Axios

Sen. Bernie Sanders has enlisted ACLU national political director Faiz Shakir to serve as his 2020 campaign manager, reports The Daily Beast.

Why it matters: Shakir, who announced his departure from the ACLU Tuesday afternoon, has a progressive resume that includes stints as senior adviser to Democratic leaders Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi. He also served as editor of ThinkProgress, the news outlet associated with the Center for American Progress. Shakir is presumed to be the first Muslim to manage a major presidential campaign, according to the Beast.

Led by U.S. Ambassador to Germany Richard Grenell, the Trump administration is launching a new push to decriminalize homosexuality around the globe, beginning Tuesday evening with a strategy dinner in Berlin with LGBTQ activists, NBC News' Josh Lederman reports.

The big picture: The effort is being framed as a means of "denouncing Iran over its human rights record," an issue that Trump officials hope will unite Europe against the administration's top adversary. Last year, the Trump administration faced backlash for adopting a policy that denied visas to same-sex domestic partners of U.N. employees and U.S. diplomats, stipulating that visas were only granted to married couples.

Go deeper: Homosexuality still criminalized in much of the world

There is a critical shortage of cybersecurity experts working in public interest roles, including advising at-risk charitable groups, lawmakers and advocacy organizations.

Why it matters: We've written before about difficulties legislators have finding experienced advisers for tech issues and the detrimental effect that can have on policy debates.

Thursday morning, Axios Executive Editor Mike Allen kicked off this year's first News Shapers event, hosting a series of legislative leaders for a look into Congress' plans for 2019.

Why it matters: Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA), Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), and Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) touched on everything from the Green New Deal and health care to infrastructure and President Trump.

House Minority Whip Steve Scalise

• The shutdown: "I would have preferred we not had the shutdown."
• Legislation preventing future shutdowns: "At a minimum, if someone is deemed essential they should be paid while on the job."
• The Green New Deal: It would cripple our economy to get rid of fossil fuels in 10 years. Everyone ought to know about it and we all ought to vote on it.
• The reintroduction of the Born Alive Act, which gives legal protection to infants born after a failed abortion attempt: "This will be the signature pro-life issue of this year ... you will see the full focus of the pro-life community coming behind this bill.

Go deeper: Steve Scalise: Green New Deal "would cripple our economy"

Democratic Policy and Communications Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow

• The Green New Deal: “I support the goals as it relates to climate change. I think some of the wording is of concern because it leaves things wide open and allows folks opposing it to say it mandates the government provide everybody a job, which is not true.”
• Medicare at 50: “This can be done now while people are debating what should happen as far as larger structural changes.”
• Trump's 2020 chances in Michigan: He won by 10,000 votes in 2016 and there were a lot of folks who decided not to vote or voted 3rd party. "Because of the chaos and instability in the country ... people are going to be much more engaged in this election."

House Democratic Caucus Chair Hakeem Jeffries

• What can be done between House Democrats and Trump: “Reducing the high price of life-saving prescription drugs.”
• The Green New Deal: "I think the Green New Deal is an important addition to what is needed as it relates to a robust discussion about doing something meaningful about climate change."
• Goals for this Congress: "If we can do something bipartisan on criminal justice reform, seems to me we should be able to do something on health care ... and infrastructure."

Thank you Bank of America for sponsoring this event.

Former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe told NBC's "TODAY" on Tuesday that the "Gang of Eight," the top congressional leaders briefed on classified matters, did not object to the FBI's counterintelligence investigation into President Trump. "That's the important part here, no one objected. Not on legal grounds, not on constitutional grounds and not based on fact," he said.

Go deeper: Andrew McCabe: "The FBI is under attack by the president"

President Trump is promoting yet another book, accusing former FBI deputy director Andrew McCabe of "Treason!" ahead of today's publication of his book, "The Threat."

From McCabe's "Author's Note," obtained by Axios: "Today, the FBI is under attack by the president of the United States. The president assails the FBI because he resents or fears the Bureau's independence, its fairness, its professionalism, its competence, and above all its values."

Go deeper ... Timeline: Trump's turbulent relationship with Andrew McCabe

Howard Schultz tries to turn electability back on Democrats in a letter to supporters today, pledging that he is committed to making sure an independent run for president would do "nothing to re-elect Donald Trump":

What he's saying: "As I’m sure you’ve seen," Schultz writes, "there have been some skeptical and even downright angry comments from party activists and inside-the-Beltway pundits in the press and on social media. Others have expressed genuine fears  that an independent candidate could help re-elect President Trump."

For the first time since the midterms, Republicans find themselves playing offense as they push "socialism vs. freedom" as an opening 2020 message.

Why it matters: Giddy House Republicans hope they can ride this message into 2020 — just as Dems seized their winning 2018 midterm message as soon as House Rs voted in 2017 to weaken protections for pre-existing conditions.

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) told Vermont Public Radio on Tuesday that he plans to seek the Democratic nomination in the 2020 presidential contest. He told the station, "I think the current occupant of the White House is an embarrassment to our country," branding President Trump a "pathological liar."

The big picture: While some of Sanders' key ideas from his 2016 bid — like Medicare for All — have reached the Democratic mainstream, there's been a push from some sectors of the party for him to sit out 2020, compounded by allegations of sexual harassment and sexism on his earlier presidential campaign.