What's going on with railroad workers? The 5-Minute Fix author Amber Phillips is on parental leave, and Washington Post researcher Caroline Anders and reporter and editor Paige Winfield Cunningham are filling in. Send them a note any time on what you'd like to see in this newsletter. Let's start with a quick backstory. In September, railroad workers nearly went on strike over demands for better pay, sick leave and more flexibility in scheduling. Because a strike could be disastrous for the U.S. economy, the White House stepped in to broker a deal between the railroads and the largest railroad unions. While the government is typically prohibited from interfering in private labor disputes, a 1926 law allows it to get involved in railway disputes on occasion. Why railroad workers are so important: Railways transport an estimated 28 percent of freight in the United States, everything from food and medicines to coal, ore and lumber. The industry employs 115,000 workers are especially instrumental in meeting increased demand for goods during the holiday season. What's happening now: This afternoon, the Senate passed a measure 80-15 that forces a deal between the railroads and the unions and avoids a potential Dec. 9 strike. President Biden is expected to sign it. Back in September, carriers and union leaders had agreed to a tentative deal. But enough union workers voted against the new contract last week that a strike was on the table again. After failing to negotiate a viable deal, Biden had a difficult call to make: Support the unions and accept a potential strike right before the holidays, or anger his union allies by calling on Congress to pass a bill that would impose the proposed contract. The president, who has touted himself as pro-union throughout his political career, chose the latter. API's 10-Point Policy Plan provides a roadmap for a new era of American energy leadership. It recognizes our nation's abundant resources, supports energy investment, and keeps regulation from unnecessarily restricting energy growth. | |  | | | | What's in the deal: The deal includes the biggest pay increases for railroad workers seen in decades; under it, average pay for a railroad worker would go from $135,700 to $160,000. It also increases flexibility in taking time off, but workers are still upset about a points-based attendance policy that could penalize them for missing work for family emergencies or doctor appointments. What's not in the deal: Rail workers' largest priority was paid sick days, which they do not receive and are not in the new contract. What this all means: Biden's choice upset many union workers and leaders who have been loyal supporters of his. But he may have avoided a catastrophe: A strike could have huge ramifications on the economy ahead of the holidays, ruining cross-country travel for thousands of Americans and leading to prolonged shipping delays. What's a state dinner? And why does it matter? Tonight the Bidens will welcome French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte, to the White House for the first state dinner since before the covid pandemic. It's Biden's first state dinner as president. What's the point of state dinners? They're an opportunity for the White House to honor the United States' relationship with another country (sometimes an emerging democracy, though more often a longtime ally), and they're no small occasion. As our colleague Roxanne Roberts writes, "An invitation to a state dinner is one of the most coveted in Washington and the guest list a snapshot of the administration's power and priorities." Of course, there are politics involved: While tonight is meant to be a celebration, the Inflation Reduction Act signed into law by Biden in August has been a source of tension between him and Macron. That was on display Wednesday at the French Embassy, where Macron had some unusually harsh words for Biden. The French president said the measure, along with others, could "fragment the West," reflecting fears of European leaders that it could damage the continent's industries. What we know about tonight: The evening will involve mingling, photo ops and butter-poached lobster for more than 300 tuxedo- and evening-gown-clad guests. (If you're interested in how some of Washington's most powerful dine, you can read more about the menu here.) After dinner, Grammy-winning singer-composer and New Orleans native Jon Batiste will perform. What about past dinners? White House state dinners as we know them began in 1874, when President Ulysses S. Grant hosted King Kalākaua of Hawaii. Roxanne takes us through some other state dinner highlights: "Ronald Reagan's first state dinner in 1981 was for Margaret Thatcher, a nod to the United States' close ties with Britain and its conservative leader. In 1987, he invited Mikhail Gorbachev to dine, a potent symbol of respect for the leader of the Soviet Union and his liberal policies. Bill Clinton honored South Africa in 1994, just months after Nelson Mandela was elected the country's first Black president and made his first state visit to the United States." Past guests: At the last state dinner honoring Macron (which was President Donald Trump's first time hosting such as occasion), the guest list included Chief Justice John Roberts, former secretary of state Henry Kissinger, Apple CEO Tim Cook and conservative media mogul Rupert Murdoch. | 
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