The limits of the presidency

Plus: Navarro is indicted, Sussmann is acquitted

View this email online June 4, 2022 This week, we looked at the limits to what President Biden can do on inflation and guns and the latest from the Jan. 6 committee. Plus: an indictment for Peter Navarro and an acquittal for Michael Sussmann. The Big Picture: The limits of the presidency Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images The economy and the recent spate of mass shootings are once again reminders of the limits of the presidency. On the economy, recession worries are on the rise in part because of rising borrowing costs that affect businesses and people trying to buy homes, for example. But raising interest rates is the very tool the Federal Reserve is using to try and solve rising prices. Inflation continues to go up, is Americans’ top concern and is hampering President Biden and Democrats’ chances at holding onto control of Congress this fall.  This is all despite an economy that continues to grow, consumer spending remaining robust and unemployment at just 3.6%. On Friday, it was reported that 390,000 more jobs were created. But there’s little Biden can do about inflation himself.  On guns, Biden is equally in a bind. The president said he wants to ban assault-style weapons and high capacity magazines, so shooters like the ones in Uvalde, Texas, and Buffalo, N.Y., can’t get off as many shots as they did in such a short amount of time. “[M]achine guns have been federally regulated for nearly 90 years,” Biden said in a prime-time speech Thursday, “and this is still a free country. This isn’t about taking away anyone’s rights. It’s about protecting children.” But the assault weapons ban of the 1990s, which Biden helped author, is unlikely to be reinstated. If that can’t be done, Biden advocated for raising the age of who can buy an assault-style weapon from 18 to 21, requiring stricter background checks and putting in place a federal red-flag law. “I just told you what I’d do,” Biden said. “The question now is: What will the Congress do?” Presidents command the bully pulpit and can focus on whatever issue they want and do it whenever they want and beam themselves into living rooms across the country. But in the face of congressional intransigence, there’s only so much a president can do. — Domenico Montanaro, NPR’s senior political editor/correspondent Newsletter continues after sponsor message ICYMI: Top Stories Drew Angerer/Getty Images January 6 latest: The House select committee investigating the January 6 insurrection announced its first public hearing will take place on June 9. The committee promised “previously unseen material” will be presented during the primetime hearing. And on Friday, former Trump trade adviser Peter Navarro was indicted on two counts of contempt of Congress for refusing to comply with a subpoena from the committee.  Sussmann acquitted: A jury in Washington, D.C., acquitted lawyer Michael Sussmann on a single charge of lying to the FBI, dealing a blow to the three-year investigation by special counsel John Durham into the Trump-Russia investigation. The jury forewoman, who did not give her name, told reporters outside the courthouse that "I think we could have spent our time more wisely." Michigan governor primary: Five Republican candidates for governor of Michigan have been blocked from the state's primary ballot after signatures the candidates submitted included alleged forgeries. The candidates have said they were unaware of any problems with their signatures, and most are pursuing legal avenues to get on the ballot. Progressives and school boards: There's been a swell of conservative activity around school policies and running for school boards in recent years. Now, progressives are hoping to have their own source of organization to counter that enthusiasm — and win races. Paying White House interns: The White House announced that for the first time in history, its interns will be paid. Participating interns will be paid $750 per week starting this fall. — Brandon Carter, NPR Politics social media producer The Shot: Investigating deaths at 1 federal prison Aaron Marin for NPR Federal prisoners said to be the most dangerous are sent to the Special Management Unit at a penitentiary in Thomson, Ill. Bobby Everson went to Thomson in 2021. He was transferred there after having been written up for "threatening bodily harm" and "assault without serious injury," though prison records don't provide details, according to an investigation by NPR's Joseph Shapiro and The Marshall Project's Christie Thompson. In letters to his family after the transfer, Everson wrote about the conditions at Thomson. He wrote about near constant lockdown in a small cell with a cellmate and about hard restraints that caused scars on his wrists, ankles and abdomen. He also mentioned fighting with his new cellmate. Seventeen days later, Everson, 36, was found dead in his cell. It was a homicide caused by "blunt trauma" with an object, according to prison records. Federal prosecutors have yet to file charges against anyone in connection to his death, which is still under investigation. Officials claimed that opening Thomson would make federal prisons safer by relieving dangerous overcrowding. But the NPR and Marshall Project's investigation found that Thomson has become one of the deadliest, with five suspected homicides and two alleged suicides since 2019. Two days after the investigation published, three members of Congress called for an immediate federal investigation into violence and abuse at the prison. Read and listen to what happened to Everson and others incarcerated at the Thomson prison — Heidi Glenn, NPR Politics digital editor Listen to your local NPR station. Visit NPR.org to hear live radio from WBEZ (edit station). What do you think of today's email? We'd love to hear your thoughts, questions and feedback: nprpolitics@npr.org 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. This email was sent by National Public Radio, Inc., 1111 North Capitol Street NE, Washington, DC 20002 Unsubscribe  |  Privacy Policy