The Point: The utter radicalness of Joe Biden's presidency

View this email in your browser   October 1, 2021  | by Chris Cillizza and Lauren Dezenski The utter radicalness of Joe Biden's presidency Joe Biden has been president of the United States for a little over eight months now. And he may well be on the verge of radically overhauling the relationship between the federal government and the average American in ways that will linger well beyond his first (or even second) term.  Consider this:   * Congress passed -- and Biden signed into law -- the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan.    * The Senate passed -- and the House is debating -- a $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure deal that would fund much-needed repairs and updates on roads and bridges (and the like).   * Senate and House Democrats are considering a budget bill that is likely to total somewhere between $1.5 trillion and $3.5 trillion -- probably closer to the lower number, if I had to make an educated guess -- in additional spending.   Add it up and, on the conservative end, you get almost $4.5 trillion in additional government spending in the first year of Biden's first term.    And it will add massive sums to the federal budget deficit. The Congressional Budget Office estimated that the bipartisan infrastructure bill will add more than $250 billion to the deficit. In March alone, the federal government spent $660 billion more than it took in -- largely due to provisions of the American Rescue Plan.   Here's some context for those massive sums: In October 1981, after two centuries of deficit spending, the national debt hit $1 trillion. The current national debt is more than $28 trillion.   Biden and his allies will insist that this massive outlay of federal spending is necessary as the country seeks to get back on its collective feet following almost two years of shutdowns and slowdowns due to the coronavirus pandemic.   And that may be true! But it doesn't change the fact that if Biden gets anything close to what he wants out of the bipartisan infrastructure bill and the budget package, he will have remade the role government plays in the lives of its citizens.   The Point: Biden campaigned as a return to normal business in the 2020 election. But his expansive domestic agenda -- and its mighty price tag -- is anything but vanilla.   -- Chris QUOTE OF THE DAY "Quit your little chitty chat." -- Virginia Democratic gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe chastised members of Congress on Friday, urging them to "do your job ... stop the posturing" and finish a deal to pass the bipartisan infrastructure package. FRIDAY'S MUST-SEE TWEETS 1. A long but very good 🧵 on how we got to this moment in politics 2. Richard Blumenthal, senator from Awkward Town 3. Congress, amirite? 4. Brady and Belichick, part infinity 5. Bitcoin! So hot right now! 6. 50 years of Disney World CHRIS' GOOD READS The new tell-all book by former Trump aide Stephanie Grisham makes clear just how much power Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner had over President Donald Trump. Politico has an excerpt.   Much of President Biden's poll slippage in recent weeks is due to fading support among Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents. The New York Times' Nate Cohn asks whether it's a temporary blip or the start of a longer downward trend. The Supreme Court is angry -- at one another. And, as CNN's Joan Biskupic notes, they are airing their grievances publicly -- a major break with tradition.   No one is writing more -- and more insightfully -- about the debt ceiling fight in Congress than Jim Fallows. This is his latest.   Ben Smith of The New York Times continues to produce blockbuster reporting exposing Ozy, a media company aimed at millennials.   The Peyton and Eli Manning show is changing how we think about what TV (and streaming) can do, argues Wall Street Journal reporter Jason Gay. I totally agree. MUSICAL INTERLUDE Langhorne Slim does a mean cover of The Lumineers' "Stubborn Love." THE WEEK IN 13 HEADLINES This week, all eyes were on Capitol Hill as constantly shifting negotiations highlighted the split between moderates and progressives in the Democratic caucus, all amid efforts to pass a bipartisan infrastructure package and a budget bill that includes many of Biden's signature policies.    Monday US government working to help about 100 US citizens and permanent residents leave Afghanistan  Biden receives his Covid-19 booster shot: Vaccines 'can save your life and ... can save the lives of those around you' Tuesday Oregon approves the nation's first new congressional map Biden and Democrats face dual front battle and have only 48 hours left Liberals revolt at Pelosi's plan to hold infrastructure vote without social safety net bill McAuliffe and Youngkin battle over Covid-19 vaccine mandates in Virginia governor's debate Wednesday Schumer announces Senate will vote Thursday on stopgap bill to avert shutdown USPS to slow down some mail delivery starting Friday Texas attorney general says state's abortion ban is 'stimulating' interstate commerce Thursday Biden faces a reckoning on his agenda as top aides start to temper expectations Durham issues fresh round of subpoenas in his continuing probe of FBI investigation into Trump, Russia  Friday Capitol Hill set for another desperate push on Biden's agenda as leaders put a $2.1 trillion option on the table Nearly 4,000 federal employees furloughed after Congress lets highway funding lapse 🎂 ONE BIG BIRTHDAY 🎂 Jimmy Carter, the oldest living former President, turned 97 on Friday. The 39th President is spending the day at home in Plains, Georgia, a spokeswoman for The Carter Center said.  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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