U.S. officials bet on Novavax to provide a shot that could easily be shipped overseas. But its manufacturing problems have left global distributors without enough shots for poor and middle-income countries. POLITICO's Erin Banco reports.

Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya was a former teacher and self-described housewife catapulted to run for president of Belarus when her candidate husband was arrested in 2020. Even in exile after the disputed election, she’s the biggest threat against strongman Alexander Lukashenko’s hold over Belarus. She has captivated Belarusians with her campaign for democracy and been nominated for the Nobel Prize. POLITICO’s Ryan Heath asks Tsikhanouskaya about how she plans to corral the international community for tighter sanctions and about how she’s working with informants within the Lukashenko regime to bring it down. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya is an opposition leader, fighting to bring Democracy to Belarus. Ryan Heath is the host of the "Global Insider" podcast and authors the newsletter. Olivia Reingold produces “Global Insider.” Irene Noguchi edits “Global Insider” and is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

By making local officials the gatekeepers for million-dollar businesses, states have unintentionally created a breeding ground for bribery and favoritism. POLITICO's Mona Zhang reports. This episode is the second in a two-part series on the unintended consequences of marijuana legalization laws. This episode originally aired in May 2021.

Welcome to Ontario, Oregon, home of the tater tot — and now, a massive marijuana market for customers crossing the Idaho border. POLITICO's Natalie Fertig explains how the tiny town border town of 11,000 people became one of America's cannabis capitals — and what it means for other towns as weed legalization spreads. This episode is the first in a two-part series on the unintended consequences of marijuana legalization laws.

Gerrymandering: Depending on where you stand, it’s either the cause of, or solution to, many of America’s political problems. Here’s what that fight looks like — from the outside looking in, and from the inside looking out. Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza dives into the subject with GOP strategist (and former gerrymanderer) Jeff Timmer, Common Cause North Carolina executive director Bob Phillips and Politico’s Ally Mutnick.

Funding the federal government. Preventing a default on the national debt. Voting on Build Back Better. Congress has a lot to do in one month. POLITICO’s Nicholas Wu reports. Plus, the Biden administration asks a court to lift an order halting its vaccine-or-test mandate for private employers. And a bipartisan group of senators asks for cannabis banking provisions in the defense spending bill.

Covid cases are once again rising, and holidays are just around the corner. POLITICO’s Dan Goldberg reports. Plus, the White House says about 95 percent of federal workers have complied with their vaccine mandate. And a congressional committee investigating the Trump administration’s Covid response wants to question former FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn.

President Joe Biden has been wrestling for weeks with whether to reappoint the current chair of the Federal Reserve or pick someone new. But he just can’t seem to pull the trigger. POLITICO’s Jonathan Lemire reports. Plus, White House adviser Brian Deese says he’s optimistic the Senate will pass President Biden's social spending legislation. And Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg says federal vaccine mandates will not impact holiday travel.

It’s one of the most demanding jobs in Washington journalism: tracking down a lawmaker who’s in the news but doesn’t necessarily want to talk. For the Congress press corps, scoring that story-making quote might mean standing on a marble staircase for hours — if the senator or representative decides to talk at all. Playbook co-author Rachael Bade takes us inside the Capitol Hill media “scrum” — as reporters like CNN’s Manu Raju reveal their tricks of the trade… and former Senator Jeff Flake discloses all the times he pretended to talk on his phone while walking past reporters.

Federal officials are preparing to expand access to extra shots. And some states are already moving ahead. POLITICO’s Adam Cancryn reports. Plus, Republicans overtake Democrats in voter registration in Florida. And the Pentagon rushes to combat rising housing and food costs for troops.

Republicans are pinning the price at the pump on Biden. But as POLITICO’s Ben Lefebvre reports, it’s a bit more complicated. Plus, Pfizer asks the FDA for emergency use authorization of its Covid pill. And the Senate confirms a key USDA climate official.

The bipartisan infrastructure framework is now the bipartisan infrastructure law. POLITICO’s Tanya Snyder breaks down what the new funding will and won’t do. Plus, the CBO plans to score Biden’s social spending bill by Friday. And Florida moves forward with a rule banning school mask mandates and quarantine requirements.

Nearly 200 countries are endorsing a new agreement to lower emissions. But a last-minute push by China and India weakened the deal and could hurt poorer nations. POLITICO's Lorraine Woellert reports. Plus, Treasury Secretary Yellen says Covid will determine when inflation eases. And Rep. Schiff says he thinks Steve Bannon’s indictment will lead others to comply with the Jan. 6 panel.

For the first time in 12 years, a Republican won the governorship in Virginia. And it wasn’t just any victory — to claim the seat, Glenn Youngkin had to beat Terry McAuliffe, former governor and Democratic royalty. In this special presentation of Playbook Deep Dive, Ryan Lizza digs into the narrow win with Youngkin campaign strategists Jeff Roe and Kristin Davison, and the mistakes they think McAuliffe’s campaign made. Plus, senior politics editor Charlie Mahtesian on the significant places Youngkin gained the most votes.

From legal challenges to murky data on vaccination rates, federal mandates are facing turbulence. POLITICO’s Natasha Korecki reports. Plus, a virtual summit between President Joe Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping is tentatively set for Nov. 15. And New Jersey’s most powerful state lawmaker concedes his reelection loss to a little-known Republican.

“The platform is out of control, and they haven’t invested in safety.” Former Facebook employee Frances Haugen sits down with POLITICO’s Mark Scott to talk about what it was like blowing the whistle on the tech giant. Plus, a government watchdog says 13 Trump officials violated the Hatch Act during the 2020 campaign. And the CBO says a score for Dems’ social spending bill could take weeks.

Jobs numbers are great, and the economy is strengthening. But there’s also inflation. And supply chain problems. Oh, and a worker shortage. So what does all that add up to? POLITICO’s Megan Cassella reports. Plus, the Jan. 6 committee subpoenas several Trump allies. And the U.S. targets ransomware hackers with arrests, sanctions and payment seizures.

They did it. The bipartisan infrastructure bill passed, and Dems’ massive spending plan is one step closer to reality. POLITICO’s Nicholas Wu reports. Plus, Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm says President Biden might tap into U.S. oil reserves amid rising prices. And Surgeon General Vivek Murthy defends the White House’s vaccine mandate.

Democratic Governor Phil Murphy just barely won reelection, and a relatively unknown truck driver ousted the second most powerful lawmaker in the state. POLITICO New Jersey's Sam Sutton reports. Plus, Eric Adams plans to convert his first paychecks as mayor into Bitcoin. And the U.S. and the U.K. lead a pledge to end overseas oil and gas financing, but with big caveats.

Some of the largest school districts in California are requiring kids to get vaccinated if they want to come in the classroom. POLITICO’s Mackenzie Mays reports. Plus, the Fed plans to start pulling the plug on its massive economic aid. And the DOJ seeks its toughest Jan. 6 sentence yet.

Glenn Youngkin has flipped Virginia red in an upset for Republicans. But as POLITICO’s Scott Bland reports, students of history should have seen the GOP comeback coming. Plus, Biden says he’ll announce his Fed nominees “fairly quickly.” And Sen. Josh Hawley blocks the confirmation of several State Department nominees.

The state’s gubernatorial race is neck and neck — and the results could be a bellwether of the midterms. POLITICO’s Steve Shepard reports. Plus, Supreme Court hears arguments over Texas’ abortion law. And the White House releases new guidance for federal contractors subject to President Biden’s vaccine mandate.

Obesity is a significant risk factor for Covid. That’s galvanized other countries to confront diet issues. But not the U.S. POLITICO’s Helena Bottemiller Evich reports. Plus, the G20 agrees to take action to limit global warming. And the Biden administration will ease tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from the European Union.

Major movement on climate initiatives will require the countries to put aside broader diplomatic tensions. POLITICO’s Phelim Kine reports. Plus, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis follows through on his threat to sue Biden over vaccine mandates. And the Justice Department changes its policies to crack down on white-collar crime.

“Somebody’s gotta do it. It might as well be me.” So says Ivan Adler, the “lobbyist hunter” who plucks D.C.’s most idealistic Hill staffers and turns them into K Street top dogs. In this special presentation of Playbook Deep Dive, POLITICO’s Hailey Fuchs and Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza pry open the revolving door between the Hill and K Street — one of the most controversial but everlasting features of Washington’s underbelly.