response to a Capitol rioter bragging about his exploits on January 6. The user then turned the rioter in to the Department of Justice. THE WEEK IN 12 HEADLINES This week, the White House sought to push forward its climate goals. Meanwhile, Derek Chauvin's murder conviction energized the fight for police reform on Capitol Hill.   Monday Walter 'Fritz' Mondale, former vice president under Jimmy Carter, dead at 93 White House backtracks after Biden calls border situation a 'crisis' Tuesday Biden says verdict in Chauvin trial could be a step toward racial justice in America and urges country to come together White House considers broad range of migration plans ahead of Harris visit to Central America Wednesday Biden calls for businesses to give paid time off for employees to get vaccinated as he touts 200 million shots Justice Department to investigate Minneapolis policing practices after George Floyd's death Thursday Biden announces US will aim to cut carbon emissions by as much as 52% by 2030 at virtual climate summit Democratic push to make it easier to prosecute officers emerges as sticking point in policing bill talks Senate overwhelmingly passes anti-Asian hate crimes bill Friday US begins to move equipment out of Afghanistan and approves deployment of forces to protect withdrawal operations Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin endorses GOP Sen. Lisa Murkowski for reelection Biden will seek to raise taxes on richest Americans to fund sweeping education and child care proposals CHRIS' GOOD READS The GOP's border attacks on Biden are working   Marjorie Taylor Greene's story isn't entirely accurate   Kamala Harris, tiebreaker   Is there room for climate optimism?   What Substack is really doing   On germs   Chernobyl's dogs RIP, Shock G MUSICAL INTERLUDE The title song of "In the Heights" is here! Today's episode: Why this GOP senator could be a low-key 2024 favorite. GOLDEN STATE TRIVIA Question: Who was the most recent celebrity elected governor of California in a recall election? a. Ronald Reagan b. Arnold Schwarzenegger c. Jesse Ventura d. Jerry Brown   Send your answers to cillizza@cnn.com and lauren.dezenski@cnn.com! ONE BIG THROWBACK One year ago today, then-President Donald Trump suggested ingesting bleach or other disinfectants could be a treatment for Covid-19 (it's still not a good idea!). As Politico notes: "We've never been the same." You are receiving this message because you subscribed to CNN's The Point with Chris Cillizza newsletter. Unsubscribe from this list Check out other CNN Newsletters Create your CNN Account Share the Point Newsletter Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up now to get The Point in your inbox.   Send your tips and thoughts via email to Chris Cillizza and Lauren Dezenski. You can follow Chris and Lauren on Twitter and connect with The Point on: Our mailing address is: One CNN Center Atlanta, GA 30303   Copyright © 2021 Cable News Network, Inc., All rights reserved.

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