Seeking ‘normal’

Plus: recovered Trump documents; inflation woes; Ukraine tensions [View this email online]( [NPR Politics]( Feb. 12, 2022 This week, we looked at the SCOTUS nominee process, the latest on Ukraine and Russia tensions and far-right election disinformation. Plus: a look at the federal push for wildlife crossings. --------------------------------------------------------------- The Big Picture: Seeking ‘normal’ Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images Several Democratic-led states this week said they’re dropping their mask mandates, and [most states]( have either already eliminated indoor mask requirements or announced when they will be going away. "I think it's probably premature, but you know, it's a tough call," President Biden said in an interview this week with NBC News, about the pullback in restrictions. That follows [a similar statement from the CDC director](. The easing is happening on a global scale. The U.K. is [removing all of its testing requirements for vaccinated travelers]( after lifting most domestic rules last month, and even Australia, which closed its international borders two years ago, is [fully reopening to travelers](. In the U.S., coronavirus cases are [coming down]( with the omicron variant fading (though transmission risk is still high throughout the country). The move to reopen and unmask is a sign of how eager Americans are to get back to “normal.” Biden acknowledged that, noting in the interview that COVID-19 has had a “profound impact on the psyche of the American people.” The bottom line is, while people are still worried about the threat of the coronavirus, an equal or larger number are ready to move on, [according to recent surveys](. There isn’t unanimity among public-health experts for how exactly to do that, or if we should — and that makes for a difficult political problem for Biden to manage. It’s both a political cloud and potential light on the horizon. — [Domenico Montanaro]( NPR’s senior political editor/correspondent --------------------------------------------------------------- Newsletter continues after sponsor message --------------------------------------------------------------- ICYMI: Top Stories Gerald Herbert/AP Trump presidential documents: The National Archives and Records Administration said [it retrieved 15 boxes of White House records and other items that were improperly stored at former President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence]( instead of at the Archives, a violation of the Presidential Records Act. The chair of the House Oversight Committee [sent a letter to the archivist of the U.S.]( asking for information about the retrieved records and about reports that Trump tried to destroy records during his time in office. Russia-Ukraine tensions escalate: White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said on Friday that a Russian military invasion of Ukraine [could begin at any time]( and urged Americans in Ukraine to leave. President Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin are expected to speak by phone Saturday. Biden’s inflation problems: Biden's first year in office saw record job gains, major wage increases for low-income workers and GDP growth not seen in decades. But with inflation high, [voters remain critical of Biden's handling of the economy]( — and that could be trouble for Democrats in the midterms. Biden’s SCOTUS nominee process: In an interview with NBC, Biden said [he's done a "deep dive" on four potential Supreme Court nominees](. Biden has also been courting both Democratic and Republican senators ahead of his nomination, which he has said he’d make by the end of February. SCOTUS on Alabama redistricting: In a 5-4 ruling, the Supreme Court [further undercut the Voting Rights Act by blocking a lower court ruling]( that would have forced Alabama to redraw its congressional map. The lower court had concluded that under the act, Alabama — a state with a population that is more than one-quarter Black — could reasonably, and therefore must, create two majority-Black districts out of seven congressional districts. But the Supreme Court’s ruling blocked the creation of a second district for now. Far-right election disinformation: A shared database called ERIC allows states to securely share voter registration data across state lines and with a number of other government agencies, helping to combat voter fraud. But [far-right conspiracy theorists are now targeting the use of the tool]( — and experts worry that voting policy is already starting to suffer as a result. Push to ban lawmakers trading stocks: Democratic Rep. Abigail Spanberger and GOP Rep. Chip Roy are [leading the push on a bill to ban lawmakers from trading stocks](. With support for the idea building on both sides of the aisle, top Democratic leaders say a vote could come soon on legislation. — [Brandon Carter]( NPR Politics social media producer The Shot: Western Transportation Institute at Montana State University courtesy of ARC Solutions For the first time, the federal government is making a sizeable investment in wildlife road crossings. The goal is to help slow extinctions and also protect people from animal collisions. In Utah, overpasses help moose move across major freeways. In Wyoming, they help maintain a 6,000-year-old migration route for pronghorn. In Florida, underpasses and culverts allow otters and alligators to move between habitats. Soon there could be more. Congress has allocated $350 million in the bipartisan infrastructure package for a Wildlife Crossing Pilot Program that will help fund projects in all 50 states. [Read about the effort here](. — [Heidi Glenn]( NPR digital editor --------------------------------------------------------------- Listen to your local NPR station. Visit NPR.org to find your local station stream. [Listen Live]( [Facebook]( [Instagram]( [Twitter]( What do you think of today's email? We'd love to hear your thoughts, questions and feedback: [nprpolitics@npr.org](mailto:nprpolitics@npr.org?subject=Newsletter%20Feedback) 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]( [NPR logo]