Biden, Interest Groups, and the Transition

 From Politico Transition Playbook:

JUST HOW ANTI-FACEBOOK IS BIDEN? Biden told The New York Times’ editorial board in January that he’s “never been a fan of Facebook,” but he doesn’t seem to mind hiring Facebook alumni to staff his transition team. Zients, one of the transition’s co-chairmen, is a former Facebook board member. The transition’s general counsel, JESSICA HERTZ, was previously a lawyer for Facebook and helped the company navigate the FTC’s investigation on data privacy and Cambridge Analytica. Former Facebook lobbyist LOUISA TERRELL is heading up the transition’s congressional relations. AUSTIN LIN, a program manager at Facebook from 2017 to 2018, is on the four-person agency review team tasked with the Executive Office of the President. And ERSKINE BOWLES — who spent eight years on Facebook’s board — has been advising the transition team.

From Politico Influence:

BIDEN MEETS WITH CEOs, LABOR LEADERS ON ECONOMY: President-elect Joe Biden is meeting today with more than half a dozen business and union leaders in the latest sign that the country’s industries are not waiting for President Donald Trump’s concession or his longshot legal challenges to Biden’s victory earlier this month. The incoming commander in chief will meet with Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, General Motors CEO Mary Barra, Target CEO Brian Cornell and Gap GEO Sonia Syngal as well as the heads of the AFL-CIO, Service Employees International Union, United Autoworkers, United Food and Commercial Workers and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, according to the transition team.

A LOOK AT THE BIDEN AIDES ON K STREET: Biden’s “ambitious Democratic agenda—including raising corporate taxes—faces formidable opposition from a power center he knows well: former aides who are now lobbyists or advisers to companies and industries at odds with his goals,” The Wall Street Journal’s Julie Bykowicz and Brody Mullins report. “Mr. Biden, unlike the four most recent presidents, has deep ties to the Washington establishment from his 44 years in the Senate and as vice president. He named at least 40 current and former registered lobbyists to his transition team. For much of his career, Mr. Biden has advocated policies that he said would reduce the influence of lobbyists and special interests, including pushing for expanded government financing of political campaigns. His campaign platform included seeking legislation that would require lawmakers to publicly disclose meetings and communications with any lobbyist or special interest trying to influence the passage or defeat of a specific bill.”