Lawmakers scramble for 'musical chairs' to view Biden's first Capitol speech

[DonViejo]

Only 200 lawmakers, officials and staff will likely be allowed to attend the president's distanced address on April 28.

By MELANIE ZANONA and SARAH FERRIS

04/16/2021 04:30 AM EDT

Which is a hotter ticket: Beyoncé’s first post-pandemic concert or President Joe Biden’s first address to Congress? Washington is about to find out.

Even as life slowly returns to normal on Capitol Hill amid the shrinking threat of Covid, strict safety protocols will remain in place for Biden’s April 28 joint address inside the House chamber. That means only 200 lawmakers, administration officials and staff will likely be allowed to attend the distanced and heavily sanitized event, a far cry from the typical crowds for a prime-time presidential speech.

Such tight limits mean Democrats are already jockeying to score one of the precious few seats. And a handful of lawmakers have already logged a request with party leaders, who have the unenviable task of divvying up the small passel of tickets for the president's debut speech.

Presidential addresses to a joint session of Congress are a historic tradition, but Democrats are particularly excited this spring after four years of gritting their teeth while former President Donald Trump delivered speeches — and bombastic broadsides — beneath the dome. (Some boycotted Trump’s State of the Union addresses altogether.)

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https://www.politico.com/news/2021/04/16/biden-capitol-speech-482180

[Ms. Toad]

1. Amid the shrinking threat of COVID?????

What kind of fantasy world are the reporters living in - COVID has been the rise for at least 4 weeks. That is a growing threat, not a shrinking one. AND pretending like it is shrinking I'd precisely why it is growing - people have decided there is little to no risk, and are ignoring safety precautions.

[niyad]

2. That jumped at me as well.