Hello and welcome to the Bill Press pod.

Bill is away today and back next week.

I'm Sudy Breddy, managing editor of Politico, filling in for Bill.

It's kind of a shock, but it's still infrastructure week in Washington.

And unlike in prior years, the infrastructure talks

haven't fallen apart yet. President Biden says he's willing to compromise on some of the

taxes and spending in his plan, but he insists the nation must pass an infrastructure plan

to stay competitive with the likes of China. GOP voters tell pollsters they like it. GOP senators

do not. At least on this, Republican officials are making a policy argument, arguing over just what infrastructure is.

But otherwise, the GOP messaging is focused lately on cultural issues, like the Major League Baseball Boycott of Georgia over its new voting laws,

and attacks on companies that have taken positions against that law.

Will this help the GOP in the midterms?

Meanwhile, Democrats want to move big legislation on voting rights, gun safety, and immigration reform,

but it's now a Democrat, Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia, who is standing in their way.

And the trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin in the death of

George Floyd featured an unusually large number of police officers testifying against their fellow

officer. To discuss all of that and more, joining me virtually this Friday morning around 8.30 a.m.

are two of Washington's top political journalist. Leah Ascaranom, editor of the National Journal Hotline.

Welcome, Leah. Hi, Sudeep, amazing pronunciation of my last name. Just very impressed by that.

And Maya King, politics reporter at my home base, Politico. Hi, Maya. Hi, Sudeep. Nice to

virtually be reunited here. Great to have you here. Okay,

let's get started. Biden this week is focused on infrastructure still a week after launching his plan,

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