On today's special episode of Dogs-patch — er, Dispatch: a brief history of presidential pets at 1600 Pennsylvania, featuring the Kennedy's dog Pushinka (who might have helped avert nuclear war), Teddy Roosevelt's badger (really more questions than answers here) and Nixon's dog Checkers (who sadly passed before he could rescue his owner from Watergate). Andrew Hager, the historian-in-residence at the Presidential Pet Museum, provides biting commentary on the furry residents of the White House.

The UN’s top climate panel has released a milestone report on the status of climate change, and according to scientists, it’s very unlikely the world will meet the most ambitious target of limiting global climate change rising 1.5 degrees Celsius. But POLITICO’s Zack Colman says things could still get much worse if bold action isn’t taken. This episode originally aired on POLITICO Energy on August 10, 2021.

Billionaires Jeff Bezos and Richard Branson have kicked off what's on track to be a commercial space boom in the coming years. POLITICO's Bryan Bender reports on how prepared Washington is to regulate it all.

We know that the effectiveness of vaccines appears to be dipping. But we don't know how much yet — or when it will become a big problem. POLITICO's Sarah Owermohle reports. Plus, a group of progressive lawmakers call for Biden to Dump Jerome Powell as Fed chair. And the US is dropped from the EU's safe travel list.

Boston has an historically diverse field of mayoral candidates. But voters are having a hard time figuring out who to support. POLITICO's Lisa Kashinsky reports. Plus, Secretary of State Antony Blinken says he expects the Taliban won’t seal off Afghanistan after Aug. 31. And Dr. Fauci says the Biden administration is "sticking with" its booster shot recommendations.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has held onto power despite a series of scandals. But a flash election is putting his popularity to the test. POLITICO Canada’s Nick Taylor-Vaisey reports.Plus, Biden vows retaliation after 12 U.S. troops were killed in ISIS attacks in Kabul. And the USDA projects record agricultural exports over the next year.

Hospitalizations are up. But some areas don’t have enough health workers to handle the influx of patients. POLITICO’s Alice Miranda Ollstein reports. Plus, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announces 12,000 deaths will be added to the state's Covid tally. And Pfizer and BioNTech ask the FDA to approve their booster shot.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives hasn’t had a permanent director since 2015. POLITICO’s Anita Kumar breaks down why the post has become virtually unfillable amid fierce debate over gun laws. Plus, the House advances Democrats’ $3.5T budget. And new CDC studies point to waning immunity from vaccines.

Greece is reeling from a brutal heat wave and devastating wildfires that couldn’t have come at a worse moment. POLITICO Europe’s Nektaria Stamouli reports. Plus, Biden presses businesses to mandate vaccines. And the Capitol Police has cleared the officer who fatally shot someone during the Jan. 6 insurrection of wrongdoing.

Colleges are reopening their gates this fall. But experts worry the most vulnerable students are still turning their back to higher education. POLITICO’s Bianca Quilantan reports. Plus, polls show Biden’s approval slipping to new lows. And Education Secretary Miguel Cardona says states can’t block federal funds for districts that mandate masks.

The Biden administration says we need them. The WHO says we should wait for the rest of the world. POLITICO’s Adam Cancryn breaks down everything you need to know about vaccine boosters. Plus, the FTC files a new antitrust suit against Facebook. And the Biden administration plans to cancel the federal student loans of Americans who have severe disabilities.

Crashing computers, three-week delays tracking infections, lab results delivered by snail mail. Health officials couldn’t keep up with Covid’s spread. Americans paid the price. POLITICO’s Erin Banco reports. Plus, Israeli PM Naftali Bennett will visit the White House later this month. And the Treasury moves to prevent the Taliban from receiving IMF aid.

Haiti was already on the brink of political collapse following the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse. Then a catastrophic earthquake hit. POLITICO’s John Yearwood reports. Plus, the nation’s top election officials are calling for more stringent guidelines for post-election audits. And Twitter tests a new feature allowing users to report misinformation directly to the company.

Biden campaigned on his foreign policy expertise. But the crisis in Afghanistan is destroying that image. POLITICO’s Natasha Korecki reports. Plus, American newspapers call on the White House to evacuate journalists from Kabul. And the Biden administration makes a record increase to food stamp benefits.

A Taliban offensive was expected. But nobody knew it would be like this. POLITICO’s Alex Ward explains how the Taliban was able to overtake Afghanistan’s capital as the U.S. evacuated its embassy. Plus, opponents of the White House’s eviction ban ask a federal court to block the policy. And the director of the NIH says undocumented immigrants are not causing the surge in Covid cases.

The Senate passed Biden’s long-awaited bipartisan infrastructure bill earlier this week. But it’s fate is tied to a massive Democratic spending plan — and things are looking a little shaky. POLITICO’s Caitlin Emma reports. Plus, the nation’s largest teachers union backs vaccine mandates. And top Biden advisor Anita Dunn leaves the White House.

A record number of children are being hospitalized with Covid — and experts expect it to get worse. POLITICO’s Dan Goldberg reports. Plus, Sen. Elizabeth Warren drops her opposition to Biden’s pick for the No. 3 spot at the Education Department. And a bipartisan group of senators introduces legislation targeting Apple and Google’s app stores.

He doesn’t have star power, and he’s facing attacks from Republicans and Democrats. But Gov. Greg Abbott has held onto power in Texas for seven years — and he plans to do it again in 2022. POLITICO’s Renuka Rayasam reports. Plus, a Democratic Rep. Ron Kind plans to retire from his competitive Wisconsin seat. And the White House taps a progressive for the No. 2 policy position at the Pentagon.

Impeachment is impending and his inner circle is collapsing, but Cuomo remains indignant. POLITICO’s Anna Gronewold reports on why the New York governor won’t step down in the wake of an investigation into allegations of sexual harassment. Plus, the Pentagon wants to mandate vaccines for all 1.4 million of its troops. And Canada reopens its border to vaccinated American travelers.

Millions of Americans have to work under the sun or in poorly ventilated spaces. And as climate change makes extremely high temperatures more frequent, these working conditions are becoming increasingly life-threatening. Today, POLITICO’s Zack Colman and E&E News’ Ariel Wittenberg explain the risks, and why it’s so hard for the government to take action.

Covid hospitalizations are surging in Florida. But that isn’t stopping Gov. Ron DeSantis from taking a hard line against public health restrictions. POLITICO’s David Kihara breaks down the political strategy behind it all. Plus, Texas’ governor calls a second special session to push GOP changes to election laws. And the Justice Department opens a probe into the Phoenix Police Department.

Scared or confused by the Delta variant? Wondering when you might need a booster shot? POLITICO’s Sarah Owermohle has you covered. Plus, Biden’s approval falls. And Psaki blames Republicans holding up the White House’s ATF nominee.

The Biden administration changed course on Tuesday and issued a new eviction ban despite legal questions, putting the White House on a collision course with the Supreme Court. POLITICO’s Katy O’Donnell reports. Plus, Biden calls for New York Gov. Cuomo to resign, and tells Florida Gov. DeSantis to “get out of the way” as Covid surges in the state.

GETTR was supposed to be a Trump world alternative to Twitter. But it’s being inundated with extremist content, including beheading videos and terrorist propaganda. POLITICO’s Mark Scott reports. Plus, Florida shatters its Covid hospitalization record. And the Biden administration hits its vaccination goal … a month late.

The futures of both the Democratic Party and the GOP will be put to the test in a pair of Congressional primaries tomorrow. POLITICO’s Scott Bland reports. Plus, Dr. Fauci says he doesn’t think the country will need more lockdowns. And new filings show that Trump political groups have more than $100 million in the bank.