Running against the swamp — official Washington and its government workers, policy makers, lobbyists and the like — is a time-honored tactic. People like to rail about the bureaucracy, at least until they need something from it.

What we’re seeing from President-elect Joe Biden is a different approach than the swamp bashing we have all become accustomed to. He’s given the technocratic approach to government a boost with a series of Cabinet nominees who have deep experience in government, both in the executive and legislative branches.

On the latest Political Theater Podcast, CQ Roll Call Chief Correspondent Niels Lesniewski and I are going to talk about how the Biden team is loading up on workhorses and making a concerted effort to reach out to Congress.

And Staff Writer Ben Hulac talks about the how busy the EPA has been with its latest batch of midnight rules and what that means for environment and energy policy as we get ready for the Biden administration.

Show Notes:

• Biden team making legislative outreach an early priority
• EPA move creates hurdles for future air, climate rules
• Ways and Means aide Tai said to be Biden’s USTR choice
• Vilsack on course for encore as Agriculture secretary
• ‘The Report’ has advice for young Capitol Hill staffers
• ‘Personnel is policy’: What Ayanna Pressley saw as a staffer
• A History of ‘Draining the Swamp’