Senate negotiators unveiled at the text of the bipartisan border agreement Sunday night, offering a compromise that would both tighten security at the U.S.-Mexico border and send air money to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan. But whether the $118 billion agreement that came to be after months of negotiations even stands a chance is another question entirely, Playbook co-author Rachael Bade explains.

At this hour, virtually no one knows exactly what is or isn’t in the hotly anticipated bipartisan Senate border bill — legislative text could drop as soon as tonight. But it’s already dominating conversation in Washington and on the campaign trail. Former President Trump is eager to kill the deal and keep the border alive as a galvanizing election issue — and so far, House Republicans seem to be falling in line. But could the arrival of the actual proposal swing momentum in the other direction? Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza sits down with editor Mike DeBonis to walk through the possible paths forward.

What are the biggest takeaways from last night’s major new fundraising numbers? For starters, here are two: Democratic frontrunner President Joe Biden is in pretty good shape, and GOP frontrunner former president Donald Trump is spending an unprecedented amount on legal fees. Campaign reporter Zach Montellaro joins Playbook deputy editor Zack Stanton to walk through more key findings, and what these totals can tell us about the shape of things in the year ahead.

CEOs from five of the world’s biggest social media companies head to Capitol Hill today to face a grilling about the safety of children on their platforms. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg — a hearing veteran — will be joined by leaders from X, Snap, Discord, and TikTok during the appearance. Politico Tech host Steven Overly talks with Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels. Plus, the House's Homeland Security Committee is moving closer toward an impeachment of Alejandro Mayorkas, and the latest on the border deal. Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels interviews  Politico Tech host Steven Overly.

President Joe Biden has vowed the U.S. will respond to the weekend drone attack of three U.S. troops in Jordan, but what will that look like exactly? And, does this mean the country is at war with Iran — or at the very least, an Iran-backed militia group? Pentagon reporter Lara Seligman walks Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza through the details. Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza interviews Pentagon reporter Lara Seligman.

After three U.S. troops were killed and 25 more were wounded in a drone attack in Jordan, President Joe Biden vowed a response and Senators Lindsey Graham and John Cornyn echoed a call for retaliation. Plus, over the weekend, House Republicans unveiled articles of impeachment against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. Finally, Legal Editor James Romoser walks Playbook co-author Rachael through this week in Trump trial watch. An earlier version of this episode referred to the verdict in the Carroll lawsuit inconsistently. The jury awarded Carroll $83.3 million.

Republicans demanded a border deal in order to pass any Ukraine aid. And they’ve just about got one. But if Donald Trump gets his way, Republicans will abandon that effort and the bill will go down in flames. Congress reporter Ursula Perano joins Playbook co-author Rachael Bade to talk through the bizarre politics on the Hill that are leading some Republicans to ditch the deal they helped broker — and what Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell really thinks about it.

When it was unveiled, the bipartisan tax deal brokered by Senate Finance Chair Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and House Ways and Means Chair Jason Smith (R-Mo.) seemed like a layup — it expanded the child tax credit (a Dem priority) while offering relief to businesses (a GOP priority). But now, in the cold spotlight of simple congressional vote-counting, it faces a very real challenge: border politics. Can it actually pass? Tax policy reporter Ben Guggenheim walks Playbook co-author Rachael Bade through what has to happen to make it through the Congress.

A victory in the granite state for former President Donald Trump effectively ended Nikki Haley’s shot at the 2024 GOP presidential nomination. But the former governor of South Carolina announced Tuesday she will continue the fight in her home state, even though she is expected to lose by an even larger margin there. President Joe Biden, meanwhile, handily — and, as expected— won the New Hampshire write-in campaign, upsetting Minnesota Rep. Dean Phillips who hedged much of his campaign’s bets on success in the state. The biggest takeaway from the night, as Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza tells Eugene Daniels, is that all signs point to a repeat of the 2020 race.

Playbook co-authors Rachael Bade and Ryan Lizza talk about what Ryan's been experiencing on the ground in New Hampshire, where Donald Trump currently has a double digit polling lead over Nikki Haley. Plus everything else you need to know today.

After vowing to stay in the race despite a disappointing second place finish in Iowa, Gov. Ron DeSantis made a 180-degree turn and ended his turbulent campaign Sunday. Florida reporter Gary Fineout talks to Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels about the failure to launch and whether we'll see DeSantis as a surrogate. Plus, POLITICO legal editor James Romoser breaks down what you need to watch for in Donald Trump trial news this week.

With Senate negotiators expected to unveil a bipartisan border deal any day now, the chatter on Capitol Hill has turned to one elephantine obstacle: How to get this thing past the GOP-led House. The answer may just be… Democratic votes. And that could be a problem for Speaker Mike Johnson, especially as Donald Trump and the party’s right flank aren’t eager to support a border compromise — potentially dooming Johnson’s speakership. But now, a new scenario is gaining steam: If that happens, might Democrats actually help keep the gavel in the Louisianan’s hands? Playbook co-author Rachael Bade walks through the possibilities.

With a partial government shutdown just days away, a clutch of top government officials — including President Joe Biden and House Speaker Mike Johnson — met yesterday to negotiate a potential spending deal. But before any deal gets finalized, they must reach a compromise on two big issues: border security (a priority for the GOP) and aid to Ukraine (a priority for Biden). So, what, if anything, changed in the meeting? And what’s the state of play today? White House reporter Myah Ward shares her readout with Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels. Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels interviews White House reporter Myah Ward.

The Supreme Court will take up Chevron deference on Wednesday, a principle related to how much consideration judges must give to federal agency regulations and other executive branch decisions that stems from a Reagan-era environmental regulation. Energy reporter Alex Guillén tells Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza that the fact the court is even taking it up signals that a change in the 40 year-old rule seems likely. Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza interviews energy reporter Alex Guillén.

Capturing more than 50% of the delegates up for grabs, former president Donald Trump claimed a historic, dominant win mere minutes after the Iowa caucuses began Monday night. By the end of the evening, he had also picked up another endorsement, this time from businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, who withdrew his bid for president. Florida governor Ron DeSantis claimed second place and South Carolina governor Nikki Haley came in third. Playbook co-author Rachael Bade was on the ground in Iowa and tells Eugene Daniels what she saw and heard.

We’re just days away from the first ballots cast in the 2024 presidential cycle: the Iowa caucuses. But this year’s GOP contest is shaping up to look a bit different than you may expect. Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza sits down with storied Iowa Republican strategist David Kochel in Des Moines to talk the field, campaigns and what to expect on Monday.

Last night in Des Moines, the split-screen reality of the GOP primary was on full display. On CNN, Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley brutalized each other for two hours during a debate essentially for second place — largely ignoring the man who even while absent from the stage, is running away with the race. Instead, a noticeably subdued former President Donald Trump took to a Fox News-sponsored town hall, where he mostly focused on a general election message. What should we make of it all? Playbook co-authors Rachael Bade and Ryan Lizza sort through what matters, what didn’t and where things stand with just a few days left.

Some of the youngest staffers working in government are challenging norms that have been in place for decades by speaking out when they don’t agree with the Biden administration. The unwritten code of conduct is to keep quiet or quit, but the newest generation is speaking up, speaking out, and staying on the payroll. Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels walks co-author Rachael Bade through how the president is handling the conundrum. Playbook co-author Rachael Bade interviews Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels.

Former President Donald Trump will appear in a D.C. Circuit Court Tuesday as oral arguments are heard in the case claiming he attempted to subvert the 2020 election. But, as senior legal affairs reporter Josh Gerstein tells Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza, Trump’s presence — which isn’t required— could be performative ahead of the kickoff of GOP primary voting. Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza interviews senior legal affairs reporter Josh Gerstein.

Over the three week-long holiday break, House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer appear to have reached an agreement on top line spending numbers. Plus, Senate negotiators say they've made progress on discussions about the U.S.-Mexico border. But as Playbook co-author Rachael Bade explains, multiple complications remain before either deal can be finalized.

Grassroots groups looking to add a constitutional amendment protecting the right to an abortion are inching towards procuring enough state-certified signatures by the Feb. 1 deadline to put a referendum on the 2024 ballot. If successful, the move could undo the state’s abortion bans and deliver a hard blow to Governor and presidential hopeful Ron DeSantis. Florida-based health reporter Arec Sarkissian walks Playbook co-author Rachael Bade through the ins and outs of the ballot initiative

Former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley is rising in the GOP presidential polls. With New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu’s endorsement, she’s prepared to enter the state’s primary in a strong position. But the elephant in the room is that at this point, it is still a race for second place. So has anything changed? Massachusetts-based political reporter Lisa Kashinsky tells Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels that Haley, who once shied away from directly attacking former President Trump, seems to have decided to up the ante.

As the election year kicks off, President Joe Biden is making plans. In the coming weeks, Biden will headline big speeches in both Pennsylvania and South Carolina. Meanwhile, House Speaker Mike Johnson is applying pressure on the president to act more aggressively about the crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border, which just happens to be an area where the president consistently polls weakest. Playbook co-author Rachael Bade breaks it all down.

Though the House and Senate are still on holiday recess, two big pieces of business from 2023 remain unfinished. Government funding for the new fiscal year and the $100 billion supplemental for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan — a bill that Republicans are demanding be paired with new border security policies — are likely to dominate the first few weeks on the Hill. The looming Iowa caucuses, too, Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza explains, may further complicate things.

For 40 years, Michigan’s Macomb County has been something like the de facto national capital of white middle America — home of the “Reagan Democrats” and a must-visit for every serious presidential contender. But behind that very familiar story is one you’ve never heard — and which hasn’t really been told in full until this morning, in Politico Magazine. Deputy editor Zack Stanton joins Playbook co-author Rachel Bade to unspool the thread that runs through the last half-century of politics — and which explains so much about American life. Playbook co-author Rachael Bade interviews deputy editor zack stanton.

Deep blue California is shaping up to have one of the most consequential and hard-fought Senate races of the 2024 cycle — and that’s before the general election takes shape. A new POLITICO/Morning Consult poll finds that Rep. Adam Schiff, a Democrat of Burbank, is in the driver’s seat, with a wide lead heading into election year. But in the race for second place, two prominent Democrats — Reps. Katie Porter and Barbara Lee — are in a statistical dead heat with Republican Steve Garvey of L.A. Dodgers fame. Why does that matter? California political reporter Melanie Mason joins Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels to talk it through.

The Colorado Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that former president and 2024 GOP frontrunner Donald Trump is ineligible to appear on the state’s ballots, citing his involvement in the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the Capitol. Senior legal reporter Kyle Cheney joins Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels to break down what this means going forward, and how it may impact the election at large. Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels interviews senior legal reporter Kyle Cheney.

At a number of recent appearances, President Joe Biden has shown he is not afraid to draw comparisons between the rhetoric of former President Donald Trump and Adolf Hitler. Though not wholly unexplored territory, the move is unusual and seen by some as extreme. White House bureau chief Jonathan Lemire joins Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza to discuss why the Biden team has decided to cross the line, and what potential drawbacks he could face. Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza interviews White House bureau chief Jonathan Lemire.

With senators stuck on the Hill for another week before the Christmas holidays — thanks to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer — the pressure is on to pass President Joe Biden’s $106 billion national security supplemental. But Republicans aren’t going for it, so it is unclear whether there will even be a hearing before the new year. Plus, more trouble in the DeSantis camp as Jeff Roe, the leader of his PAC, Never Back Down, resigned Saturday night.

It’s the race that political obsessives across the nation are looking to: the special election to succeed ousted GOP Rep. George Santos in New York’s third congressional district. And the nascent campaign to become his replacement is set: Republican Mazi Melesa Pilip, a Nassau County legislator and Ethiopia-born former IDF soldier, vs. former Democratic Rep. Tom Suozzi. New York Playbook author Emily Ngo joins Playbook deputy editor Zack Stanton to talk through all the twists and turns of the race everyone will soon be talking about. Playbook deputy editor Zack Stanton interviews New York Playbook author Emily Ngo.

As it weighs how to proceed in negotiations over a new tranche of aid to Ukraine, the Biden administration faces a dilemma of both policy and politics: How much can they concede on border security without losing ground with Democratic voters in 2024? The answer to that question is complicated — both on Capitol Hill, where progressives are fuming at Biden for what they see as caving to the right, and in the general public, where independent voters are fuming at Biden for being too far to the left on matters of migration. White House reporter Jen Haberkorn joins Playbook co-author Rachael Bade to explore the ins and outs of the latest fight roiling Washington. Playbook co-author Rachael Bade interviews White House reporter Jen Haberkorn.

In a last ditch attempt to convince Congress to agree to send more humanitarian aid to his country before the end of the year, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy traveled to Capitol Hill. He met with House Speaker Mike Johnson and other senior officials, and hosted a press conference with President Joe Biden. But, as national security reporter Alex Ward tells Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels, without a border deal, chances of more aid to Ukraine are all but impossible. Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels national security reporter Alex Ward.

On Monday, special counsel Jack Smith — who is investigating Donald Trump's attempt to subvert the 2020 election — asked the Supreme Court to leapfrog the D.C. Circuit court and take up the case in order to keep it on track. He reasoned that the case will ultimately end up with SCOTUS regardless, and it should decide the issue before the end of the current term. But that’s not the only thing Smith revealed, legal reporter Kyle Cheney tells Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels; one of the more intriguing revelations involves Trump’s Twitter account.

House Republicans are ready to get rolling on formally authorizing an impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden with a floor vote later this week. Despite a lack of evidence, accusers say Biden may have benefited from his son’s business ventures. Right now, as Congress reporter Anthony Adragna explains, the GOP is largely united in supporting the  investigation. But that doesn't necessarily mean they'll ultimately vote to impeach Biden. Plus, an update on an action-packed week on Capitol Hill, with big-ticket issues such as the National Defense Authorization Act and the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, and a visit from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Playbook editor Mike DeBonis interviews congress reporter Anthony Adragna.

Hunter Biden’s legal jeopardy reached dramatic new heights late Thursday night, when he was charged with nine criminal counts stemming from allegations that he failed to pay taxes. National correspondent Betsy Woodruff Swann tells Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels that the severity of the new charges may be cause for concern for both Hunter and for his father — who is less than a year out from running for reelection. Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels interviews National correspondent Betsy Woodruff Swann.

It was the last scheduled GOP debate before primary ballots start being cast. But did it change anything? Last night in Tuscaloosa, Chris Christie, Nikki Haley, Ron DeSantis and Vivek Ramaswamy traded barbs, unspooled occasionally outlandish talking points and did their best to recapture the narrative in the final month of the primary race. Yet it was the candidate not in attendance — Donald Trump — who once again loomed large, defining the stage even while absent. And what we saw seems unlikely to disrupt the fundamentals of the campaign. National politics correspondent Adam Wren joins Playbook deputy editor Zack Stanton to unpack it all.  

The Colorado Supreme Court will hear oral arguments today on whether Trump should be disqualified from the ballot in 2024 based on alleged violations of the 14th amendment. The case, which legal reporter Kyle Cheney explains is almost bound to end up being heard by the U.S. Supreme Court, has implications both for the 2024 election and legal precedent for years to come. Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels interviews legal reporter Kyle Cheney.

The future of the $106 billion budget supplemental funding package hangs in limbo as negotiations between Democrats and Republicans failed to resolve over the weekend. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer says he will bring a clean supplemental to the floor this week, but Republicans have vowed to filibuster, White House reporter Jen Haberkorn tells Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza. With the clock ticking down and the need for aid becoming more and more dire, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will virtually address the chambers on an invitation from the Biden administration. Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza interviews White House reporter Jen Haberkorn.

The agenda this week includes the White House making a final plea to Congress for Ukraine aid, a likely vote on the $106 billion supplemental funding package, and a potential re-gagging of former president Trump. Topping it all off is a new focus for Democrats as election season nears: so-called MAGAnomics, the GOP’s policy plans.

GOP presidential candidate and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis met with California Gov. Gavin Newsom for chaotic debate Thursday night. The two—and moderator Sean Hannity— set out to contrast the Republican and Democratic ways of governing during the 90 minute spectacle billed as the red vs. blue debate. A gamut of topics were covered and slews of fiery buzzwords were hurled at one another, but did the audience actually learn anything? California bureau chief Christopher Cadelago joins Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels to unpack the event.   Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels interviews California bureau chief Christopher Cadelago,

There is a lot going on on Capitol Hill, and not much time left in the year to get it all done. First, House freedom Caucus chairman Rep. Scott Perry has suggested conservatives may consider compromising on demands for steep spending cuts and accept the funding deal that contributed to the demise of Rep. Kevin McCarthy’s speakership. Sen.Tommy Tuberville, on the other hand, is looking for a way out of his extensive holdup of military promotions. Finally, members of both parties are still figuring our how to tackle the White House’s $100 billion supplemental funding request.

The White House and Congress are trying to find common ground on immigration, an issue President Biden has significantly struggled to gain popularity on in the past. Right now, as White House reporter Myah Ward explains, there are three areas of focus at the center of the debates. Asylum reform, safe third country restrictions, and changes to the country’s parole system are what is causing conflict, and one issue, she tells Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza, is nowhere near resolution. Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza interviews White House reporter Myah Ward.

The complicated life of President Joe Biden’s son Hunter has been capturing the attention of the media and the public for years. But it reached a new level during summer 2023 when the younger Biden  rejected a plea deal in a case related to his business dealings. As the 2024 election nears, national correspondent Betsy Woodruff Swan and Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels discuss how Hunter Biden’s team has been reevaluating both his legal approach and public image. Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels interviews national correspondent Betsy Woodruff Swan.

After the Thanksgiving break, lawmakers return to Capitol Hill today to tackle the White House’s $100 billion supplemental funding request. The funds would be designated for aid to Israel, Ukraine, Taiwan and the U.S.-Mexico border, but finding the common ground between parties needed to move the package as one will be a difficult feat. Playbook co-author Rachael Bade walks through how party leaders are handling the pressure.

Qatari officials announced late Tuesday that Hamas plans to release 50 hostages in exchange for a multi-day pause in fighting between Hamas and Israel after a deal was struck between the two powers. The extensive agreement will lead to the first reprieve after six weeks of nearly nonstop aggression. National security reporter Alex Ward tells Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels that the sensitive deal was written to encourage the release of even more hostages down the road and send more aid into Gaza. Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels interviews national security reporter Alex Ward.

On Monday, a panel of three judges with the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals signaled they may loosed a gag order imposed on former President Donald Trump originally imposed by the judge during his Washington, D.C. criminal trial. Senior legal affairs reporter Josh Gerstein was in the courtroom and walks Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza through what lies ahead for Trump in this case and the others with which he is currently dealing. Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza interviews  Senior legal affairs reporter Josh Gerstein.  

During a slow Thanksgiving week on the Hill, attention is largely focused on the new year, when Democratic incumbents in the Senate will go full speed into campaign mode in an attempt to hang on to their seats. Few seats are more important to Senate Democrats next year than those occupied by Montana’s Jon Tester and Ohio’s Sherrod Brown, who have proven they can emerge victorious even as their states go red. Republicans are also dipping their toes in the water; the NRSC is launching a new digital ad targeting Arizonans with the goal of driving them back to independent incumbent Kyrsten Sinema’s camp instead of Democratic challenger Ruben Gallego’s. But could it backfire? Playbook co-author Rachael Bade walks us through. All of this, plus President Biden pardons a turkey on the South Lawn today.

A blistering report on Thursday from the House Ethics Committee poured jet fuel onto the efforts to oust Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.) from Congress. Among the many damning details: Santos allegedly spent campaign funds on Sephora, OnlyFans and cosmetic procedures like Botox. What comes next? Congress reporter Anthony Adragna talks Playbook deputy editor Zack Stanton through the coming expulsion vote Santos faces — which may be the final nail in the proverbial coffin for the congressman’s brief political career. Playbook deputy editor Zack Stanton interviews Congress reporter Anthony Adragna .

The truth about UFOs is out there. But what exactly do we know, and how? Unidentified flying objects — or, as they are now called, UAPs (unidentified anomalous phenomena) — have long captivated curious minds. But where the topic was once taboo, recent years have seen more and more mainstream discussion on the topic in Washington. That transition — and the underlying questions beneath it — is the topic of Garrett Graff’s new book, “UFO: The Inside Story of the U.S. Government’s Search for Alien Life Here ― and Out There.” Garrett joins Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza to talk about that veil of secrecy, and the very real explanations that exist for at least some of the cosmic unexplained. Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza interviews Garrett Graff.

President Biden is in San Francisco for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, where he will meet with President Xi Jinping of China. There is a lot riding on the meeting, Phelim Kine tells Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels, and not just because Biden will be on the campaign trail for the next year. Issues as varied as artificial intelligence, espionage, and fentanyl are expected to come up. And last night the House passed a funding bill to avert a government shutdown. All that, and everything else you need to know today.

We’re less than a year from the election and the Biden campaign has to reckon with some troubling new voter insights. Extensive data conducted by the organizations Progressive Change Campaign Committee and Data for Progress found those surveyed generally lacked confidence in President Biden’s handling of the economy. But, as White House reporter Adam Cancryn tells Playbook co-author Rachael Bade, there is some nuance to these results. All that, and the rest of the news you need to know today. Playbook co-author Rachael Bade interviews White House reporter Adam Cancryn.

Congress has until the end of the work week to determine, once again, how to keep the government funded. New House Speaker Mike Johnson wants to pass a continuing resolution that is going to delay funding for some government agencies until January and the rest of until the deadline in early February. The CR is clean enough that it’ll be hard for Democrats to reject the plan, Playbook co-author Rachael Bade explains. But, even some hardline Republicans are already vowing they won’t vote for it.Plus, the GOP Primary pool is down another candidate, new exclusive polling shows a comfortable win for Donald Trump in 2024, and the rest of the news you need to know today. Playbook editor Mike DeBonis interviews Playbook co-author Rachael Bade.

Sen. Joe Manchin announced yesterday that he will not seek reelection in 2024 — news with wide-reaching 2024 implications. His seat is almost certain to flip into Republican hands, drastically complicating Democrats’ hopes of holding a majority in the chamber. But rumors abound that Manchin himself may not be done with politics just yet. Political reporter Ally Mutnick joins Rachael Bade to break down just how big a blow it is, and what role Donald Trump himself may have had in Manchin’s decision. Playbook co-author Rachael Bade interviews political reporter Ally Mutnik.

Last night, five Republican presidential candidates took the stage in Miami for a policy-heavy debate where they clashed about everything from TikTok to Trump to taking on Hamas. National political correspondent Brakkton Booker joined Playbook co-author Rachael Bade to talk through the highs, the lows, and whether or not it all will make a difference in the long run. Playbook co-author Rachael Bade interviews National political correspondent Brakkton Booker.

Andy Beshear secured a second term as governor of Kentucky; Democrats kept the Virginia state Senate and flipped the House; and Ohioans voted to enshrine the right to an abortion in the state Constitution. So what does all of this say about 2024? Morning Score author Madison Fernandez breaks it all down with Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels. Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels interviews Morning Score author Madison Fernandez.

The 2024 presidential election may be a little less than a year away, but residents in states around the country today will cast ballots for a variety of pivotal races. There are gubernatorial contests in Kentucky and Mississippi, a referendum on abortion rights in Ohio, and a battle for control of the Virginia legislature, among other contests. As senior campaigns and elections editor Steve Shepard explains, some of today’s results may provide some insight into what we can expect next November. Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels interviews senior campaigns and elections editor Steve Shepard.

Donald Trump is scheduled to appear in a Manhattan courtroom today, testifying about claims that his companies falsified documents submitted to banks and insurers to land favorable real estate loan terms. New York Attorney General Letitia James is looking to bar the former president from doing business in the state and have him pay $250 million in damages. But a chance to take the stand could give Trump another opportunity to score political points, legal reporter Erika Orden tells Playbook co-author Rachael Bade. That, plus more drama in the House even with a new speaker, and the rest of the news you need to know today. Playbook co-author Rachael Bade interviews legal reporter Erika Orden.

A Republican-backed $14.3 billion bill to aid Israel passed the House, but is going nowhere fast in the Senate. One reason is because the bill is funded by IRS cuts, which the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office says would add to the federal deficit over the next decade. Another  is that the bill does not contain any money for Ukraine. White House reporter Myah Ward lays out some compromises Democrats and the Biden administration may propose in order to procure the aid money. Playbook deputy editor Zack Stanton interviews White House reporter Myah Ward.

Republican senators pushed to confirm more than 60 military nominees Wednesday evening in a direct challenge to fellow GOP member Tommy Tuberville and his blockade on promotions — but the Alabama senator is refusing to budge. Defense reporter Connor O'Brien breaks it down with Playbook co-author Rachael Bade. All that, and the rest of the news you need to know today.

Over the next two days, tech giants and world leaders — including Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Vice President Kamala Harris — will gather in London for a summit on artificial intelligence. Highlighting the agenda is discussions on the dangers of the evolving technology and how to regulate it. Additionally, the U.S. and U.K. are slated to announce a collaborate effort on AI safety. But already, Politico U.K. senior tech correspondent Vincent Manancourt tells Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels, a lack of international presence isn’t painting Sunak in the best light. Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels interviews  Politico U.K. senior tech correspondent Vincent Manancourt.

Speaker Mike Johnson has come out swinging in his first few days with the gavel. The newly-elected leader of the House has raised eyebrows in both parties with an announcement that he will use funds allotted to the IRS plus-up within the Inflation Reduction Act to offset 4.3 billion worth of assistance to Israel. The decision, Playbook co-author Rachael Bade explains, is leaving many Democrats in between a rock and a hard place pitting aid to Israel against plus-up funding, and may not be all that popular among some Republicans either.

In a meeting with lawmakers later today, President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris will talk artificial intelligence and Biden will issue an executive order expected to organize for federal agencies to monitor and find new uses for artificial intelligence technology. Vice President Kamala Harris will also travel to London this week for a summit focused on AI hosted by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels and Playbook editor Mike DeBonis break it all down.   Playbook editor Mike DeBonis interviews Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels.

Today, Dean Phillips launches his presidential campaign in New Hampshire — a quixotic attempt to unseat President Joe Biden in the Democratic primary, mounted just ahead of the early state’s filing deadline. It’s a long shot. But amid  widespread concerns about Biden’s age and electability, Phillips is betting that voters will be drawn to his relative youth and outsider message. How will he make that pitch? National politics reporter Elena Schneider — who first reported on Phillips’ congressional campaign — walks Playbook deputy editor Zack Stanton through what to expect. Playbook deputy editor Zack Stanton interviews National politics reporter Elena Schneider.

After a 23-day stalemate, House Republicans unanimously elected a new speaker: Rep. Mike Johnson. Now, the question being asked by much of Washington is: Mike who? We’ve got answers. Politics bureau chief and senior columnist (and noted Louisianophile) Jonathan Martin joins Playbook editor Mike DeBonis to talk through the new MAGA-aligned speaker’s background, what his ascendance tells us about the new center of power in the Republican Party and what to expect in the days and weeks ahead. Playbook editor Mike DeBonis interviews Politics bureau chief and senior columnist Jonathan Martin.

Donald Trump dominated headlines in Washington and around the country Tuesday. After staying mum for much of the House Speaker search process, Trump took to Truth Social to call frontrunner Tom Emmer a “globalist” and a “RINO” among other things, leading to Emmer’s decision to withdraw from consideration. The move came hours after Trump’s former campaign attorney, Jenna Ellis, pleaded guilty to a felony charge connected to election fraud in Georgia. National politics correspondent Meridith McGraw joins Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza to discuss whether the former president can now be an expected part of the ongoing search for a new House Speaker. Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza interviews National Politics Correspondent Meridith McGraw

Now in its third week, the search for a new House Speaker leads House Republicans back to a private internal conference vote to decide who of the eight candidates should be the next nominee. Congress reporter Anthony Adragna lays out for Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza what we can expect (or try to) from the Hill in the week ahead. All that, and the rest of the news you need to know today. Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza interviews Congress reporter Anthony Adragna.

After more than two weeks and multiple failed floor votes, House Republicans have yet to elect a new speaker. Among nine declared candidates, Majority Whip Tom Emmer is most likely to win the GOP conference nomination and head to the floor. But will he be able to evade accusations that he is not in lockstep with Donald Trump? Playbook co-author Rachael Bade breaks it down.

Rep. Jim Jordan has a press conference at 8 a.m. and another speaker vote scheduled for 10 a.m. Will 217 members of the Republican conference back him? Unlikely — but we’ll be watching. Plus, President Biden used his Oval Office address last night to forcefully advocate for aiding both Israel and Ukraine. National security reporter Alex Ward breaks it down with Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels.

The House is still without a Speaker after Rep. Jim Jordan once again failed to receive the 217 votes necessary to secure the gavel.Rather than continuing with a second vote after the Ohio Republican’s first failed ballot on Tuesday, Jordan used the time to attempt to flip more members of his own party to yes votes. Instead, he received an additional two ‘nos’ bringing the total on Wednesday to 22. The plan for Jordan—and the entire speaker-less House going forward— is unclear, Huddle author Daniella Diaz tells Playbook Deputy Editor Zack Stanton. Plus, protestors calling for a ceasefire in Gaza sat in the Capitol as President Biden was en route back from Israel, and the different ways Democrats have chosen to address (or not address) the crisis is deepening some existing fissures within the party. Playbook Deputy Editor Zack Stanton interviews Huddle author Daniella Diaz.

After failing well short of the necessary 217 votes, Rep. Jim Jordan scrambled yesterday to rescue his campaign for House speaker. But with a whopping 20 members of his own party breaking ranks, he's got serious work to do ahead of a second floor vote scheduled for 11 a.m. today. Playbook co-author Rachael Bade and Editor Mike DeBonis discuss whether Jordan has any hope of salvaging his bid for the gavel and what might happen if he can't. Plus, a hospital attack in Gaza leaves hundreds dead and complicates President Biden’s trip to the Middle East. That, plus all the news you need to know today.

In an unexpected turn of events, Rep. Jim Jordan has become the favorite to claim the Speaker’s gavel after an unprecedented number of initial detractors say they will flip their votes in favor of the Ohio Republican. A final vote for the new Speaker is expected Wednesday. Plus, President Biden will make a rare wartime visit to Israel to show support as the county prepares a ground invasion of Gaza. Playbook co-author Rachael Bade breaks down the news you need to know today.

A little over a week into the conflict playing out in Israel and Gaza, the impact on Washington is becoming more clear. President Biden may try to visit Israel in the near future if the violence subsides long enough to make it safe. The administration has also sent a request to Congress for an aid package to both Israel and Ukraine. But as National Security reporter Alex Ward tells Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza, Ukraine funding is a divisive topic in the House, which could imperil all the aid. Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza interviews National Security reporter Alex Ward.

Yesterday, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise shocked colleagues and reporters by pulling out of the race to become the next speaker — a little more than 24 hours after clinching the GOP’s nomination. What now? Congressional reporter and Huddle author Daniella Diaz walks Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels through some possibilities of what could come next in the speaker-less House. Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels interviews Congressional reporter and Huddle author Daniella Diaz.

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise clinched the GOP’s nomination for speaker of the house Wednesday. But that doesn’t mean it’s a sure thing from here: Not long after, members of his own party began coming out of the woodwork to say they would not back the Louisiana congressman’s run for the gavel. Playbook co-author Rachael Bade explains why those in Scalise’s corner say there’s no reason to give up now, even when Scalise can only lose four Republican votes.

At 10 a.m. Wednesday, Republicans will cast blind ballots for the person they want to be nominated to assume the Speaker of the House role left vacant after Kevin McCarthy’s ousting last month. In one scenario, things could proceed simply with the Representative who receives the most votes seamlessly assuming the gavel in due time. But, a last minute a push for a rules change to try to raise the threshold to win could complicate the process tremendously, Playbook co-author Rachael Bade explains.

A weekend of carnage after Hamas launched an attack on Israel, and the country in turn declared war on Palestinian-populated Gaza, disrupted international diplomacy for the foreseeable future. Though the events in the Middle East are just beginning to unfold, National Security Reporter Alex Ward tells Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza officials on the Hill—from the Oval Office, to Congress, to the campaign trail—must reckon with the aftershocks of the crisis and decide how to proceed as allies of Israel.  Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza interviews National Security Reporter Alex Ward.

Late Thursday night, former President Donald Trump endorsed Rep. Jim Jordan’s bid to become speaker of the House — ending far-fetched speculation about a possible Trump run while dousing the campaign to succeed Kevin McCarthy with rocket fuel. Until that moment, it was unclear how the former president would approach the vacancy. Trump had previously mentioned that he was planning a visit to Capitol Hill to attempt to unite the party, and hinted at running for the position himself. But when Rep. Troy Nehls (R-Texas) posted to X that he had spoken to Trump about his decision to endorse Jordan rather than run, it changed the entire trajectory of the race. National political reporter Meridith McGraw talks Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza through the situation. Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza interviews National political reporter Meridith McGraw.

With Kevin McCarthy dethroned, House Republicans are mired in a frantic search for someone to fill the leadership vacuum. On Wednesday, two big names threw their hats in the ring: House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) and Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan (R-Ohio). Another name in the conversation: former President Donald Trump, the subject of a hard-right pipe dream that imagines him ending up with the speaker’s gavel — a far-out idea that Trump himself is stoking on social media posts. Congressional reporter Anthony Adragna joins Playbook co-author Rachael Bade to sort it all out. Playbook co-author Rachael Bade interviews Congressional national security reporter Anthony Adragna.  

For the first time in history, a Speaker of the House was ousted. Yesterday, Kevin McCarthy’s tumultuous time as Speaker came to an end after every Democrat joined Rep. Matt Gaetz and seven others voted to take away his gavel. Rep. Patrick McHenry is serving as temporary Speaker and McCarthy has confirmed he will not run again, but beyond that, not much is clear as the territory is entirely uncharted. Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels interviews Playbook Editor Mike DeBonis.

Laphonza Butler is well known in Democratic circles. Her resume includes roles as a regent on the board of the University of California, president of the California SEIU, and most recently the third president of EMILY’s List. But with her appointment to the late Dianne Feinstein’s Senate seat this afternoon, her profile is about to get far more public. It also means she has mere weeks to decide if she will run to be elected to the seat she is assuming. California Bureau Chief Christopher Cadelago tells Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels that it's a decision that could throw an already complicated race into a tailspin. Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels interviews California Bureau Chief Christopher Cadelago.

Capitol Hill is lurching from one crisis to the next. Congressman Matt Gaetz announced yesterday that he plans to file a motion to vacate against Speaker Kevin McCarthy this week. Plus, former President Donald Trump is expected to attend the opening of the civil trial in the New York attorney general’s fraud case against him. And California Governor Gavin Newsom is expected to appoint Laphonza Butler to fill Dianne Feinstein’s seat.

Barring something genuinely surprising, the federal government will shut down in a little more than 24 hours’ time, as House Republicans show no sign of being able to pass the appropriations bills that have vexed them for weeks. Now, as House Speaker Kevin McCarthy takes the blame, there are growing whispers that conservative hard-liners will launch an audacious gambit to oust him and replace him with Majority Whip Tom Emmer. Playbook co-author Rachael Bade walks us through the state of play behind the scenes — including the central role played by Trumpy Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz.

As the 2024 GOP hopefuls gathered in California to debate, the barbs aimed at Donald Trump were more pointed, the elbows thrown at one another were sharper, and all in all, the moderators let the exchanges careen out of control. And yet, for all of that, the debate largely fell flat: Nobody’s performance was strong enough to touch Trump’s massive polling lead. What exactly happened? Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza talks it all through with national politics correspondent Adam Wren, who covered the debate in person, and takes us behind the camera to reveal how it played in the room. Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza interviews national politics correspondent Adam Wren.

Candidates vying for the Republican nomination for president will once again take the stage to debate tonight, this time in California. But Donald Trump, whose lead continues to grow, says he once again will not attend. Electrifying performances in August did not translate to bumps in poll numbers; could that change this round?Plus, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy is still trying to keep the government open, and Senator Chuck Schumer is now also trying to keep the government open.

After a press conference that provided few answers about the federal charges leveled against him, Sen. Bob Menendez now must face a jury of his peers. Only three of his Democratic colleagues in Washington have called for his resignation, but as New Jersey Playbook author Matthew Friedman tells Ryan Lizza, it's a whole different story back home in New Jersey. We'll be on Cory Booker watch. Plus, President Joe Biden will join the picket line in Michigan, and Speaker Kevin McCarthy is still trying to avoid a shutdown. Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza interviews New Jersey Playbook author Matthew Friedman.

As the clock ticks down, Kevin McCarthy is still trying to wrangle his fellow Republicans toward avoiding a government shutdown. But there seems to be no straightforward solution for the House speaker. Even if a shutdown is avoided, Playbook co-author Rachael Bade explains, something else seems inevitable: a challenge to McCarthy’s gavel. Plus, on the schedule for this week: the first Biden impeachment hearings and the second Republican debate.

A government shutdown appears inevitable as the clock winds down with little progress evident on the bills necessary to keep the government open. It’s so dire that Speaker Kevin McCarthy is seemingly unable to rally House Republicans on even the smallest necessary procedural matters. Where do we go from here? Congress reporter Daniella Diaz talks to Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza about the road ahead — and what to expect as the most unlikely of characters steps in to try to get things moving. Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza interviews Congress reporter Daniella Diaz.

Republicans emerged from a meeting on Capitol Hill last night confident in their ability to move forward on critical spending bills that would keep the government funded and open. But, as Playbook co-author Rachael Bade explains, that optimism may be short-lived as GOP infighting is likely to derail the legislation. Plus, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visits Washington tomorrow to present his case for more aid to his country.

As the clock ticks closer to a government shutdown, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy is struggling to pass a bill that would keep the government open, and the White House is not going to come to his rescue, reporter Jennifer Haberkorn tells Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels. Plus, a preview of Attorney General Merrick Garland’s comments to the House Judiciary Committee. That, and all of the news you need to know today.

With a number of other world leaders skipping the United Nations General Assembly in New York this week, President Joe Biden has the opportunity to take the spotlight. He is expected to push a message of democracy and encourage more funding for humanitarian aid for Ukraine. But, as senior foreign correspondent Nahal Toosi tells Playbook co-author Rachael Bade, there is plenty more to keep an eye on at UNGA. Plus, all the latest on the spending showdown tearing House Republicans apart.  Playbook co-author Rachael Bade interviews Senior Foreign Correspondent Nahal Toosi.

House Republicans spent the weekend trying to find common ground on a stopgap spending bill that could unite them against Democrats ahead of a potential government shutdown on Oct. 1. But with multiple Republican lawmakers already voicing their opposition, its chances of passing the House are already fading. Plus, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visits Capitol Hill.

At midnight, the UAW’s roughly 150,000 members went on strike against General Motors, Ford and Stellantis — the first time ever that the union has targeted all three companies simultaneously in a labor action that threatens to rattle national politics. Though the more immediate issues at play are higher wages wages and better benefits, the broader implications for President Joe Biden — who has yet to win the UAW’s endorsement — and for the 2024 electoral map are undeniable. Playbook deputy editor Zack Stanton sits down with E&E White House reporter Scott Waldman for the whole story. That, and the latest from Capitol Hill and Hunter Biden’s legal saga, on this morning’s Playbook Daily Briefing. Playbook Deputy Editor Zack Stanton interviews E&E White House reporter Scott Waldman.

Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerburg and other of heavy hitters from the tech world joined Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer last night for a closed-door meeting about the future of artificial intelligence — and what the government should do about it. Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels talks with Politico Tech host Steven Overly. All that, and the rest of the news you need to know today.   Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels interviews Politico Tech host Steven Overly.

Mere hours into the first day members of the House convened after August recess, Speaker Kevin McCarthy announced he would be opening an impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden. At the center of the investigation are claims that the overseas business dealings of Biden’s son Hunter influenced his political agenda. But, as Playbook co-author Rachael Bade explains, McCarthy must accomplish a few key tasks before take-off; namely, he must rally his party for enough votes to make it happen.

House Republicans are supposed to be taking up (and are expected to pass) a right-wing defense funding bill this week. But, head butting within the party over spending may throw a wrench in that plan. As Playbook co-author Rachael Bade explains, the vitriol is starting to get messy and spill over onto social media

When the House reconvenes after August recess tomorrow, Speaker Kevin McCarthy will be greeted in the Capitol by unhappy people, many of whom are members of his own party. McCarthy must navigate conservatives who feel the he has not delivered on promises the Speaker made when seeking the gavel back in January. Playbook editor Mike DeBonis talks with Playbook co-author Rachael Bade.

As the House returns next week, the relationship between Speaker Kevin McCarthy and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell could face its greatest test yet. Playbook co-author Rachael Bade joins deputy editor Zack Stanton to talk through the road ahead, the unique pressures McCarthy faces, and the battery of issues that threaten to put the House and Senate GOP on very different pages. Deputy Editor Zack Stanton interviews Playbook co-author Rachael Bade.

Today, President Joe Biden heads to New Delhi for the G-20 summit. The subtext of the trip? Convince countries that the U.S. is a better bet than China. That’s a complicates sales pitch, but could be coming at exactly the right time. National security reporter Alex Ward joins Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels to discuss the potential for a historic breakthrough at the meeting — and what success looks like from the White House’s perspective. Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels interviews national security reporter Alex Ward.

Mitch McConnell is moving as fast as he can to get beyond questions about whether his health will hurt his ability to lead Senate Republicans. Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels talks with Senate reporter Ursula Perano. Plus, Jim Messina on why Democrats need to take a third-party threat seriously and what songs the 2024 Republican presidential candidates are listening to.

A new book dropping today offers a rare inside look at Biden’s first two years in office. Franklin Foer’s “The Last Politician” offers in-depth insights into topics such as the president’s approaches to foreign policy and opinion of reproductive rights. Plus, fresh off the holiday weekend, a fight is brewing over fentanyl; and some Republicans are still pushing for an impeachment inquiry. Ryan Lizza breaks down the news you need to know today.

Playbook deputy editor Zack Stanton talks with senior columnist and politics bureau chief Jonathan Martin about this week in politics and his new column on why you should be paying attention to Virginia, where Sen. Mark Warner is sounding the alarm about the Virginia legislative elections — which Gov. Glenn Youngkin hopes to use to catapult himself into the national conversation. Playbook Deputy Editor Zack Stanton talks with Senior Columnist and Politics Bureau Chief Jonathan Martin.

One story looms above all others today: the first Republican debate. (Although a close second is Donald Trump, who is expected to surrender to law enforcement in Georgia later today, after giving a bizarre interview to Tucker Carlson that aired last night.) The Playbook team got together for a post-debate call to talk it all through.

We’re just a few hours away from the start of the first presidential debate of the 2024 cycle, and the event is already mired in controversy. Playbook co-author Rachael Bade walks through everything you need to know about the main event, and then sits down with RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel to talk about the sideshows.

The debate stage is set. Late last night, the RNC announced that eight candidates will be participating in the first presidential debate of the 2024 cycle on Wednesday night. Meanwhile, the debate’s most notably absent figure — Donald Trump — announces when he will surrender to an Atlanta court on Thursday. Reporter Zach Montellaro walks Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels through the debate maneuvering in the GOP and the opaque process that frustrated a number of Republican hopefuls. Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels talks with reporter Zach Montellaro.

Vice President Kamala Harris’ political future — and quite possibly the success of the Democratic ticket in 2024 — hinges on a simple question: In modern-day D.C., is it possible to make a second impression? She recently sat down with Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels to discuss how her job has changed, what people get wrong about her public profile, and what many insiders see as a major shift in her comfort in recent months. That, plus, a look ahead to a busy week for Donald Trump — and for the GOP presidential candidates he won’t be joining on the debate stage.

As Republicans gear up for the big debate in Milwaukee, further west, California Gov. Gavin Newsom injects himself into the debates raging in San Francisco. The city’s myriad challenges — from culture war topics to substance abuse to unaffordable housing to rampant crime — not only pose governing problems, but political ones as the city reemerges as a Republican punching bag. Deputy editor Zack Stanton talks with California Bureau Chief Christopher Cadelago on how Newsom plans to navigate it. All that and the news you need to know today. Deputy Editor Zack Stanton interviews California Bureau Chief Christopher Cadelago.

Six months into her presidential campaign, Nikki Haley is mired in the single digits and needs a breakout moment. Could next week’s presidential debate offer it? Playbook co-author Rachael Bade joined the former South Carolina governor at the Iowa State Fair to talk through the benefits and drawbacks of being the sole woman in the crowded GOP primary race, what she thinks of her campaign’s trajectory — and Haley cleared the air about the assumptions others make about her candidacy.  

Thus far, President Joe Biden’s administration has not used Donald Trump’s multiple indictments as fodder for insult. Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels and White House Bureau Chief Jonathan Lemire explore what it will take for the White House to change their approach. Plus, Sen. Kyrsten Sinema is unhappy with the situation at the Southern border, and Mark Meadows wants his trial out of Georgia. All that, and the news you need to know today. Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels talks with White House Bureau Chief Jonathan Lemire.

On Monday night, a Georgia grand jury delivered a 98-page indictment against Donald Trump and many of his close allies on charges of interfering with the 2020 election. Legal Affairs reporter Kyle Cheney joins Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels to explore the most wide-ranging indictment against the former president yet. Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels talks with reporter Kyle Cheney.

Republican Minority Leader McConnell says he is working to preserve the United States’ identity as a strong, visible presence internationally and within NATO. But with Donald Trump now the de facto party leader, that’s no longer a popular position to take. The senator’s declining health only adds further complication to his endeavors. Host Ryan Lizza talks with Politics Bureau Chief Jonathan Martin about his newest piece about McConnell’s political endgame. Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza talks with Senior Columnist and Politics Bureau Chief Jonathan Martin.

Nearly every Republican presidential hopeful will be in Des Moines for the Iowa State Fair this weekend. And so will our own Rachael Bade. She joins Ryan to discuss the scene at Ron DeSantis, Mike Pence and Doug Burgum’s campaign stops. That, plus what (and who) we can expect to make headlines in the days ahead. Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza talks with reporter Rachael Bade.

As abortion rights advocates celebrate a major win in Ohio, eyes are turning to other purple-to-red states as Democrats potentially see a path to juice 2024 turnout in some of the most competitive areas of the country. Plus, as Republican presidential hopefuls flock to Des Moines for the Iowa State Fair, former President Donald Trump is bringing an entourage hand-picked to troll Ron DeSantis. All that, and the rest of the news you need to know today.

Eight candidates – including, most recently, former Vice President Mike Pence – have qualified for the first GOP Presidential Debate. Will Donald Trump take the stage? Plus, a victory for proponents of abortion rights in Ohio yesterday, and another staffing shakeup for the DeSantis campaign. All that, and the rest of the news you need to know today.

Today voters in Ohio decide the fate of Issue 1, an amendment that would make it significantly harder to alter the state’s constitution. But the stakes are broader: If passed, it would immediately jeopardize efforts to enshrine abortion rights into state law. Plus, Donald Trump’s legal team is arguing that a protective order proposed by DOJ special counsel Jack Smith would be an infringement on Trump’s free speech rights. Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels talks with campaigns reporter Madison Fernandez about the implications of the Ohio special election.

D.C. District Judge Tanya Chutkan has given Donald Trump until 5 p.m. today to respond to a protective order in his Washington, D.C., criminal case. Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza explains how this event will give important clues about how the former president’s prosecution will unfold in D.C., and when his trial may actually happen.

Donald Trump’s third arraignment may be dominating chyrons nationwide this week, but in California, he and his allies are working to ensure that he can secure every last GOP delegate. Rivals like Ken Cuccinelli are even claiming that the Trump camp is “looking to rig the system in their favor.” Playbook co-author Rachael Bade digs into her exclusive reporting.

With President Joe Biden still at the beach and Congress in August recess, there’s one gigantic story dominating the headlines today: Donald Trump’s expected arraignment in Washington D.C. following his indictment this week stemming from his attempts to overturn the 2020 election. Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza talks with senior legal affairs reporter Josh Gerstein about what to expect from this latest arraignment.

The case filed Tuesday by special counsel Jack Smith is the first attempt to hold Trump criminally accountable in a court of law for his actions between Election Day 2020 and Jan. 6, 2021 — actions which, prosecutors allege amounted to four federal felonies. Ryan Lizza quizzes legal affairs reporter Kyle Cheney about what he learned about yesterday’s historic grand jury indictments.

Midnight marked the mid-year FEC filing deadline for PACs and parties. Rachael Bade and data reporter Jessica Piper have a first look at the donations and spending habits of former President Donald Trump’s campaign. Plus, President Biden has decided to keep U.S. Space Command in Colorado, igniting tensions among Senate Republicans. All that, and the rest of the news you need to know today.

As Congress begins its summer recess, the biggest questions for the remainder of 2023 are coming into focus: Will Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema run for reelection? How will NRSC Chairman Steve Daines get his candidates through contentious primaries – and in so doing, avoid another 2022-style disappointment for Republicans? And can Joe Biden’s cabinet sell “Bidenomics” to voters? Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels on what’s next along all these fronts.

Special counsel Jack Smith introduced three new felony charges against former President Donald Trump — including a blockbuster claim that he asked an employee to delete security camera footage sought by investigators. Kyle Cheney joins Ryan Lizza to explain what it means for the case — and what indictments we can expect next. Plus, the Senate passed its annual NDAA defense bill yesterday — check out Playbook Deep Dive this morning where Ryan nerds out with Arnold Punaro, a retired general with the U.S. Marine Corps, on the politics and policy of the bill.

Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell offered some good news on Wednesday: The Fed’s staff believes the U.S. will avoid a recession in 2023. Plus, so much for Ron DeSantis's campaign reset - check out Playbook this morning where Eugene charts some paths forward. All that, and the rest of the news you need to know today. Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels talks with economics reporter Victoria Guida.

The campaign of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis cut more than a third of its staff on Tuesday in another move billed as a 'reset.' Plus, Speaker Kevin McCarthy walks back comments he made on Fox News about a possible Biden impeachment. All that, and the rest of the news you need to know today. Playbook co-author Rachael Bade talks with national political reporter Alex Isenstadt.

Donald Trump’s presidential race rivals are hesitating to leverage his impeding January 6 indictment, treating it like a new primary third rail. In a rare statement, Kevin McCarthy alludes to a possible impeachment inquiry for Biden. Plus, the most surprising guests at Bohemian Grove this year. All that, and the rest of the news you need to know today. Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza breaks it all down.

Over the weekend, Tim Scott received the latest in a series of polls that show him in third place in some key early states. The candidate he’s closing the distance with: Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. Playbook co-author Rachael Bade examines how other GOP campaigns are reacting to Sen. Scott’s surge, and what they're doing to stunt his momentum.

The scoop about Kevin McCarthy’s promise to Donald Trump about an impeachment expungement vote continues to rock Capitol Hill. Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema may be dashing confirmation hopes for Biden Labor Secretary nominee Julie Su. Plus, Ron DeSantis is pivoting his campaign strategy to stay in the game. All that, and the rest of the news you need to know today. Playbook deputy editor Zack Stanton chats with co-author Rachael Bade about her ongoing reporting.

After Kevin McCarthy suggested that Donald Trump may not be the strongest 2024 candidate, the former president fumed. So the speaker placated him with a promise: the House would vote expunge his impeachments before the August recess. That bill is now coming due, posing a major dilemma for the McCarthy, as many moderate Republicans want nothing to do with such a vote and fear electoral backlash. Plus, Sen. Lindsey Graham may soon have to guard his back against a Norman — Rep. Ralph Norman, that is. All that, and the rest of the news you need to know today. Playbook co-author Rachael Bade dishes on her inside scoops.

Yesterday, Donald Trump announced that he expects to be indicted by special counsel Jack Smith’s Jan. 6 grand jury, citing a new “target letter” he received from investigators. Joining Playbook co-author Rachael Bade to discuss the implications, including when such an indictment may come, is Kyle Cheney, POLITICO’s senior legal affairs and Jan. 6 reporter.

After largely eschewing mainstream media for months, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has a sit-down interview with CNN’s Jake Tapper this afternoon. All that, and everything else you need to know today.

It’s not often that we in Washington obsess over a policy issue that everyday voters are following closely as well. That changes this week, as Congress hits the gas on legislation to reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration — Playbook co-author Rachael Bade talks with transportation reporter Alex Daugherty about everything you need to know.

Late last night, in a slight surprise, the House punted on the National Defense Authorization Act, the annual defense policy bill; SAG-AFTRA goes on strike today and Sally Goldenberg previews the Family Leadership Summit, a gathering of evangelical Christians that most of the Republican presidential candidates will be at, except for Donald Trump. All that, and the rest of the news you need to know today. Playbook deputy editor Zack Stanton talks with national political correspondent Sally Goldenberg.  

President Biden’s NATO visit is wrapping up on a high note, as Turkey ends its blockade of Sweden’s bid for membership. Meanwhile, Biden has major domestic momentum as new economic numbers put inflation at its lowest rate since March 2021 — igniting hopes that the economy has finally turned the corner. Even so, it may be too soon for him to declare victory. All that, and the rest of the news you need to know today. Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels talks with White House reporter Adam Cancryn.

For the first time in more than 100 years, the Marine Corps has no Senate-confirmed commandant, thanks to Sen. Tommy Tuberville's blockade of hundreds of senior military appointments. At issue is the Pentagon’s new policy of reimbursing troops and their families should they have to travel to receive an abortion. Joe Gould, anchor of POLITICO’s Morning Defense newsletter, joins Playbook co-author Rachael Bade to discuss what plays, if any, Chuck Schumer and Mitch McConnell have available to resolve this standoff. 

The National Defense Authorization Act and its 1,500 amendments are headed to the House Rules Committee today, but Kevin McCarthy can’t exhale just yet. Proposals regarding abortion, diversity and medical treatment for transgender troops are worrying Democrats. Plus, Turkey shocks the world by advancing Sweden’s NATO bid. All that, and the rest of the news you need to know today. Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels talks with senior defense reporter Connor O’Brien.

House Republicans are ready to wield a new tool in their quest to punish Biden Cabinet officials. The Holman Rule could allow the House to eliminate salaries of Attorney General Merrick Garland, FBI Director Christopher Wray or other GOP targets. But there are already some skeptics. All that, and the rest of the news you need to know today. Playbook co-author Rachael Bade breaks down her reporting.

President Joe Biden is about to embark on his latest tour of Europe, with stops visiting Britain’s King Charles and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. But what will he face when he arrives at the NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania? Also, Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy is hesitating to endorse one of his biggest supporters: Donald Trump. All that, and the rest of the news you need to know today. Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza talks with national security reporter Alex Ward.

We've seen Republican voters rally around former president Donald Trump following his recent indictments. But his second-quarter fundraising haul of $35 million is really causing jaws to drop. Plus, "Bidenomics" is hitting the road in South Carolina. All that, and the rest of the news you need to know today. Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels talks with national political reporter Alex Isenstadt.

Playbook co-author Rachael Bade walks through the buzziest stories of the morning, including Rep. Adam Schiff’s gigantic new fundraising numbers, the discovery of cocaine in the White House and President Biden’s stumping on the economy.

President Joe Biden gave a live interview on Thursday. Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels and White House reporter Myah Ward discuss the major takeaways. All that, and the rest of the news you need to know today.

Whether it’s affirmative action, LGBTQ rights or student loan forgiveness, we’re awaiting a cascade of opinions from the Supreme Court that have the potential to remake American life — as well as the contours of the political battlefield.  Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels talks with senior legal affairs reporter Josh Gerstein.

Former President Donald Trump and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy have had one of the most powerful relationships in Washington. So when McCarthy went on CNBC and didn't provide a full-throated endorsement that Trump was the strongest Republican candidate, it got a lot of tongues wagging, especially in Trump world. Playbook co-author Rachael Bade breaks down her reporting.

Donald Trump and Ron DeSantis are racing to appeal to New Hampshire voters with full slates of campaign events today. Plus, more developments in the Trump documents case and political strategist Doug Sosnik’s latest must-read strategy memo. All that, and the rest of the news you need to know today.

It’s going to be a quiet week on the Hill but a frenzied one on the campaign trail, where 2024’s GOP hopefuls will be hitting the donor circuit in advance of Friday’s quarterly fundraising deadline. Meanwhile, Ron DeSantis has a new setback in New Hampshire. Lisa Kashinsky, author of POLITICO’s Massachusetts Playbook, joins Playbook co-author Rachael Bade with more. 

Tomorrow marks one year since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. And ever since, Republicans have been twisting themselves in knots over how to handle the fallout...except for Mike Pence. Rachael caught up with Pence to talk about how he squares his own position with the political reality that abortion restrictions are consistently unpopular in polls.

As President Joe Biden fetes Indian PM Narendra Modi in D.C., he faces uncomfortable questions about his rhetoric putting idealism at the heart of American foreign policy — and what happens when that approach runs head-on into the buzzsaw of realpolitik. Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza talks with national security reporter Alex Ward.      

Hunter Biden, President Joe Biden’s son, struck a plea bargain with the Department of Justice over a five-year investigation into tax fraud and illegal firearms possession. It’s a relief for President Biden, but still an event that’s been used politically by his opponents. All that, and the rest of the news you need to know today. Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels talks with White House reporter Eli Stokols.

All eyes are on the 2024 presidential election, but Congress is heating up as House Speaker Kevin McCarthy contends with a growing conservative uprising and tough times for moderates. Meanwhile, Democrats are analyzing and looking to capitalize on the situation. All that, and the rest of the news you need to know today. Playbook co-author Rachael Bade breaks down her reporting.

Yesterday the Republican presidential primary got a new contender: the 45-year-old mayor of Miami: Francis Suarez. Hear excerpts of Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza's interview with him as he tries to make his case.

The Supreme Court still has yet to release decisions for a whopping 21 cases, ranging from affirmative action to student loans. But beyond the decisions themselves, what remains to be seen is how the conservative majority drives those rulings — and how they’re received by the overall public. All that, and the rest of the news you need to know today. Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels talks with Senior Legal Affairs reporter Josh Gerstein.

Donald Trump had his day in court — again. All that, and everything else you need to know today. Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza talks with Senior Legal Affairs reporter Josh Gerstein.

Unpacking the schedule of today's arraignment and what to look out for. Plus, Josh Gerstein tells Ryan about why Donald Trump seemed to win the judicial lottery when his case landed before U.S. District Court Judge Aileen Cannon, who ruled deferentially for Trump last summer. Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza talks with Senior Legal Affairs reporter Josh Gerstein.

Former President Donald Trump gets arraigned in Miami Tuesday. House conservatives are still unhappy with Speaker Kevin McCarthy and are talking about possibly tanking more GOP legislation. All that, and the rest of the news you need to know today.  Playbook co-author Rachael Bade breaks down her reporting.

Here’s what we know right now about the legal and political implications of the federal indictment filed against former President Donald Trump connected to his handling of classified national security records. Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels talks with national correspondent Betsy Woodruff Swan.

Unpacking the revolt against Kevin McCarthy, and what special counsel Jack Smith's target letter against Donald Trump means. All that, and the rest of the news you need to know today. Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza talks with senior congressional reporter Sarah Ferris and senior legal affairs reporter Kyle Cheney.

The continuing fallout over the revolt against Kevin McCarthy, Mike Pence releases an announcement video, and inside Chris Christie's New Hampshire town hall. All that, and the rest of the news you need to know today. Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza talks with Jonathan Martin.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. continues to garner double-digit support in polls of Democratic presidential primary voters, and he's been a fixture in the political news cycle the past couple of days. Eugene provides an update on how President Joe Biden's orbit is approaching him. Plus, why Vivek Ramaswamy and other Republican nominees are increasingly focused on Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. All that, and the rest of the news you need to know today. Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels talks with national political reporter Natalie Allison.  

The biggest political news of the week is likely to be found on the campaign trail, with a number of notable new entries to the Republican presidential field. Eugene and Mike break them down. All that, and the rest of the news you need to know today. Playbook editor Mike DeBonis talks with Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels.

The United States will not be going into default. Last night around 11 p.m., the Senate passed the bipartisan debt deal, sending it to President Biden's desk in the nick of time. And with the debt ceiling crisis effectively resolved, attentions in Washington are turning to 2024 as the long-brewing rivalry between Ron DeSantis and Donald Trump heats up. All that, and the rest of the news you need to know today. Playbook deputy editor Zack Stanton talks with reporter Lisa Kashinsky.  

On Wednesday night, the House passed a bipartisan debt ceiling deal, sending it to Senate. Plus, what we know about the reports that federal prosecutors have an audio recording of former President Trump discussing a sensitive military document he kept after leaving the White House. All that, and the rest of the news you need to know today. Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels talks with Congress reporter Nicholas Wu.

It was a roller coaster of a day on Capitol Hill yesterday, but lawmakers in the House are slated to actually pass the debt ceiling agreement. Plus, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis threw some jabs at Donald Trump on the campaign trail. All that, and the rest of the news you need to know today.  Playbook co-author Rachael Bade breaks down her reporting.

Leaders in both parties are going to be spending much of the day whipping their rank-and-file to make sure they can get the 218 votes needed to pass the debt ceiling bill. All that, and the rest of the news you need to know today. Playbook co-author Rachael Bade breaks down her reporting.

With mere days left before the projected June 1 X-date, negotiators appear to be homing in on a debt ceiling deal that would avert an economic catastrophe. A source familiar with the talks told Playbook late last night that the two sides have all but finalized the spending portion of discussions.  Rachael Bade breaks down her reporting.

EPISODE NOTES: The Florida governor announced his presidential campaign in a glitch-filled Twitter Spaces event. Plus, inside Democrats' debt ceiling messaging tiff, where some Democratic members have privately fumed that President Biden has refused to use his bully pulpit to deliver a clear and concise message on the debt ceiling talks — even as Republican negotiators have used frequent reporter gaggles and off-the-cuff press conferences to make their own case. Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels talks with politics reporter Sally Goldenberg.

The Florida governor’s entry into the Presidential race will immediately shake up a Republican primary that has been dominated by former President Donald Trump. All that, and everything else you need to know in politics today. Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza talks with National Political Correspondent Meridith McGraw.

With only days until the earliest possible default on June 1, we’re going to address the question lawmakers aren’t ready to face: What happens if Biden and McCarthy can’t make a deal? Playbook spent several hours yesterday afternoon and evening working the phones. Rachael Bade breaks down four possible scenarios, ranked most to least likely. Playbook co-author Rachael Bade breaks down her reporting.

We are just days away from a potential federal default, and Washington this week is going to be consumed with the latest twists and turns on whether Congress will act to raise the debt limit in time to prevent a whole parade of horribles – from a tanking stock market to skyrocketing borrowing costs to mass unemployment. Over the weekend bipartisan negotiations went from on again to off again to on again, and today’s main event is a White House meeting between President Joe Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. Playbook editor Mike DeBonis and author Rachael Bade break it down, along with the rest of the news you need to know today.

Though House Speaker Kevin McCarthy suggested a couple days ago that he wanted to have a debt-limit deal by the start of the weekend, as of right now on Friday morning, that doesn’t seem likely to happen — we break down the pressure points. All that, and the rest of the news you need to know today. Playbook deputy editor Zack Stanton talks with Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza.

When Sen. Dianne Feinstein walked into the Capitol last week, ending a monthslong medical absence, she was accompanied by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a small entourage of aides — and a close personal confidant with a storied political pedigree: Nancy Corrine Prowda, the eldest child of former Speaker Nancy Pelosi. All that, and the rest of the news you need to know today. Playbook co-author Rachael Bade breaks down her reporting.

Yesterday President Joe Biden agreed to a key process demand by Speaker Kevin McCarthy: shrinking the size of the negotiating table. Inside the negotiators Biden and McCarthy appointed. Plus, the action around Rep. George Santos. All that, and the rest of the news you need to know today. Playbook co-author Rachael Bade breaks down her reporting.

President Joe Biden is expected to meet today with congressional leaders on the debt limit, and Republicans are feeling increasingly optimistic they can force Biden to make concessions on work requirements for safety net programs as part of the talks taking place this week. All that, and the rest of the news you need to know today. Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels talks with food and agriculture policy reporter Meredith Lee Hill. In this episode: GOP grows more optimistic about work requirement demands in debt talks

It’s gonna be all about the vibes this week as we look for clues to how the big debt ceiling standoff is going to get resolved. Plus, unpacking Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in Iowa over the weekend. All that, and the rest of the news you need to know today. Playbook editor Mike DeBonis on the week ahead.

Biden's big meeting on the debt limit got punted to next week, and the major story driving the day today is the end of Title 42. All that, and the rest of the news you need to know today. Playbook deputy editor Zack Stanton talks with Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza.

Title 42, the pandemic-era policy used to block migrants at the southern border is coming to an end tonight. Officials have had more than two years to prepare for this moment. Plus, CNN’s New Hampshire town hall with Donald Trump last night may have done more to boost his chances of winning the GOP presidential nomination than anything that’s happened since the 2020 election. All that, and the rest of the news you need to know today. Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels talks with Daniella Diaz.

Another day of debt limit negotiations; President Biden's visit today to Valhalla, New York, a GOP district that he carried in 2020, with vulnerable Republican Rep. Mike Lawler; and Trump after the verdict. All that, and the rest of the news you need to know today. Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels talks with legal reporter Erica Orden.

Everyone in Washington is talking about the debt limit. Biden will meet with congressional leaders today at the White House -- but at the same time, it will be a while before the negotiations get into the nitty gritty. All that, and the rest of the news you need to know today. Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza talks with national political correspondent Meridith McGraw.

 Between debt ceiling negotiations and the end of Title 42 it's going to be one busy week in politics. All that, and the rest of the news you need to know today. Playbook co-author Rachael Bade on what's driving the day.

A cascade of big legal developments are driving the day in D.C., while in Florida, Planned Parenthood is launching a multi-million dollar effort to put abortion rights before voters next year — with big implications for 2024 and Ron DeSantis. All that, and the rest of the news you need to know today.  Playbook deputy editor Zack Stanton talks with reporter Megan Messerly.

Are Democrats missing their moment in the debt limit talks? Playbook has the scoop this morning about why one moderate House Democrat — Rep. Jared Golden of Maine — thinks that the negotiation strategy of White House and top congressional Dems is total fantasy. Plus, we’ve got the tape as Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose offered his candid assessment about the value of Trump’s support during closed door remarks. Listen for all of that and the rest of the news you need to know today. Playbook co-author Rachael Bade on what's driving the day.

Donald Trump is talking about skipping primary debates, inside the debt ceiling staring contest, and the rest of the news you need to know today. Playbook co-author Rachael Bade on what's driving the day.

Janet Yellen said Monday that the debt limit X-date has potentially moved to June 1, jolting White House and congressional leaders as they eye talks next week. And this morning, the Senate Judiciary Committee will take up one of the newsiest topics around: Supreme Court ethics reform. Check out Playbook for an exclusive with the written testimony of two people who didn’t want to testify in person: former federal judge J. Michael Luttig and Harvard Law professor Laurence Tribe.  Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza talks with Senior Legal Affairs Reporter Josh Gerstein.

The House is out, the Senate is in, and the news you need to know. Playbook editor Mike DeBonis talks with Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels.

White House Correspondents' weekend is finally upon us. Playbook deputy editor Zack Stanton talks with Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels.

Sen. Joe Manchin may need a stiff drink this morning: Today, West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice is expected to announce a bid for the U.S. Senate — giving Republicans a strong recruit to flip the Mountaineer State. Meanwhile, out west, the Montana state legislature barred trans state Rep. Zooey Zephyr from the House floor. And in Washington, the GOP House voted to pass the debt ceiling bill, handing a major victory to House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.  Playbook co-author Rachael Bade provides the political news you need to know today.

President Joe Biden launched his re-election campaign with a slick video and not much fanfare — though we have the scoop on a big splash his allies are preparing. Plus, the other news you need to know today. Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza talks with White House editor Sam Stein.

President Joe Biden launches his re-election campaign with a video release this morning and is scheduled to make his first remarks as an official 2024 candidate at a union conference later in the day. Plus, all eyes on the House and what Kevin McCarthy’s planned debt limit vote shows about his strength as speaker. Playbook co-author Rachael Bade talks with Congress reporter Olivia Beavers.

It’s a huge week for us at Playbook — the White House Correspondents' Dinner is on Saturday and we're also expecting President Joe Biden to launch his re-election campaign this week — although the usual caveats apply. Plus we've got our eyes on the House, where Speaker Kevin McCarthy is hoping to get his Republican conference in line behind his plan to handle the debt limit. Playbook editor Mike DeBonis talks with Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels.

Today, the Supreme Court is expected to issue a ruling regarding abortion pill mifepristone, with major implications for reproductive rights and health care. Plus, President Joe Biden is eyeing next Tuesday for a soft launch of his 2024 campaign, and a former colleague of Ron DeSantis in the House on his lack of more Republican endorsements. Playbook deputy editor Zack Stanton talks with Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels.

Mifepristone, the most widely used abortion pill in the U.S., will continue to be widely available for at least two more days after the Supreme Court extended its deadline. On Capitol Hill, we're about to see Speaker McCarthy face his biggest test yet. And in 2024 land, Chris Christie is starting to spend a lot of time in early states.  Playbook deputy editor Zack Stanton talks with Playbook co-author Rachael Bade.

The “Jack the Dripper” story heads to Capitol Hill today, Supreme Court action on abortion pill is expected and we’re processing the surprise settlement in the Dominion lawsuit against Fox News. Plus DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas testifies before the House Homeland Security Committee. Over in the Senate, Rocket Man himself Elton John will testify at a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on PEPFAR. Playbook editor Mike DeBonis talks with Playbook co-author Rachael Bade.

Watching House Speaker Kevin McCarthy sell his debt limit plan to his conference, many of whom have never voted to increase the debt ceiling, is gonna be interesting. Plus — the position that Senate Democrats are in after Senate Republicans came out against temporarily replacing Sen. Dianne Feinstein on the Judiciary Committee, and what else you need to know in politics today.

Is DiFi's career over? That's probably the biggest question facing the Senate. Plus, Speaker Kevin McCarthy gives a speech at the New York Stock Exchange this morning and Republicans are set to face a whole host of hot-button headlines — Trump and Tennessee among them — that they didn't have to weigh in on over the past couple of weeks. Playbook co-author Rachael Bade breaks down her reporting.

It's a very big day on the abortion-rights front: inside the contradictory court orders on mifepristone and Florida's abortion ban. Plus, Thursday, FBI arrested the suspected source of a massive trove of leaked national security documents — Jack Texeira — who is expected to appear in federal court in Boston today. Playbook deputy editor Zack Stanton talks with national security reporter Erin Banco.

Donald Trump's legal drama continues to develop on multiple fronts, Sen. Tim Scott and Gov. Ron DeSantis wade into the 2024 pool and D.C.'s reaction to Sen. Dianne Feinstein's statement. Playbook deputy editor Zack Stanton talks with Playbook editor Mike DeBonis.

Trump's first post-indictment interview, Senator Tim Scott explores a run for president, and the Supreme Court's ethics problem. Playbook co-author Rachael Bade talks with senior reporter Josh Gerstein.

Leaked Ukraine docs create a major headache for Biden, and what political news you need to be paying attention to. Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels talks with national security reporter Alex Ward.

How other 2024 GOP hopefuls are navigating Donald Trump, and what political news you need to be paying attention to. Playbook co-author Rachael Bade talks with reporter Sally Goldenberg.

How DC became a bagel city, the biggest toplines from the week, and what political news you need to be paying attention to. Playbook deputy editor Zack Stanton talks with politics editor Sam Stein.

Gov. Ron DeSantis’ support for a Florida bill restricting abortion at six weeks of pregnancy shows he’s eager to continue courting the right flank of the GOP. A future problem for him may be in how his position on abortion rights will be received by moderate voters in the 2024 election.

The unveiling of the charges against former President Donald Trump will trigger a frenzied legal battle by Trump and his team to derail the case...here's what we know now.New York legal reporter Erica Orden talks with Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza about her day in court and what's next.

It’s election day in America — at least parts of America. The two biggies? Wisconsin, where tens of millions of dollars have poured into a supreme court race that could flip the balance of power on the court from conservatives to liberals; and Chicago, where a mayoral runoff pits two Democrats against each other. In Manhattan, Donald Trump's expected arraignment will happen around 2:15pm. New York courts reporter Erica Orden talks with Playbook editor Mike DeBonis about what she's watching for.

A group of House Democrats is secretly crafting a fallback plan to avoid an economy-rattling debt default. The White House wants no part of it. Moderate Democrats in the Problem Solvers' Caucus have spent weeks constructing a break-glass deal with centrist Republicans in case the country goes all the way to the brink on the debt ceiling. As the summertime deadline for action approaches, they’re worried a prolonged standoff could lead to fiscal disaster. Congress editor Elana Schor talks with Playbook editor Mike DeBonis about the plan and what she's watching for. 

At 7:15 last night, Manhattan DA Alvin bragg made it official with this statement: "This evening we contacted Mr. [Donald] Trump's attorney to coordinate his surrender to the Manhattan D.A.'s Office for arraignment on a Supreme Court indictment, which remains under seal. Guidance will be provided when the arraignment date is selected." Even though we’ve long known this was coming, that term — “surrender” — hit us with the historical nature of March 30, 2023: A former president at the start of another campaign for the White House has been indicted for a crime and could go to prison.  We’ll dig into what we know this morning, which frankly isn’t all that much more than yesterday because the indictment isn’t public yet. (Not that that’s stopping anyone from forming an opinion about it.) But keep in mind that Bragg is just one of three prosecutors currently building criminal cases against Trump — and that we are likely only at the beginning of the story of how state and federal law enforcement officials are preparing to hold the former president accountable. Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the host and senior editor of POLITICO's Playbook Daily Briefing. Jenny Ament is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

BREAKING OVERNIGHT — “Russian Security Service Detains Wall Street Journal Reporter,” by WSJ’s Daniel Michaels: “The Federal Security Service said Thursday it had detained Evan Gershkovich, a U.S. citizen, in the eastern city of Yekaterinburg. The FSB said in a statement that Mr. Gershkovich, ‘acting on the instructions of the American side, collected information constituting a state secret about the activities of one of the enterprises of the Russian military-industrial complex.’ … ‘The Wall Street Journal is deeply concerned for the safety of Mr. Gershkovich,’ the Journal said in a statement. Mr. Gershkovich reports on Russia as part of the Journal’s Moscow bureau.” “Trump’s lead grows in GOP primary race, now over 50% support,” by Fox News’ Victoria Balara: “The survey, released Wednesday, finds [Donald] Trump has doubled his lead since February and is up by 30 points over Ron DeSantis (54%-24%). Last month, he was up by 15 (43%-28%). No one else hits double digits.” See the poll Our colleagues Hailey Fuchs, Clothilde Goujard and Daniel Lippman have a big investigation up this morning into the transatlantic political influence machine that TikTok put together as it battles efforts to regulate or ban the platform because of ties to China. Read the full story: “How TikTok built a ‘team of Avengers’ to fight for its life” And today, VP Kamala Harris is in Tanzania, where she’ll meet with President Samia Suluhu Hassan, the country’s first female head of state. But the bulk of Harris’ Africa trip is now over. And from the administration’s point of view, it was a success — but perhaps not for the reasons you think. Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the host and senior editor of POLITICO's Playbook Daily Briefing. Jenny Ament is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

After weeks talking with his rank-and-file about what concessions they’d need from Democrats to raise the debt ceiling, Speaker Kevin McCarthy floated five proposals that could maybe, just maybe, elicit an agreement. We spent yesterday working the phones to find out what Hill Democrats — both lawmakers and senior aides — privately thought about these ideas. First, a caveat: Don’t expect top Democrats to applaud any of these ideas on record right now. The party line, we’re told, remains and will continue to be to resist giving Republicans any concessions — particularly since they raised the debt ceiling three times under Donald Trump without conditions. Democrats and the White House will also continue to demand McCarthy lay out and pass a budget to prove that he’s even worth negotiating with, we’re told. There’s a concern that even if Democrats cut a deal with McCarthy, he won’t be able to deliver votes given his limited hold on the GOP conference. McCarthy’s letter, meanwhile, did not impress Democrats. One senior aide called it nothing more than a “pathetic” attempt to distract from his challenge cobbling together a GOP budget, and almost everyone else said its lack of specifics made it impossible to negotiate over. But behind the squawking, we found that there were in fact some ideas that piqued their interests. We granted anonymity to a half-dozen Democrats to candidly assess the emerging Republican proposals and whether any of them might grow legs …  Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the host and senior editor of POLITICO's Playbook Daily Briefing. Jenny Ament is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

The Republican presidential primary is shaping up to be a case of déjà vu.  In 2015 into 2016, Donald Trump gained an early lead and never looked back. The hype about a well-funded, twice-elected Florida governor proved to be illusory. Most of Trump’s opponents waited around for someone else to take him down until it was too late. Chris Christie, one of the few Trump opponents who had sharp words for Trump, was too moderate for Republicans. Trump dominated the only thing that seemed to matter: the media’s attention. Most of the GOP’s elite donors, opinion pages, and elected leaders rallied in opposition to Trump (often privately) and prayed that some meteor-like event would destroy his candidacy  So far in 2023: 1) Ron DeSantis may be reprising the role of Jeb Bush; 2) Nikki Haley and Mike Pence (so far) are reprising the role of Trump’s milquetoast challengers, who occasionally swat at him but rarely damage him; 3) Chris Christie is reprising the role of … Chris Christie; 4) Trump is once again flooding social media, email inboxes and cable news with his own content; and 5) many Republicans are once again looking to the sky for meteors, this time in the form of criminal indictments. Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the host and senior editor of POLITICO's Playbook Daily Briefing. Jenny Ament is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

Good Monday morning from Accra, Ghana, where VP Kamala Harris is kicking off a seven-day diplomatic mission to Africa, aiming to reset relations between the United States and the three countries she’s visiting — Ghana, Zambia and Tanzania — as China looks to deepen its foothold on the continent. Playbook is with Harris as she becomes the latest and highest-ranking administration official to travel to Africa as part of President Joe Biden's effort to reengage with the continent economically after decades of relations focused mainly on human rights and humanitarian concerns. Her schedule includes bilateral meetings with the leaders of each of the three nations, a visit to Ghana’s Cape Coast slave castle, announcements of new public-private investments, confabs with business and philanthropic leaders and even a trip to a local music studio. Harris must balance myriad diplomatic goals …   - Prove to African nations that the U.S. — like China — is willing to invest hard dollars in their countries as true partners … - While not framing those partnerships as merely part of a global clash of superpowers …  - And also changing how Americans see the continent in order to generate more private investment.

Even as he faces indictment in Manhattan, Trump has to watch his back on the federal classified documents investigation. The recent courtroom fight over Evan Corcoran's testimony “indicate[s] that prosecutors have continued to build a case and that the inquiry remains a serious threat to Mr. Trump,” per the NYT. Corcoran will testify again today, and the Times reports that he doesn’t plan to plead the Fifth. The feds also want to talk to Trump lawyer Jennifer Little in the probe. The latest revelation: Trump lawyer Timothy Parlatore testified before a grand jury in December in the documents probe, ABC’s Katherine Faulders and Alex Mallin scooped. That came shortly after he told authorities that Trump’s team had just found four more documents with classified markings. Meanwhile, in the federal Jan. 6 investigation, a judge heard arguments yesterday over whether special counsel JACK SMITH can force former VP Mike Pence to testify, CBS’ Robert Costa and Robert Legare report And as Biden meets with Trudeau in Canada, the two countries have reached a deal on immigration that will give each side the ability to send back asylum-seekers who illegally crossed the border, the L.A. Times’ Hamed Aleaziz and Erin Logan scooped from Ottawa. Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the host and senior editor of POLITICO's Playbook Daily Briefing. Jenny Ament is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

JMart’s latest column is hot off the presses and already blowing up group chats on Capitol Hill: “Sinema Trashes Dems: ‘Old Dudes Eating Jell-O’” As her fundraising efforts plow forward, Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.) “has used a series of Republican-dominated receptions and retreats this year to belittle her Democratic colleagues, shower her GOP allies with praise and, in one case, quite literally give the middle finger to President Biden’s White House,” Martin writes. “Speaking in private, whether one-on-one or with small groups of Republican senators, she’s even more cutting, particularly about Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, whom she derides in harshly critical terms, according to senior Republican officials directly familiar with her comments.” White House chief of staff Jeff Zients has been President Joe Biden's top aide for less than two months — and grumbling has already erupted both inside and outside the administration over whether he’s up to the job. In a story out this morning, Adam Cancryn, Eugene and Nicholas Wu spoke with 16 administration officials, lawmakers and others with knowledge of internal White House dynamics, and found widespread concerns “over whether Zients has the political instincts and Capitol Hill relationships to deftly navigate a crucial period ahead of Biden’s anticipated reelection run.” And, tech reporter Rebecca Kern stops by for a preview of TikTok CEO Shou Chew's hearing  before the House Energy and Commerce committee.

Yesterday came and went without the arrest of Donald Trump.  Meanwhile, the contours of the 2024 Republican presidential race continue to evolve — even as the political, media and legal worlds hold their collective breath waiting for word from lower Manhattan. Here are three key storylines emerging amid the indictment watch TRUMP IN GROWING PERIL: First off, the next steps in Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg's investigation into the 2016 hush-money allegations lodged against Trump could come today, with the grand jury in the case meeting and possibly voting to indict the former president. DeSANTIS TURNS UP THE HEAT: While Trump fights legal battles left and right, his biggest potential rival for the 2024 nomination found a friendly home inside Rupert Murdoch's media empire to fire some notable new barbs at the front-runner.  SCOTT GEARS UP: Well, if you’re looking for sharp new attacks on Trump, they probably aren’t going to be coming from mild-mannered Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.). But as the sparring escalates, Scott appears to be tip-toeing closer to a White House bid. Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the host and senior editor of POLITICO's Playbook Daily Briefing. Jenny Ament is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

On the afternoon of Jan. 6, 2021, as pro-Trump rioters were ransacking the Capitol in Washington, prosecutors in Manhattan gathered on Zoom to discuss Donald Trump's bookkeeping practices.  More than two years later, while state and federal criminal investigations into Trump’s culpability for the events of Jan. 6 continue, it is the Manhattan probe that is set to produce the first Trump indictment — as soon as this week. While we don’t know for sure what crime — or crimes — that Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg will charge Trump with, the weight of available evidence suggests Trump will be charged with violating a New York state law against falsifying business records.  Specifically, Bragg is apparently preparing to argue that Trump created fictitious records during the scheme to pay off Stormy Daniels in October 2016 after she threatened to expose their alleged affair. The return of the hush money caper to the white-hot center of American politics has a lot of people scratching their heads and puzzling over some basic questions: Of all the Trump scandals, why is this the one that’s going to get him arrested? Didn’t authorities already rule out any culpability for Trump in that case? And isn’t Bragg’s legal theory hopelessly flawed? To understand how one of the OG Trump scandals returned from the dead to ensnare Trump seven years after Daniels got her $130,000, we need to review the case’s complicated history. Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the host and senior editor of POLITICO's Playbook Daily Briefing. Jenny Ament is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

Good morning from Orlando, where House Republicans are gathered at a luxury resort not far from Disney World for their annual three-day retreat — and where, we’ve learned, House Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) and senior GOP leaders are preparing demand to testimony from members of the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office amid reports of an imminent Trump indictment. This morning, we can report two things: 1. In the short term, Republicans are discussing firing off letters summoning employees of the Manhattan DA’s office for sworn testimony, according to a GOP official familiar with the plans. The potential request comes amid speculation about why the hush-money case was suddenly resurrected after being back-burnered by both state and federal prosecutors. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the plans are not final, noted that McCarthy, a longtime Trump ally and close friend, is “fully supportive and pushing folks to be aggressive here.”   2. Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg himself is in the GOP’s crosshairs, though it’s not clear if he’ll be immediately summoned. “He should come testify before Congress,” Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) told us and other reporters, launching into a lengthy tirade about “fake charges” meant to be “used in Democrat ads” against Trump. Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the host and senior editor of POLITICO's Playbook Daily Briefing. Jenny Ament is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

A pair of fresh stories out this morning illuminate two emerging storylines in the early jockeying for the 2024 campaign … White House aides tell us that President Joe Biden is likely to announce a final decision on the 2024 reelection in the coming weeks. And as he gears up for a likely reelection, he appears to be shimmying back to the ideological middle (an easy move when there’s no real primary challenge).  And, our Olivia Beavers spoke with (nearly) every Republican of the Florida congressional delegation to see which Florida Man they plan on supporting in the 2024 GOP primary: former President Donald Trump or Gov. Ron DeSantis, who has yet to officially announce a bid. The members are torn over what to do. They fear Trump’s wrath, worry about retaliation against those he sees as disloyal and fret about the long-term need to get closer to DeSantis, who is three decades younger than Trump and has a much longer runway ahead of him. Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the host and senior editor of POLITICO's Playbook Daily Briefing. Jenny Ament is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio

All eyes will be on Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen today as she testifies before the Senate Finance Committee at 10 a.m..  Yellen’s appearance was originally scheduled to discuss the Biden budget. But after the weekend rescue of Silicon Valley Bank, this will be senators’ first chance to cross-examine Yellen about the controversial actions she took on Sunday in concert with her colleagues at the Fed and FDIC. Not everything will be about SVB, but the Biden team’s response to the bank failures will dominate the meeting. And she is likely to feel the populist outrage bubbling up in Congress from both Democrats and Republicans.  Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the host and senior editor of POLITICO's Playbook Daily Briefing. Jenny Ament is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio

We’re barely into the 2024 Senate cycle, and already some Republicans are feeling a sense of deja vu.  In a new must-read, our Holly Otterbein attended a rural Pennsylvania rally for Doug Mastriano, the “state’s most MAGA Republican” who also won its gubernatorial primary last year only to lose the general election by double digits to Democrat Josh Shapiro.  Her biggest takeaway: Despite that huge loss, Pennsylvania Republicans aren’t ready to toss Mastriano overboard as he mulls a challenge to veteran Democratic Sen. Bob Casey Jr. “Establishment Republicans have found a silver lining amid the grimness [of 2022]: Perhaps there will be a reckoning,” she writes. “Even diehard supporters of former President Donald Trump, they’ve reasoned, are finally sick of losing. … In this corner of the political world in Pennsylvania, it’s the establishment — not the MAGAverse — that needs course-correction.” Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the host and senior editor of POLITICO's Playbook Daily Briefing. Jenny Ament is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio

House Republicans are set to embark on a multiweek stretch of ups and downs — starting today, with the release of a massive energy package authored by House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, aimed at boosting domestic oil-and-gas production, lowering consumer costs and drawing a sharp contrast with the Biden administration’s pivot to green energy.  The legislation will be designated “H.R. 1,” underscoring how the energy issue is a central plank of the GOP agenda following a campaign cycle dominated by soaring gasoline, electricity and heating fuel prices. While the House is expected to clear the bill by month’s end, the GOP faces a rockier road on the other side: With the debt-ceiling deadline looming, Republicans are already fretting about how they’re going to write a budget that balances in 10 years, as Speaker Kevin McCarthy promised conservatives during his campaign for the gavel, let alone pass one with only a four-seat majority. Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the host and senior editor of POLITICO's Playbook Daily Briefing. Jenny Ament is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio

If you work at Compass Coffee, Roblox, Vox Media, Etsy, Roku, Vimeo, LendingClub or any of the other companies with deposits at Silicon Valley Bank, you are waking up this morning with welcome news. After a white-knuckle weekend you can be confident that payroll will be met, checks will clear and your company will have access to every cent of its SVB deposits, not just the FDIC-insured limit of $250,000, after federal agencies stepped in Sunday evening to backstop the failed bank and attempt to stem a burgeoning crisis among the nation’s medium-sized banks. If you’re a banker, investor, financial regulator, business owner or Biden administration official, you might still be plenty nervous. While Sunday’s announcement was aimed at restoring faith in the banking system, the early word Monday is that the markets might not be buying it. Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the host and senior editor of POLITICO's Playbook Daily Briefing. Jenny Ament is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio

Over the last 24 hours, the dynamics that will define the 2024 Republican primary have begun to come into clear view, as told in three must-read stories: 1. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis “has indicated privately that he intends to run for president,” WaPo’s Hannah Knowles and Isaac Stanley-Becker report from Davenport, Iowa. 2. Former President Donald Trump appears likely to face criminal charges in Manhattan stemming from his alleged payment of hush money to porn star Stormy Daniels, NYT’s William Rashbaum, Ben Protess and Jonah Bromwich scooped last night. 3. Other leading Republicans are taking aim at both Trump and DeSantis, our own Jonathan Martin reports in a piece that just published. Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the host and senior editor of POLITICO's Playbook Daily Briefing. Jenny Ament is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio .

It’s the day all of D.C. has been waiting for with bated breath. Around noon, President Joe Biden will release his proposed federal budget. No one in the White House seriously believes that Congress will adopt it in its current form. In private, administration officials readily admit that they know it’s not going anywhere.  So why does it matter? Beyond the obvious implications for governing, we’re told it’ll constitute the crux of Biden’s pitch as he’s expected to launch his reelection campaign in the near future. (We’re sure it’s purely coincidental that he’ll be unveiling the budget in the critical swing state of Pennsylvania.) It’s a messaging exercise. And as such, the White House sees no downside whatsoever to throwing out things that will never pass the Republican-controlled House. The fight is the point. Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the host and senior editor of POLITICO's Playbook Daily Briefing. Jenny Ament is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

A new trove of exhibits unearthed as part of Dominion’s defamation lawsuit against Fox News was released on Tuesday, including emails, text messages and transcripts from depositions by numerous Fox News personalities and executives. There are lots of interesting details in the documents that reinforce the allegations made in Dominion’s recent motion for summary judgment. But the main takeaways are: 1. Most corners of Fox News — from reporters and producers to primetime hosts to the most senior executives — knew that the claims of widespread fraud in the 2020 election put forward by Donald Trump, his lawyers and their political allies were bogus. 2. Despite this, Fox News executives and primetime hosts leaned into the election conspiracy theories after they realized their Trump-loving viewers were abandoning the network for more right-wing alternatives. 3. The news and opinion divisions at Fox News, never great allies even in less stressful times, went to war with each other in the post-election period. 4. Tucker Carlson hates Trump. And Speaker Kevin McCarthy's decision to fork over Jan. 6 footage to Carlson  continued to reverberate around Capitol Hill yesterday following the Fox host’s first big dispatch, which drew prominent rebukes from Democrats and Republicans. It was “a headache of [House Republicans’] own making,” write Sarah Ferris, Olivia Beavers and Kyle Cheney, one that “reopened a painful fault line that his party has repeatedly tried to mend.” Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the host and senior editor of POLITICO's Playbook Daily Briefing. Jenny Ament is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

A prominent Democratic think tank is raising alarms about a third-party ticket spoiling 2024 for Democrats and landing Donald Trump back in the White House. A new two-page memo from Third Way, obtained by Playbook, takes aim at the potential “unity ticket” being promoted by the centrist group No Labels. With tens of millions of dollars in financial backing, No Labels’ stated intention is to nominate a moderate alternative to potential extreme major-party nominees as an “insurance policy.”  But Third Way notes that No Labels has been cagey about what scenario would prompt it to move forward, including whether it would stand down if President Joe Biden seeks reelection. In any case, the memo argues, a third-party ticket would mainly peel off Democrats, ultimately boosting the former president who tried to steal an election and incited a riot on the Capitol. “[T[he conclusion is inescapable: No Labels is committed to fielding a candidate that will, intentionally or not, provide a crucial boost to Republicans — and a major obstacle to Biden,” they write. “As a result, they’ll make it far more likely — if not certain — that Donald Trump returns to the White House.” Read the memo

Our colleague Betsy Woodruff Swan has an eye-popping story up this morning on a previously unreported DHS domestic-intelligence program, “one of many revelations in a wide-ranging tranche of internal documents reviewed by POLITICO. “Those documents also reveal that a significant number of employees in DHS’s intelligence office have raised concerns that the work they are doing could be illegal. Under the domestic-intelligence program, officials are allowed to seek interviews with just about anyone in the United States. That includes people held in immigrant detention centers, local jails, and federal prison. And while plenty of Republicans are eager to send Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to Washington, many of them have forgotten that he’s been here before. This morning, Playbook co-author Rachael Bade and Playbook editor Mike DeBonis discuss Rachael and Playbook producer Bethany Irvine's deep dive on DeSantis’ low-profile House tenure, interviewing over a dozen of his former colleagues about his six years among the back benches. Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the host and senior editor of POLITICO's Playbook Daily Briefing. Jenny Ament is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

What’s more important: respecting the principle of D.C. self-governance, or staying on the right side of an explosive national issue? Yesterday, President Joe Biden chose politics over principle. It did not go over well with some Democrats.  In November, the D.C. Council passed a major reform of the District’s criminal code. The legislation was vetoed by Mayor Muriel Bowser, who objected to reductions in penalties for some serious crimes, such as carjackings and home burglaries. In January, her veto was overridden by the council, 12-1. At the time, the White House issued a statement of administration policy opposing the resolution on the grounds that “denial of self-governance is an affront to the democratic values on which our Nation was founded.” An overwhelming majority of House Democrats voted against the resolution (31 Dems supported it). As the resolution was teed up in the Senate, it became conventional wisdom that Biden would veto it. That was incorrect. On Thursday, while addressing Senate Democrats, the president shocked Washington and declared that he would sign the measure if it reached his desk. “I support D.C. Statehood and home-rule,” Biden tweeted after the meeting, “but I don’t support some of the changes D.C. Council put forward over the Mayor’s objections — such as lowering penalties for carjackings. If the Senate votes to overturn what D.C. Council did — I’ll sign it.” Plus, Playbook editor Mike DeBonis catches up with national political correspondent Meridith McGraw who's on the ground at CPAC, the annual conservative conference.  Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the host and senior editor of POLITICO's Playbook Daily Briefing. Jenny Ament is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

Since Trump’s first appearance at CPAC in 2011, the conference had become an early venue for him to court the base of the Republican Party. Now, the fate of the Schlapp-era CPAC and Donald Trump himself are tied together. The annual event, which began yesterday in National Harbor, has been abandoned by most top GOP elected officials. The annual event, which began yesterday in National Harbor, has been abandoned by most top GOP elected officials. Here’s a breakdown: - Senate GOP leadership: None attending. - House GOP leadership: Only ELISE STEFANIK is attending. - GOP governors: Only Idaho Gov. BRAD LITTLE. - GOP presidential candidates, declared and undeclared: Trump, NIKKI HALEY, MIKE POMPEO and VIVEK RAMASWAMY. Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the host and senior editor of POLITICO's Playbook Daily Briefing. Jenny Ament is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

A bipartisan group of six senators today will introduce the Railway Safety Act of 2023, legislation aimed at preventing a repeat of the toxic firestorm in East Palestine, Ohio, that followed the Feb. 4 derailment of a chemical train. According to a summary we saw last night, the legislation would: 1) require rail carriers to give advance notice to state emergency response officials before running trains carrying hazardous materials; 2) mandate trains run with at least two-person crews; 3) require better monitoring of railcar wheel bearings — which overheated in the Ohio train accident, according to the NTSB, and likely caused the train to jump the tracks — and 4) increase penalties for wrongdoing in the industry. AP’s Julie Carr Smyth with the scoop And as House Republicans ramp up their investigation into alleged politicization at the Justice Department, Attorney General Merrick Garland will use his opening statement at a congressional hearing today to defend the integrity of his workforce. Speaking at the Senate Judiciary Committee, Garland will emphasize how DOJ officials have worked to combat violent crime and hate crimes, to assist Ukraine officials in defending democracy and to “protect reproductive freedom,” according to an excerpt shared with Playbook. Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the host and senior editor of POLITICO's Playbook Daily Briefing. Jenny Ament is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

Polls open in less than an hour in Chicago, where Mayor Lori Lightfoot faces eight rivals — and a very real chance of being shut out of the likely April 4 runoff election. A new poll from Victory Research finds the incumbent trailing both former Chicago Public Schools CEO Paul Vallas and Cook County commissioner Brandon Johnson. Plus in just a few hours, President Joe Biden's student debt relief plan will come under the scrutiny of the Supreme Court, whose justices will decide in the months following today’s oral arguments whether the $400 billion program is constitutional. A lot more than debt relief for 40 million Americans is on the line. A broad ruling by the conservative high court might not only put a stake through Biden’s signature promise to young voters; it could cripple his plans to take executive action in other areas and leave federal policymaking more vulnerable to hostile states’ legal challenges. And the House Select Committee on China holds its first hearing this evening against a backdrop of rising trans-Pacific tensions, heightened by last month’s spy balloon revelations and recent speculation that China might overtly assist Russia with its invasion of Ukraine. The committee, operating so far with bipartisan cooperation, is supposed to take a look at the range of economic, technological and military concerns posed by China over the next two years. Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the host and senior editor of POLITICO's Playbook Daily Briefing. Jenny Ament is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

Ron DeSantis's “The Courage to Be Free” will be released tomorrow, kicking off a media tour that is widely assumed to be the prelude to a formal announcement this spring that he’s running for president.  The book rollout is taking full advantage of DeSantis’s relationship with the Rupert Murdoch media empire. The book is published by HarperCollins, which is owned by Murdoch’s News Corp. The first excerpt, “How the Florida blueprint can work for the whole US,” was published in the NY Post. Two authorized leaks from the book, one about his relationship with Trump and, early this morning, one about a private phone call with former Disney CEO Bob Chapek, have been published by foxnews.com. And DeSantis started his media tour last night by giving his first interview about the book to Mark Levin, on Fox News’s “Life, Liberty & Levin.” The 40-minute conversation was as friendly and fawning as you’d expect.  After midnight, The New York Times published a review of the book by Jennifer Szalai, who is, to put it mildly, not impressed.  Taken together the Levin interview and the Szalai review perfectly capture how the right and left are greeting the DeSantis 2024 rollout. Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the host and senior editor of POLITICO's Playbook Daily Briefing. Jenny Ament is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

One year ago today, Russian President Vladimir Putin launched an invasion of Ukraine that he thought would quickly topple the government in Kyiv, expose Western powers as feckless and hopelessly divided, and usher in a new, muscular era of Russian world power.  He was wrong on all counts. But the toll of that decision has been immense. A year of unspeakable tragedy has left enormous questions about what lies ahead — more on that in a moment — but the history of this conflict is now beginning to be written. Our team has compiled a must-read oral history of the effort, told by those in highest echelons of power, including Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Mark Milley, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines. Plus, national security reporter Alex Ward recently attended the Munich Security Conference and visited Poland alongside President Biden's trip to the region, and shares the view from the ground. Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the host and senior editor of POLITICO's Playbook Daily Briefing. Jenny Ament is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

Did Emily Kohrs just save Donald Trump from prosecution in Georgia? Kohrs is the 30-year-old woman from the Atlanta area who was between retail jobs last year when she was suddenly tasked with one of the most sensitive jobs in America: forewoman of the special grand jury investigating whether Trump and his allies committed any crimes in trying to overturn the results of the 2020 election in Georgia.  The Kohrs-led jury listened to secret testimony for eight months last year and issued its findings and recommendations in a mostly secret report last week. The next step in the process is for FANI WILLIS, the district attorney of Fulton County, Ga., to decide whether she wants to indict anyone, which would require impaneling a new grand jury with the power to issue criminal charges.  Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the host and senior editor of POLITICO's Playbook Daily Briefing. Jenny Ament is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

With Congress out on recess and President Joe Biden still abroad, most of today’s marquee political events are happening outside of the beltway … — IN Iowa, Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) begins his “Faith In America” listening tour, dipping his toe in the proverbial water ahead of a possible 2024 campaign. And this morning, Playbook has exclusive excerpts from Scott’s speech.  “Conservatism is my personal proof there is no ceiling in life. I can go as high as my character, my education, and my perseverance will take me. I bear witness to that,” Scott will say. “So, for those of you on the left, you can call me a prop, you can call me a token, you can call me the N-word, you can question my blackness, you can even call me ‘Uncle Tim.’ Just understand: Your words are no match for my evidence. … The truth of my life disproves your lies.” — IN Ohio, as former President Donald Trump visits the site of the toxic train derailment in East Palestine, Tanya Snyder, Alex Guillén and Adam Wren note that he’s handing Biden a political gift: a welcome contrast with his own record on rail safety regulations.  — IN Georgia, a grand jury probing possible interference in the 2020 presidential election has recommended indictments for more than a dozen people, according to foreperson Emily Kohrs, who did an interview with NBC. That list, she said, “might” include Trump himself. “There are certainly names that you will recognize, yes. There are names also you might not recognize,” she said. Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the host and senior editor of POLITICO's Playbook Daily Briefing. Jenny Ament is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

President Joe Biden is in Europe, reminding everyone that he’s commander in chief — even as Republicans back home are angling to try to take his job. Today, he’ll huddle with Polish President Andrzej Duda and give a speech at Warsaw Castle ahead of the one-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine later this week. The meeting comes as the media is still buzzing about his surprise visit to Kyiv — a risky endeavor that reportedly infuriated cronies of Russian President Vladimir Putin, who may respond as he delivers his annual parliamentary address today in Moscow. Meanwhile, on the home front, GOP presidential contenders are revving their engines. — In his Don’t-Call-It-A-Campaign-Yet campaign, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis hit up New York, Chicago and Philly yesterday, touting his tough-on-crime agenda and goading liberal cities and prosecutors as “woke” and out of touch. NYT’s Jonathan Weisman and Emma Fitzsimmons have more. NBC’s Natasha Korecki writes that in speaking to “the rank and file of some of the biggest police unions in the country, DeSantis was homing in on a specialized electorate Trump has owned since he first ran for president in 2016.” Tomorrow, Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) will head to Iowa, while former President Donald Trump will head to East Palestine, Ohio, the site of a train derailment two weeks ago that has unleashed toxic chemicals into the surrounding community. Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the host and senior editor of POLITICO's Playbook Daily Briefing. Jenny Ament is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

Don Lemon may just be the luckiest man in cable TV.  The “CNN This Morning” co-anchor set the media and political worlds ablaze yesterday morning with his on-air suggestion that GOP presidential contender Nikki Haley wasn’t “in her prime” at age 51. “A woman is considered to be in their prime in [their] 20s and 30s and maybe 40s,” he said. Yet by day’s end, the vicious backlash to Lemon’s remarks had been stunningly eclipsed by blockbuster revelations about CNN’s chief rival, Fox News Channel, revealed in a new court filing made public in the $1.6 billion lawsuit over Fox’s coverage of the 2020 presidential election results. The internal communications revealed by Dominion Voting Systems paint a stark and damning picture — a split screen between the false and conspiratorial claims beamed to Fox viewers about rigged Dominion voting machines, and the private, candid opinions of the network’s hosts and executives, who repeatedly admitted to each other that the claims were utter, unsourced garbage. And Labor Secretary Marty Walsh confirmed he's leaving the post in March to become the next Executive Director of the National Hockey League's Player Association. The question then, who will take over his seat in the Biden administration? West Wing Playbook co-author Eli Stokols shares some names he's heard as potential nominees. Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the host and senior editor of POLITICO's Playbook Daily Briefing. Jenny Ament is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

Comets have staying power because they orbit the sun, while shooting stars burn up as they crash through the Earth’s atmosphere. The early take on Nikki Haley, who made her GOP presidential primary debut yesterday with a speech in Charleston, S.C., is that she’s more likely to shine brightly for a moment and then fall to Earth. “[H]ers will be a highly conventional campaign,” wrote Rich Lowry after watching her announcement video, and “there will be a number of other candidates with as strong or a stronger case to represent generational change.” In a pretty brutal editorial this morning, the Wall Street Journal says there is “no clear rationale for her candidacy.” Over at the Times, they assembled 10 pundits to assess Haley’s candidacy, and the majority opinion was that the two-term governor and former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations shouldn’t be taken very seriously. “Nikki Haley Will Not Be the Next President,” reads the headline. We are old enough to remember when pundits in 2015 declared that Donald Trump would never be president, and we can recall nights in Iowa, New Hampshire and Nevada in late 2019 and early 2020 when the same was said about Joe Biden.  Haley acknowledged the low expectations set by the nattering nabobs. “I’ve been underestimated before,” she said. She entered politics in 2004 by defeating South Carolina’s longest-serving House member. In 2010, she leapt from the statehouse to the governor’s mansion after defeating a field of seasoned politicians in a GOP primary and overcoming her close association with disgraced Gov. Mark Sanford. Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the host and senior editor of POLITICO's Playbook Daily Briefing. Jenny Ament is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

Happening today (offically offically) — “Haley enters the fray, a female candidate against a man known for mocking them,” by Natalie Allison in Charleston, S.C.: “Stepping out ahead of a field of men who spent the better part of two years mulling and flirting with a 2024 run, Nikki Haley marked her entrance into the Republican presidential primary with an announcement video and a formal event on Wednesday. And tonight, VP Kamala Harris will board Air Force Two for the Munich Security Conference, the annual confab of global political, defense and intelligence leaders. It stands to be the most critical foreign trip of her vice presidency — at least since last year’s trip to Bavaria.   Plus, Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), the oldest sitting senator at age 89, announced yesterday that she would retire at the end of her term in 2024. Playbook editor Mike DeBonis and deputy editor Zack Stanton reflect on her career in politics and what's next for her Senate seat. Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the host and senior editor of POLITICO's Playbook Daily Briefing. Jenny Ament is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio. 

“Pence to fight special counsel subpoena on Trump's 2020 election denial,” by Kyle Cheney and Josh Gerstein: Former VP Mike Pence “is set to argue that his former role as president of the Senate — therefore a member of the legislative branch — shields him from certain Justice Department demands. And the biggest subplot of the slowest-moving story In Washington — the partisan standoff over the federal debt ceiling — has so far centered on whether, absent a deal between President Joe Biden and Speaker Kevin McCarthy, moderate House Republicans might somehow band together with House Democrats to avoid a catastrophic default. The speculation has gone far enough to prompt several explainers about how it all might work — whether through a discharge petition or other obscure House procedures that could allow a bipartisan coalition to skirt conservatives’ spending-cut demands. Plus, it’s consumer price index day in DC, and once again, the economy faces an interesting conundrum. Economics reporter Victoria Guida breaks down what the Fed and the Biden administration are looking for.  Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the host and senior editor of POLITICO's Playbook Daily Briefing. Jenny Ament is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.   

For the fourth time in eight days, the U.S. shot down a flying object yesterday. The latest kill came above Lake Huron, near the border with Canada, after it had flown over part of Michigan, The Detroit News’ Melissa Nann Burke and Kim Kozlowski report. The Pentagon said an F-16 fighter jet took the object down with a Sidewinder missile at around 20,000 feet after determining that it posed no “kinetic military threat” but could potentially interfere with flight safety or conduct surveillance. Our Paul McLeary, Olivia Olander, Lara Seligman and Alexander Ward write that defense officials remain mum on the topic, “raising questions over the threat the objects could have represented to civilians across North America, what the purpose of the objects was, and why there has been a rash of detections and responses with fighter planes and guided missiles.”

Since 2009, the president has almost always sat down for an interview with the network broadcasting the Super Bowl. But ahead of Sunday’s big game, Fox News is worried Biden is freezing them out, Variety’s Brian Steinberg scooped. Though Fox didn’t demand any conditions for the interview, the White House hasn’t committed, and “executives at Fox News are proceeding as if it will not” happen. And Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell on Florida Republican Sen. Rick Scott's “Rescue America” plan, which states, “All federal legislation sunsets in 5 years,” with no exceptions for Social Security and Medicare: “This is a bad idea. I think it will be a challenge for him to deal with this in his own reelection in Florida, a state with more elderly people than any other state in America.” More McConnell: “Speaker [Kevin] McCarthy said Social Security and Medicare are not to be touched, and I’ve said the same. And I think we’re in a more authoritative position to state what the position of the party is than any single senator.” (h/t AP’s Seung Min Kim) Scott world’s response, via longtime Scott spokesman Chris Hartline: “Lol. Rick Scott knows how to win Florida a hell of a lot better than Mitch McConnell does. Some DC Republicans can keep parroting Democrat lies, but that won’t stop Rick Scott from fighting for conservative principles instead of caving to Biden every day.” Reminder: After Biden called out “some Republicans” Tuesday for wanting to sunset Social Security and Medicare, Scott called the suggestion “a lie” but has not changed the wording of his plan. Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the host and senior editor of POLITICO's Playbook Daily Briefing. Jenny Ament is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

After feeling lightheaded, Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) was admitted to GWU Hospital yesterday and stayed overnight for observation. “Initial tests did not show evidence of a new stroke, but doctors are running more tests,” his office announced in a statement. And as President Joe Biden visits Florida today, “he’s bringing more than just talking points,” writes Gary Fineout. “Biden will be giving beleaguered Florida Democrats a glimmer of hope that the rest of the party hasn’t written off the nation’s third most populous state after a crushing midterm. … [Dems say] Biden’s visit shows that Florida is still part of his re-election calculus.” Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the host and senior editor of POLITICO's Playbook Daily Briefing. Jenny Ament is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

President Joe Biden had a few goals last night: 1. Remind his audience of his accomplishments over the last two years; 2. Reiterate his positions in the spending debate (no negotiations over the debt ceiling and no touching Social Security and Medicare); 3. Detail the most popular highlights of his 2023 agenda; and 4. Expose his congressional GOP opposition as unreasonable and chaotic. The speech accomplished the first three goals if you listened or read it carefully. But it will be best remembered for the dramatic clashes with jeering members of the GOP which may have done more than Biden ever could have hoped to accomplish goal No. 4.  Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the host and senior editor of POLITICO's Playbook Daily Briefing. Jenny Ament is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

In his prior trips to the House rostrum, President Joe Biden was flanked by symbols of unified Democratic power in Washington: VP Kamala Harris over his right shoulder and then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi over his left.  When Biden arrives tonight for his State of the Union address, things will look different. A newly minted Republican speaker, Kevin McCarthy, will look down on Biden in a visual reminder of how power has shifted in Washington — and how Biden’s presidency will have to shift along with it. Yes, tonight’s address comes just weeks before Biden expected to announce his reelection campaign. Softening inflation, persistent growth and record-low unemployment have given him a strong economic record to sell even as he suddenly finds himself battling Republicans on a new front over his willingness to confront China. But we’re told not to expect a red-meat, campaign-style speech. Instead, expect a traditional presidential call for unity — and a subtler pitch for steady leadership over partisan chaos as Washington heads into a high-stakes standoff over the debt limit and long-term fiscal planning. Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the host and senior editor of POLITICO's Playbook Daily Briefing. Jenny Ament is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

When President Joe Biden ascends the House rostrum tomorrow to deliver his State of the Union address, the buzz will hover tens of thousands of feet higher, where a Chinese surveillance balloon floated until it was shot down Saturday off the South Carolina coast. It’s a distraction Democrats aren’t exactly thrilled about. They’ve been hoping Biden could use the biggest bully pulpit of them all to tout their legislative victories of the past two years — moving to cut prescription drug prices, combat climate change, rebuild the nation’s infrastructure, tighten gun laws and protect same-sex marriage. They’re also eager for Biden to highlight a resilient economy and paint a sharp contrast with Hill Republicans while millions of voters tune in to watch. And yet, thanks to the balloon saga, it’s the GOP that’s relishing the chance to differentiate itself this week. Playbook editor Mike DeBonis and co-author Rachael Bade discuss what they'll be watching for as the week unfolds.  Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the host and senior editor of POLITICO's Playbook Daily Briefing. Jenny Ament is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

We have our first taste of how different conducting foreign policy will be for President Joe Biden now that Republicans control the House.  The Pentagon revealed Thursday afternoon that it has detected and is tracking a large Chinese spy balloon floating in the stratosphere above Montana, where it was surveilling a nuclear missile base. The balloon, which entered U.S. airspace on Tuesday, is well above the altitude at which commercial aircraft fly, and Pentagon Press Secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder insisted that it “does not present a military or physical threat to people on the ground.” Officials also noted that it’s not the first time one of these balloons has been spotted in American airspace in recent years — including during the Trump administration. But another official said the balloon has lingered longer than the others. “It is appearing to hang out for a long period of time this time around, more persistent than in previous instances,” the official said.  D.C.-based China correspondent Phelim Kine joins to break down the reaction from Washington in the midst of already high tensions with China. Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the host and senior editor of POLITICO's Playbook Daily Briefing. Jenny Ament is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

“The Cold Calculus Behind the Shrinking GOP Presidential Field.” Would-be Republican White House aspirants face a harsh reality: It’s not just Donald Trump who’s freezing the 2024 field, reports Jonathan Martin. As GOP strategist Scott Jennings puts it: “They don’t have a Trump problem, they have a [Ron] DeSantis problem.” But consider this: “[T]he history most on the minds of the Republicans considering the race, who are not named Trump or DeSantis, is what happens when there’s a bloody battle between top contenders. Spoiler: It augurs well for a third candidate.” And this afternoon, a subset of the Congressional Black Caucus will sit down with President Joe Biden and VP Kamala Harris to officially restart the push for police reform legislation following the funeral of Tyre Nichols, whose death last week at the hands of Memphis police has galvanized advocates for reform. Black lawmakers have zeroed in on their first and biggest request of Biden: a commitment to talk about policing in next week’s State of the Union. One CBC member told us the group is even considering telling Biden exactly what they want him to say — and that they expect him to bang the drum until legislation hits the Oval Office. Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the host and senior editor of POLITICO's Playbook Daily Briefing. Jenny Ament is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

President Joe Biden and Rep. Kevin McCarthy are scheduled to meet today in the Oval Office at 3:15 p.m. Keep your expectations in check.  “Boring,” a top White House official said, when we asked about the first one-on-one session between the president and new House speaker. “First meeting of a hundred to follow.” McCarthy has set a similarly low bar. “I think the first thing he should do,” McCarthy told reporters on Tuesday, “especially as president of the United States, is say he’s willing to sit down and find a common ground and negotiate together.” The White House released a memo setting its own limited priorities for the meeting, saying Biden will pose two questions to McCarthy today: - “Will the Speaker commit to the bedrock principle that the United States will never default on its financial obligations…?” - “When will Speaker McCarthy and House Republicans release their Budget?” Playbook co-author Rachael Bade stops by to explain what she'll be watching for when Biden and McCarthy meet later today. Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the host and senior editor of POLITICO's Playbook Daily Briefing. Jenny Ament is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

One month into the House Republican majority, a clear picture is emerging of the problems Speaker Kevin McCarthy will face managing his slim, five-seat majority. (That is, if the chaotic speaker election didn’t make things clear enough.) Already, Republicans are scrambling to salvage red-meat proposals they’ve been talking about for months, whether it’s cracking down on the southwest border or targeting Omar’s committee seat. Yes, it’s early going, but the new majority’s struggles in passing messaging bills does not bode well for the more consequential legislation that will have to clear the House later on. “Nothing in a majority this narrow is going to be easy,” Rep. Bill Johnson (R-Ohio) said, in what we might call the understatement of the year. Two key dynamics we’re watching this week... Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter

The brutal and shocking video showing Tyre Nichols being beaten to death by Memphis police officers earlier this month prompted condemnation from all corners of Washington after it was released Friday. Whether it will prompt action is another matter. It has, for now, renewed behind-the-scenes conversations on Capitol Hill about the possibility of bipartisan policing legislation. Aides for key lawmakers on the issue, including Sens. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Tim Scott (R-S.C.), as well as White House staff, made calls through the weekend to set the stage for further talks.  To be clear, any negotiations will not start from a hopeful place. The last round of negotiations between Booker and Scott collapsed in September 2021 in a flurry of behind-the-scenes finger-pointing that threw the whole framework of a potential deal into question. Playbook editor Mike DeBonis joins the show to explain how policing reform efforts might look in Congress. 

Later this morning, RNC members here at a five-star resort on the Pacific Ocean will pile into a private conference room and elect the organization’s next chair after a weekslong, bitter campaign pitting incumbent Ronna McDaniel against top challenger Harmeet Dhillon. While McDaniel remains the favorite, Dhillon’s team has been working overtime since they arrived, and there are unmistakable signs she’s made headway. Just days ago, she had fewer than 30 of the 168 RNC members publicly endorsing her compared to more than 100 who had backed McDaniel in an open letter after the midterms. The race’s new fluidity comes as members wrangle with one big question in increasingly urgent tones: What does this race say about Donald Trump's hold on the GOP? Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter

With a catastrophic federal default potentially months away, Wall Street and the rest of America is reacting with a big yawn — and, honestly, can you blame them? The high-stakes debt standoffs of Barack Obama's presidency each ended with last-second deals that avoided economic calamity and saved face for all the principals involved. Washington went on to lift the debt limit four more times with minimal drama. So why are so many veterans of the first modern debt ceiling showdown freaking out? Across party lines and perspectives from both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue, those who lived through the 2011 showdown agree on one thing: This time feels different — and they are terrified that it will end with the country in financial ruin, as Eugene Daniels and Adam Cancryn report this morning.  And Donald Trump can now return to Facebook and Instagram following a decision by Meta that will end the former president’s two-year suspension from the platforms. More from Rebecca Kern The view from Meta: “The public should be able to hear what their politicians are saying — the good, the bad and the ugly — so that they can make informed choices at the ballot box,” Meta policy guru Nick Clegg said. Read Meta’s full blog announcement Politco tech reporter Rebecca Kern joins the show with more details. Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter

On Tuesday, Kevin McCarthy officially booted Reps. Adam Schiff and Eric Swalwell from the House Intelligence Committee. In a letter that was short on details about the two California Democrats’  sins, the new House speaker referred to “integrity,” “honesty” and “credibility” as driving his decision. It is no surprise that reporters immediately asked McCarthy how his expulsion of the two Democrats for alleged dishonesty squares with his hands-off approach to another well-known congressman: Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.), who has lied about … well, pretty much everything … and was recently given assignments on two House committees. Our colleague Jessica Piper reports this morning on some rather unusual disbursements included in Santos’ campaign finance reports. “Santos’ congressional campaign reported dozens of transactions just cents below the threshold that would have triggered a requirement to preserve spending records — an unusual spending pattern that is now part of broader complaints about alleged financial improprieties." Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter

 Speaker Kevin McCarthy issued the new GOP roster for the House Rules Committee Monday, and he made good on his pledges to give his conference’s hard right a foothold on the powerful panel, naming Reps. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), Ralph Norman (R-S.C.) and Chip Roy (R-Texas) to the powerful gatekeeping panel. Norman and Roy were among the cadre initially opposing McCarthy’s speaker bid, and Massie is — how to put it? — a real pain in leadership’s ass. And our colleagues Ally Mutnick and Sarah Ferris have an exclusive report on the rift that is splitting the influential Blue Dog Coalition nearly in half following an internal dispute over whether to rebrand the moderate Democratic group. Seven of the 15 members, including Reps. Abigail Spanberger (D-Va.) and Mikie Sherill (D-N.J.), are on their way out, which will leave the group with only men as its members and the smallest roster in decades. Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter

The biggest moment yet in the 2024 election cycle happens later this week in Dana Point, Calif., where RNC members will choose their next leader — and incumbent Chair Ronna McDaniel faces an unexpected fight for a fourth two-year term. McDaniel is still the favorite, but the race has turned contentious: Attorney Harmeet Dhillon, who backed Donald Trump's attempt to throw out the 2020 election results and represented him before the House’s Jan. 6 panel, is challenging McDaniel, blaming her for the GOP’s abysmal midterm performance. (MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell is also running, but few RNC members take him seriously. Plus, Congress is back in session this week, with debt ceiling negotiations taking center stage. And, Jeff Zients will take over for Chief of Staff Ron Klain. Playbook editor Mike DeBonis and co-author Rachael Bade discuss what to watch in the day ahead. Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter

President Joe Biden was sworn in two years ago today. To mark the occasion, White House Comms Director Kate Bedingfield is sending congressional Dems and other allies this “Cheat Sheet” of the president’s accomplishments to tout.  It’s worth a read to understand the emerging Biden reelection message — note the heavy emphasis on a manufacturing renaissance — which these talking points contend “is in contrast to MAGA Republicans in Congress who are creating chaos and proposing an extreme and divisive agenda.” Meanwhile, AP’s Aamer Madhani tells the story of Biden’s first two years “by the numbers,” which he reports “is a mixed bag”: “It includes a long-sought $1 trillion bill to shore up the nation’s bridges, roads and other infrastructure, but also the unwelcome milestone of historic inflation. There’s been a huge number of COVID-19 vaccinations, but nearly 680,000 people have died of the disease. Biden has visited three dozen states and spent all or part of nearly 200 days in his home state of Delaware.” We wouldn’t be us if we didn’t flag this entry on the AP’s list: “21: Biden held fewer solo or joint news conferences than his three most recent predecessors at the same point in their presidencies.” Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter

Just days after House Democrats announced impeachment proceedings against Donald Trump in 2019, House GOP leader Kevin McCarthy faced an unwanted pressure campaign from the president’s closest allies. McCarthy refused — centrists, he believed, would have more credibility when they called foul on the Democrats’ impeachment process. Trump allies, meanwhile, would be dismissed by persuadable voters as knee-jerk partisans playing to an audience of one. That strategy has now flown the coop. McCarthy this week rewarded Trump’s most bombastic allies — including some of the members who initially opposed him as speaker — with seats on the high-profile House Oversight Committee, ground zero for the GOP’s investigations of President Joe Biden.  Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter

NBC’s Scott Wong and Kyle Stewart did the work on putting together a comprehensive list of where all of the antagonizers who slowed McCarthy’s ascension to the speakership ended up after committee assignments were settled Tuesday. A few of the notables: - Reps. Andy Biggs (R- Ariz.), Dan Bishop (R-N.C.) and Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) kept their seats on the Judiciary Committee; - Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.), who like Biggs and Gaetz voted ‘present’ on the final ballots, won a seat on the Oversight and Accountability Committee, in addition to keeping her seat on Natural Resources; - Rep. Michael Cloud (R-Texas) won a spot on the coveted Appropriations Committee; and - Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.), who was nominated to run against McCarthy for speaker and flipped to him on the 12th ballot, was awarded a seat on Financial Services as well as a spot on the House GOP steering committee, which doles out panel assignments. And Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is getting prodded to jump into the 2024 presidential primary field from an unexpected — and distant — camp: Michigan Republicans. “Last month, Bryan , the Republican floor leader in the Michigan state House, flew to Florida and hand-delivered DeSantis a letter encouraging him to run for president,” our colleague Alex Isenstadt reports this morning. “The letter — which was signed by 18 Republican members of the state House, one quarter of the party’s caucus — called DeSantis ‘uniquely and exceptionally qualified to provide the leadership and competence that is, unfortunately, missing’” in the White House. “While the letter doesn’t explicitly endorse DeSantis over [Donald Trump], it illustrates simmering discontent with the former president among Republicans, following a series of elections that saw the party get bludgeoned at the ballot box,” Alex writes. Plus, Playbook editor Mike DeBonis and deputy Zack Stanton look at how senate primaries are starting to take shape ahead of the 2024 cycle, including in the pivotal battleground state Michigan. Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the host and senior editor of POLITICO's Playbook Daily Briefing. Jenny Ament is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

Today, ambitious Indiana Republican Rep. Jim Banks launches his bid to replace retiring GOP Sen. Mike Braun. (Watch his announcement video here.) The 42-year-old former chair of the Republican Study Committee is widely seen as the favorite in the race, which has already attracted interest from fellow Rep. Victoria Spartz. But he could face a challenging primary if former Hoosier State Gov. Mitch Daniels jumps in.  And, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen sent a letter to Speaker Kevin McCarthy and other congressional leaders last Friday urging Congress to act “promptly” to raise the debt ceiling and avoid defaulting. Yellen writes that the debt is projected to reach its “statutory limit” this Thursday, though she says it is “unlikely that cash and extraordinary measures will be exhausted before early June.” Playbook editor Mike DeBonis and deputy Zack Stanton discuss the upcoming fight over debt ceiling and the state of Indiana's GOP senate primary.  Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the host and senior editor of POLITICO's Playbook Daily Briefing. Jenny Ament is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

In a September interview with CBS’ Scott Pelley for “60 Minutes,” President Joe Biden blasted Donald Trump for taking sensitive classified materials with him to Mar-a-Lago. When he learned the news, Biden said he instantly wanted to know “how that could possibly happen.” He worried that the documents contained information “that may compromise sources and methods.” He was flummoxed how “anyone could be that irresponsible.” Now, four months later, those same pointed reactions are aimed at Biden after the revelation yesterday that a trove of classified documents were discovered in the garage at his home in Wilmington, Del. — prompting AG Merrick Garland to appoint former U.S. Attorney Robert Hur as special counsel to probe Biden’s handling of classified documents. For the White House, it’s a burgeoning political nightmare that comes just as Biden tries to draw a contrast with the new House Republican majority, which the administration is eager to cast as chaotic and irresponsible. Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the host and senior editor of POLITICO's Playbook Daily Briefing. Jenny Ament is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

January is a time of new beginnings in Washington. A new Congress. A new Republican-led House. A new speaker, Kevin McCarthy. New investigations into Biden by GOP-helmed committees. And now, in light of all of the above, there’s a new effort from the White House to go on offense against Republicans like never before. Like so many Washington trends these days, it started with a tweet.  “It’s a giant tax cut for rich tax cheats. Bill #1 from the new House GOP,” Ron Klain, the very online White House chief of staff, wrote in a Monday afternoon tweet about an effort to roll back Biden’s IRS funding boost. Later that evening, VP Kamala Harris echoed the sentiment, accusing House Republicans of “rushing to … allow too many millionaires, billionaires and corporations to cheat the system.” On its face, those messages can seem fairly run-of-the-mill. Playbook deputy editor Zack Stanton and co-author Eugene Daniels discuss how a closer look reveals the change at hand — one informed by a few key calculations. Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the host and senior editor of POLITICO's Playbook Daily Briefing. Jenny Ament is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

Most listeners to this show or readers of the Playbook newsletter didn’t know Blake Hounshell, but all of you were influenced by him. He nurtured and mentored dozens of young journalists who now populate virtually every significant news organization. He plucked brilliant academics from obscurity and turned them into influential writers. He shaped the world of online political news, newsletters and social media for over a decade at Foreign Policy, POLITICO and The New York Times. He put together the current incarnation of Playbook. He helped create POLITICO Magazine. He taught beat reporters how to become longform storytellers. He relentlessly spotted and recruited new talent. He was a terrific reporter with a rare breadth of knowledge — just go read his archive of stories over the last two years at the Times. “Blake had lots of insights,” our Sam Stein noted to us last night. “And observations. And advice. He was informed but inquisitive; hyperactive but not overbearing. Those were qualities that made him a great editor.  “What made him a brilliant one was that he loved to stir up shit. When … he hired me for the role of White House editor, he said he was eager to cause ‘some good trouble.’ He loved to push the envelope. He wanted to build: stories and newsrooms and products. And he did. Great ones. What a wonderful legacy to leave.” We lost Blake yesterday. It was sudden and baffling. His friends were texting and emailing with him — about dinner plans and story ideas and a new class he was set to teach at NYU. He was tweeting. And then he was gone. He committed suicide after a long struggle with depression.  Blake was a singular figure in Washington journalism, and we asked those who knew Blake best to share some remembrances of him. We were ultimately overwhelmed by the extraordinary array of Playbookers whose lives he had touched — so many, in fact, that we’re hard-pressed to share them all here. Uncut, those tributes run to 13 pages, and we’d love to hear more still: playbook@politico.com.  Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the host and senior editor of POLITICO's Playbook Daily Briefing. Jenny Ament is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

For President Joe Biden, it was an inconvenient discovery — and the potential source of considerable future political, if not legal heartburn. The Justice Department is investigating how and why classified documents from Biden’s time as veep made their way from the White House to a think tank, the Penn Biden Center for Diplomacy and Global Engagement, where he used to have an office. CBS’ Adriana Diaz, Andres Triay and Arden Farhi scooped the news last night, and White House special counsel Richard Sauber confirmed the November discovery and subsequent federal probe, noting in a statement that Biden’s “personal attorneys have cooperated with the Archives and the Department of Justice in a process to ensure that any Obama-Biden Administration records are appropriately in the possession of the Archives.” Nedless to say, newly empowered Republicans see the circumstances here as a hell of a lot more than inconvenient — seizing on superficial similarities between this discovery and the August search and seizure of more than 100 classified documents from President Donald Trump’s home in Florida.

The rules package that will govern how the House operates this session is scheduled for a vote this evening. It’s shaping up as Speaker Kevin McCarthy's first big test in governing what is shaping up to be an ungovernable Republican majority.  The package is the closest thing to a contract drawn up between McCarthy and his internal critics. Alongside various side deals dealing with committee assignments, budget policy and other matters, the rules changes define the devolution of power away from leadership and towards the House Freedom Caucus. If tonight’s vote goes down, the entire project unravels. And President Joe Biden will meet with Mexican president Andrés Manuel López Obrador at the North American Leaders’ Summit in Mexico City – the pair are expected to talk through trade issues, drug trafficking, and migration.  Playbook editor Mike DeBonis and  deputy editor Zack Stanton break down the day ahead in DC. Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the host and senior editor of POLITICO's Playbook Daily Briefing. Jenny Ament is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

Around Christmas, Texas Republican Rep. Roger Williams’ wife suffered a medical emergency. This week, as she underwent treatment, her husband was eager to be by her side.  Instead, he has been stuck in Washington taking failed vote after failed vote in Kevin McCarthy's quest to become speaker. “This is killing him,” one of Williams’ GOP lawmaker friends told us late Thursday night. “I’ve never seen Roger as down as he was yesterday.”  Williams isn’t alone. On Thursday, Rep. Ken Buck (R-Colo.) felt ill; his colleagues had to convince him it was OK to duck out of the speakership drama and go home for rest. Rep.-elect Wesley Hunt (R-Texas) is eager to return to Texas after his wife gave birth this week. Rep. Kevin Hern's (R-Okla.) mother died this week; he wants to attend her funeral on Saturday. “There’s a lot more at stake than whether Kevin McCarthy’s going to be able to get the gavel,” the aforementioned GOP lawmaker told us. “We’ve got lives that are being impacted right now, and this is tough for people.” There’s been wall-to-wall coverage of the 20 anti-McCarthy rebels. But as the GOP leader faces down what will likely be his 12th failed bid for the gavel today, the story is about to shift to McCarthy’s increasingly tenuous support network.  Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the host and senior editor of POLITICO's Playbook Daily Briefing. Jenny Ament is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

After spending the last 48 hours on life support, Kevin McCarthy's bid for the speakership is seeing a potential revival. Following a rollercoaster of a Wednesday during which the California Republican failed three more times to secure the 218 votes for the gavel, McCarthy and some of his critics finally got in a room and had what both sides are describing as productive conversations. This morning, after slamming coffee at midnight and working the phones until the wee hours, we have a readout of new concessions McCarthy has offered his critics and where things stand. Will this be enough to land McCarthy the speakership? That’s TBD.  Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the host and senior editor of POLITICO's Playbook Daily Briefing. Jenny Ament is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

So how does this end? And how long will it take to end it? Those are the questions towering over the new House Republican majority, which for the first time in 100 years, found itself unable to choose a speaker on the first ballot — or two others afterward. The House is now paralyzed, unable to swear in its members or form committees or adopt rules — let alone pass legislation. And the scary realization for the GOP rank-and-file is that there’s no easy way out of this mess and no sign that one is going to appear anytime soon. Playbook editor Mike DeBonis and co-author Rachael Bade break it all down, plus West Wing Playbook co-author and White House correspondent Eli Stokols stops by to discuss the view from the Biden administration. Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the host and senior editor of POLITICO's Playbook Daily Briefing. Jenny Ament is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

Welcome to the 118th Congress, the new Republican House majority, and one of the most unpredictable and potentially chaotic scenarios we’ve seen on Capitol Hill. The House will gavel in at noon, and following a prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance and a quorum call, the clerk will immediately start the live roll call to elect the next speaker. GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy, however, still hasn’t clinched the votes he needs, and the day could drag late into the night, we’re told, as Republicans grapple with choosing their leader. Be prepared for surprises and a lot of drama. Even veteran lawmakers who emerged from meetings with McCarthy on Monday evening weren’t entirely sure how this will all shake out. We’re told that McCarthy’s plan, however, is to continue voting — over and over again — in a bid to wear down his detractors until he gets the gavel. Playbook editor Mike DeBonis and co-author Rachael Bade discuss the long day ahead for Kevin McCarthy. Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the host and senior editor of POLITICO's Playbook Daily Briefing. Jenny Ament is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

The Jan. 6 committee released its final report on Thursday night — an 845-page document drawn from nearly 1,200 witness interviews and reams of hard-won documents that places Donald Trump at the center of the deadly assault. POLITICO's Kyle Cheney and Nicolas Wu write “Trump’s incendiary lies about the 2020 election activated an extraordinary coalition of far-right militants and conspiracy theorists who not only joined the mob but were its vanguard smashing through police lines." Rep. Bob Good (R-Va.) — a "Never Kevin" Republican — would likely be dismissed by his colleagues as a gadfly. But given the unexpectedly slim House majority the GOP gained in November, Good and a handful of like-minded conservatives hold McCarthy’s fate in their hands — and stand ready to wield considerable power next year, no matter who ends up as speaker. Playbook co-author Rachael Bade sat down with Good for the Playbook Deep Dive podcast this week to try to understand the rebellion brewing against McCarthy. We learned that Good & Co. are formulating a plan for the Jan. 3 speaker vote. He said Anti-McCarthy members are currently plotting to back Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.) on the first ballot to prove McCarthy can’t get the gavel. But once the second ballot is called, they’ll begin coalescing around another, unnamed candidate — a GOP lawmaker most have already agreed upon, Good said, but one that he will not name for fear of hurting this person’s candidacy. While Playbook reported extensively this week on the quiet effort to prepare No. 2 leader Steve Scalise as an alternative, Good stayed mum, explaining that this person, quote “cannot be part of, and they are not part of, the effort to block McCarthy.”

Sean McElwee is a well-known progressive activist who started the “Abolish ICE” movement and in 2018 founded Data for Progress, a progressive think tank with an emphasis on influencing public policy through polling. DFP quickly embedded itself into the top layers of the Democratic firmament. More recently, McElwee became a close political ally and adviser to FTX founder SAM BANKMAN-FRIED.  McElwee had easy access to the White House and the press. And he made sure they had access to him. He kept an open Slack channel at DFP that became a rolling conversation between McElwee, Biden administration officials, and some well-known reporters. On Saturday, November 12, the day after FTX filed for bankruptcy and SBF resigned as CEO, McElwee abruptly shuttered the Slack channel. Six days later, he and Data for Progress began negotiating his exit from the firm he had built.  At the time, the reported reason for the rupture was that McElwee’s well-known penchant for betting on the outcomes of elections created a conflict of interest for a polling firm. A slew of 2022 DFP polls had a GOP bias, and activists on Twitter— as well as some prominent Democrats pinging reporters— asked whether McElwee was cooking DFP’s polls to affect races and cash in. Sources at DFP insist that this would have been highly unlikely, and that their polls had a GOP bias because of an oversampling of respondents via SMS. In the wake of this, DFP recently adopted a previously unreported “Gambling and Wagering Policy” that prohibits employees from betting on anything related to DFP projects or clients. The McElwee-DFP breakup was ugly, but the two sides were trying to negotiate an amicable separation agreement and a severance.  Then on Dec. 13, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York unsealed an eight-count indictment against SBF. The first seven counts, which were about financial crimes, garnered the most attention.  But it was the eighth count that turned heads in Washington, alleging a straw-donor scheme in which SBF funneled corporate money to candidates and committees through third parties. And SDNY alleged that SBF had help: SBF “and others known and unknown,” the indictment says, made contributions “in the names of other persons.” In the race to figure out who might have helped SBF make straw donations, McElwee’s name was at the top of the list. The leadership at DFP suddenly feared they could be in the middle of a much bigger scandal.

It's that time of year: the omnibus has dropped. This time it's a $1.7 trillion dollar whopper, with appropriations filling out more than 4,000 pages. Right after the bill dropped on Tuesday, we looked at some of the most notable big-ticket inclusions and omissions in the text of the omnibus government spending bill released overnight, from Electoral Count Act reform to Ukraine aid to the expanded child tax credit. But in such a behemoth, there are plenty more consequential policy decisions to dig into. Playbook editor Mike DeBonis and Playbook reporter Eli Okun discuss what's inside — and what's not.

Democrats are scouring the record of Rep.-elect George Santos to determine their next steps following an extraordinary New York Times investigation of the incoming Republican from Long Island that revealed a history of seemingly fraudulent claims. Democrats are pondering how far to go in their condemnation. Should he be referred to the House Ethics Committee? (Almost certainly.) Should they call for his resignation before he is sworn in? (Some say yes.) Should they call for his expulsion after he’s sworn in? (Probably, but with the GOP in charge it won’t work.) Or should they try to prevent him from being sworn in at all?

This looks like it will be the final week of the 117th Congress… and it’s going to be a busy one. The clock is ticking on the Democratic House majority, and they are looking to wrap up some unfinished business before Republicans move in and take control. Number one on that list is to close out the Jan. 6 select committee, the panel created last year to investigate the attack on the Capitol by angry Donald Trump supporters. Another unanswered question for House Democrats: what to do with Trump’s taxes? Tomorrow the Ways and Means Committee is set to meet and hash that out.  The real must-do on the list however is to pass a bill funding the government. Congress has until Friday to do that, and it appears this morning they are on track to do so. But there is some unresolved intrigue surrounding what might get attached to the big year-end bill.  Be sure to subscribe to the Playbook newsletter if you haven’t – www.politico.com/playbook. And follow the POLITICO Playbook team @playbookdc.  

The latest news this morning comes via our colleagues Olivia Beavers, Jordain Carney and Sarah Ferris, who note that McCarthy is now “punting conferencewide races for committee leadership slots until after his speaker election on Jan. 3,” which could “incapacitate Republicans during a crucial planning period, virtually guaranteeing a sluggish start for the new House majority.” McCarthy can’t risk pissing off members who lose these races to run House Committees.  The downside of this delay is stark: “days, if not weeks, of uncertainty for GOP committees as they begin their stint in the majority. Some of the most important panels, including those charged with tax-writing and border security, won’t be able to prepare bills, tee up hearings, or even hire staff. While some House committees already have uncontested leaders in place, those chairs won’t be able to choose their member lineup or potentially pay staff. The GOP’s subpoena power, too, will be frozen.” Plus, deputy editor Zack Stanton and co-author Eugene Daniels recap Eugene's trip to the White House Holiday Party.  Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host and Senior Editor of POLITICO's Playbook Daily Briefing. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

On Friday, after a group of seven House conservatives issued a public letter outlining the demands that GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy would need to meet to win their support in his bid for speaker, a key McCarthy backer quietly reached out to several moderate Republicans with a request, according to people familiar with the conversations. The Freedom Caucus rabble-rousers had reiterated their demand that McCarthy restore a 200-year-old, now-infamous House rule known as the “motion to vacate,” which allows any one member to force a floor vote to oust the speaker at any moment.  McCarthy’s camp wanted the centrists to push back hard on the proposal, which the speaker-hopeful fiercely opposes. If they did, McCarthy would be able to point to their opposition, say his hands are tied and refuse to give in to conservatives’ demands. McCarthy’s office declined to comment to Playbook. Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host and Senior Editor of POLITICO's Playbook Daily Briefing. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

Congressional negotiators announced late Tuesday they had reached agreement on a “framework” for FY2023 spending, clearing the way for passage of an omnibus appropriations package before Christmas. Appropriators are not expected to reveal detailed top-line spending levels until a bill is written and filed, but negotiators had largely settled on a $858 billion defense budget while haggling over the nondefense number. The parties had been roughly $26 billion apart, with Republicans refusing to exceed the $1.65 trillion in total discretionary spending in President Joe Biden's budget request. And more than eight years ago, President Barack Obama stood before dozens of African leaders and made promises at the opening session for the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit, the first of its kind. The summit, it was hoped, would be a jumping-off point for stronger ties between the United States and the continent. Fast-forward eight years later: Biden is hosting a sequel, and he is likely to give very similar remarks.  But the situation on the continent has only grown more dire, with global crises such as climate change, Covid-19 and the fallout from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine all hitting the continent especially hard. And after four years of Donald Trump at best neglecting and at worst denigrating the continent, this summit is something of a Hail Mary pass to improve relations.  Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host and Senior Editor of POLITICO's Playbook Daily Briefing. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

Today’s House Financial Services Committee hearing on the collapse of the FTX cryptocurrency exchange will go on as scheduled without its star witness: Former CEO Sam Bankman-Fried, who was arrested in the Bahamas on Monday at the behest of U.S. prosecutors who have secured indictments on a range of fraud charges. National political correspondent Ben Schreckinger stops by to share to what to expect. Panel chair Maxine Waters said in a statement Monday night she still wants to hear from Bankman-Fried, saying “the American public deserves to hear directly … about the actions that’ve harmed over one million people, and wiped out the hard-earned life savings of so many.” Current FTX CEO John Ray III, a cleanup expert known for his work at Enron after its 2002 collapse, will testify as planned.  “The public has been waiting eagerly to get these answers under oath before Congress, and the timing of this arrest denies the public this opportunity,” Waters added. “While I am disappointed that we will not be able to hear from Mr. Bankman-Fried tomorrow, we remain committed to getting to the bottom of what happened.” More from NYT And House Appropriations Chair Rosa DeLauro is the biggest remaining obstacle to a huge government spending compromise that congressional leaders are circling, Caitlin Emma, Sarah Ferris and Burgess Everett report. Time is running short, but DeLauro said she’s “optimistic we can get to yes.” The Senate appropriations leaders have closed the $26 billion gap between Democrats’ and Republicans’ proposals, but “they’ve so far been unable to win DeLauro’s buy-in.”  — Meanwhile, Congress has to pass a stopgap funding bill this week to avoid a shutdown and buy more time to negotiate the long-term deal. More from the WSJ Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host and Senior Editor of POLITICO's Playbook Daily Briefing. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

Senate Appropriations Chair Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) announced Sunday night that Democrats would not proceed as planned with a vote today on their own spending package, citing “sufficient progress in negotiations … over the weekend.” Government funding runs out Friday. Talks have stalled for weeks as the parties wrangle over funding levels, with Republicans thus far refusing to give Democrats the nondefense plus-ups they desire. Could the distant chime of jingle bells finally be having an effect? There’s no way an omnibus can be negotiated, drafted and passed in the next five days, so expect another stopgap to move this week. Beyond that? There’s already chatter about negotiations dragging right up to and even through the holiday season. We’ll see who blinks first. More from Roll Call Playbook editor Mike DeBonis and co-author Rachael Bade discuss the funding fight plus the week ahead, including Sam Bankman-Fried's visit to Congresss and President Joe Biden's planned signing ceremony for the Respect for Marriage Act on the South Lawn.  Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host and Senior Editor of POLITICO's Playbook Daily Briefing. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

POLITICO's Burgess Everett with a mega-scoop this morning: “Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema is changing her party affiliation to independent, delivering a jolt to Democrats’ narrow majority and Washington along with it. “In a 45-minute interview, the first-term senator told POLITICO that she will not caucus with Republicans and suggested that she intends to vote the same way she has for four years in the Senate. ‘Nothing will change about my values or my behavior,’ she said. “Provided that Sinema sticks to that vow, Democrats will still have a workable Senate majority in the next Congress, though it will not exactly be the neat and tidy 51 seats they assumed. They’re expected to also have the votes to control Senate committees. And Sinema’s move means Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) — a pivotal swing vote in the 50-50 chamber the past two years — will hold onto some but not all of his outsized influence in the Democratic caucus.” Plus, Mike DeBonis and Rachael Bade discuss the feasibility of a so-called unity House speaker, and FDA reporter and astrology emperor Katherine Foley stops by for some birthday news.  Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host and Senior Editor of POLITICO's Playbook Daily Briefing. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

The battle to become President Joe Biden's top defender on Capitol Hill is on. With Republicans sharpening their investigative knives for Biden (this week, House GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy released a list of more than a dozen lines of inquiry into the administration), the race to succeed outgoing Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.) as the top Dem on the House Oversight Committee raging at a fever pitch.  Who will it be? Plus, deputy editor Zack Stanton chats with Daniel Lippman's major investigation into the conduct of No Labels, the centrist group that has embarked on an ambitious $70 million project laying the groundwork for a unity ticket presidential campaign in 2024. But the story is different inside the walls of the organization. “Interviews with 14 former employees — including five who left in the last few months — and four other people familiar with No Labels reveals a cutthroat culture, one where staffers are routinely fired or pushed out, have little trust in management, and believe the workplace environment can be difficult for minority and female colleagues."

Over the past 30 months, Raphael Warnock has won a Senate primary, got the most votes in two general elections and won two runoffs. On Tuesday night, he finally won a full six-year term in the United States Senate.  A lot has been said about how flawed a candidate that Warnock’s opponent, Herschel Walker, was. (A lot.) And so much of the conversation and coverage of Georgia’s election centered on what it would mean for the power of a current and a former president.  But Warnock’s three-point win Tuesday underscored his own talents and cemented the 53-year-old pastor as one of the nation’s most compelling and effective Democratic politicians. Plus, Playbook editor Mike DeBonis and author Rachael Bade stop by to discuss the hot-and-cold relationship between House GOP leader Kevin McCarthy and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host and Senior Editor of POLITICO's Playbook Daily Briefing. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.  

Six days after top congressional leaders emerged from the White House suggesting they would work together to pass an omnibus government funding bill before the holidays, Kevin McCarthy went on Fox News last night and sent a very different message. “We’re 28 days away from Republicans having the gavel. We would be stronger in every negotiation. So any Republican that's out there trying to work with [Democrats] is wrong,” he said to host Laura Ingraham, who used her monologue last night to rail against Democrats trying to “take advantage of the few weeks remaining to ram through as much sweeping change as possible.”  McCarthy extended his warning to Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell: “Wait till we’re in charge,” he said.

 In roughly 37 hours, Georgians will cast the final votes of the 2022 midterms, deciding the Senate runoff between incumbent Democrat Raphael Warnock and Republican football legend Herschel Walker. The two campaigns spent the final weekend very differently. Warnock continued his flood-the-zone strategy, with six events across the state, while Walker held just one public event, on Sunday with GOP Sens. Tim Scott (S.C.) and John Kennedy (La.). Playbook editor Mike DeBonis and deputy editor Zack Stanton preview the race in Georgia, Wednesday's SCOTUS case on the ‘independent legislature’ theory that could radically reshape elections and South Carolina's request to hold the first presidential primary on the calendar.  Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host and Senior Editor of POLITICO's Playbook Daily Briefing. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.  

The 11th Circuit delivered a unanimous opinion shutting down the special master review of the documents that the FBI seized from Mar-a-Lago and dismissing Donald Trump's civil lawsuit over the matter. The opinion was an embarrassing rebuke of U.S. District Court Judge Aileen Cannon, who was widely criticized for indulging what legal scholars across the ideological spectrum described as Trump’s specious arguments. The appeals court did not think the case was even a close call. “This appeal requires us to consider whether the district court had jurisdiction to block the United States from using lawfully seized records in a criminal investigation,” the opinion began. “The answer is no.”  Plus, tech reporter Rebecca Kern stops by for the latest update on Elon Musk's purchase of Twitter, including his endorsement of possible GOP 2024 presidential contender Ron DeSantis, his possible spat with Apple and CEO Tim Cook and the future of anti-trust legislation.  Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host and Senior Editor of POLITICO's Playbook Daily Briefing. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

Since Election Day, the drama in the House has been concentrated on the GOP side, as Kevin McCarthy tries to overcome a MAGA world mutiny to get the gavel, and Democrats smoothly elect three new leaders to succeed Nancy Pelosi, Steny Hoyer and Jim Clyburn. But it turns out things are not all kumbaya in the House Dem caucus.  — Amid some Democrats’ discontentment about Clyburn’s insistence on staying in leadership, Rep. David Cicilline (D-R.I.) has decided to challenge him for the assistant leader job — a vote that will happen later today.  — And there’s an intense whisper campaign happening behind the scenes about Rep. Tony Cárdenas' (D-Calif.) bid to head the DCCC — one that compiles ugly past allegations about sexual assault, as well as new alleged connections to a man known as the “boogeyman of porn.”  Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host and Senior Editor of POLITICO's Playbook Daily Briefing. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

The four congressional leaders spent over an hour with President Joe Biden in the Roosevelt Room on Tuesday, and when they emerged from the White House and spoke to reporters, something unusual happened: They all agreed. What they agreed on was something that appeared awfully iffy earlier this week: that the lame-duck Congress should negotiate and pass an omnibus appropriations bill in the coming weeks. Plus, national politics reporter Natalie Allison stops by for an update on the Senate runoff election between Sen. Raphael Warnock and GOP challenger Herschel Walker.  Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host and Senior Editor of POLITICO's Playbook Daily Briefing. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

In 1992, two days into a crippling railroad strike, then-Sen. Joe Biden came to the Senate floor and decried the lopsided nature of federal labor laws dealing with the rail industry — laws, he argued, that essentially allowed corporations, regulators and, ultimately, Congress to run roughshod over workers. “We need to restore a measure of balance to these negotiations,” he said, before voting with just five other senators against halting the strike. Thirty years later, as president, Biden is turning to those very same laws to prevent another strike and impose a tentative contract agreement that his administration brokered but multiple rail unions voted to reject. “As a proud pro-labor President, I am reluctant to override the ratification procedures and the views of those who voted against the agreement,” the president said in a statement. “But in this case — where the economic impact of a shutdown would hurt millions of other working people and families — I believe Congress must use its powers to adopt this deal.” Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host and Senior Editor of POLITICO's Playbook Daily Briefing. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

President Joe Biden and lawmakers return to Washington this week facing a lengthy lame-duck to-do list with only three weeks scheduled to resolve it — a recipe for a very un-merry holiday season should negotiations falter in the final throes of the 117th Congress. — First up: government funding, which expires Dec. 16. The verdict is still out on whether a bipartisan full-year appropriations deal is within reach — or whether Congress will just kick the can down the road and pass another continuing resolution into next year. All eyes this week will be on Senate Republicans — and especially GOP Leader Mitch McConnell, who will have to decide whether to help put up the 10 needed GOP votes to clear a 2023 omnibus. Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host and Senior Editor of POLITICO's Playbook Daily Briefing. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

As we all pack up and take a quick break for Thanksgiving, the Peach State is still abuzz with activity as voters prepare to settle the final Senate race of this cycle.  On Tuesday, a new poll by the AARP — the first major public survey since the November general election — showed the race remains inside the margin of error, with incumbent Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock pulling in 51% to Republican Herschel Walker's 47%.  One key data point: “Warnock has a commanding lead of 54% to 39% over Walker among independent voters — an important bloc that once reliably voted for Republicans in Georgia.”  Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host and Senior Editor of POLITICO's Playbook Daily Briefing. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.  

It’s one of the slowest weeks in politics as our elected leaders slip into the Thanksgiving break, when they have a chance to assess the fallout from the surprising midterm results and ponder the way forward.   As you prepare your own holiday plans, you’ll probably want to be armed at the dinner table with something smart to say about the meaning of the midterms. If you want to filter out a lot of the noise in the results and focus in on the signal, this morning’s Ron Brownstein piece at CNN is a good one to clip and save for Thursday. He identifies a few key trends present in the 2022 results that tell us a lot about 2024.  Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host and Senior Editor of POLITICO's Playbook Daily Briefing. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

Playbook editor Mike DeBonis and deputy editor Zack Stanton break down the weekend in politics, including the Republican Jewish Coalition conference in Las Vegas, NV.  “2024 Republican rivals put Trump on notice,” by Alex Isenstadt in Las Vegas: “If former President Donald Trump thought his early 2024 announcement would cow prospective Republican primary rivals into submission, he clearly miscalculated. “At this weekend’s Republican Jewish Coalition conference, a parade of ambitious Republicans hit all the notes that politicians eyeing future campaigns for the White House typically do. Their tones and messages varied — few called out Trump by name — but collectively they made clear they are not going to back down to the former president after a third consecutive poor election with him at the helm. What the contenders sound like: “Mike Pompeo, Trump’s hand-picked secretary of State and CIA director, warned that for Republicans to win elections, they can’t simply ‘go on Fox News or send tweets.’ Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who ran Trump’s transition, said Republicans were losing because ‘Donald Trump has put himself before everybody else.’ “Nikki Haley, Trump’s U.N. ambassador who said last year she wouldn’t run if her former boss did, has apparently changed her mind. She used her Saturday evening speech here to say she was looking at running in a ‘serious way,’ and to call for ‘a younger generation to lead across the board.’ … “‘He’s not going to have the financial support he had anymore, he’s not going to have the internal support that he had before,’ said New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu, whose state hosts the first-in-the-nation GOP primary. ‘And so therefore, there’s opportunity there. That political weakness is blood in the water for some folks.’” Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host and Senior Editor of POLITICO's Playbook Daily Briefing. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

On Thursday, as the 5 p.m. deadline approached for employees to decide whether they were “hardcore” enough to stick it out at Elon Musk's Twitter, reports started to trickle out that Musk’s ultimatum had backfired spectacularly. The second big development was that six Democratic senators wrote to the Federal Trade Commission asking it to investigate whether Musk broke the law.  “We write regarding Twitter’s serious, willful disregard for the safety and security of its users, and encourage the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to investigate any breach of Twitter’s consent decree or other violations of our consumer protection laws,” the senators wrote. Tech reporter Rebecca Kern stops by the recap the latest in Twitter world and whether the platform is headed to the blue checkmark in the sky.  Fortune Magazine’s Kylie Robison said up to 75% of Musk’s employees had decided to abandon the company. The Verge reported that “given the scale of the resignations this week, they expect the platform to start breaking soon,” adding: “[T]he team that maintains Twitter’s core system libraries that every engineer at the company uses is gone after Thursday. ‘You cannot run Twitter without this team,’ the employee said.”  Twitter’s offices were closed until Monday, and reports suggested Musk was paranoid that departing employees might try to sabotage the company. Insider’s Kali Hays reported “that the entirety of Twitter’s payroll department has resigned/not elected to sign up for Elon’s Twitter 2.0.” The Times reported that Musk frantically tried to retain top talent in hastily arranged Zooms. “As the 5 p.m. deadline passed, some who had called in began hanging up, seemingly having decided to leave, even as Mr. Musk continued speaking,” according to NYT’s Ryan Mac, Mike Isaac and David McCabe. The second big development in Twitter world was that six Democratic senators wrote to the Federal Trade Commission asking it to investigate whether Musk broke the law.  “We write regarding Twitter’s serious, willful disregard for the safety and security of its users, and encourage the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to investigate any breach of Twitter’s consent decree or other violations of our consumer protection laws,” the senators wrote. Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host and Senior Editor of POLITICO's Playbook Daily Briefing. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

On Wednesday night, just before 11 p.m., Nancy Pelosi's longtime spokesperson Drew Hammill announced on Twitter that today, the speaker will finally announce her plans for the future — putting an end to mounting speculation about whether she’ll retire (a possibility Hammill has batted away), stay on as the top House Democrat or step down from leadership but continue to serve in Congress. “@SpeakerPelosi has been overwhelmed by calls from colleagues, friends and supporters,” Hammill wrote. “This evening, the Speaker monitored returns in the three remaining critical states. The Speaker plans to address her future plans tomorrow to her colleagues. Stay tuned.” The tweet came just a few hours after the House was called in favor of Republicans — sending the rumor mill already churning over Pelosi’s future into warp drive.  Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host and Senior Editor of POLITICO's Playbook Daily Briefing. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

You’ve heard allies of Rep. Kevin McCarthy say it a gazillion times — and they’ll say it another gazillion times over before the House speaker vote in January: You can’t beat somebody with nobody. But what if history repeats itself? What if McCarthy, as in his 2015 bid for the speakership, fails to appease the renegade right and falls short of the 218 votes he needs to seize the gavel? With 31 House Republicans spurning McCarthy in Tuesday’s nominating vote — and with McCarthy likely able to afford no more than three or four defections based on current election returns — the question is more than academic.  To be clear, Team McCarthy and most GOP lawmakers tell us they believe the California Republican will get 218 — eventually. But if he can’t, Playbook co-author Rachael Bade stops by the show to discuss the most likely alternative members mentioned during our travels on the Hill this week. Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host and Senior Editor of POLITICO's Playbook Daily Briefing. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

As the Republican Party wrestles with whether it should stick with its three current leaders — Donald Trump, Kevin McCarthy and Mitch McConnell — today is crucial, especially for the first two.  McCarthy faces a vote of House Republicans on whether he will be their nominee for speaker in January. He should easily pass that test, but the margin will tell us how much trouble he’s in. (More on McCarthy below.) And then tonight at 9 p.m., Trump is scheduled to announce his third campaign for president. The best way to understand the context of this announcement is to take a spin through the last 24 hours of Trump news. The big takeaway is that the movement on the right to abandon Trump is the strongest it’s been since the days after Jan. 6, 2021. (But, then again, it wasn’t very strong back then.) Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook Daily Briefing. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

For Republicans, Festivus comes early this year. In fact, it starts today at 4:30 p.m. That’s when House Republicans kick off their candidate forum for leadership positions next Congress — the first formal event in what is expected to be a weeklong, party-wide Airing of Grievances following Republicans’ abysmal Election Day performance.  Plus Mitch McConnell, we hear, is confident of his own reelection as leader — even as he faces mounting pushback from Trump allies in the chamber. On Sunday night, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) became the latest Republican to back a delay of Wednesday’s scheduled leadership elections — citing the Dec. 6 Georgia runoff. And Trump’s scheduled Tuesday campaign announcement is still moving full steam ahead despite fellow Republicans begging him to hold off in light of the pending Georgia contest. GOP drama aside, Speaker Nancy Pelosi might actually be the pivotal character of the week. With control of the House still in the balance, House Democrats have been left twiddling their thumbs as they await a long-anticipated retirement announcement — or news that she plans to seek another term as leader. Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook Daily Briefing. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

The sun has now risen three times since GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy assured Americans that they would wake up to a House Republican majority. Yet we still don’t know who won either chamber of Congress — and each day, the sun has set with the projected number of Republican seats dimming. This morning, our colleague Steve Shephard even points out that while it may be unlikely, Democrats still actually have a very narrow path to holding the majority. There are a bunch of uncalled races where the results are expected to go one way or the other. But it all comes down to about 11 true toss-ups where forecasters really aren’t sure what will happen — and of those, Dems would need to win nine to maintain power. Given that narrow path, Republicans are "still favored to take a narrow House majority,” Steve notes. But even in a best-case scenario, the GOP is looking at a mere 226 seats. A chaotic scenario where their majority consists of just a handful of seats is even more likely. Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook Daily Briefing. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

When John Boehner suddenly retired in 2015, members of the House Freedom Caucus showed up at speaker-in-waiting Kevin McCarthy’s office with a list of demands: In exchange for their support, they wanted McCarthy to name one of their own to a senior leadership position and embrace rules changes that empowered conservatives.  If he refused, they told him, they would band together to block him from securing the needed 218 votes to be speaker. But McCarthy was unwilling to subjugate his power in order to appease a splinter faction, and ultimately, the California Republican dropped his bid for his dream job, paving the way for Paul Ryan's rise.  Yet seven years later, McCarthy once again finds his dream held hostage by the same group of hardliners. Thanks to the GOP’s lackluster midterm performance, he is seeking to preside over what appears likely to be an extremely thin majority — a scenario that hands massive leverage to the far right. And on Tuesday night at the election watch party for Nevada Democrats on the Vegas Strip, aides to Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto were cautiously optimistic about her prospects for victory. The campaign’s main concern was whether their Republican opponent, Adam Laxalt, would prematurely declare victory and throw the post-election vote-counting period into chaos. As Laxalt’s strong rural vote came in, he overtook Cortez Masto in the count, and Democrats’ concerns increased. But so far their fears have been misplaced.  In 2022, this counts as a positive development for American elections. Candidates are largely refraining from using the seesaw nature of vote-counting to sow doubts about the results, as Trump infamously did in 2020. What hasn’t changed since 2020 is that Nevada (and Arizona and California and many other states) take days to finish counting. While still trailing Laxalt, Cortez Masto’s chances of victory improved Wednesday, with the majority of the outstanding vote consisting of mail ballots from Nevada’s urban centers, which are Democratic strongholds. Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook Daily Briefing. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

Let’s start with Joe Biden.  A midterm is a referendum on the president. By all historic measures, voters should have handed Biden’s party a massive rebuke. Inflation is at historic levels, crime is up, Biden’s approval is underwater, Democrats have one-party control. The party of recent presidents in similar circumstances lost between 40 and 63 House seats. And yet here’s where things stand this morning: — In the House, Republicans are expected to gain control the chamber, but well short of both historical averages and pre-election predictions. Addressing supporters early this morning — hours after Republicans thought they would have victory in hand — Kevin McCarthy could only promise, “When you wake up tomorrow, we will be in the majority.” (Like his prior prediction that Republicans would gain 60 seats, that, too, has failed to pan out.) — In the Senate, the outcome hinges on Nevada, where incumbent Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto fell behind her GOP challenger Adam Laxalt this morning, and Georgia, where Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock is ahead by a hair but the race is likely headed for a runoff on Dec. 6. Republicans need to win both races to take control of the Senate. (Wisconsin and Arizona haven’t been called, but the incumbents — Republican Ron Johnson and Democrat Mark Kelly, respectively — are ahead in both states.) Many of the (plausible) outcomes predicted by top GOP officials didn’t materialize. There was no massive shift of the Hispanic vote toward the GOP. There was no surge of hidden Trump voters. There was no widespread takeover of deep blue House territory. There was no expansion of the Senate map into New Hampshire, Colorado and Washington, where incumbent Democrats cruised to reelection. The governor of New York won easily. There was no red wave.  Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host and Senior Editor of POLITICO's Playbook Daily Briefing. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

Every ad has been cut. Every speech has been delivered. Every poll has been taken. And now we wait for the voters to decide.  Needless to say, the stakes are high. Inflation is at a 40-year peak, abortion rights are on the ballot, rising interest rates are stoking recession fears and election deniers are on the cusp of taking office. But no one has more riding on the outcome than President Joe Biden. Throughout all the headwinds he has faced in the two years and one day since he clinched the presidency, he had House and Senate majorities and experienced congressional leaders backing him up. Now that backstop is seriously at risk. A Republican House threatens to Roto-Root his administration with subpoenas while turning routine spending bills into high-stakes standoffs. A GOP Senate could compound the misery, hamstringing his ability to appoint judges, ambassadors and Cabinet officials. So how is Bidenworld facing this moment of reckoning? By essentially arguing that, whatever happens, it could have been much worse. Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook Daily Briefing. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

We’re truly in the home stretch with one day to go until Election Day. That means we are running out of precious time to deploy our favorite campaign season cliches. So allow us to note: It all comes down to turnout. And as we all know, the only poll that matters is the one on Election Day... Playbook editor Mike DeBonis and Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza preview the crucial week ahead, including, what should, actually, constitute a red wave? In the House, the most likely outcome is that this will be a typical midterm in which the president’s party loses seats. The modern average is a loss of 27 House seats. Three of the last four presidents did much worse in their first midterms: Bill Clinton lost 54 seats, Barack Obama lost 63 seats, and Donald Trump lost 40 seats.  Every election brings with it confident predictions of some enduring new majority. George W. Bush and Barack Obama were both seen as ushering in eras of dominance for their respective parties. Donald Trump’s election supposedly meant the end of the Democratic Party’s presidential prospects. Some liberals say that the 2018 and 2020 anti-Trump surges prove that a stable center-left coalition exists to extinguish MAGA.  The challenge after Tuesday is to keep two things in mind: There can be a massive change in policy direction (the House flipping) with only a small change in the electorate (less than 5% of House seats changing hands). Ryan's Playbook Deep Dive interview with Lynn Vavreck: Hindsight is 20/20 Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host and Senior Editor of POLITICO's Playbook Daily Briefing. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

Oprah Winfrey endorsed Democrat John Fetterman  in the ultratight Pennsylvania Senate race during a virtual GOTV event Thursday night. More than just another celebrity endorsement, it’s a pointed snub by Winfrey of Mehmet Oz, the celebrity doctor she single-handedly brought to national prominence. "If I lived in Pennsylvania,” she said, “I would've already cast my vote for John Fetterman, for many reasons.” The endorsement was in the works for months, our Holly Otterbein reported late last night: “Fetterman's orbit knew how powerful a nod from Winfrey would be, and it worked behind the scenes to court her. The Fettterman campaign made a direct appeal to her for a meeting, according to a person familiar with the outreach.” And Steve Shepard shares his penultimate Election Forecast update, with ratings changes in three Senate, 13 House and four governor races. All but one are moving toward Republicans.  The Senate …  The overall landscape continues to be in “Toss-Up” territory, but Republicans appear to have a growing upside: With six races now coin-flips, an even split of those races would be enough to secure a GOP majority, while a sweep would hand the party 54 seats. Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook Daily Briefing. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

Last month, President Joe Biden told his team he wanted to do one more speech on the dangers facing American democracy before the midterms.  Biden had already delivered a grand address on the issue, on Sept. 1 in front of  Philadelphia’s Independence Hall. But aides and allies said this week that Biden has become increasingly dismayed as more election deniers emerged from Republican primaries to wage competitive general election campaigns. And, as evidence emerged that democracy had moved up the list of voter concerns, he wanted to take another crack at it.  In a quickly assembled event Tuesday night at Union Station, the president delivered a sharp, clear message asking voters to put election lies and political violence at the top of their minds as they cast their midterm ballots. And, POLITICO tech reporter Rebecca Kern stops by to discuss Elon Musk's reign as CEO of Twitter, when former president Donald Trump may or may not return, and the future of content moderation on the platform. Read Rebecca's reporting: Musk personally led call with civil rights groups to address hate speech on Twitter Top firm advises pausing Twitter ads after Musk takeover Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook Daily Briefing. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.  

There are just six days left in this chaotic midterm, which means campaigns around the country are readying their final pitches for voters.  Candidates traditionally use their last flight of ads as a “closing argument” — a chance to tell voters who they are, what they plan to do if they win and, most importantly, ask for their vote. It’s the executive summary of their campaign, typically delivered direct-to-camera in a bid to make one final connection with voters. But this year has been anything but typical. As those final ads have started trickling into Playbook HQ (with a big assist from POLITICO campaign guru Steve Shepard) we’ve seen some candidates observe the old pieties, while others just continue bludgeoning their opponents. Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook Daily Briefing. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

Even though it was Halloween, two political extremists were unmasked yesterday, one on each coast. What they said tells us a lot about the future of political violence in America. In Washington, at the Oath Keeper trial, Graydon Young, the first Oath Keeper to plead guilty to charges related to storming Congress on Jan. 6, broke down in tears as he apologized for his role. “I guess I was acting like a traitor against my own government,” he said.  In San Francisco, an FBI agent who specializes in investigations of domestic terrorism —  that is, “primarily” Americans “who commit violent criminal acts in furtherance of their political or social ideology” — filed the criminal complaint against David DePape in which we learned the horrific details of the attack on Paul Pelosi.  We tend to think of the Oath Keepers and groups like it as the face of political extremism and violence in America. But domestic politcal terrorists are increasingly more like DePape. The big trend is what terrorism researchers call “ungrouping,” in which individuals need no formal organization to recruit and indoctrinate them with fringe ideas when they have easy access to them online — and major political figures endorsing them. Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook Daily Briefing. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

Another landmark Supreme Court decision from the 1970s is likely to fall. This morning, SCOTUS will hear oral arguments in two cases challenging the use of race in college admissions at Harvard and the University of North Carolina.  There is little mystery about the outcome.  And Playbook deputy editor Zack Stanton stops by to give updates on key midterm Senate and House races just eight days away from Election Day. Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook Daily Briefing. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

For months, President Joe Biden and Donald Trump have been shadow-boxing on the campaign trail — zig-zagging across the country on parallel paths that never quite intersected. That’s about to change. On the final weekend before Election Day, both men will campaign in Pennsylvania — “the must-win battleground has emerged as a proxy fight between the two,” report Christopher Cadelago and Meridith McGraw. Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook Daily Briefing. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

Senior campaigns and elections editor Steve Shepard is out with the latest update of POLITICO’s 2022 forecast. Let’s begin with the headline: Five races are changing in this update, four of them in the GOP’s direction and one toward the Democratic candidate: - Arizona Senate: Lean D to Toss-Up - Pennsylvania governor: Lean D to Likely D - CA-27: Toss-Up to Lean R - CA-49: Lean D to Toss-Up - OR-05: Toss-Up to Lean R Steve joins the show to break down the methodology behind the shifts and what else he's keeping an eye on with less than two weeks until Election Day.  Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook Daily Briefing. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

Let’s state the obvious: John Fetterman struggled to effectively communicate during his one and only Senate debate with Mehmet Oz Tuesday in Harrisburg.  We don’t usually dwell on a single debate in a single race, but this one is different. Control of the Senate, and the future of policymaking in Washington, may hinge on the outcome of the Fetterman-Oz race. The conventional wisdom over the summer was that Oz was a deeply flawed candidate who couldn’t win, but the race is a toss-up. Republicans just decided to pour an additional $6 million into Pennsylvania to help Oz. “We believe if we win Pennsylvania, we win the majority,” Steven Law, who runs the most important Senate GOP super PAC, told POLITICO Tuesday. Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook Daily Briefing. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

“For some of Ukraine’s most ardent backers, even talking about diplomacy amounts to appeasement,” Gideon Rachman, the chief foreign affairs columnist for the Financial Times, noted last week. Thirty House Democrats led by Congressional Progressive Caucus chair Pramila Jayapal learned this lesson the hard way on Monday, after they sent President Joe Biden what they believed was a nuanced and carefully worded letter endorsing direct diplomacy with Russia to end the war in Ukraine.  They condemned Russia’s “outrageous and illegal invasion of Ukraine,” reiterated their support for “a free and independent Ukraine,” and they were clear that American “military and economic support” should continue. Unlike House GOP leader Kevin McCarthy, they did not hint at voting against future aid packages. But their use of the D word precipitated a torrent of criticism — mostly from fellow Democrats — that had some of them backtracking within hours. (In one notable example, former CPC co-chair MARK POCAN told a constituent the missive was written amid different circumstances in July, adding, “I have no idea why it went out now. Bad timing.”) Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook Daily Briefing. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.  

15 days left until Election Day. … 7,501,492 early votes already cast as of 10:20 p.m. Sunday, per the United States Elections Project. And Playbook editor Mike Debonis and deputy editor Zack Stanton preview the packed debate schedule around the country, including the highly anticipated debate between Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. John Fetterman and Mehmet Oz on Tuesday.  Plus, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis endorsement of Colorado Republican Joe O'Dea is a notable boost for the moderate and a sharp contrast with Trump, who blasted O’Dea in a feud last week. “A BIG MISTAKE!” Trump responded on Truth Social. Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook Daily Briefing. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

Our colleague Natalie Allison got her hands on some new polling data out of Nevada that shows the closely watched race between Democratic Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto and Republican Adam Laxalt tightening even further. “Laxalt has inched ahead of Cortez Masto by 2 percentage points, within the poll’s margin of error, a gain from a month ago when he was down 3 percentage points, according to a poll conducted this week by the conservative Club for Growth and shared exclusively with POLITICO.” And even as the national trend seems to have tilted in the GOP’s favor in recent days, Alaska’s independents seem poised to swing dramatically toward the Democrats — and that could be an ominous sign for Republicans throughout the nation, David Siders reports from Wasilla.

There’s a reason White House chief of staff RON KLAIN checks AAA’s survey of gas prices every single morning. For all the well-informed punditry about whether this or that issue will be the terrain upon which 2022 rises and falls, today — with 19 days left until Election Day — it seems that the most salient issue in the election for most voters could be pretty straightforward: It’s the gas prices, stupid. Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook Daily Briefing. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

We have fresh data this morning from the new POLITICO-Morning Consult poll that shows the national political landscape is shifting more firmly toward the Republican Party. Twenty days out from Election Day, voters are overwhelmingly focused on the economy and inflation, Republicans are more trusted to handle those issues, and crime beats out abortion as a second-tier issue. In our poll, as in others, the GOP has also gained on the congressional ballot test. The poll confirms the dramatic shift from the late summer, when the Dobbs decision and declining gas prices strengthened Democrats in races across the country, to today, when the midterms seem to be returning to a more typical referendum on the incumbent president in which the party out of power makes substantial gains. Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook Daily Briefing. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

Two must-read books that vastly add to our understanding of the Trump era go on sale today: Rachael and Karoun Demirjian’s “Unchecked: The Untold Story Behind Congress's Botched Impeachments of Donald Trump” ($28) and Robert Draper’s “Weapons of Mass Delusion: When the Republican Party Lost Its Mind” ($29).  There are meaty new excerpts out from both — starting with “The Problem of Marjorie Taylor Greene,” Draper’s NYT Mag piece on the far-right Georgia congresswoman’s rise and what it means for a likely GOP House majority. One of the most-retweeted quotes in the piece is this warning from Greene to Rep. Kevin McCarthy: “‘I think that to be the best speaker of the House and to please the base, he’s going to give me a lot of power and a lot of leeway,’ she predicted in a flat, unemotional voice. ‘And if he doesn’t, they’re going to be very unhappy about it. I think that’s the best way to read that. And that’s not in any way a threat at all. I just think that’s reality.’” Deeper in the story, Greene gets more specific: She tells Draper she wants a seat on the high-profile House Oversight and Judiciary committees. Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook Daily Briefing. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

We definitely have Georgia on our minds here at Playbook. The Senate race in the Peach State — pitting Sen. Raphael Warnock against football legend Herschel Walker — is likely the most consequential Senate race on the map this year. Early voting begins today. There’s nothing better as a reporter than getting out of the swamp to see what voters are thinking and saying for yourself — so Playbook's Eugene Daniels headed to Atlanta for a check-in. In a special dispatch after his trip, Eugene chats with Playbook Deputy Editor Zack Stanton about what he found. There's a sense that the scandal-ridden Walker is sucking up all the political oxygen in the state. Even Warnock campaign aides admit surprise when reporters call to talk about the sitting senator and not about Walker’s travails. In a story out this morning, Eugene explores how Warnock is a man in two worlds. At Ebenezer, no one calls him “senator.” It’s “reverend,” and members of his flock will correct you immediately. But while he enjoys a deep connection with his congregation, some Black political strategists worry that Warnock has not yet secured the broad support he’ll need from Black voters to earn a full term. Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook Daily Briefing. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

For a minute there, Donald Trump wasn’t the dominant political story. In between peak coverage in August of the FBI’s search of his Mar-a-Lago home and Thursday’s public vote by the Jan. 6 committee to subpoena the former president, there were long stretches when Trump wasn’t the main character of the midterms. In some ways he still isn’t. As NYT’s Blake Hounshell and Alyce McFadden point out, Jan. 6 “is practically invisible on the nation’s airwaves, despite nearly a billion dollars in overall ad spending this year.” POLITICO’s Jordain Carney, Sarah Ferris, and Ally Mutnick note that “Democrats have aired just two dozen spots focused on threats to democracy this cycle, in roughly 16 different battleground districts.”  But even if he didn’t appear in a single ad — and there are plenty that include him —  Trump still looms over everything in politics. Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook Daily Briefing. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

Since the very first hearing of the House Jan. 6 committee, the panel has vowed to do three things: (1) correct the historical record of the aftermath of the 2020 election; (2) present the case that former President Donald Trump was at the center of a scheme to overturn the results of a free and fair election; and (3) outline an ongoing attack on American democracy.  This afternoon, they’re set to tie all three together in what is expected to be the committee’s final televised hearing.  The hearing itself will “feature evidence that Trump’s allies were pushing him to declare victory on Election Day 2020 even before the votes were counted, and that Trump was warned of the unfolding violence at the Capitol before he tweeted an inflammatory attack on then-Vice President Mike Pence,” as our Nicholas Wu and Kyle Cheney write in their preview this morning. But of perhaps equal importance is the hearing’s place in the broader arc of post-insurrection Washington.  And FDA reporter Katherine Foley joins the show for this week's astrology readings. Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook Daily Briefing. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

It’s perhaps the most precious campaign resource in all of American politics — a presidential fundraising visit. So why, with less than four weeks till Election Day, is President Joe Biden pointing Air Force One at Oregon this weekend? And, senior campaigns and elections editor Steve Shepard joins the show to talk about the tactical battle over campaign advertising in Ohio, Arizona, Pennsylvania and North Carolina ahead of the midterms.  Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook Daily Briefing. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

This morning we have the first scoop from Robert Draper’s latest book, “Weapons of Mass Delusion: When the Republican Party Lost Its Mind" ($29), which will be released Oct. 18. It’s been widely reported that Donald Trump and Kevin McCarthy had a fiery exchange on Jan. 6, 2021. But Draper adds a dramatic and newsworthy new detail about the House GOP leader’s side of the conversation, one that makes his later submission to Trump even more undignifying. And the latest scoop from Playbook’s own Rachael Bade and co-author Karoun Demirjian appears in The Washington Post today, sourced from their new book, “Unchecked: The Untold Story Behind Congress’s Botched Impeachments of Donald Trump” ($28), also on sale Oct. 18. Two weeks after Trump’s second acquittal, McCarthy yelled so forcefully at Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-Wash.) for going public about his Jan. 6 call with Trump that he made the Washington Republican burst into tears. Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook Daily Briefing. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

Last night at a fundraiser in New York City, President Joe Biden issued a stark warning about the risks of nuclear war in Ukraine. “First time since the Cuban Missile Crisis, we have a direct threat of the use [of a] nuclear weapon if in fact things continue down the path they are going,” Biden told donors at the home of investor James Murdoch. “I’m trying to figure out what is [Russian President Vladimir] Putin's off ramp? … Where does he find a way out? Where does he find himself in a position that he does not not only lose face but lose significant power within Russia?” And it's the most common topic in ads for Democratic congressional candidates and their allies this cycle: abortion rights — and, more specifically, the GOP’s designs on a nationwide abortion ban.  Inasmuch as there is a unifying Democratic message this cycle, this is it. In districts as disparate as suburban Omaha and heavily Catholic rural Texas, Dems and their allies have spent more than $25 million in broadcast TV ads depicting Republicans as “extremists who would imprison doctors and force women who have been raped to carry pregnancies to term,” our Ally Mutnick reports this morning. Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook Daily Briefing. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

For months, aides to President Joe Biden have been backchanneling to keep OPEC from cutting oil exports and, in turn, raising oil and gas prices around the world. So much for all that. On Wednesday, OPEC+ announced that it will cut oil production by 2 million barrels per day starting next month — a move that “sharply undercuts President Biden’s effort to avoid an increase in gas prices ahead of the midterm elections, while setting back his push to constrain the oil revenue Russia is using to pay for its war in Ukraine,” write NYT’s David Sanger and Ben Hubbard. And two days after setting the political world aflame with its report that in 2009, Herschel Walker — who is running for U.S. Senate in Georgia while touting his opposition to abortion rights — paid for his then-girlfriend to obtain an abortion, the Daily Beast’s Roger Sollenberger lit more kindling on Wednesday night: “She Had an Abortion With Herschel Walker. She Also Had a Child With Him.” Plus, FDA reporter Katherine Foley stops by to dissect the stars for House Minority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.), Reps. Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas), Brian Higgins (D-N.Y.) and Victoria Spartz (R-Ind.). Happy birthday! Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook Daily Briefing. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

President Joe Biden will arrive this afternoon in Fort Myers, Fla., where he will survey the damage from Hurricane Ian via helicopter and then receive a briefing on disaster response and recovery efforts from state and local officials, including one of his most bitter political rivals: Gov. Ron DeSantis. The president and the governor have talked on the phone several times. They’ve complimented each other. Florida Playbook author Gary Fineout calls it “a rare moment of bipartisan calm” in his preview from Tallahassee. So what explains the detente — especially the mature reaction from DeSantis, who has defined himself by an own-the-libs style of politics? And it looks as though Elon Musk will go ahead with the $44 billion purchase of Twitter that he first proposed in April. Recall that Musk tried to abandon the deal weeks later and soon found himself in messy litigation with the company. The judge in the case has ruled against Musk at nearly every turn and, with a deposition and trial looming, Musk appears to have reversed course yet again. Twitter is enormously consequential to American politics and media, and the takeover by Musk will have major implications. He’s such a micromanager that when Tesla was having production issues he famously camped out on a factory floor to help solve assembly problems. Despite all his tweets, we don’t know the full picture of what Musk plans for the platform. But he has made a few things clear. Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook Daily Briefing. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

Georgia Republican Senate candidate Herschel Walker promised Monday night that he would file a lawsuit this morning against The Daily Beast, after the website’s Roger Sollenberger reported that Walker paid for an ex-girlfriend’s abortion in 2009. The woman, who was not identified, provided Sollenberger with a receipt for the procedure, a get-well card signed by Walker and an image of a personal check signed by Walker for $700. The Beast reported also that it corroborated the woman’s claims with a close friend who took care of her after the procedure. And campaign guru Steve Shepard shifted POLITICO Election Forecast ratings for 23 House and governor races in a column sent to Campaign Pro subscribers Monday night. That so many races are in flux isn’t necessarily surprising with Election Day just five weeks away. What is surprising is how those 23 races are shifting: Twelve went toward Republican candidates, while 11 went toward Democrats. Plus Playbook's Eugene Daniels chats with Maggie Haberman about her new book, “Confidence Man: The Making of Donald Trump and the Breaking of America” ($32), released today. Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook Daily Briefing. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

The Supreme Court returns to the bench today, a return that is marked mostly by tension and is perhaps unlike any other in the history of the institution. “The normally relaxed season for heading to vacation homes and teaching abroad was marked by the most intense security footing ever for the justices, along with uncommonly public internecine strife among the court’s members,” POLITICO's senior legal affairs reporter Josh Gerstein writes.  Playbook editor Mike DeBonis and Josh Gerstein discuss the cases coming up before the court in this term, the seditious conspiracy case involving Oathkeepers' founder Stewart Rhodes and former president Donald Trump's ongoing showdown with the Justice Department. Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook Daily Briefing. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

AP’s Meg Kinnard and Adriana Gomez Licon: “A revived Hurricane Ian set its sights on South Carolina’s coast Friday and the historic city of Charleston, with forecasters predicting a storm surge and floods after the megastorm caused catastrophic damage in Florida and left people trapped in their homes. “With all of South Carolina’s coast under a hurricane warning, a steady stream of vehicles left Charleston on Thursday, many likely heeding officials’ warnings to seek higher ground. Storefronts were sandbagged to ward off high water levels in an area prone to inundation. And the Senate battlefield is narrowing, and leaders in both parties agree that control of the upper chamber is coming down to two (very different) Sun Belt swing states: Nevada and Georgia. “Democrats' most straightforward path to keeping the majority still means bringing back their so-called Core Four battleground senators: Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire, Mark Kelly of Arizona, Raphael Warnock of Georgia and Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada,” Burgess Everett and Natalie Allison report this morning. “And while Hassan and Kelly are breathing a bit easier these days, Cortez Masto and Warnock are sweating it out in extremely tight races.” Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook Daily Briefing. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

 A new Gallup poll set for release today shows a drop in approval of and confidence in the Supreme Court. Gallup previewed some of the key findings for Playbook:  - The topline: “Less than half of Americans say they have ‘a great deal’ or ‘a fair amount’ of trust in the judicial branch of the federal government, representing a 20-percentage-point drop from two years ago, including seven points since last year.” And as it made landfall in Florida on Wednesday, Hurricane Ian forced roads to close, rained in torrents, flooded vast coastal areas, spawned tornadoes and forced locals who hadn’t already escaped harm’s way to bunker down. One thing the hurricane didn’t stop? Negative campaign ads.  Plus, FDA reporter Katherine Foley stops by to dissect the stars for NASA Administrator and former senator Bill Nelson who turns 80 today. Happy birthday! Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook Daily Briefing. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

Hurricane Ian is set to reach Florida’s Gulf Coast as early as this afternoon after days of dire warnings about its potential impacts. This morning, the national Hurricane Center said winds had reached 140 mph, strengthening to a Category 4.  More than 2 million people are under orders to leave their homes. Said Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis: “That doesn’t mean you need to go all across God’s creation to evacuate — just get to the higher ground and get into a safe structure.” And he’s been the de facto decision-maker for the Senate Democratic majority, but after a week of holding the line, Sen. Joe Manchin had to admit defeat Tuesday — for now.  The West Virginia senator was dead-set on passing a permitting overhaul for energy projects this month, by tying the legislation to a must-pass spending stopgap. Manchin world was convinced the time was right for action, with fresh buy-in from Democratic leaders, combined with long-standing support for the notion of permitting reform among Republicans. Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook Daily Briefing. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

Countdown — Six weeks until Election Day! Continuing Resolution released — Full text … Section-by-section summary Nestled into the stopgap spending bill that Congress is aiming to pass to avert a government shutdown this week is over $12 billion in aid for Ukraine, AP’s Kevin Freking reports. What else is in it: “The funding package, which Congress is set to consider this week, will also provide disaster assistance, including for Jackson, Mississippi. … Also in the package is money to help households afford winter heating and funding to assist Afghans in resettling in the U.S.” What’s not in it: Biden’s request for emergency funds to fight Covid and monkeypox. What’s in it for now, but might not be for long: Sen. Joe Manchin's permitting reform bill. IFlorida Gov. Ron DeSantis spent his first term becoming one of the most influential Republicans in the country — a likely 2024 contender who’s already shaping his party’s national agenda. But DeSantis still hasn’t faced one of the toughest challenges a Florida leader can encounter: A hurricane. That’s all changing this week as Hurricane Ian barrels toward the state, and, Matt Dixon writes from Tallahassee, “depending on how well the governor responds to the potentially catastrophic storm, DeSantis may emerge more popular or open himself up to criticism.” Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook Daily Briefing. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

Playbook editor Mike DeBonis and deputy editor Zack Stanton discuss Maggie Haberman's anticipated book, Confidence Man: The Making of Donald Trump and the Breaking of America. POLITICO's Steve Shepard's must-read this morning, Pollsters fear they’re blowing it again in 2022 and the odds of a government shutdown if Congress can't reach a deal by Friday at midnight. Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook Daily Briefing. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

It’s perhaps the wonkiest, most in-the-weeds debate happening on Capitol Hill: The battle over Sen. Joe Manchin's (D-W.Va.) permitting reform bill. It’s also the biggest hold-up in the quest to keep the government from shutting down next week.  The measure (aka the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2022) would basically shorten the process to get permits for energy projects. Its inclusion in the must-pass continuing resolution is the result of a deal struck between Manchin and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and President Joe Biden that secured the West Virginian’s support for the reconciliation bill.  For Manchin and those Dem leaders, it’s the ultimate compromise: Legislation that would benefit new fossil fuel projects (including specifically approving the Mountain Valley Pipeline planned for West Virginia) and speed up the creation of new clean energy projects. Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook Daily Briefing. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

The two big stories in Trump World: 1. In a Wednesday night ruling, a three-judge federal appeals panel sided with the Justice Department, blocking “aspects of … Judge Aileen Cannon's ruling that delayed a criminal investigation into highly sensitive documents seized from former President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate,” write Kyle Cheney and Josh Gerstein. Two of the three judges were Trump appointees. Their decision was unanimous. And it was unsparing. From the ruling: “Plaintiff suggests that he may have declassified these documents when he was President. But the record contains no evidence that any of these records were declassified. … In any event, at least for these purposes, the declassification argument is a red herring.” Read the 29-page decision Meanwhile, here’s Trump on Fox News’ “Hannity” on Wednesday night: “If you’re president of the United States, you can declassify … even by thinking about it.” Video 2. New York AG Tish James filed suit against Trump and his three oldest children, alleging a yearslong campaign of deception and large-scale fraud. Her office is seeking to recover about $250 million that it says they netted from the scheme. The juiciest takeaways, via Josh and Kyle … The James-Trump backstory, by Erin Durkin … Forbes’ Dan Alexander: “Exclusive Recording, Documents Bolster Trump Fraud Lawsuit” Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook Daily Briefing. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

It’s the juggernaut match-up Republicans can’t stop talking about: former president Donald Trump vs. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. The conventional wisdom for more than a year is that Trump would be impossible to beat in a GOP primary. According to a new USA Today/Suffolk University poll, that’s no longer the case — at least in their home state of Florida. In a hypothetical mano-a-mano Sunshine State presidential primary matchup, DeSantis leads Trump 48% to 40% — a major swing from January, when Trump was beating DeSantis by 7 percentage points. And national politics reporter Holly Otterbein scoops the details behind a big-dollar Philadelphia fundraiser later today benefiting Democratic gubernatorial candidate Josh Shapiro. Among the co-hosts of the fundraiser is Sheryl Bartos, the wife of Jeff Bartos, a two-time statewide Pennsylvania GOP candidate and, more pointedly, the co-chair of Mehmet Oz's Senate campaign. Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook Daily Briefing. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

With four offhand words, “the pandemic is over,” President Joe Biden touched off a firestorm during his Sunday “60 Minutes” interview. The White House cleanup attempt was swift. Obviously the president wasn’t saying the American people shouldn’t take Covid seriously, it told reporters. Sure, he could have been more nuanced, but he was simply saying we’ve hit a different phase. And yet: A summary declaration that the pandemic is kaput carried implications that Biden did not appear to fathom as he walked the floor of the Detroit Auto Show with Scott Pelley. For one, more than 300 Americans are still dying from the disease each day as the nation’s public health establishment works to convince Americans to get the new bivalent booster shot ahead of a possible winter wave. The remarks also did nothing to convince Republicans to back an administration request for $22 billion in new Covid relief funding, a fight that will come to a head in the coming days. As Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) told CNN’s Manu Raju on Monday: “If it’s over, then I wouldn’t suspect they need any more money.” Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook Daily Briefing. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

Is 2022 a ‘waves’ election? Evidence that the election will likely be closer than originally thought continues to mount, as two new polls give a sense of the contours of the race. First, there's the NBC poll, which paints a decidedly mixed portrait. Seven weeks out, voters are evenly split at 46% in their preference for which party should control Congress next year. Biden’s approval rating has risen to its highest in 11 months, while DONALD TRUMP’s favorability has dropped. Sixty-one percent oppose the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision, 63% said their income is falling behind the cost of living, and “threats to democracy” ranked as the issue most important to voters. Republican dreams that a huge swath of Latino voters will run to their side aren’t coming true — yet. That comes from our second poll, the latest from the NYT and Siena College, which shows Democrats maintaining a hold on the Latino electorate. Asked which party’s candidate they’d vote for if the election were held today, 56% of Latinos sided with the Democrats, compared to 32% for the Republicans. Kara Tabor is a producer for POLITICO Audio. Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

After the Supreme Court overturned Roe, many Democrats pushed for legislation codifying the right to same-sex marriage, lest it, too, be taken away by the high court. Over the past two months, those efforts gained momentum thanks to the efforts of a small bipartisan group that saw a path to winning support from the requisite 10 Senate Republicans, raising hopes that a bill would soon hit Biden’s desk.  Those dreams are now on hold through (at least) the midterms, Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), the bill’s chief sponsor, told reporters on Thursday. “Earlier in the day, the group of five senators leading talks on the bill recommended to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer that a vote occur after the election after several Republicans called for a delay,” writes Burgess Everett. “Democrats had planned to hold a vote as soon as Monday.”  There’s a real risk to this approach: If Republicans are able to flip the Senate, there could be little appetite to jump on board and support a Democratic priority during a lame-duck session.  Senate reporter Marianne LeVine joins Playbook Daily Briefing to explain how we got here and where the bill might go next. Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook Daily Briefing. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

“Biden: Tentative railway labor deal reached, averting strike,” AP: “President Joe Biden said Thursday a tentative railway labor agreement has been reached, averting a potentially devastating strike before the pivotal midterm elections. He said the tentative deal ‘will keep our critical rail system working and avoid disruption of our economy.’” And NYT’s Peter Baker and The New Yorker’s Susan Glasser, two old friends of Playbook (Susan was POLITICO’s editor from 2014-2016), will release "THE DIVIDER: Trump in the White House, 2017-2021," on Tuesday. But after The Guardian’s resourceful Martin Pengelly snagged a copy early, the book’s embargo was lifted last night, leading to a flurry of coverage. In the NYT, Baker himself writes up an incredible account from the book about the time Trump’s friend, the cosmetics billionaire Ronald Lauder, convinced him that the U.S. could buy Greenland. Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook Daily Briefing. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

After the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in June, most Republicans stuck to a simple message: The decision merely sent the issue back to the states; it was not a prelude to any national ban on abortion. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) tossed all that out the window Tuesday, dropping a bill that would implement a nationwide ban on abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy while allowing states to pass more restrictive laws. The immediate effect was to put fellow Republicans, who had already been on their heels over Roe’s reversal, straight onto their butts. And senior legal affairs reporter Josh Gerstein and POLITICO founding editor John Harris discuss the life of Ken Starr, who passed away yesterday at the age of 76. Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook Daily Briefing. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

 Back in July, a coalition of civil rights and reproductive rights groups pushed President Joe Biden for “continued leadership” in the wake of the Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade, requesting a POTUS meeting.  On Monday evening, they got their meeting — with VP Kamala Harris, who spent about 90 minutes with the groups’ leaders. Her message, attendees said, echoed the rising sentiment in Democratic circles that abortion rights stand to be a key motivating factor in the midterms — and she said the Biden administration would continue raising the salience of the issue.  Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

We’re keeping our eyes on three big things this week when senators return this afternoon: 1. The brewing Manchin-Sanders faceoff. 2. The status of the marriage bill. 3. How will the White House handle the new Taiwan bill? And Playbook's Eugene Daniels chats with New York magazine reporter (and former POLITICO) Gabriel Debenedetti about his new book, “The Long Alliance,” that comes out Tuesday. In it, he explores the complex and — as he puts it — “misunderstood relationship” between President Joe Biden and Barack Obama.  Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

As expected, the Justice Department said on Thursday that it will likely move forward with an appeal of Judge Aileen Cannon's recent decision largely blocking DOJ’s use of materials seized at Mar-a-Lago and appointing a special master. But in the meantime, the government tried a new approach to convince Cannon to rethink her recent decision, at least when it comes to the key documents seized from Mar-a-Lago by the FBI. And Politico's health care reporter Alice Miranda Ollstein explains the Michigan Supreme Court ruling that an abortion amendment must appear on its November ballot. Listen to Playbook Deep Dive: Kara Swisher knows when to fold ‘em Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

It would have been unthinkable just a few months ago, let alone a decade ago, but senators of both parties are increasingly optimistic they can overcome a filibuster and pass a bill enshrining same-sex and interracial marriage into law as soon as this month. On Wednesday, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer told reporters a same-sex marriage vote “will happen on the Senate floor in the coming weeks.” But there are potential land mines. Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

Legal pundits have had another day to digest Monday’s confounding opinion from Judge Aileen Cannon. Recall that the 41-year-old Trump appointee (who was confirmed in the days after the 2020 election) granted the former president’s request to appoint a special master to review the documents taken from Mar-a-Lago, and enjoined the Department of Justice “from reviewing and using the seized materials for investigative purposes.” She ordered the Office of the Director of National Intelligence to continue its damage assessment review of the documents.   Lawyers are, by definition, a quarrelsome bunch, and members of the pundit bar are especially quick to second-guess any opinions that aren’t theirs. But they are also as ideologically divided as the rest of the country. So it’s notable that while Cannon has had little trouble finding political support for her decision, she has been largely alone when it comes to support for her legal arguments. And Senate Republicans tried to tamp down the burgeoning feud between Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and NRSC Chair Rick Scott (Fla.) over campaign strategy at a Tuesday meeting, Burgess Everett and Marianne LeVine report. “Republican senators said after the meeting that there was little talk inside McConnell’s leadership suite of a split between Scott and the GOP leader. Still, the divide hung over the Senate’s return like Washington’s steamy early September weather.” Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

Labor Day has long served as the unofficial kickoff of election season: More voters start to pay attention, political TV ads become inescapable, volunteers knock on doors and pollsters adjust their samples from “registered voters” to “likely voters.” Now, with Labor Day behind us, here’s the lay of the land just nine short weeks away from Election Day, per POLITICO’s just-updated forecast. The Senate is a toss-up, with the previous forecast leaning Republican. The House is likely going to flip Republican, with a previous forecast of likely Republican. Today, we dive into some of the reasons behind both. Kara Tabor is an audio producer for POLITICO Audio. Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

There was a lot going on in President Joe Biden's 24-minute primetime speech at Philadelphia’s Independence Hall Thursday night. If you felt some whiplash listening to Biden, you’re not alone.  We are in the midst of a confusing and turbulent political period 10 weeks before the midterms, and it seemed to us that Biden was attempting to weave together and make sense of a lot of contradictory political currents.  At its core, the speech was about an issue as grave as any that a president might address: what Biden described as “an extremism that threatens the very foundations of our Republic.” Kara Tabor is an audio producer for POLITICO Audio. Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

It's a shocker in Alaska as Democrat Mary Peltola won Alaska’s special election on Wednesday, making her “the first Alaska Native in Congress,” the Anchorage Daily News’ Iris Samuels reports. Peltola is also the first person elected via the state’s new ranked-choice voting system.  “Peltola topped Republican former Gov. Sarah Palin after ballots were tallied and after votes for third-place GOP candidate Nick Begich III were redistributed to his supporters’ second choices. Peltola, a Yup’ik former state lawmaker who calls Bethel home, is now slated to be the first woman to hold Alaska’s lone U.S. House seat.” Peltola, Palin and Begich will face off again in November for a full term. While Washington chews on headlines about President Joe Biden's pre-midterm road blitz and former President Donald Trump's legal jeopardy, an American city of more than 150,000 people is struggling to deliver clean drinking water to its residents. There’s no clear end in sight to the crisis in Jackson, Miss., which was sparked by record rainfall that flooded the Pearl River but is rooted in much more persistent issues of public disinvestment, political neglect and racial inequity. As with Hurricanes Katrina and Harvey, as well as the water crisis in Flint, Mich., majority-Black communities are left bearing the brunt of the dysfunction — not just during a crisis, but for years before and after. Kara Tabor is an audio producer for POLITICO Audio. Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

Just minutes before a midnight deadline, the Justice Department filed a stunning response to former President Donald Trump’s request for an independent review of the documents seized from his Florida home earlier this month. The 36-page document is chock-full of previously unknown information, providing an extensive timeline of how the government worked to recover classified material before the unprecedented search of Mar-a-Lago. It is the clearest and most detailed account yet offered of the steps taken before the search and forcefully rebuts attacks from Trump and his allies. It going so far to claim that “government records were likely concealed” from prosecutors and “efforts were likely taken to obstruct the government’s investigation.” The DOJ filing says Trump’s request for a special master “is unnecessary and would significantly harm important governmental interests,” dismissing it as an attempt to slow down the investigation. It also claims Trump has no standing to sue because the records belong to the government, not to him. And, notably, prosecutors placed a photo of some of the seized documents — strewn across a Mar-a-Lago carpet with their classified markings plain to see — into the public court record. Trump and his allies have claimed executive privilege over the documents, but prosecutors rejected that assertion — arguing that executive privilege is usually invoked to protect communications from the legislative or judicial branch, not within the executive branch itself. The prosecution team, led by DOJ counterintelligence chief Jay Bratt, also points out that Trump never once asserted executive privilege or declassified the documents prior to the search. Kara Tabor is an audio producer for POLITICO Audio. Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

As a policy issue, crime, like inflation and immigration, has consistently been a political vulnerability for Joe Biden and the Democrats. Republicans have seized on the national spike in murders — almost 30% in 2020, when, um, Trump was president —  the “defund the police” movement, and criminal justice reform policies pursued by unpopular progressive prosecutors who have faced a backlash even from liberals, such as San Francisco’s Chesa Boudin, who was recalled, and Los Angeles’s George Gascón, who recently dodged a similar effort. For more than a year, Biden has been on the defensive on these issues, tacking to the middle and adjusting his language. Now, suddenly, White House aides tell Playbook they believe Biden can play offense.  Today in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., Biden will not just defend his record and spotlight the recent bipartisan gun safety package he signed into law, he’ll attack the GOP as soft on crime — for its record on guns, its defense of Jan. 6 criminals, and, most interestingly, its recent response to the FBI search of Mar-a-Lago.  Kara Tabor is an audio producer for POLITICO Audio. Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

Today is launch day for the Space Launch System Rocket, which will push the Orion spacecraft on a trajectory to orbit the moon. It lifts off at 8:33 a.m. Eastern time from the ​​Kennedy Space Center in Florida. NASA TV’s stream of the enormous 30-story tall rocket is already live with a countdown clock. This is a big day for VP Kamala Harris. There have occasionally been snickers about the fact that the vice president chairs the administration’s National Space Council. Today the potential upside of that assignment will take center stage. If all goes well, in six days, the unmanned Orion capsule — which can accommodate four astronauts in future missions — will begin orbiting the moon from a distance of some 43,000 miles from the lunar surface. Kara Tabor is an audio producer for POLITICO Audio. Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

The deadline for the Justice Department to unseal a redacted version of the affidavit used to secure the FBI warrant for the Mar-a-Lago search is noon today (absent a last-minute appeal).  Kyle Cheney and Josh Gerstein: Judge Bruce Reinhart “emphasized that prosecutors had shown ‘good cause’ to redact elements of the affidavit that would reveal ‘the identities of witnesses, law enforcement agents, and uncharged parties,’ ‘the investigation’s strategy, direction, scope, sources, and methods’ and ‘grand jury information.’ And Victoria Guida joins from Jackson Hole, Wyo.: “Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell will face a room of economists and a world of observers as he aims to send a message that the central bank will not falter in its fight to bring down inflation. One bit of awkwardness that might make his task harder: Powell last year at the same conference predicted that price spikes were likely to be temporary. (They were not.)” Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

The Biden administration on Wednesday announced it was canceling up to $10,000 of student debt for millions of people and up to $20,000 of debt for low- and middle-income borrowers who previously received a Pell Grant. But Biden’s long-awaited plan to cancel some student debt, one of the most contentious issues dividing Democrats, has reignited the intra-party policy wars. Politico's education reporter Michael Stratford explains how deliberations went down and how it will play in the midterms.  Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

It’s time to adjust your expectations for November. For weeks, pundits have homed in on the special election in New York’s 19th Congressional District as a national bellwether. The seat is a true toss-up — one of those rare districts won by Barack Obama in 2012, Donald Trump in 2016 and Joe Biden in 2020 — and the national parties responded appropriately, sending in huge sums of money and organizational resources to win it.  The race would offer a trial run of the parties’ general election messages. Democrat Pat Ryan's “ads hammered on the need to elect a representative who would fight for abortion rights in the wake of the Supreme Court’s June decision undoing Roe v. Wade,” writes Bill Mahoney, while Republican Marc Molinaro's campaign “centered on crime and inflation.” Last night, Ryan defeated Molinaro. Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

Some of the year’s most consequential (and highly anticipated) primary battles will be decided tonight in two of the largest states in the country: New York and Florida. Sunshine State Democrats will settle on a nominee to take on Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis as his national star ascends. In one corner, there’s Charlie Crist, the current Democratic congressman and former Republican governor. In the other is state Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried. Politico's Florida Playbook author Gary Fineout joins the show from Florida to tell you what you need to know.  Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

It’s been a long time (months? years?) since we’ve seen national Democrats in such a good mood about their electoral chances. Over the last few weeks — amid a spate of legislative movement, falling gas prices, stumbling Republican Senate candidates and the sense of a growing backlash to efforts to restrict abortion — the fight for control of Congress seems to have tightened. Gone are the days when pundits confidently predicted a red tsunami. The latest NBC News poll — which still shows Republicans with a lead in the generic congressional ballot — had two data points that stuck out to us: 1. Democrats have almost eliminated the enthusiasm gap with Republicans. “According to the survey, 68% of Republicans express a high level of interest in the upcoming election … versus 66% for Democrats,” notes Mark Murray. “That 2-point GOP advantage is down from 17 points in March and 8 points in May.”  2. Voters ranked “threats to democracy” as a more important issue than cost of living. Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

Our colleagues have a pair of stories up this morning as election attention turns to the Empire State’s Tuesday primary. — “Want to know if a red wave is happening? Watch this special election next week,” by Ally Mutnick and Sarah Ferris. The race to succeed Democrat Antonio Delgado in New York’s 19th district next week will offer one of two signals about the 2022 election: It will either (1) preview the pain headed the Democratic Party’s way in November, or (2) provide powerful evidence that a Republican wave election is not in the offing. Ally and Sarah report from Woodstock, N.Y., that “both parties are dumping money into this Hudson Valley district to notch a short-lived but symbolic victory in the last competitive race before the midterms.” — “Maloney kicks NY-12 campaign into overdrive. But will it be enough?” by Sally Goldenberg and Georgia Rosenberg. Back in Manhattan, Rep. Carolyn Maloney is charging forward in a late push to keep up with fellow Rep. Jerry Nadler in the 12th district’s Democratic primary amid a surge in his support over recent weeks (he nabbed the endorsement of the NYT and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer). Listen to Playbook Deep Dive: Ron Klain says ‘season of substance’ could save Dems Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

Twelve weeks before the midterm elections, Republicans’ hopes of retaking the Senate rest on a slate of Donald Trump's hand-picked nominees. And, across the board, they appear to be struggling. In Pennsylvania, a ferocious Democratic campaign to paint Mehmet Oz as an out-of-touch carpetbagger has left him trailing in multiple polls. Herschel Walker may be a Georgia Bulldogs legend, but key voters appear to be doubting him after a series of gaffes and abuse allegations. The backing of Silicon Valley titan Peter Thiel hasn't yet been enough to sell Blake Masters' sharp-edged conservatism to Arizona voters.  Yes, it's still early. Yes, Democrats have been on a bit of a winning streak lately. And, yes, plenty is going to change before Nov. 8. But with only one competitive state (New Hampshire) yet to select its Senate nominee, the picture is clear: Democrats across the country are finding ways to run ahead — sometimes well ahead — of Joe Biden's approval ratings. Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

Rep. Liz Cheney is wasting no time beginning the next phase of her bid to prevent Donald Trump's return to office.  “In coming weeks, Liz will be launching an organization to educate the American people about the ongoing threat to our Republic, and to mobilize a unified effort to oppose any Donald Trump campaign for president,” Cheney spokesperson Jeremy Adler tells Playbook exclusively. The new group, which will serve as Cheney’s primary political vehicle as she considers whether to run for president in 2024, does not have an official name yet. An informed guess: The Great Task, which was the name of Cheney’s final ad of the campaign. The phrase is from the last sentence of the Gettysburg Address, and Cheney also referenced it in her concession speech from Jackson, Wyo., last night.  Cheney will be on NBC’s “Today Show” at 7 a.m. Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

When it comes to dealing with Donald Trump, plenty of Republicans have chosen sycophancy — backing him no matter what. Others pick their spots, delivering an occasional critique alongside heapings of praise. Others just keep their heads down and hope for the best. And then there’s Liz Cheney. A three-term congresswoman from the least populous state in the union, Cheney walked into Congress the same month that Trump walked into the Oval Office. During his presidency, she voted with Trump more than 90% of the time. Now she’s the Republican face of the anti-Trump movement, a position she has cemented as the vice chair of the Jan. 6 select committee, and it will likely cost Cheney her political career — at least for now.  Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

President Joe Biden and his entire administration are readying for a roadshow with a simple message: We did what we said we would do. The White House, looking to capitalize on his string of policy and political wins, is launching a travel and media blitz over the next few weeks as it looks to beat the historical midterm odds in less than three months.   The details of the victory lap were outlined in a White House memo from deputy chief of staff Jen O'Malley Dillon and senior adviser Anita Dunn to chief of staff Ron Klain, exclusively obtained by Playbook.  Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

Donald Trump will not oppose the Justice Department’s motion to unseal the search warrant approved by a federal court in West Palm Beach on August 5 and a partially redacted property receipt listing the items seized during the FBI search. (The redactions, according to the government, “remove the names of law enforcement personnel who executed the search,” which seems to indicate that they do not remove any information about the items seized.) Attorney General Merrick Garland announced the government’s filing Thursday afternoon at an unusual two-minute briefing at the Department of Justice. His reason for unsealing the documents? “The department filed the motion to make public the warrant and receipt in light of the former president’s public confirmation of the search, the surrounding circumstances, and the substantial public interest in this matter.” It seems likely that Garland would not have asked the court to make the warrant and property receipt public if Trump had not gone nuclear with his accusations that the attorney general and FBI had weaponized law enforcement against him. Garland, as many observers put it, called Trump’s bluff.  Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

There are two stories worth your time this morning: one about Donald Trump in the Wall Street Journal and one about Joe Biden in the Washington Post. They intersect with each other in a way that gets to the heart of the most profound question in American politics.  First: There’s a government informant inside Trump’s inner circle. (Awake now?)  That’s the takeaway from WSJ’s Alex Leary, Aruna Viswanatha and Sadie Gurman, who retell the tale of the Mar-a-Lago records caper with important new details. Second: The second story worthy of your time is Michael Scherer, Ashley Parker and Tyler Pager’s account of recent meetings between Joe Biden and a circle of policy, political and academic experts from outside the administration. The meetings follow Biden’s promise to do more outreach — to seek “more input, more information, more constructive criticism about what I should and shouldn’t be doing,” as he put it during a news conference in January. Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

It’s been two days since the FBI searched Trump’s Florida home, spurring loud calls for transparency at Justice. But Trump’s lawyers have the warrant and a detailed manifest of what the FBI took away. Why haven’t they been released? We asked Trump lawyer Christina Bobb, who was at Mar-a-Lago during the search, and will report back what we hear. Both Bobb and a second Trump lawyer, Lindsey Halligan, who was also present for the search, gave interviews on Tuesday and filled in some details. CBS News: “Halligan received a call at around 10 a.m. Monday that FBI agents were at Trump’s Palm Beach home, Mar-a-Lago, and they had a search warrant. She was the second Trump attorney to arrive on scene, at about 11 a.m, after the search had begun. Christina Bobb, who used to be a TV host on the far right OAN Network, was already there. “Over the next eight hours, Halligan said 30-40 FBI personnel conducted the search. There were a handful dressed in suits, but most wore t-shirts, cargo pants, masks and gloves. Halligan estimates 10-15 FBI vehicles went in and out of the property, including a Ryder truck. … Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

The news of the FBI search on Mar-a-Lago, the most aggressive law enforcement action ever taken against a former American president, broke last night in the most understated way imaginable. Peter Schorsch of FlordiaPolitics.com just tweeted it out: “Scoop — The Federal Bureau of Investigation @FBI today executed a search warrant at Mar-a-Lago, two sources confirm to @Fla_Pol.” (Not even an all caps “SCOOP!”) In an age where bragging about reportorial prowess is normal, Schorsch was charmingly humble: “Not sure what the search warrant was about. TBH, I’m not a strong enough reporter to hunt this down, but it’s real.” It was indeed real, as Donald Trump confirmed within the hour. “[M]y beautiful home, Mar-A-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, is currently under siege, raided, and occupied by a large group of FBI agents,” the former president said in a lengthy statement. “They even broke into my safe!” Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

We know readers love tick-tocks, those now-it-can-be-told accounts of what really went on that appear soon after a bill is safely passed. This morning, there are several good ones about how the Inflation Reduction Act made it through the Senate. Today's Playbook, written edition, chopped them up, rearranged them, added our own reporting, and, in what we hope is a recurring feature, present Playbook’s master narrative of how it all went down. But two pivotal dates jump out: July 15 and July 18. Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

New Jobs Report — The July unemployment report drops at 8:30 a.m. The economy added 372,000 jobs in June, and economists are predicting a gain of 250,000 jobs for July. Yesterday, the White House called the anticipated drop an expected “transition” from “record-high-breaking jobs numbers” to “stable and steady growth.”   Sinema on Board — Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) and Majority Leader Chuck Schumer reached a deal last night to secure her vote for the reconciliation bill. In the end, she wasn’t hard to get. Democrats wanted to raise $14 billion by narrowing the carried interest loophole. Sinema wanted the provision removed. Instead, Burgess Everett and Marianne Levine report, Democrats added “a new 1 percent excise tax on stock buybacks that will bring in $73 billion, far more than the $14 billion raised by the carried interest provision, according to a Democrat familiar with the deal.” What else she got: “The deal with Sinema also adds roughly $5 billion in drought resiliency to the bill, according to another person familiar, and changes portions of the corporate minimum tax structure to remove accelerated depreciation of investments from the agreement. That depreciation-related change will cost about $40 billion. All told, the agreement with Sinema is expected to increase the bill’s original $300 billion deficit reduction figure.” Listen to Playbook Deep Dive: Biden's big bill: Two GOP strategists on how to kill it Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

As the Senate moves onto the Inflation Reduction Act, bipartisanship is not in the cards. The two biggest obstacles remaining before Majority Leader Chuck Schumer can celebrate the best end of summer Labor Day party of his life are Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) and Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth McDonough. The latest reporting suggests that Sinema is eyeing three changes: — Burgess Everett and Marianne LeVine scooped yesterday that Sinema wanted to (1) nix the carried interest loophole pay-for, which represents less than 2% of the financing for the bill, and (2) add some $5 billion in drought resiliency funding. — WaPo’s Tony Romm and Jeff Stein add that Sinema also seems to be (3) questioning the bill’s corporate minimum tax, an idea she seemed to endorse last year, though “discussions are fluid” and her “exact requests are unclear.” Bloomberg and Axios also have similar stories with an equally cloudy picture of what exactly she wants to do on the corporate minimum tax. But everyone seems to agree she’s talking to a lot of Arizona business interests about the bill’s tax provisions. Meanwhile, Caitlin Emma and Marianne Levine report that there are at least four policies in the reconciliation bill that their sources believe could be vulnerable to a Byrd Rule challenge before MacDonough, who, as Senate Parliamentarian, is the second most powerful person in Washington (after Sinema) for the next week or so. Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

What a night. Millions of voters took to the polls yesterday, and the takeaways are many: the blocked political return of a scandal-plagued former governor, mixed results (once again) for former President Donald Trump, and primary defeats for two incumbent members of Congress seeking reelection. But the most surprising vote — and possibly most wide-reaching — wasn’t a race between two candidates; it came instead on one of the most divisive issues in American life: abortion rights.  In Kansas ... It marked the first time since the Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade that voters had a chance to directly weigh in on abortion rights. By a stunning, roughly 20-point margin, Kansas voters rejected a constitutional amendment that would have given state lawmakers the chance to either further restrict or ban abortions in the state. Turnout swelled — “approaching what’s typical for a fall election for governor,” per the AP — and the “no” vote did well not just in Democratic strongholds, but in conservative and rural areas, outperforming Joe Biden's 2020 vote share there.   Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi is scheduled to land in Taiwan today for a visit that the entire U.S. national security leadership advised her not to take.  Three developments overnight: — Asia stocks tanked: “Stocks across Asia dropped on Tuesday morning, as investors prepared for a potential economic fallout” from Pelosi’s trip, per the FT. — Chinese planes buzz median line: “China is ratcheting up military activity around Taiwan ahead of [Pelosi’s visit]. Several Chinese fighter jets flew close to the median line that divides the Taiwan Strait on Tuesday morning, according to a Taiwanese official briefed on the developments, in a reminder to Taipei that Beijing’s air force could reach the island in a matter of minutes. Military units across the People’s Liberation Army’s Southern Theatre Command, which is in charge of the South China Sea and some Taiwan-related missions, have entered a status of high alert, according to military officials in two neighbouring countries,” per the FT. — U.S. Navy deploys four warships east of Taiwan: “‘While they are able to respond to any eventuality, these are normal, routine deployments,’ [a U.S. Naval] official said, who spoke on the condition of anonymity,” reports Reuters. NYT’s Tom Friedman lays out an impassioned case against the trip: “Why Pelosi’s Visit to Taiwan Is Utterly Reckless.” His big argument, backed up with what seems like a significant scoop, is that Joe Biden has successfully restrained China from aiding Russia in its war with Ukraine, and Pelosi’s trip risks triggering confrontations with both countries: Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

This week, the bill that launched a whole lot of Joe Manchin Sunday show hits will be front and center as Democrats get ready to defend the “Inflation Reduction Act of 2022” (aka the reconciliation bill) as it is parsed by the Senate parliamentarian and gets teed up for a floor vote. But there are still a couple of important hurdles left to clear. And last week, Senate Republicans blocked the passage of the PACT Act, which would expand health care access to veterans exposed to burn pits. Their opposition has spurred swift and widespread backlash. There are a number of significant races being decided this week — including some marquee primaries for Senate and House. Politico's Natalie Allison explains what you should be paying attention to in Arizona and Missouri.  Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

 It’s Day 2 of the Manchin-Schumer deal that vastly expanded Biden’s shrunken legislative ambitions, boosted the morale of Democrats in difficult races and infuriated Congressional Republicans.  The White House is ending a week they had long been dreading because of the string of bad economic data they (correctly) anticipated, on a surprisingly high note. Listen to Playbook Deep Dive: Legalizing the trip: One ‘shroom advocate’s playbook Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

Last summer, Sen. Joe Manchin and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer signed a one-page agreement outlining the West Virginia Democrat’s red lines for a reconciliation bill. The date on that agreement? July 28, 2021. Today is July 28, 2022. One year later to the day, we’ve finally reached the moment many thought would never come: A Manchin-approved reconciliation bill — one he and Schumer brokered in secret after many thought any hope of a sweeping deal was dead — is on the Senate’s doorstep, and it includes provisions for climate change, tax hikes on corporations and health care subsidies.

When Donald Trump arrived in Washington five-plus years ago and delivered his inaugural address, he spoke of “American carnage” and used dark language (“rusted-out factories scattered like tombstones,” “disrepair and decay,” etc.) in previewing his first term as president. But that vision was positively sunny compared to the dark-as-Vantablack outlook he shared Tuesday at the America First Agenda Summit — the clearest articulation yet of his likely 2024 message. Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

All eyes will be on a pair of speeches today in Washington, one by the former president and one by the former vice president.  Mike Pence, whose scheduled speech yesterday at Heritage was scrapped due to travel issues, speaks at 9 a.m. at Young America's Foundation's National Conservative Student Conference. Stream it via YouTube Donald Trump speaks at 3:00 p.m. at the America First Agenda Summit. Stream it via C-SPAN Because this is Trump world, not only is there the already much-discussed drama of the Trump/Pence speech-off, but there’s new drama over Trump’s choice of venue. Former key Trump aide Peter Navarro is publicly asking Trump not to go forward with the event because he believes that the America First Policy Institute, which is hosting the summit, is insufficiently devoted to Trumpism — or at least what Navarro believes Trumpism to be in a piece headlined “Trump’s ‘Think Tank’ Prepares to Betray Him” for the MAGA-aligned online outlet American Greatness. Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

If there’s one thing the White House, economists and basically everyone who thinks about money can agree on, it’s that this is going to be a big week for economic news.  — On Tuesday, we get new consumer confidence numbers, a measure which has fallen for two consecutive months. Last month’s report showed the Consumer Confidence Index at its lowest level since February 2021 and the Expectations Index — “consumers’ short-term outlook for income, business, and labor market conditions,” per the Conference Board — at its lowest level since 2013. — On Wednesday, the Fed will meet and make a decision on just how much to raise interest rates. After the most recent inflation numbers, most observers expect a hike of .75 percentage points. That would be the fourth rate increase this year. — On Thursday, the GDP numbers for the second quarter will drop, and economists expect they’ll show a decline of 1% to 2%. It would be the second straight quarter of decline — which is often seen as signaling a recession.  And Playbook's Eugene Daniels chats with POLITICO White House Bureau Chief Jonathan Lemire about his newest book, "The Big Lie." Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.  

A year and a half later, and we are still learning new things about January 6 — and almost all of the revelations strengthen the case that the January 6 committee has been building about Donald Trump's (perhaps criminal) culpability that day. Merrick Garland  has a lot to think about after last night. Five moments will be etched in our minds from last night’s gripping primetime presentation... Listen to this week’s Playbook Deep Dive:  He was right about inflation. Biden wasn’t. Larry Summers on what’s coming next, Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

President Joe Biden travels to Wilkes-Barre, Pa., this afternoon to talk about crime, and the White House is announcing a new “Safer America Plan” that details how Biden would spend a previous congressional request for $37 billion to “support law enforcement and crime prevention.”  And the eighth public hearing of the Jan. 6 committee, though likely not the last, begins tonight at 8 p.m. Eastern. It’s expected to go on for about two hours and will focus on what Donald Trump did — or refused to do — for 187 minutes at the White House after his speech at the Ellipse and before he finally asked rioters to leave the Capitol. “The story we’re going to tell,” a committee aide said, “is that in that time, President Trump refused to act to defend the Capitol as a violent mob stormed” it. Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

About Last Night — “Trump wins proxy war with Hogan in Maryland primary — boosted by Democrats,” by Zach Montellaro In the Republican primary: Dan Cox, a state delegate “who has full-throatedly embraced [Donald] Trump's repeated falsehoods about fraud in the 2020 election, scored the former president a win in his fight with [Gov. Larry] Hogan,” defeating the Hogan-endorsed Kelly Schulz in the gubernatorial primary. In the Democratic primary: With mail ballots yet to be counted (Maryland state law prevents election officials from counting them until Thursday), it’s too early to call. As of this morning, author Wes Moore led the field, with former DNC Chair and Labor Secretary Tom Perez and state Comptroller ​​Peter Pranchot in striking distance.  Full results: Maryland statewide and Maryland congressional districts The View from Aspen — The place to be this week to really understand where the country is headed is 1,800 miles away from Washington: Aspen, Colorado, where Biden’s top national security officials — including his CIA director, national security adviser, and top officials from DOJ and Treasury — are gathering with a small cohort of journalists over the next four days for rare on-the-record sessions at the Aspen Security Forum. The full agenda can be found here. We asked Alex, author of POLITICO’s “National Security Daily” newsletter, to weigh in with the three big things he’ll be watching for this week. Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

Just one state holds its primaries today: Maryland. And it doesn’t lack for drama. In the gubernatorial Democratic primary, there’s a “total lack of clarity about who will be representing the party in November, after a lengthy primary distinguished by the failure of any candidate to break away from a nine-person field,” as our colleagues Brakkton Booker and Zach Montellaro write. The Republican primary is a proxy battle between moderate term-limited Gov. Larry Hogan and former President Donald Trump, who is eager to embarrass Hogan, his longtime critic. But here's what you should really watch — Maryland offers the latest example of a strategy that Dems have employed throughout the country: meddling in GOP primaries to get the general-election opponent they’d prefer, often boosting candidates further to the right who are aligned with Trump. Playbook’s video series “The Midterm View:"  Dems meddle in GOP primaries Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

The week's top three storylines to watch: 1. The Jan. 6 committee’s primetime (possible) finale: The panel will hold its eighth hearing Thursday night, using an 8 p.m. slot to explore what Trump did during the 187 minutes before he told his supporters rioting at the Capitol to go home. Will this actually be the committee’s final hearing?  2. Reconciliation in the Senate: On Thursday, the Senate parliamentarian is expected to have so-called Byrd bath arguments on Democrats’ plan to allow Medicare to negotiate drug prices. 3. The CHIPS/USICA showdown: Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is hoping to tee up a floor vote as soon as Tuesday “to begin the process to move forward a limited competition bill that would include — at a minimum — the emergency funding for CHIPS,” per Schumer’s office. Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

Late Thursday night, Sen. Joe Manchin effectively killed any chance of major climate-related provisions making their way into Democrats’ reconciliation package. The West Virginian told party leaders that “he would not support an economic package that contains new spending on climate change or includes new tax increases targeting wealthy Americans or corporations,” WaPo’s Tony Romm and Jeff Stein were first to report, “marking a massive setback for party lawmakers who had hoped to advance a central element of their agenda before the midterm elections this fall.” What else he said: “Manchin told Democratic leaders he was open to changing federal laws that might lower prescription drugs costs for seniors… And the West Virginia moderate expressed support … for extended subsidies that will help keep health insurance costs down for millions of Americans for the next two years…” Listen to Playbook Deep Dive: LA wants to recall its most progressive prosecutor. Inside the DA’s hostile office. Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

Inflation hit a 41-year high on Tuesday, as the consumer price index accelerated to 9.1% in June. More from WSJ That, in turn, affects what might be Biden’s last, best shot at a deal on reconciliation. Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) said the new numbers make him “more cautious than I’ve ever been” in reconciliation talks, he told reporters. “Everything needs to be scrubbed, anything that can be inflationary.” AP’s Alan Fram: “It was unclear what impact Manchin’s comments would have on his closed-door talks with Schumer, which have shown progress lately. But they suggested he believed the day’s inflation report strengthened his leverage in that bargaining and, beyond that, in winning enough Democratic votes to push any agreement through the tightly divided Congress.”  Which brings us to an emerging source of anxiety for Dems in negotiations: Taxes. Democrats have long campaigned on raising tax rates on the wealthiest Americans and large corporations — and Manchin himself wants to use reconciliation to revisit the issue in the context of deficit reduction. But now, Dems are agonizing over the potential political pitfalls that come with raising taxes in an election year, as Burgess Everett and Sarah Ferris write this morning. Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

Clip of the day — CNN’s coverage of Tuesday’s Jan. 6 committee hearing gave way to one of the more surreal exchanges we’ve seen on cable news, as Jake Tapper and former national security adviser John Bolton discussed some Jan. 6 participants’ attempts to overthrow the government: Tapper: “One doesn’t have to be brilliant to attempt a coup.” Bolton: “I disagree with that. As somebody who has helped plan coups d’etat — not here, but other places — it takes a lot of work.” About that hearing — Tuesday’s hearing was cut into two different parts: Donald Trump's call to action, and his supporters’ response.  Pieced together, they amount to this: The members of the Jan. 6 panel “are laying out an unmistakable map to a potential criminal case against the former president,” as Kyle Cheney and Nicholas Wu write. .

Today at 1 p.m. Eastern, the House Jan. 6 committee “plans to make its most complex case yet,” write Nicholas Wu and Kyle Cheney: “that Donald Trump's words and actions influenced extremists and brought them to the steps of the Capitol.” Central to that case is Trump’s tweet on Dec. 19, 2020: “Big protest in D.C. on January 6th. Be there, will be wild!”  Rep. Stephanie Murphy's (D-Fla.) described that tweet as a “clarion call” to members of the far-right Proud Boys and Oath Keepers. “We’ll show you how they began to organize around that date,” she said in an interview. Doing so, Nick and Kyle write, “will require investigators to delve into the sordid world of internet extremism and specifically lay out how Trump’s words rippled through its corners.”  Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

Breaking — Kyle Cheney: “Former President Donald Trump’s attorney Justin Clark interviewed with federal investigators two weeks ago, the Justice Department revealed in a court filing early Monday morning, a significant development that could reverberate in multiple investigations facing Trump’s inner circle.” Siren for House Dems — “House GOP marches into deeper blue terrain as Dem prospects fade,” by Ally Mutnick and Sarah Ferris. Siren for Senate Repubs — “Candidate challenges, primary scars have GOP worried about Senate chances,” by WaPo’s Michael Scherer, Colby Itkowitz and Josh Dawsey. Siren for Biden — “Most Democrats Don’t Want Biden in 2024, New Poll Shows,” by NYT’s Shane Goldmacher. Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

Breaking Overnight — Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was shot and killed during a campaign speech Friday in western Japan. He was 67. And, Chuck Schumer made a couple of new moves in his effort to advance two pieces of legislation tangled in political knots. Recall that Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell recently tweeted, “There will be no bipartisan USICA as long as Democrats are pursuing a partisan reconciliation bill.” USICA, the United States Innovation and Competition Act, is the industrial policy legislation that would shower the semiconductor industry with $52 billion of incentives to ramp up chip-making in America. China hawks like the bill because it makes the U.S. less reliant on Chinese imports. The Biden administration hails it as a policy that will strengthen the supply chain, boost domestic manufacturing, and “help us outcompete China.” The new reconciliation bill being negotiated by Schumer and Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), who tanked the last one in December, has been inching along. Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

Last year, the White House convened a bipartisan commission of legal experts and academics to study the Supreme Court and make recommendations on whether (and how) to reform it. The resulting recommendations were fairly moderate in scope, focusing on matters of transparency and ethics. And in the eyes of some progressives agitating for major changes to the judiciary, one big recommendation was noticeably absent: court packing.  Now, a growing number of critics on the left say that President JOE BIDEN, who remains opposed to adding seats to the court, is — sound familiar? — failing to meet the moment and respond with the urgency it demands. (Just published: Playbook's Eugene Daniels’ new story on this topic) Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

Is President Joe Biden meeting the moment? That’s the question driving the political zeitgeist as some of the loudest members of the Democratic Party vent their frustrations to major news outlets. The gist of their complaints: Biden (and Democrats) need a vibe shift — fast. They want the president to reflect their anger and angst. They want him to project strength and that he has a plan for meaningful action. They want him to pick fights at the right time with the right opponents, messaging on themes that get reinforced time and again.  And they feel all of this is missing from the White House right now. Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

First in Playbook — Playbook has obtained a trailer for Alex Holder's “Unprecedented,” the British filmmaker’s upcoming Discovery+ docuseries about the Trump family. The two-minute-plus trailer, which you can watch here, was included among the hours of footage that Holder turned over to the House Jan. 6 committee under subpoena. (Holder gave testimony to the committee behind closed doors on June 23.) The new video highlights Holder’s unique access to the former president and his family, and includes unseen footage of Donald Trump, Donald Trump Jr., Eric Trump, Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner, each of whom is shown in outtakes from their sitdown interviews. Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

If you want to get a full sense of why so many Democrats seem to be frustrated with President Joe Biden at the moment, here’s one piece you need to read: “Is Biden a Man Out of Time?” by The Atlantic’s Ronald Brownstein. Whether the specific issue is abortion rights, court reform, voting rights, the filibuster, or the DOJ’s investigation into Donald Trump's attempts to overturn the 2020 election, “[m]any Democrats share a sense that … Biden and his team have been following, not leading. And that tendency points to an enduring question about Biden, who was first elected to the Senate in 1972 and was shaped by a clubbier, more cooperative Washington. Can he be the inspirational leader his party needs to counter the aggressive moves by Republicans in Congress and in the states, together with their appointees on the Supreme Court, to reverse long-held civil rights and even threaten democracy itself?”  Listen to  POLITICO Playbook Deep Dive:  Why haven’t there been more Cassidy Hutchinsons? Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

Some new 2024 twists for both parties:  First the Dems… VP Kamala Harris did something unusual on Wednesday afternoon: Before taking off from D.C. to California, where she will headline three fundraisers today, she went to the back of the plane to talk to the press. White House aides told the pool reporter on board that Harris wanted to clarify some comments she made to CNN’s Dana Bash on Monday. "Joe Biden is running for reelection, and I will be his ticket mate," Harris told Bash. "Full stop." Not quite.  The Republicans… Meanwhile, the 2024 conversation on the Republican side is being fueled by three recent Trump developments... - His spotty record in GOP primaries this year. - The rise of Florida Gov. RON DESANTIS. - The devastating details about his efforts to overturn the 2020 election unearthed by the Jan. 6 committee. Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

It’s hard to imagine how Tuesday’s surprise hearing of the House Jan. 6 committee could’ve been more damning for President Donald Trump. With vivid stories told in measured tones, Cassidy Hutchinson, a former special assistant to the president and aide to chief of staff Mark Meadows, “stitched together every element of the panel’s case against Donald Trump,” our Kyle Cheney and Nicholas Wu write. “The Capitol riot committee has painted the former president’s potential criminal culpability for his effort to overturn the election in stark hues: investigators have portrayed Trump fuming atop an increasingly conspiracy-addled West Wing and working to corrupt the peaceful transfer of power at any cost.” Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

On Monday afternoon, the House Jan. 6 committee, which was supposed to be on a hiatus for the next two weeks, abruptly announced it would be holding a hearing today at 1 p.m. “to present recently obtained evidence and receive witness testimony.”  The star witness is expected to be Cassidy Hutchinson, a former executive assistant to ex-chief of staff Mark Meadows who has testified three times behind closed doors, in February, March and May. Hutchinson knows a lot. Before, on, and after Jan. 6, she had close proximity to both Meadows and then-President Donald Trump. “Almost all, if not all, meetings Mr. Trump had, I had insight on,” she told the committee in March. Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

The Biden White House’s plan for this week, as of one week ago: Spend the end of June focusing on foreign policy, making use of a pair of European summits (the G-7 and NATO) to rally support for the hard-fought international coalition that formed in opposition to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The Biden White House’s plan for this week, as of now: Scrap that. Yes, the summits will go on but the big story will be the aftermath of the Supreme Court’s decision overturning Roe v. Wade — which eliminated the right to an abortion, and may have dramatically changed American politics in doing so. Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

On Thursday night, the Senate passed a bipartisan gun safety bill in a 65-33 vote that saw 15 Republicans join all 50 Democrats to support the bill. — How it happened: “In a Washington run by Baby Boomers and octogenarians, it took two 40-something Democrats with a yin-and-yang approach to get a gun safety deal done,” Burgess Everett and Marianne LeVine write in a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the compromise. Listen to Playbook Deep Dive: New Jan. 6 witness: Trump had mystery call with Putin Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

Recall that in the first hearing of the Jan. 6 committee, Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) said, “Donald Trump oversaw and coordinated a sophisticated seven-part plan to overturn the presidential election and prevent the transfer of presidential power.” Each day of hearings has been devoted to covering one or two of the seven dramatic episodes of that overall plot: (1) Trump’s misinformation campaign, (2) his effort to find a pliable A.G., (3) his pressure campaign on then-VP Mike Pence, (4) his pressure campaign on state officials, (5) his legal team’s effort to create fake slates of electors, (6) his assembling and directing the Jan. 6 mob, and (7) his refusal to call off the violent mob as it sacked the Capitol. Today is devoted to Part 2, a deep dive into how Trump pressured Department of Justice officials to advance what committee members have repeatedly called an attempted coup. Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

Since we scooped on Tuesday morning that documentarian Alex Holder was subpoenaed by the House Jan. 6 committee seeking previously unreported footage he recorded over several months of full access to Donald Trump, his adult kids and VP Mike Pence, more details have emerged about what’s on the tapes.  And, Trump loses bigly in Georgia: “Georgia Republican voters rebuked Donald Trump for the second time in a month Tuesday by rejecting his picks for a pair of open U.S. House seats,” writes AJC’s Greg Bluestein. Gordon Rhoden, chair of Georgia’s Athens-Clarke County GOP: “At this point in time, the Trump endorsement is neutral. It’s not a plus and it’s not a negative. … People are moving beyond that.”

Scoop: The House select committee investigating Jan. 6 sent a subpoena last week to Alex Holder, a documentary filmmaker who was granted extensive access to President Donald Trump and his inner circle, and who shot interviews with the then-president both before and after Jan. 6. The existence of this footage is previously unreported. A source familiar with the project told Playbook on Monday night that Holder began filming on the campaign trail in September 2020 for a project on Trump’s reelection campaign. Over the course of several months, Holder had substantial access to Trump, Trump’s adult children and VP Mike Pence, both in the White House and on the campaign trail. Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

President Joe Biden spoke to the AP’s Josh Boak in the Oval Office Thursday afternoon for 30 minutes. There was plenty of old-school Biden filibustering that ate up Boak’s time. He talked about his desire “to grow the economy from the bottom up and the middle out.” He used the word “literally” at a rate of once every 10 minutes, and peppered his answers with assurances that he was “not being a wise guy,” that what he was saying was “not a joke,” and introduced one point with the words “here’s the deal.” But there were also some intriguing moments … Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

Today’s Jan. 6 committee hearing is going to be one for the history books, so tune in at 1 p.m. On Wednesday night, we caught up with today’s star witness, Michael Luttig. “America is at war with herself,” he will say. “One war is for the cultural heart and soul of America. The other is a war over America’s democracy.” He will say that “both of these wars must end in peace if America is to go forward.” Today, Luttig is appearing as a fact witness because of his role in the leadup to Jan. 6, when Luttig told then-VP Mike Pence to ignore the advice of John Eastman, a former Luttig clerk who hatched the scheme to persuade Pence to overturn the results of the 2020 election by rejecting electoral votes from states former President Donald Trump lost.  Luttig first told the full story of his role on that day in our “Playbook Deep Dive” podcast in February. But what he is planning to talk about today goes beyond his views of the Electoral Count Act and his gripping account of his role on Jan. 6. Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

Here’s everything you need to know about Tuesday’s elections, which included primaries in four states (Maine, Nevada, North Dakota and South Carolina) and a special election in Texas. — Republicans can survive crossing Trump, but rarely can they survive being anti-Trump — Republicans continue to make major inroads with Hispanics, especially in border areas of Texas … — 2020 election deniers are winning everywhere … Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

It’s a Tuesday in 2022, which means it’s time for yet another stop in Donald Trump's post-presidency revenge tour against incumbent Republicans he thinks have wronged him.  Today will see two high-profile GOP primaries in South Carolina, where Reps. Tom Rice and Nancy Mace face Trump-backed opponents.  Though there are similarities between the two — Rice was one of the 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach Trump after the Jan. 6 insurrection, while Mace, a freshman then on her third day in Congress, went on TV to slam Trump for lying about the 2020 election — today will be a case study in the divergent tactics the two have taken in responding to Trump’s attacks, as NYT’s Maya King noted Monday Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

Just before 2:30 a.m. on Nov. 4, 2020, then-President Donald Trump went before a group of supporters at the White House and prematurely declared victory over Joe Biden in an election he ultimately lost. Today at 10 a.m., that moment — and the avalanche of lies about the election that followed — will be front and center as the House committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack (1) highlights the origins of the “Big Lie” about the 2020 election, (2) shows how it spread and (3) attempts to prove that in the weeks and months following Election Day, even as Trump continued to falsely claim that he’d actually won, he privately knew he’d lost — and that his public insistence otherwise led to the insurrection. Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

The Jan. 6 investigation can sometimes seem sprawling and complicated. The story of that day is filled with weird groups, conspiracy-minded lawyers, and fringe characters. Oath Keepers and Proud Boys. John Eastman and Sidney Powell. The “QAnon Shaman” and “caveman rioter.” The big message from the first public hearing of the Jan. 6 committee was that it’s a lot simpler than all of that. It’s really about one person: Donald Trump. Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

At 8 p.m., the House Select Committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack plans to start unveiling the most complete and visceral dissection to date of the mob of Donald Trump supporters who stormed the U.S. Capitol in an attempt to overthrow the results of a democratic election. Drawing on months of interviews and thousands of documents, the committee has thus far kept most of its findings close to its vest — so we expect a lot of new information and some of the most terrifying video from that day that hasn’t been shown to the public yet. As one committee aide told reporters in a background call on Wednesday, they see their job as showing “that the violence of Jan. 6 was the result of a coordinated, multistep effort to overturn the results of the 2020 election and stop the transfer of power from Donald Trump to Joe Biden.” Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

Seven states held elections on Tuesday. We stayed up overnight as the returns from California continued to roll in, and we have the key takeaways for you: — Five of the 35 House Republicans who voted to establish a Jan. 6 Commission faced primaries on Tuesday. Trump vowed to exact revenge on all of them. How’d they fare? — A bad night for progressives in two big California cities facing upticks in crime… — Political dynasties are alive and well in New Jersey… Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

Today, seven states hold primaries: Iowa, Mississippi, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, South Dakota and California. What should you be watching for? The day’s biggest news will likely come from the Golden State, where voters are poised to make major statements about the directions of their respective parties. Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

The Senate is back today, with all eyes on whether 10 Republican votes materialize for a gun legislation deal. … On Tuesday, it’s primary day in California, Iowa, Mississippi, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico and South Dakota. … On Wednesday, President Joe Biden heads to L.A. to host the Summit of the Americas. … On Thursday, the House Jan. 6 committee holds a hearing on its investigation of the attack on the U.S. Capitol. … On Friday, the next big Consumer Price Index report is released. And Jonathan Lemire goes deep inside the Biden White House to bring back this juicy report detailing frustrations at the top and sinking morale throughout the building. Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

Three key leaders who are committed to firearms legislation in the wake of a string of horrific massacres spoke Thursday about what they want in a bill.  In the House, Speaker Nancy Pelosi blessed the “Protecting Our Kids Act,” which passed out of the Judiciary Committee after a raucous markup that included one Republican member, Greg Steube (Fla.), appearing via Zoom while brandishing his Sig Sauer handgun to make a point about high-capacity magazine bans. In the Senate, John Cornyn (Texas), the lead GOP senator tasked by Minority Leader Mitch McConnell to strike a bipartisan deal on gun legislation, spoke to our Marianne LeVine about the state of the talks. At the White House at the end of the day, Biden made a rare primetime address to talk about the recent massacres and urge Congress to act. Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

The Washington Post’s David Ignatius reported this week that President Joe Biden will sit down with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman during a trip to the region later in June.  The White House’s thinking here is pretty straightforward. The president has a gargantuan domestic political liability — high gas prices — that Saudi Arabia is in a position to help with. Combine that with the international political realities — MBS is young and will likely lead the kingdom for decades, the West needs new sources of oil given Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and Saudi Arabia’s role as a regional power — and you have the makings of a rapprochement. In a letter obtained exclusively by Playbook and being sent to Biden today, 9/11 Families United is demanding Biden bring up “accountability for 9/11 in any conversations” he has with MBS. If Biden doesn’t, the family members write, “it would signal to the world that you are willing to indulge years more of Saudi obfuscation and obstruction, and that America prioritizes the interests of foreign powers and economics more than the lives of its citizenry.” Read the letter Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

Heidi Przybyla has an enormously important and carefully reported article for POLITICO that just went live: “‘It’s going to be an army’: Tapes reveal GOP plan to contest elections” Przybyla obtained video recordings of GOP operatives assembling a disturbing multipronged network of party loyalists that could cause chaos on Election Day. She documents evidence of four different networks being created: 1. Poll workers steeped in 2020 election fraud conspiracy theories who are being trained to contest votes, especially in Democrat-heavy areas. 2. GOP lawyers who the poll workers can quickly connect with to document alleged voter fraud. 3. “Party-friendly district attorneys who could intervene to block vote counts at certain precincts.” 4. “Installing party loyalists on the Board of Canvassers, which is responsible for certifying the election, also appears to be part of the GOP strategy.” Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.  

The Biden White House is rolling out a new monthlong economic campaign today to try to “communicate on our accomplishments to date on the economy,” according to a White House official. President Joe Biden's kicked off the effort with a WSJ op-ed that posted Monday evening, in which he boasted that his “administration’s economic and vaccination plans helped achieve the most robust recovery in modern history.” But Biden’s desire to turn June into an inflection point for his trajectory has some serious challenges. Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

They’re the Senate GOP’s two favorite Democrats: West Virginia’s Joe Manchin and Arizona’s Kyrsten Sinema. They worked with Republicans to craft a massive bipartisan infrastructure deal and to save the filibuster — and now, “​​Republicans acknowledge that because Manchin and Sinema preserved the filibuster, they need to at least listen to Democrats who are desperate for an agreement to reduce gun violence,” Burgess Everett and Marianne LeVine report. — Manchin, asked if he can get 10 GOP votes, per the Hill pool: “​​I don’t know why you wouldn’t have 70 or 80, my goodness. … This is about basically protecting children. If they can’t rise to that, they ought to deep, deep dig inside and find out why in the heck we’re here.” Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

Speaking from the White House, President Joe Biden reflected on the shooting and called for new gun restrictions without identifying any specific proposals. “While they clearly will not prevent every tragedy, we know certain ones will have significant impact and have no negative impact on the Second Amendment,” Biden said. “The Second Amendment is not absolute.” More from CBS So what, realistically, will Washington do? And we have a new POLITICO/Morning Consult poll conducted entirely after the shooting in Uvalde, offering a snapshot of the mood of American voters at this moment in time, and where they stand on a variety of gun reform proposals (Toplines … Crosstabs). Here’s a rundown of what we found... Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

Tuesday night’s primaries brought some major news:  Former President Donald Trump suffered embarrassing defeats in Georgia (A must-read from Alex Isenstadt: “‘We’re going to go f---ing scorched-earth’: How Brian Kemp crushed Trump in Georgia”) … Rep. Mo Brooks mounted a successful comeback and is now headed to the Alabama Senate runoff despite losing Trump’s endorsement … And Rep. Henry Cuellar's narrow lead over Jessica Cisneros means she could request a recount in the Democrats’ most-watched House primary, though Cuellar declared victory Tuesday night. … Five key takeaways from Tuesday night, by David Siders, Adam Wren and Ally Mutnick And will this time be any different? At least 19 elementary school-aged children and two adults are dead at the hands of an 18-year-old gunman in Texas. And once again, the nation is mourning the loss of precious lives. But in Washington, there is a serious question of not just whether lawmakers will do anything about gun safety following the latest mass shooting — but whether they will even try. Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

Another Tuesday, another massive set of primaries that will test Trump’s grip on the GOP.  Today’s most-watched state: Georgia. For the former president, the stakes could not be higher. In the gubernatorial primary, Gov. Brian Kemp faces former Sen. David Perdue. Trump — who partly blames Kemp for his loss of the state in 2020 — has bet bigly on Perdue. He recruited him to run and sunk $2.5 million of his own campaign cash into Perdue’s effort. And yet, according to the RealClearPolitics polling average, Kemp leads Perdue by an average of 22 points. “The Republican base is poised to take a turn delivering Trump a stinging rebuke in a state where, during his presidency, the GOP lost two Senate seats, two House seats and the state’s Electoral College votes for the first time since the mid-1990s,” Steve Shepard writes in his curtain-raiser this morning.

A president’s first midterm election is both an enormous story and completely anticlimactic. It’s major news because there will likely be a dramatic shift away from the president’s party. It’s anticlimactic because it’s one of the most predictable events in American politics. But history is not on Biden’s side. In fact, voters may have already made up their minds.  That, at least, is the argument from Doug Sosnik in his latest memo that we are happy to share first with the Playbook audience. You can read the full memo here Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

Trump’s endorsement losses are starting to pile up. Most of his endorsements have been in races where his anointed candidate faced little or no competition. Nobody would be impressed by a handicapper who won placing bets at a track featuring races with only one horse.  The only Trump endorsements that matter are in competitive races. And there, the record is mixed. Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

With Memorial Day recess around the corner and much of President Joe Biden's agenda still stuck on Capitol Hill, a sense of helplessness has settled in among some Democrats: The closer they inch toward Election Day, they realize, the more unlikely they are to notch any additional legislative victories. And yet, voters are angry and demanding action now. Just look at this quote from No. 2 Senate Democrat Dick Durbin in a Burgess Everett story up this morning on the ongoing reconciliation talks between Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.): “I put so much time into immigration on reconciliation. It took a year of my legislative life. I have nothing to show for it.” He continued: “I wish Chuck well on reconciliation. I’m going to focus my legislative efforts in the 60-vote world.” So what's a vulnerable Democrat to do? Dems in swing districts have been asking this very question for months now. Here are a few strategies Hill Democrats seem to be employing to protect themselves politically... Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

Sixteen months after Donald Trump supporters stormed Capitol Hill to try to stop the certification of Joe Biden as president, a prominent election denier in Pennsylvania inched closer to becoming the next governor of Pennsylvania. State Sen. Doug Mastriano — who attended and helped organize for the “Stop the Steal” rally, has called for audits of Keystone State votes and has been subpoenaed by the House Jan. 6 panel — clinched the GOP gubernatorial nomination. If he wins this fall, he’ll be in a position to nominate the next Pennsylvania secretary of state, a position that oversees elections in the key presidential battleground state. And, one week after catapulting J.D. Vance to victory in Ohio, Trump had a somewhat decent night, though the verdict on perhaps his biggest gamble — supporting Mehmet Oz in Pennsylvania’s tight Senate primary — is still out. Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

Today is one of the most consequential primary days of the year, with nominating contests in five states — Idaho, Kentucky, North Carolina, Oregon and Pennsylvania — that will tell us a great deal about the direction of the two parties.  There are three major storylines that continue to dominate the 2022 primary season: 1. Donald Trump's grip on the GOP 2. Progressive challenges to Biden-like Democratic centrists 3. The rise of anti-democratic and extremist candidates All three storylines collide in today’s most-watched state: Pennsylvania. Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

Russia has faced a dizzying series of setbacks in its war with Ukraine over the last week: - Sweden and Finland are being fast-tracked into NATO membership, which means Russia will soon share an 810-mile border with NATO. More from NYT - Ukrainian troops pushed the Russians from the outskirts of Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second largest city, and are now approaching the Russian border. Latest from Reuters - Russia suffered “catastrophic” losses during a failed river crossing on May 11, according to The Institute for the Study of War, which notes that “the military incompetence displayed in that crossing have shaken the confidence” of influential Russian military bloggers. - The UK Ministry of Defense said that the Russian offensive in the eastern Donbas region, the focus of Russian firepower since its retreat from Kyiv, has “lost momentum and fallen significantly behind schedule.” The Brits also claimed that Putin has lost one-third of the troops he sent into Ukraine since the start of the February invasion. On Sunday, Jens Stoltenberg, NATO’s secretary general, summed up the implications of these developments: “Ukraine can win this war.” And that is exactly the problem according to a growing number of western officials and analysts who fear the fallout from what French President Emmanuel Macron called the “humiliation” of Russia. Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

When GOP Rep. Liz Cheney decided to risk everything politically and serve on Nancy Pelosi's newly created Jan. 6 investigative panel in the spring of last year, she made something of a vow to herself, according to people close with the Wyoming Republican: She would follow the facts wherever they went, and privately press for the panel to leave no stone unturned to get to the truth of the siege of the Capitol.  No half-baked probes. No shrinking away from key witnesses, as Democrats had done in their past impeachments of Donald Trump. If she was going to do this, she was going to go all the way — even as some members of the panel, we heard back then, didn’t even want to investigate Trump’s actions that day. On Thursday, Washington saw the latest fruits of Cheney’s labor, when the Jan. 6 committee shocked This Town and subpoenaed five House GOP lawmakers to testify — including the likely next speaker of the House, Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.). Well-placed sources tell us that Cheney — who was booted from her post as No. 3 Republican in the House one year to the day before the subpoenas were issued — was among those pressing hardest for this move, arguing that these GOP members had relevant information and they couldn’t just let them skirt without questioning. Listen to Playbook Deep Dive: ‘He absolutely betrayed me’: Steve Schmidt tells all about John McCain Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.  

This week was another reminder that while Democrats “control” the Senate, they don’t actually control the Senate. - Covid relief was cut from the Ukraine aid bill. - A national law to codify abortion protections — should the Supreme Court overturn Roe v. Wade — came nowhere close to the 60 votes needed to advance it. And the 50 votes it would take to nuke the filibuster and pass the abortion rights law are also unavailable to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. More from Alice Miranda Ollstein and Marianne LeVine If there are serious negotiations underway to pass a Build Back Better 2.0 in advance of the midterms, they are a well-kept secret. Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio

Former President Donald Trump goes 1-for-2 on primary day in Nebraska and West Virginia.  And new reporting from inside the Supreme Court, via Josh Gerstein, Alexander Ward and Ryan, as the nine justices are set to gather Thursday for the first time since POLITICO published the draft opinion overturning Roe: “Justice Samuel Alito's sweeping and blunt draft majority opinion from February overturning Roe remains the court’s only circulated draft in the pending Mississippi abortion case, POLITICO has learned, and none of the conservative justices who initially sided with Alito have to date switched their votes. No dissenting draft opinions have circulated from any justice, including the three liberals. Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

PRIMARY DAY: WHAT TO WATCH FOR — West Virginia and Nebraska hold primaries today. Like last week’s contests in Ohio, the action is mostly on the Republican side, and the main drama is about former President DONALD TRUMP. WEST VIRGINIA: Two GOP incumbents, Reps. ALEX MOONEY and DAVID MCKINLEY,  are facing each other in a congressional primary because the state lost a seat after redistricting. NEBRASKA: CHARLES HERBSTER, JIM PILLEN and state Sen. BRETT LINDSTROM are the three top GOP primary candidates running to replace the term-limited governor, PETE RICKETTS. The national implications of the race revolve mostly around Trump’s endorsement of Herbster, who has been accused of sexual assault by eight different women. Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Kara Tabor hosted this episode of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

Happy Monday. Get ready for yet another week dominated by the debate over abortion rights, as the impending decision expected to overturn Roe v. Wade sucks up all the oxygen in Washington.  Two major storylines to watch this week, as Democrats gear up to go on offense: 1) Senate tees up abortion vote — Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is expected to file cloture today on a bill by Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) that would enshrine a statutory right to abortion nationwide. 2) Democrats seize on McConnell's national abortion ban remarks — Democratic strategists are salivating over comments Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell made in a USA Today interview that published Saturday. Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.  

Overturning Roe v. Wade would be the culmination of  former president Donald Trump’s bid to remake the judiciary — the very reason that many social conservatives held their noses and voted for him in 2016.  But Trump, “never one to shy away from taking credit for accomplishments, real or imagined, has yet to crow about the majority draft opinion,” our colleagues Meridith McGraw and Jonathan Lemire report. He’s addressed it only “when asked in interviews.” Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

J.D. Vance owes his GOP Senate primary victory in Ohio to two people: Donald Trump and Peter Thiel. Trump’s endorsement put him over the top in a crowded primary, while Thiel’s support — funneled through a super PAC called Protect Ohio Values (aka POV) — enabled Vance to outsource many traditional campaign operations, including polling, advertising, GOTV and, it turns out, opposition research. One big problem with letting a super PAC do everything: Campaign finance law prohibits communication between a candidate’s own committee and a super PAC supporting them. But there are ways around that obstacle.  As Alex Isenstadt detailed Tuesday in a fascinating tick-tock of the Ohio race, POV set up an unadvertised-but-public Medium account, where it posted a trove of sensitive documents, polling reports, audio and video for Vance to use. Some of the files are boring, such as b-roll footage the Vance camp could include in ads. But the group also posted extensive opposition research reports — on both his primary opponents and Vance himself. Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

On her first day back in public since testing positive for the coronavirus last week, VP Kamala Harris spoke to a crowd of abortion rights supporters at the EMILY’s List conference Tuesday evening. Her speech, scheduled long in advance, had to be completely rewritten for obvious reasons. Harris gave a preview of how the administration hopes to frame the debate moving forward — channeling its supporters’ outrage while pitching the midterm election as a choice between two very different views of abortion rights. In the wake of the news about the draft opinion overturning Roe, a new POLITICO/Morning Consult poll reveals that a clear majority of voters want the court to support abortion rights. Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

In his own words: “We hold that Roe and Casey must be overruled. The Constitution makes no reference to abortion, and no such right is implicitly protected by any constitutional provision, including the one on which the defenders of Roe and Casey now chiefly rely — the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.” Thus begins Justice Samuel Alito's February draft opinion that would end the constitutional right to an abortion in America, obtained exclusively by POLITICO’s Josh Gerstein and Alexander Ward. We knew this was coming. Ever since last December’s oral arguments in the Mississippi abortion case, it seemed likely that there was a majority on the court to overrule Roe and Casey. But while not a surprise, it was still shocking to see Alito’s words in black and white. The draft opinion, if it holds, would be the culmination of half a century of legal conservatives organizing around the idea that Roe was wrongly decided and needed to be reversed. Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

It’s May 2, just over six months until the midterm elections, which are generally a referendum on the president’s performance. President Joe Biden is in rough shape. Let’s look at how it happened, and how he hopes to prevent a wipeout … How they got here: As early as April 2021, John Anzalone — Biden’s top pollster — saw the writing on the wall. In a series of memos over the ensuing months, he tried to warn the president about the growing liabilities posed by immigration, inflation and crime, report NYT’s Zolan Kanno-Youngs, Jonathan Martin and Alexander Burns. Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

Most of the candidates chasing Ohio’s GOP Senate nomination have pledged allegiance to Donald Trump and beaten a path to Mar-a-Lago. But not state Sen. Matt Dolan. Instead, he’s poured millions of his own fortune into a run as a traditional conservative. Now, “days before the May 3 primary, Dolan appears to be experiencing a late burst of momentum,” Natalie Allison reports. Listen to Playbook Deep Dive: Beltway, stars want an invite: How Tammy throws brunch Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

The enormous gap between the excitement in Washington about the return of the WHCA weekend and the ongoing anxiety of voters hit us hard this week as we watched focus groups of voters conducted by longtime Democratic pollster Celinda Lake. On Tuesday night, Lake talked to a group of “high -information” Democrats scattered around the country over a Zoom call while we watched on mute. This appeared to be one of the more financially well-off focus groups we’ve seen this year, but like the others, these voters were defined by their disgust.  When asked the first word that popped into their mind about how things are going in the country, here’s what they said: “frustrated,” “disbelief,” “aggravated,” “discouraged,” “unsure,” “worrying,” “resigned,” “frightened.” The only positive words offered were “better” and “OK.” Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

Late Tuesday night, CNN’s Oliver Darcy and Kaitlan Collins scooped that Anthony Fauci is dropping out of this weekend’s White House Correspondents’ Association dinner over concerns about Covid-19. The question on our minds now: Will President Joe Biden go forward with his own plans to attend the dinner — disagreeing with his chief medical adviser in the process? And, embattled House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy will face his rank and file in a GOP Conference meeting this morning. It’s their first time gathering since a slew of book excerpts and audio recordings landed McCarthy in hot water with MAGA world over what he said in private about both Donald Trump and Trump’s congressional allies in the days following the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol. The meeting comes just after the release of one of the most damaging clips yet: On Tuesday, NYT’s Alex Burns and Jonathan Martin published another explosive piece of audio in which McCarthy (1) said he wished Twitter would ban some of his own members from the platform, and (2) expressed concerns that his rank and file could incite more violence in the aftermath of the Jan. 6 attack — yet chose to do nothing about it. Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

The news that Elon Musk is buying Twitter has thrown Washington into a tizzy over one major question: Will Donald Trump return to his old favorite social media platform and start tweeting again? As it turns out, no one is more petrified of this than members of Trump’s own party.   On Monday night, in a series of calls and texts with several top GOP insiders, every single one of them told us that they hoped the former president stays the hell away from Twitter, lest he sink their chances at flipping the House and Senate. Some of his allies even think that a return to his old Twitter habits could damage his own brand ahead of a possible third presidential bid in 2024. Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

Congress returns from a two-week recess facing the same unresolved issues that have plagued lawmakers for months. Lawmakers left town unable to pass a bipartisan deal to provide the administration with $10 billion in pandemic relief money and there’s still no immediate solution in sight. The White House announced another $800 million tranche of Ukraine aid last week, but says it needs Congress to allocate more funds ASAP.  Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and White House officials have been exchanging niceties in recent weeks, strong signals that they’re willing to re-engage on a smaller social-spending package months after Build Back Better was left for dead.

For years now, through controversy after controversy, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy has bent over backward to stay in former President Donald Trump's good graces, all to serve one major purpose: He wants to be speaker someday. That hope may have just blown up on the launchpad. On Thursday night, NYT’s Jonathan Martin and Alex Burns delivered an absolute stunner of a scoop: an audio recording of a phone call on Jan. 10, 2021, in which McCarthy is heard clearly and unambiguously saying that Trump should resign. Listen for yourself Listen to Playbook Deep Dive: 'You only win if you fight:' Will Gallego unseat Sinema? Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

Whether it’s pandemic restrictions and schools, or critical race theory and political correctness, when it comes to the culture wars raging across America, the right often dances circles around the left. And because of that, many Democrats — particularly those in vulnerable seats — either avoid engaging on those topics altogether or privately beg their colleagues to avoid overly “woke” rhetoric or policy prescriptions they believe could hurt the party politically. Enter Mallory McMorrow, the little-known Democratic state senator from suburban Michigan, who is turning that conventional wisdom on its head this week.  Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

Tech mogul Peter Thiel gave J.D. Vance's Ohio Senate campaign a fresh infusion of cash, pouring in $3.5 million to Protect Ohio Values, the super PAC backing Vance, our colleague Alex Isenstadt reports, “part of a broader tranche of money that has come in to support the Senate candidate after last week’s [Donald] Trump endorsement.” Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audi

On Monday, just hours after a federal judge struck down the nationwide public transportation mask mandate, major airlines (and even President Joe Biden’s beloved Amtrak) began telling their passengers they could stop wearing the protective face coverings — sometimes while they had already boarded and taken their assigned seats. The surprise ruling seems to have caught the White House flat-footed on the question of whether or not to appeal the ruling. Officially: White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters the administration was “reviewing the decision, and, of course, the Department of Justice would be making any determinations about any litigation.” Unofficially: The White House is still figuring out what to do next, weighing two very big factors: credibility and politics. Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

Democratic strategists have split in two over how to discuss inflation.  One camp tends to blame the media for focusing too much on the issue at the expense of positive economic news such as low unemployment. This group tends to promote statistics buried beneath the headlines that suggest inflation isn’t that bad. But privately, more and more Democrats see inflation in far more dire terms — and not just for their prospects in elections this year.  One top progressive sounded the alarm over the weekend on a widely read off-the-record email list. The author gave us permission to quote from their missive — “Danger: Inflation Is a Third Rail” — which was ricocheting around lefty circles Sunday night.

With Ohio’s May 3 Senate GOP primary barely two weeks away and no clear frontrunner, J.D. Vance's rivals are mounting an all-out effort to head off a potential endorsement from former President Donald Trump, per our colleagues Natalie Allison, Meridith McGraw, Alex Isenstadt and Daniel Lippman. Trump seems intent on picking a horse in all the big GOP primaries. But several candidates are bunched together in polling in Ohio, making this one a real roll of the dice. Listen to Playbook Deep Dive: Biden’s pollster on the recipe for how to ‘not get our a---- kicked’ in the midterms Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

In the coming weeks and months, we’ll be out covering the key districts and states that will decide the outcome of the midterm elections.  Nevada has one of 2022’s most under-covered Senate races. The incumbent, Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, keeps a low profile in Washington and back home, but she’s raised a record amount of money and is spending big on TV ads. Nevada has a famously transient population, so she’s started with a biographical spot to introduce herself to the hundreds of thousands of potential new voters who weren’t around when she was first elected in 2016. Her other messaging is straight from the Dems’ generic 2020 strategy for vulnerable senators: reminding voters of all that Covid relief money that kept businesses afloat. The political environment for Cortez Masto is brutal. Consider the latest poll, released this week from Suffolk University and the Reno Gazette Journal: - Biden’s approval rating in the state was 35%. - Cortez Masto would lose to either GOP nominee: 43-40 against the well-known Adam Laxalt, and 40-39 against the relatively unknown Sam Brown. - 72% of Nevada voters said the economy was just fair or poor. - Inflation is the top issue for voters — 40% of whom said they are worse off compared to four years ago. Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

Here’s something Democrats agree on: High gas prices — and the inflation rate they’re driving up — are a huge political liability. Here’s something Democrats don’t agree on: what to do about it. On Tuesday, as the new 8.5% annualized inflation rate was announced, President Joe Biden was in Iowa, addressing concerns about energy costs and touting his decision to remove restrictions on the sale of E15, an ethanol-gas mix the administration hopes can ease the proverbial pain at the pump. “I’m not going to wait to take action to help American families,” Biden said. “I’m doing everything within my power by executive orders to bring down the price and address the Putin price hike.” Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

This morning at 8:30 a.m., the Labor Department will release its newest consumer price index report, and the White House is bracing itself for the political impact of inflation numbers that are widely expected to be the highest yet faced during the Biden administration. - What to expect: Economists polled by Reuters anticipate that the report will show that, year-over-year, “consumer prices rose 8.4% in March, up from 7.9% in February.” That would be the highest rate since December 1981, notes CNBC. - Why it’s likely to be that bad: This is the first CPI report since the large jump in oil and gas prices after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. - Worth noting: “Economists consider two versions of the CPI data: The headline number that includes all prices consumers face, and a so-called core CPI that excludes often volatile food and energy price fluctuations,” writes CNBC’s Thomas Franck. “The White House says it anticipates a wider-than-normal disparity between the headline and core readings because of an abnormal increase in gas prices that occurred last month.” Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

Rep. Liz Cheney has set another personal fundraising record. The Wyoming Republican is fighting off a serious challenge from Harriet Hageman, a Cheyenne attorney, and the Aug. 16 primary has turned into the most important and closely watched contest between the MAGA and traditional wings of the GOP. Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

In a history-making vote Thursday afternoon, the Senate confirmed Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court, where she will be the first Black woman in history to serve as a justice. Immediately after VP Kamala Harris called the 53-47 vote, Senate Democrats (and, notably, Utah Republican Mitt Romney) gave a standing ovation while most Senate Republicans sulked from the chamber floor. Listen to Playbook Deep Dive: Khanna’s BBB advice to Biden: ‘Just get Sanders and Manchin in the room and hammer this out’ Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

There’s no denying it: Covid is rocking Washington right now. Days after Saturday’s annual Gridiron Club dinner, multiple attendees of the boujee 600-seat confab have come down with it — including Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, Attorney General Merrick Garland and Reps. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) and Joaquin Castro (D-Texas). Throughout the district on Wednesday, the possible superspreader event was seemingly all anyone could talk about, as NYT’s Katie Rogers writes. Reporters and pols alike found themselves trading text messages about who sat by whom and whether so-and-so who was feeling ill got a positive test result. The entire situation, she notes, is a reminder “that, even as officials seek to pivot away from strict restrictions and encourage Americans to learn to live with the coronavirus, the pandemic is not over.” Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

Sen. Mitt Romney is having a bipartisan moment. The Utah senator kept everyone in suspense until Monday on how he would vote on Ketanji Brown Jackson's confirmation. He voted against confirming her to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit last year, but flipped and will now vote to confirm her to the Supreme Court. Six weeks ago, House Democrats blew up a bipartisan deal on Covid funding when they stripped $15 billion in pandemic relief money from a bill to fund the government. Biden and Democrats scrambled to find a way to pass a stand-alone bill and they needed a GOP partner.  Romney stepped in and spent the last month and a half negotiating with Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and the White House. They announced a $10 billion deal on Monday.  On Tuesday, it fell apart. 

Democrats are desperately trying to understand what’s roiling the electorate heading into a brutal midterm environment. HIT Strategies has been conducting weekly focus groups to find out in real time how Americans are processing events in 2022. On Monday night we watched discussions with two different subgroups of partisan Democrats assembled by the firm: “Black Base, Always vote for Dems, Ages 25+” and “Youth Base; Always vote for Dems, Ages 25 – 39.” There were significant differences within and between the two groups of nine voters. But there were also some broad takeaways. Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

The White House and Senate Democrats expect Biden’s Supreme Court nominee, Ketanji Brown Jackson, to be confirmed by the end of this week. The final two Republicans still in play, Sens. Mitt Romney (Utah) and Lisa Murkowski (Alaska), could announce how they plan to vote as soon as today. Clinching a new Supreme Court justice is a big moment for any president. But given the historic nature of Jackson’s nomination, this will be an even bigger deal for Biden.  Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

For President Joe Biden, this was one of those weeks that demonstrated the limits of the powers of the presidency.  Political scientists often like to rib pundits and the public for having a so-called “Green Lantern” view of the presidency, a theory defined by Dartmouth’s Brendan Nyhan as “the belief that the president can achieve any political or policy objective if only he tries hard enough or uses the right tactics." In reality, presidents operate under enormous constraints that often make them seem feckless in the face of intractable problems.  The news at the end of this week makes it clear that Biden has entered the “long slog” period of his first term. The bold ambitions of year one have been downsized. And even with more modest goals, unifying Democrats in Congress has become tougher — and winning over Republicans harder — than ever. Many problems, like inflation, don’t have readily available solutions. And even when Biden is able to act, like on immigration, his choices are politically perilous. Listen to Playbook Deep Dive: The midterms will be won in the suburbs Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

In a pair of meetings with two separate wings of the House Democratic Caucus on Wednesday evening, President Joe Biden received mixed messages over how to jump-start his stalled agenda, according to multiple sources familiar with the talks. The context: In recent weeks, as action on key Democratic priorities has languished in Congress, progressives as well as some senior party leaders have pushed the president to more liberally use his pen to sidestep Congress and take executive actions to enact key campaign promises on everything from immigration to climate to student loans.  But that proposed strategy has caused heartburn among other Democrats, who worry about the potential for political blowback — not to mention concerns about those policies being rolled back the minute a Republican president is sworn in. Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

All signs point to a typical midterm election this year in which the president’s party suffers double-digit losses in the House. The GOP has the big structural advantages on its side: a Democratic president with low approval ratings, a sour public mood driven by inflation concerns and an edge in polling on issues like crime, education and immigration that are proving important to voters in the crucial swing suburbs where the midterms will be decided. One of the few ways Republicans could potentially blow this electoral equivalent of a layup is if former President Donald Trump suddenly returns to center court.  Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

Democrats and advocates for the care economy are preparing for another uphill fight over spending for child care and pre-kindergarten.  A letter being circulated by Rep. Katherine Clark (D-Mass.) and Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Tina Smith (D-Minn.) and obtained by Playbook will call on President Joe Biden to push a reconciliation bill “that lowers the cost of child care for families, expands access to pre-K, and invests in the early childhood workforce and infrastructure.”  Enter Sen. Joe Manchin. Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

We’ll have a lot more on the new Biden budget this afternoon and Tuesday. But here are some highlights of the framing from a White House official: — Three big things. “The President’s Budget will reflect three important values: fiscal responsibility, safety and security at home and abroad, and a commitment to building a better America.” Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

We have long been avid readers of the deep-dive political memos written by Doug Sosnik, a former senior adviser to then-President Bill Clinton.  Sosnik’s latest is a very thorough 14-page dissection of the new politics of America’s suburbs. It is essential reading for anyone who wants to understand the midterms in 2022 and presidential politics in 2024. “The suburbs,” Sosnik writes, “are the last remaining competitive areas left in the country.” Listen to Playbook Deep Dive: The man in Blinken's ear: State's Derek Chollet on Ukraine Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

The big news at the morning NATO confab, announced Wednesday by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, is threefold: (1) NATO is doubling its military footprint in Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania, and Slovakia to counter the threat from Russia; (2) Biden and NATO leaders will increase pressure on China to condemn the Russian invasion; (3) NATO will take additional steps to aid Ukraine with “cybersecurity assistance” and “equipment to help Ukraine protect against chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear threats.” It’s that third issue that has seized everyone’s attention, as WMDs are now a serious focus of the summit. Stoltenberg repeatedly called on Russia to stop its “nuclear sabre-rattling,” and warned that “the spread of chemical or biological agents used in Ukraine may have dire consequences also for the population living in NATO Allied countries in Europe.” Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine began, President Joe Biden has focused on three policies: (1) sanctioning Russia, (2) bolstering NATO’s defenses and (3) providing security assistance to Ukraine. All three policies have been calibrated to deter Russian President’s Vladimir Putin's aggression without escalating the conflict.  Biden departs for Brussels this morning, and on Thursday, he attends a trio of emergency summits — NATO, the G-7 and the European Council — where each of the three pillars of Biden’s response to the war will be under pressure. Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

The White House has worked hard to project a united front between President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris and their respective teams. But the upcoming book, “This Will Not Pass: Trump, Biden, and the Battle for America's Future,” by NYT’s Jonathan Martin and Alex Burns, reveals some frustrations at the highest echelons of the White House between the Biden and Harris camps, as well as the VP’s angst over the policy portfolio she was given.  Playbook got its hands on some juicy excerpts. Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

Supreme Court confirmation hearings typically blot out everything else going on in Washington. This time, not so much.  With war raging in Ukraine and President Joe Biden headed to Brussels on Wednesday for an emergency NATO summit, Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson's four-day hearing marathon, which starts today at 11 a.m., may well be below-the-fold news. It’s not just outside events dampening the suspense: With her confirmation all but assured and the balance of the court not in play, the likelihood of major surprises is dramatically reduced. Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

As Rep. Mo Brooks’ (R-Ala.) Trump-endorsed Senate campaign sputters and the Alabama GOP primary descends into chaos, Sen. Richard Shelby is making his move.  Our Burgess Everett and Natalie Allison scoop that Shelby is “preparing to pour as much as $6 million into the race by transferring his campaign coffers into a super PAC supporting Katie Britt,” his former aide who is running for the Senate seat. “‘I’m going to give it all away sooner or later. I’m going to help her, transfer it to a super PAC,’ said Shelby, who has nearly $10 million in his campaign account and more than $6 million in a separate leadership PAC. He added that Britt is ‘doing well right now. Mo Brooks is dropping, you see that.’” Listen and subscribe to Playbook Deep Dive: How Democrats alienated the woman who helped them win the House Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.  

No one was surprised by the request: a no-fly zone — and if not that, then access to those Soviet-style fighter jets in Poland that could help them “close the sky.” But if Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's  — who has risen to almost folk-legend status in the eyes of Congress, and who clearly did his homework, invoking 9/11, Martin Luther King Jr. and Pearl Harbor in one 16-minute address — thought his message would immediately elicit the changes he wanted, he was wrong. At least so far.  Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will address Congress virtually at 9 am this morning. The headlines will likely focus on the red lines that President Joe Biden won’t cross: Zelenskyy’s request for a no-fly zone, and the transfer of Polish MiGs. But the debate has shifted.  Betsy Woodruff Swan interviews Daniel Vajdich, a longtime lobbyist for Ukrainian interests, who says “he has consulted with Zelenskyy’s advisers about the speech.” “Zelenskyy is going to express gratitude to the U.S. for what it’s done to support Ukraine and punish Russia, but he’s also going to name and shame, or at least shame, and rightly so,” he tells Betsy. Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Senior Producer of POLITICO Audio.

On Wednesday, Zelenskyy will speak to Congress virtually. According to one person with knowledge of the address, he plans “to name and shame,” meaning excoriating the West for not doing enough to defend his country, though he will balance his remarks with some gratitude for what has been provided.  WSJ’s Andrew Restuccia and Siobhan Hughes report that it was Zelenskyy who asked Congress to speak. Few world leaders have the kind of moral authority that Zelenskyy has to push Congress. A week ago Saturday, when he addressed members of Congress privately, his pleas for assistance produced a flurry of congressional requests to the Biden administration. The Ukrainian aid package zipping through Congress ballooned in the following days. Tougher sanctions, advanced air defense weapons, airplanes from Poland, and a no-fly-zone are all still on Zelenskyy’s wish list. His advocates in Washington — lobbyists and members of Congress — told Playbook they have tried to push his government to deemphasize the no-fly zone, which has been repeatedly ruled out by Biden, and focus on beefed up defense assistance that is more achievable, such as S-300 surface-to-air missiles.  Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Senior Producer of POLITICO Audio.

Something unusual has happened in Washington since Russia invaded Ukraine. Congress — which typically takes a back seat on foreign policy matters — has driven the White House beyond its comfort zone with bipartisan demands for more assertive policies.   It started with calls for tougher sanctions, then escalated to an appeal for a larger military and humanitarian assistance package. Members of both parties then clamored for a U.S. ban on Russian oil, which the White House saw as politically risky given the effect on gas prices at home. And they insisted that the U.S. end permanent normal trade relations with Russia. The tactics have worked. And this week, lawmakers will be at it again — this time nudging the Biden administration to go further than it wants in facilitating the transfer of fighter jets from Poland to Ukraine. Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Senior Producer of POLITICO Audio.

At a Thursday lunch in the New York Times Washington bureau, upset reporters pressed executive editor Dean Baquet about a recent sting operation targeting national security reporter Matthew Rosenberg, according to two people present. Project Veritas, a group that has singled out journalists and Democrats in undercover operations, posted a pair of videos this week showing Rosenberg divulging details about sensitive newsroom dynamics and disparaging his colleagues. Rosenberg suggested that the media was overhyping the siege on the Capitol on Jan. 6, scoffing at colleagues who were there that day who said they were traumatized, and blasted what he called left-leaning younger Times reporters wrapped up in a “woke” culture influencing coverage. The videos immediately caused tensions to flare among Times staff, according to more than a half-dozen reporters who were granted anonymity to speak candidly. During the Thursday lunch, multiple reporters said they were upset about Rosenberg dissing their own coverage and badmouthing his coworkers. Listen to Playbook Deep Dive: The man fighting for Ukraine in D.C. Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Senior Producer of POLITICO Audio.

Just after 10 p.m. Wednesday night, the House passed the $1.5 trillion omnibus bill, the first step toward averting a government shutdown and enacting Democratic spending priorities after more than 400 days operating under Trump-era budgets extended via continuing resolutions. But the party’s joy of the occasion was short-lived, as Democratic infighting quickly gobbled up the headlines and forced a daylong delay of the bill’s consideration. Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Senior Producer of POLITICO Audio.

At 7:30 a.m., VP Kamala Harris departs for Warsaw, Poland, where she will be thrust into the middle of the first major standoff between NATO countries since the Russian invasion of Ukraine.  With tough sanctions in place, a Russian oil and gas embargo announced by Biden, and a no-fly zone ruled out, Zelenskyy’s desperate plea for the Polish MiGs is the most significant outstanding request from Ukraine.  And after months and months of negotiating, and three short-term spending patches, congressional leaders released the text of a bipartisan $1.5 trillion government funding deal last night around 1:30 a.m. Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Senior Producer of POLITICO Audio.

This morning we have a pair of significant Ukraine-related exclusives. The first is a letter signed by more than two dozen of the nation’s top foreign policy minds calling for a partial no-fly zone over Ukraine. The push runs squarely against conventional wisdom in Washington, but their missive will no doubt stir the conversation.  Second, a new POLITICO/Morning Consult poll shows that Biden is enjoying at least a slight “Ukraine bump.” The uptick — first documented by an NPR/PBS/Marist survey released Friday — appears to be real, though how long it lasts is anyone’s guess. Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Senior Producer of POLITICO Audio.

“Russia answers resistance with firepower,” notes the BBC’s Jeremy Bowen, who is in Kyiv now and covered the conflicts in Chechnya and Syria. “Rather than send in men to fight from house to house and room to room, their military doctrine calls for a bombardment by heavy weapons and from the air to destroy their enemies.”  He added, “The depressing conclusion I’ve drawn from other wars in which I have seen Russians in action is that it could get much worse.” On Sunday evening, a senior Pentagon official sent Playbook an update on the Russian military campaign.  The headline:  While the Russians try to encircle and choke off major cities in the north and east, such as Kyiv, Kharkhiv and Chernihiv, they “are being met with strong Ukrainian resistance.” Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Senior Producer of POLITICO Audio.

“Ukrainian firefighters on Friday extinguished a blaze at Europe’s biggest nuclear plant that was ignited by a Russian attack and no radiation was released, U.N. and Ukrainian officials said, as Russian forces seized control of the site and pressed their campaign to cripple the country despite global condemnation,” reports the AP. “The head of the United Nations’ atomic agency said that a Russian ‘projectile’ hit a training center at the plant. Ukraine’s state nuclear regulator earlier said that no changes in radiation levels have been recorded so far after the Zaporizhzhia plant came under attack.” President Joe Biden has been adamant that he will protect every inch of NATO territory and that no American troops will step foot in Ukraine. The discipline to prevent escalation that leads to a NATO-Russian war and to remain firm about his no-boots-on-the-ground pledge is being tested every day. The pressure on Biden to intervene is increasing. Listen to Playbook Deep Dive: An insider’s look into Putin’s long game Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Senior Producer of POLITICO Audio.  

President Joe Biden's conservative critics — from Fox News to Capitol Hill Republicans — have slammed the administration for exempting Russian oil from the raft of financial sanctions aimed at the Kremlin.  They’ve argued two main things: 1. With Russia’s economy so reliant on the energy sector, the U.S. should target that nation’s energy exports in order to be effective. 2. Biden should simultaneously green-light domestic energy production to offset any oil shortages — a policy the GOP has been pushing for years and that is, in many ways, antithetical to the administration’s climate goals.  Subscribe to POLITICO Playbook. Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Senior Producer of POLITICO Audio.

Here were the three key takeaways and revealing moments that stuck with Team Playbook from President Joe Biden's first State of the Union speech. 1. Biden's cost-free confrontation with Russia — On the surface, events in Ukraine clearly upended the State of the Union speech. Biden spent the first 12 minutes of his address focused on the events there... Subscribe to POLITICO Playbook. Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Senior Producer of POLITICO Audio.

At 9 p.m., President Joe Biden will deliver the type of State of the Union address he never wanted to give. Biden and his advisers had hoped to use this moment to reboot his stalled domestic agenda. Instead, the situation in Ukraine has forced the West Wing to rewrite significant partitions of his speech.  Biden is expected to use his address to respond to criticism that he didn’t act quickly enough to stop Russian President Vladimir Putin. He’ll emphasize his work to build an international coalition to counter Russia, as well as imposing crippling sanctions.  It won’t all be a lesson in international relations, however. Administration officials say Biden will spotlight improvements in the economy while sympathizing with the plight of struggling Americans. He’ll highlight GDP growth and historic low unemployment — but also stress that more must be done to bring costs down. Subscribe to POLITICO Playbook. Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Senior Producer of POLITICO Audio.

Foreign policy crises have a way of reshuffling the priorities of a president. Joe Biden's standoff with Putin happened to come along just when Biden had lost some urgency in confronting his three big domestic threats. The pandemic is becoming endemic. There’s not much Biden can actually do about inflation. And the key senator standing in the way of Biden’s domestic agenda remains immovable. While the war in Ukraine is just five days old, administration officials and Biden allies are starting to grapple with the ways in which Biden’s presidency may be fundamentally altered. Subscribe to POLITICO Playbook. Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Senior Producer of POLITICO Audio.

In a private meeting at Mar-a-Lago a few days ago, Donald Trump made a personal pitch to Senate Republican campaign chief Rick Scott. “You should run for Senate majority leader,” he told the NRSC chairman, according to someone familiar with the exchange. It wasn’t the first time, either: Trump has repeatedly told Scott he’d be great at the job and should challenge Mitch McConnell, multiple people familiar with the interactions told Playbook. The Florida Republican didn’t tell the former president “no” that day — though he’s told reporters that he supports McConnell for leader. Instead, he quickly pivoted to the reason for his meeting. “We have to focus on winning” the Senate, Scott told Trump. “My only focus is on winning.” Listen to Playbook Deep Dive: Putin’s new war, inside and out Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Senior Producer of POLITICO Audio.

Just before 6 a.m. Moscow time, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced in a televised speech that his forces were entering Ukraine. Within moments, distant explosions were heard by reporters stationed in Kyiv and cities throughout the country.  President Joe Biden, in a statement, called it “an unprovoked and unjustified attack by Russian military forces.” A U.S. official said “full-scale” sanctions against Russia would be announced today. POLITICO national security reporter Alex Ward shares what he expects to hear.  Subscribe to POLITICO Playbook. Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Senior Producer of POLITICO Audio.

The Russian sanctions announced by President Joe Biden on Tuesday made clear the White House is still grappling with the same question he mused about at his Jan. 19 news conference: What is the appropriate Western response to “something significantly short of a significant invasion — or not even significant, just major military forces coming across”?  Tuesday’s sanctions were more of an amuse-bouche than the full menu that’s been hinted at for weeks.  Subscribe to POLITICO Playbook. Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Senior Producer of POLITICO Audio.

It happened. On Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin sent troops — er, “peacekeepers,” as Moscow’s propaganda machine is calling them — into separatist regions of Ukraine. The move came less than a day after Putin and President Joe Biden agreed “in principle” to make a last-ditch effort at diplomacy with a face-to-face meeting. Secretary of State Antony Blinken was set to iron out those details in a meeting with his Kremlin counterpart Thursday. But with the Russian military rolling across Ukraine’s borders, there are questions about whether that can happen. Subscribe to POLITICO Playbook. Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Senior Producer of POLITICO Audio.

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy officially backed Harriet Hageman, the primary challenger to Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.), Olivia Beavers reports. While tensions have simmered between McCarthy and Cheney for over a year, it’s highly unusual for party leadership to back a challenge to a sitting member of their conference. Listen to Playbook Deep Dive: The untold story of the former judge who beat Trump on Jan. 6  Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Senior Producer of POLITICO Audio.

Former President Donald Trump met with Alabama GOP Senate candidate Katie Britt at Mar-a-Lago on Tuesday, two sources familiar told Playbook. The former president has been having buyer’s remorse after endorsing Rep. Mo Brooks for Senate, watching with frustration as Brooks has failed to catch fire with the MAGA base.  And for months, many Republican operatives across the political spectrum — from MAGA world and the RNC to the NRSC and Team Mitch — have privately whispered agreement on one thing when it comes to Missouri’s crowded Senate GOP primary: They’d welcome any nominee except Eric Greitens. Subscribe to POLITICO Playbook. Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Senior Producer of POLITICO Audio.

We have some news in our latest POLITICO-Morning Consult poll that we can share with you this morning.  The results get to the heart of two big questions about 2022: 1. Can Democrats overcome the culture war attacks dragging them down? 2. Can Republicans overcome the Trumpian issues dragging them down? Subscribe to POLITICO Playbook. Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Senior Producer of POLITICO Audio.

All eyes in Washington are turned east, as Russia claims it’s open to a diplomatic solution but could still invade Ukraine any day. The Biden administration is preparing for the worst — practicing numerous response scenarios, according to WaPo — and moving its limited Kyiv embassy presence west in case of an invasion. And there was a time when he was considered the model for Democrats looking to flip red seats blue: a former Marine who ran on a centrist platform and won a district Donald Trump carried by 20 points. Today, our Philly-based Pennsylvania politics guru Holly Otterbein spotlights Rep. Conor Lamb's struggle to catch fire with the Democratic base in the Pennsylvania Senate primary, one of the party’s best pickup opportunities this fall. Subscribe to POLITICO Playbook. Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Senior Producer of POLITICO Audio.

A week ago, we laid out the thinking of some top Democratic strategists who are suddenly imagining a scenario in which the party defies history and holds Congress in the midterms. Over the past few days, we checked in with an array of Republican operatives about whether they think the GOP could actually blow this.  Even after the RNC’s “legitimate political discourse” debacle two weekends ago, the answer almost across the board was an adamant “no.” Subscribe to POLITICO Playbook. Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Senior Producer of POLITICO Audio.

The first clips of President Joe Biden's sitdown interview with NBC’s Lester Holt were released Thursday night (the full video will air on Sunday’s Super Bowl pregame show). Biden announced that his shortlist of potential nominees to replace Justice Stephen Breyer is down to four. Biden: “I’ve taken about four people and done the deep dive on them — meaning thorough background checks, and to see if there’s anything in the background that would make them not qualified.” Also: “​​I think whomever I pick will get a vote from the Republican side for the following reason: I’m not looking to make an ideological choice here.”  And WaPo’s Seung Min Kim has a look at the status of Biden’s SCOTUS selection process.  Listen to Playbook Deep Dive: The Gen X activists upending Democratic politics Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Senior Producer of POLITICO Audio.

It’s been one of the greatest sources of tension between House Republicans and Democrats for a year now: a chamber-wide mandate requiring lawmakers to mask up before they vote — and steep fines if they refuse.  But now some House Democrats are following the lead of Democratic governors, calling for an end to mask mandates — even as their party imposes one in the House chamber. Subscribe to POLITICO Playbook. Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Senior Producer of POLITICO Audio.

Across the country, top Democratic officials are relaxing mask mandates as Omicron recedes and concern rises about how masking is affecting schoolchildren. Meanwhile, Republicans have seized on the issue to attack Democrats as mask fundamentalists. The shift among Democrats accelerated Monday, when a bipartisan group of governors meeting with President Joe Biden in Washington told him they wanted a “return to a greater state of normality” and to “move beyond the pandemic.” Subscribe to POLITICO Playbook. Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Senior Producer of POLITICO Audio.

The fallout from the RNC’s weekend censure of Reps. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) and Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) spread to Capitol Hill on Monday: Hill Republicans returned to town and lit into Chair Ronna McDaniel. Senate Republicans went on the record to say that looking back to 2020 is a losing strategy that won’t help the party flip both chambers of Congress.  And they’re furious that the RNC would dub the activities of Jan. 6 “legitimate political discourse.” And less than 24 hours after our colleague Alex Thompson reported that an internal White House investigation found that top White House science adviser Eric Lander bullied and mistreated his subordinates, Lander resigned. Subscribe to POLITICO Playbook. Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Senior Producer of POLITICO Audio.

The most likely November election scenario is that Republicans win the House and Senate. On average since World War II, the president’s party loses 26 House seats and four Senate seats in a midterm election.  The traditional indicators still point toward a typical midterm for Biden: low presidential approval rating (42%), a Republican advantage over Democrats on the generic ballot (44%-42%), and more than twice as many Democrats retiring from the House as Republicans (29-13). But Democrats are beginning to whisper about something that sounds laughable to many observers: Maybe they can win the midterms. Subscribe to POLITICO Playbook. Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Senior Producer of POLITICO Audio.

If you work on Capitol Hill, you’ve probably heard about “Dear White Staffers.” It’s an Instagram account that started as a place where aides of color on the Hill — a place dominated by white lawmakers and staff — could express their frustrations. But it’s expanded beyond that to become a go-to hub where anonymous staffers name and shame bad bosses and colleagues, and complain about absurdly long workdays, gender discrimination allegations, salaries so low they rely on food stamps to eat, generally toxic workplace behavior and an endemic lack of diversity.  Playbook Deep Dive: Why Stephanie Cutter says Dems need a new SCOTUS strategy Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Senior Producer of POLITICO Audio.

BREAKING OVERNIGHT — via AP’s Ghaith Alsayed, Lolita Baldor and Bassem Mroue: “U.S. special forces carried out what the Pentagon said was a large-scale counterterrorism raid in northwestern Syria early Thursday.” President Joe Biden travels to New York City today for a pair of events on crime policy with Mayor Eric Adams. Two years ago, if Democrats knew their next president would be meeting with an ex-cop mayor of New York at the NYPD’s Manhattan headquarters to discuss “historic levels of funding for cities and states to put more cops on the beat,” it would have been a big surprise. Low levels of crime combined with outrage over white police officers abusing and killing unarmed Black Americans sparked a fierce backlash against cops, especially among progressives, and birthed the “defund the police” movement, which was embraced by a surprisingly wide spectrum of Democrats. What happened to make it safe for Biden to reorient the Democratic Party’s positioning on crime? Subscribe to POLITICO Playbook. Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Senior Producer of POLITICO Audio.

Republicans have been all over the map lately in their Supreme Court messaging. Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) called President Joe Biden's vow to only consider Black women for the vacancy “affirmative action.” Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) said Biden doing so during the campaign was “clumsy” and risked further politicizing perceptions of the high court. And Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) welcomed Biden’s bid to diversify the Supreme Court, saying “it’s about time” it looked more like America. So what gives? Subscribe to POLITICO Playbook. Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Senior Producer of POLITICO Audio.

The center of legislative intrigue on Capitol Hill is bipartisan election reform. “That’s on a hot track right now,” Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) said Monday.  But as talks heat up to overhaul the Electoral Count Act, President Joe Biden is out in the cold — a bystander out of sync with both parties in Congress. Administration officials are deeply engaged in a gamut of other bills snaking through Congress. Russia sanctions? “We are working very closely with Congress,” press secretary Jen Psaki said Monday. Trying to unstick Build Back Better? “There’s a lot of discussion among members, their staffs, committees” and “we’re engaged in those as well.” Ditto for the government funding bill that must be passed by Feb. 18, and the China competitiveness bill under negotiation.  Subscribe to POLITICO Playbook. Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Senior Producer of POLITICO Audio.

Lawmakers return from recess this week to a massive February to-do list before President Joe Biden's March 1 State of the Union address. And the pressure is on: The White House and vulnerable House Democrats are desperate to quickly pass a $250 billion package aimed at boosting manufacturing and relieving supply-side constraints — a win they’d love the president to be able to trumpet at his big speech. But Congress also has to avert a government shutdown and possibly begin vetting a Supreme Court nominee. And that’s to say nothing about trying to resuscitate Build Back Better.  Can they do all this in a few weeks? Subscribe to POLITICO Playbook. Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Senior Producer of POLITICO Audio.

TV doc turned Senate hopeful Mehmet Oz met with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell at the NRSC headquarters earlier this month to lay out why he thinks he can win in the swing state of Pennsylvania.  In normal times, such a meeting between a candidate and party bosses would be as pro forma as they come. But needless to say, these are not normal times in the GOP. Playbook's Tara Palmeri is here to explain. Plus, the latest in Ukraine and what's next for SCOTUS. Listen to POLITICO Playbook Deep Dive: A former NATO ambassador gets inside Putin’s head Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Senior Producer of POLITICO Audio.

For weeks, Joe Biden's presidency has been dragged down by a stalled agenda, spiraling inflation, lousy poll numbers and an angry base accusing him of not delivering on his promises. Wednesday delivered a much-needed jolt with the news that Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer will retire at the end of this term. It’s a chance for the White House to pivot from the spate of bad news and rally depressed Democratic voters. Perhaps more importantly, it presents a chance for Biden to prove to Black voters — who rescued his 2020 campaign — that he can deliver for them. Subscribe to POLITICO Playbook. Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Senior Producer of POLITICO Audio.

Tuesday saw a flurry of activity in Washington, Moscow and Brussels, but little clarity as to whether Europe was closer to a war — one that President Joe Biden warned would be “the largest invasion since World War II” and “would change the world.” And,  it's bad news/mildly good news for Biden 2024 in the latest weekly POLITICO/Morning Consult poll. First the bad: If the election were held today, Biden would lose badly to a generic Republican, 46% to 37%. Subscribe to POLITICO Playbook. Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Senior Producer of POLITICO Audio.

Frustration with Chuck Schumer leadership strategy is privately simmering among some Hill Democrats.  We talked to a half-dozen senior Democratic staffers in both chambers Monday night and heard a variation of the same complaint from each of them: that Schumer’s ploy to isolate Sens. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) on Build Back Better and then voting rights has only set the party back in achieving its goals. Subscribe to POLITICO Playbook. Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Senior Producer of POLITICO Audio.

With Congress out of town and President Joe Biden’s legislative agenda paused, Washington will be dominated by Ukraine-Russia news this week. Some major developments on Ukraine in the past 24 hours: — Early this morning, NATO announced a buildup in Eastern Europe: “NATO Allies are putting forces on standby and sending additional ships and fighter jets to NATO deployments in eastern Europe, reinforcing Allied deterrence and defence as Russia continues its military build-up in and around Ukraine.” More from Reuters — The State Department on Sunday ordered all family members of U.S. government employees at the embassy in Kyiv to leave the country immediately, and it authorized the departure of some other embassy personnel. State also issued a new travel advisory for Ukraine: “Do Not Travel due to the increased threat of Russian military action.” Americans in Ukraine “should consider departing now.”  — Top Pentagon officials, per the NYT’s Helene Cooper and Eric Schmitt, presented Biden with options to send “several thousand U.S. troops, as well as warships and aircraft, to NATO allies in the Baltics and Eastern Europe.” Subscribe to POLITICO Playbook. Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Senior Producer of POLITICO Audio.

Former President Donald Trump has floated the idea of doling out dual endorsements in some of the key midterm races as he becomes increasingly suspicious of his advisers who are pushing competing candidates.  The GOP kingmaker-in-chief has grown so distrustful of all the advice he’s getting from various aides — and so wary of being lured into picking the wrong horse — that he’s floated an idea that would essentially dilute his endorsement.  Subscribe to Playbook Deep Dive: Cedric Richmond on Biden's turnaround plan Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Senior Producer of POLITICO Audio.  

There’s a lot to unpack from President Joe Biden's marathon press conference in the East Room, but let’s start with this statement deep into the 1-hour-and-51-minute event: “You guys have been trying to convince me that I am Bernie Sanders. I’m not. I like him, but I’m not Bernie Sanders. I’m not a socialist. I’m a mainstream Democrat, and I have been.” Subscribe to POLITICO Playbook. Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Senior Producer of POLITICO Audio.

President Joe Biden will face the White House press corps today at 4 p.m. He’s due for a grilling given the state of his presidency one year in: His poll numbers are underwater, his agenda is stalled, inflation is soaring, Covid-19 is raging. And the midterms are­ coming. Subscribe to POLITICO Playbook. Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Senior Producer of POLITICO Audio.

Welcome back to a four-day workweek in Washington. Today, Senate Democrats resume their doomed push on voting rights and election reform, taking up legislation that already passed the House. Expect more of the fiery speeches we’ve heard from both sides recently as Democrats open the debate. And, what's next for the BBB? Front-line House Democrats, eager to boost their prospects in November, are urging party leadership to break up Build Back Better into a series of votes on popular planks — even if it means giving up on one grand bill. Subscribe to POLITICO Playbook. Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Senior Producer of POLITICO Audio.

With the Democratic Party on course for a devastating midterm election and party elder statesmen stepping in to help, Playbook's Tara Palmeri reports that people close to Bill and Hillary Clinton said the former first couple sees it as an opportunity to insert themselves back into political life. The intra-party divisions have given them a chance to flex their centrist, dealmaking brand of politics as a way to move the party forward. Subscribe to POLITICO Playbook Deep Dive: What Joe Manchin told Steve Clemons at dinner Raghu Manavalan is the host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the senior producer of POLITICO Audio.

At 1 p.m., the president will appear at a Democratic Caucus meeting to try to rally senators behind the party’s voting reform proposal. In keeping with his Georgia speech this week, he’s expected to call on them to do whatever it takes — including making an end run around the filibuster — to “save” democracy.  But Sens. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) aren’t budging on the filibuster. Subscribe to POLITICO Playbook. Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Senior Producer of POLITICO Audio.

We have fresh numbers, via the latest POLITICO/Morning Consult poll, on how the public views the major voting rights and electoral reform proposals being considered in Congress. Crosstabs … Toplines Let’s start with the most interesting takeaway: the first data we’ve seen about reforming the Electoral Count Act, the 19th-century law that Donald Trump tried to use to subvert the Electoral College on Jan. 6. 2021. Fifty-five percent of voters support ECA reform. Subscribe to POLITICO Playbook. Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Senior Producer of POLITICO Audio.

Democratic leaders hoped to spend the week before Martin Luther King Jr. Day presenting a united front for voting rights legislation and blasting Republicans as undemocratic.  So much for that. Multiple high-profile voting rights leaders are planning to skip President Joe Biden's speech on the matter in Atlanta today, dismissing the address as too little too late. “We’re beyond speeches. We’re beyond events,” said LaTosha Brown, the leader of Black Voters Matter. (h/t Sam Gringlas from NPR’s Atlanta Bureau) Subscribe to POLITICO Playbook. Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Senior Producer of POLITICO Audio.

President Joe Biden and Senate Democrats are entering the second week of their push to pass a pair of voting rights bills. Ryan Lizza is a co-author of POLITICO Playbook Jenny Ament is senior producer of POLITICO Audio.

The White House is looking to Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) to help thaw out its frosty relationship with Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) in hopes of resurrecting President Joe Biden's Build Back Better plan. Subscribe to POLITICO Playbook. Raghu Manavalan is the host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

For those who always despised him, feel betrayed by him, or fear his return to power, today is about remembering — never forgetting — Donald Trump's lowest point as president: the day he incited a mob to attack Congress while it affirmed Joe Biden's clear victory, the final desperate move in a plot to overthrow an American presidential election. For those who love him, merely tolerate him, or crave his return to the White House, today is a media stunt: a contrived anniversary of an insignificant event boosted by Democrats and the press to punish Republicans and cynically advance Biden’s legislative priorities.  Americans often have a shared understanding about big traumatic national events. That is not the case with Jan. 6, which is why the cliché about our politics feeling like a civil war has more and more resonance.  Subscribe to POLITICO Playbook. Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Senior Producer of POLITICO Audio.

Republicans don’t want to talk about Jan. 6. Period. End of story. On a private call Tuesday, House GOP leaders encouraged their members to stick to attacking President Joe Biden — or, at most, talk about ongoing security concerns at the Capitol. Republican senators, meanwhile, dodged questions about the Thursday anniversary.  Indeed, it’s becoming increasingly clear that — with the exception of Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) and perhaps a few others — the day of remembrance will be a nearly all-Democratic affair. And, the GOP did get some good Jan. 6 news: Trump’s decision to cancel his Mar-a-Lago press conference, where he was expected to defend the rioters and spew election falsehoods. Congressional Republicans were privately dreading it, knowing reporters would once again demand their responses to whatever the former president said. Subscribe to POLITICO Playbook. Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Senior Producer of POLITICO Audio.

Today's Big Event: Senate Democrats will hold a virtual meeting at 12:45 p.m. It will be the first opportunity of the new year for all 50 caucus members to talk about where Build Back Better 2.0 stands and what they think of Majority Leader CHUCK SCHUMER’s new voting rights push. On both issues — as usual — every utterance of JOE MANCHIN (W.Va.) and KYRSTEN SINEMA (Ariz.) will be examined like a haruspex inspecting a sheep liver The Latest Deadline: As we previewed Monday, voting rights and election reform will dominate the debate in Washington over the next weeks. Meeting self-imposed deadlines has not exactly been the Democrats’ forte over the last year, but Schumer said Monday he wants the Senate to consider rules changes by Jan. 17 if voting rights legislation is filibustered. Subscribe to POLITICO Playbook. Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Senior Producer of POLITICO Audio.

It’s going to be an emotional week for a lot of people on Capitol Hill. With the one-year anniversary of the Jan. 6 Capitol siege Thursday, Congress is planning an array of memorials and speeches to commemorate one of the darkest days in American history. Lawmakers will have the opportunity to tell their personal stories of what it was like to hide from angry rioters. Cable news will blanket the airwaves with harrowing footage of the assault. Leaders of the Capitol Police will testify before the Senate Rules Committee about the security situation one year later.  But Democrats are hoping that Thursday will be more than just a day of remembrance. In the Senate, we hear from well-positioned sources, there’s a desire to take the opportunity to supercharge the party’s long-stalled voting rights legislation — possibly even using the anniversary to try to get Sens. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) and Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) to go nuclear on the filibuster or embrace rules changes. Subscribe to POLITICO Playbook. Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Senior Producer of POLITICO Audio.

"This is a real ----ing problem." That’s how one vulnerable House Democrat summarized growing discord between members in battleground districts and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. That member and five others Playbook spoke with the past week alleged that the Democratic organization whose purpose is to help the party keep the House next year is instead hurting their chances of reelection. We granted the members and their staff anonymity to speak freely about their frustrations. Subscribe to Playbook Deep Dive Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Senior Producer of POLITICO Audio.

It’s a fitting end to a year dominated by two Senate Democrats at the center of pretty much everything in 2021: Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema have all but put the kibosh on two major proposals their own party was hoping to pass before the holiday break. First: Manchin’s talks with President Joe Biden over Build Back Better hit a brick wall. Earlier this week, Senate Democrats were looking to the president to bring the stubborn West Virginia Democrat around. Instead, Burgess Everett, Alex Thompson and Jonathan Lemire report that their discussions have gone so poorly that they’re “straining their friendly relationship.” Second: Realizing the BBB challenges with Manchin, Senate Democrats this week did an about-face on their topic du jour. Instead of narrowing in on their $1.7 trillion social spending bill, they started eyeing a Senate rule change to enable passage of a long-stalled voting rights bill. Subscribe to POLITICO Playbook. Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Senior Producer of POLITICO Audio.

The Senate passed a debt limit increase of $2.5 trillion Tuesday afternoon, and the House followed suit just after midnight. Congress should be freed from addressing the issue again until 2023. A final vote on the long-stalled NDAA is likely in the Senate today. Congress has funded the government through mid-February. It shouldn’t exactly get a big pat on the back for doing the basics, but the three issues were all cleared with some degree of bipartisanship and less brinkmanship and drama than expected. The next big hurdle for Democrats? Senator Joe Manchin. And, Doug Sosnik was an adviser to Bill Clinton for six years, and for some dozen years he has written regular memos about national trends that have attained something of a cult following among political junkies. We know many of our readers are fans of his wonky missives, so we’re pleased to present Sosnik’s latest memo, “A Look Ahead to the 2022 Midterm Elections and Beyond,” exclusively to the Playbook audience. Subscribe to POLITICO Playbook. Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Senior Producer of POLITICO Audio.

President Joe Biden is set to speak with Sen. Joe Manchin as early as today in what Hill sources tell us will be a make-or-break moment for passing the Build Back Better Act (BBB) before Christmas.  Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has been adamant that his chamber will clear the party’s $1.7 trillion social spending package before senators leave for the holidays. Yet everyone knows that won’t happen without the stubborn West Virginia Democrat — and Democrats are looking for some presidential arm-twisting to get him there.  Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Senior Producer of POLITICO Audio.

Thursday was a double-whammy for former President Donald Trump. First, New York state A.G. Tish James announced that she was suspending her campaign for governor and would instead run for reelection. That all but assures the law enforcement officer who has been perhaps the most aggressive in investigating Trump will continue to focus her attention on the ex-president.  Then, a federal appeals court flatly rejected that Trump’s claims of executive privilege, which he used to block the National Archives from turning over documents to the Jan. 6 committee. It’s not the final word on the matter — the Supreme Court could still intervene this month — but it’s a big win for the select committee.  If Trump had a bad day Thursday, it might be Joe Biden's turn on Friday. A pair of critical reports out today could cause a spate of negative headlines just as the White House is looking to push Build Back Better (BBB) past the finish line.  Listen and subscribe to Playbook Deep Dive Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Senior Producer of POLITICO Audio.

Former Rep. Renee Ellmers announced on Twitter Wednesday that she’s running for Congress again in North Carolina’s 4th district — and sent the House GOP gossip mill into overdrive. Ellmers, you’ll recall, lost her primary in 2016 following allegations that she was having an extramarital affair with Kevin McCarthy, who also lost his bid for speaker around that time in part due to the controversy. (Both denied the allegations.) Oddly enough, her foray back into politics comes as McCarthy is in his best position yet to attain the job he’s wanted for years.   And, President Joe Biden will open his two-day Summit for Democracy with opening remarks at 8 a.m. Watch live here. Subscribe to POLITICO Playbook. Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Senior Producer of POLITICO Audio.

The idea started out promising, at least from the GOP’s perspective. Over the summer, Mitch McConnell surprised much of Washington when he drew a bright line on the debt ceiling, demanding Democrats use reconciliation to raise the borrowing cap on their own. The idea was to force President Joe Biden's party to vote to increase the $29 trillion debt by a specific number — then hammer them for out-of-control spending on the camping trail. Republicans cheered. But while McConnell struck a deal with Chuck Schumer on Tuesday that will ultimately achieve the same result, his method of getting there has left many of his own rank-and-file members unhappy. Instead of gumming up the works by forcing Democrats to use reconciliation, he agreed to a convoluted strategy that enables Democrats to bypass the filibuster. It goes like this: At least 10 Republicans will have to join Democrats as early as Thursday in approving new legislation allowing Schumer’s party to temporarily raise the debt ceiling by a simple majority vote. Maybe they’ll get more GOP backing; but maybe not. Subscribe to POLITICO Playbook. Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Senior Producer of POLITICO Audio.

There’s still a lot we don’t know about the Omicron variant: It could be like Delta and current vaccines will offer robust protection. But there’s also a chance that Omicron could be vaccine resistant, so vaccine makers are readying a booster to protect against the new variant, just in case. That could be the future: a new variant, followed by a new vaccine booster to defend against it, followed by a new variant… Rinse. Repeat. It’s what we do to fight the annual flu. But it all takes time, and a new coronavirus variant can spread rapidly and kill a lot of people during the process. And, ahead of President Joe Biden’s highly anticipated video conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin, sources tell NYT’s David Sanger and Eric Schmitt that the president is “expected to encourage diplomatic de-escalation over the conflict in Ukraine,” and warn Putin that “if he orders the Russian forces poised at the border to invade Ukraine, Western allies may move to cut Russia off from the international financial system and seek direct sanctions on Mr. Putin’s closest associates.” How BIden handles this meeting could mean the difference between a free and independent Ukraine and one overrun by Russian troops. No pressure.  Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Senior Producer of POLITICO Audio.

Congress’ holiday season theme of governing by crisis continues this week, as lawmakers return to Washington to address what could be the trickiest issue of the month: the debt ceiling. House Democratic leaders have discussed adding a provision addressing the debt ceiling to the final National Defense Authorization Act and voting on it as soon as this week, according to a senior Democratic aide. That’s assuming, of course, that compromise NDAA language is ironed out between the two chambers. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has privately signaled to Majority Leader Chuck Schumer that he could go along with this idea, which would end their months-long stalemate.  But, there are serious questions about whether this defense-debt ceiling sandwich could pass the House. And much of that is because of one man who might typically be aligned with McConnell, but on this issue appears opposed: Kevin McCarthy. Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the Senior Producer of POLITICO Audio.

Congress avoided a government shutdown after Senate conservatives dropped their demands to nix President Joe Biden's vaccine mandates in the funding bill — and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer gave them a way out.  Conservatives will argue they got something out of this drama: a vote on their issue. In reality, it was a face-saving measure. The far-right started out demanding that Congress effectively scuttle the mandates, then reduced their ask to a mere vote they knew would fail, ensuring smooth passage of a continuing resolution a full 30 hours before the shutdown deadline.  Listen and subscribe to Playbook Deep Dive Raghu Manavalan is the host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio.  Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

Symone Sanders, a senior adviser and chief spokesperson for VP Kamala Harris, “is expected to leave the White House at the end of the year,” Eugene Daniels, Chris Cadelago and Daniel Lippman reported Wednesday night. “It was not immediately clear where Sanders is heading next or when she will be leaving the vice president’s office.  Sanders, a 31-year-old African-American strategist and one of the admin’s most recognizable advisers, leaves amid a flurry of stories about internal frictions and disorder in the VP’s office. Sanders was often the aide who pushed back on those storylines, defending the VP and advocating for her both publicly and in one-on-one dealings with reporters. Subscribe to POLITICO Playbook. Raghu Manavalan is the host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio.  Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

Friday's shutdown showdown is about to get real — conservatives on both sides of the Capitol are privately plotting to force a government shutdown Friday in an effort to defund the Biden administration’s vaccine mandate on the private sector, multiple GOP sources told Playbook. Capitalizing on a last-minute scramble to fund the government, a group of Senate conservatives is planning to object to quick consideration of a stopgap measure to extend funding into early 2022 unless Democratic leaders agree to deny money to enforce the mandate. Because of the tight schedule — and Senate rules that require unanimous consent to move quickly — the senators believe they’ll be able to drag out the process well past midnight on Friday, when funding officially expires. Subscribe to POLITICO Playbook. Raghu Manavalan is the host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio.  Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

Most people on Capitol Hill are kissing Christmas — or at least most of December — goodbye this year. “We could be in every weekend between now and Christmas, so … sorry,” Sen. Debbie Stabenow told reporters Monday night. Sen. Patrick Leahy is so worried about being here on Christmas that he and his wife bought a holiday tree for their home in D.C. Here are some reasons for the growing pessimism. Subscribe to POLITICO Playbook. Raghu Manavalan is the host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio.  Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

The drama surrounding Rep. Lauren Boebert's Islamophobic comments about Rep. Ilhan Omar is about to heat up as lawmakers return from Thanksgiving recess this week. Sources tell us a faction of Democrats is expected to push leadership to strip Boebert of her committee assignments or censure her after she joked about Omar, who is Muslim, being safe to ride with in an elevator because she wasn’t wearing a backpack. Subscribe to POLITICO Playbook. Raghu Manavalan is the host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio.  Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

Amid the swirling speculation that President Joe Biden won’t run again in 2024, Democrats have been atwitter for weeks about whether Biden’s Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg might mount a campaign. The man, after all, has been front and center in selling the Biden agenda across the nation, and — some suspect — is laying the groundwork for another try for the White House. Just in time, our Alex Thompson hit the road with the former mayor of South Bend, and found “a man who seems to be in a perpetual hurry.” Subscribe to POLITICO Playbook. Raghu Manavalan is the host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio.  Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

Because we’re POLITICO, Marc Caputo has a story up this morning on Donald Trump's potential 2024 map. Granted, it’s not terribly surprising, centering on the five states that Joe Biden flipped in 2020. But the level of engagement within Trumpworld this far out — that we didn’t necessarily expect.  “Trump’s shadow campaign … recently polled Trump-Biden matchups in the five states, all of which were decided in 2020 by fewer than 3 percentage points. According to the poll …  the former president led Biden in Arizona by 8 percentage points, Georgia by 3 points, Michigan by 12 points, Pennsylvania by 6 points and Wisconsin by 10 points. And, With Sean Parnell dropping his campaign for Senate in Pennsylvania, some of his former supporters who are close to Donald Trump Jr. are now pushing hedge fund millionaire David McCormick to run. Subscribe to POLITICO Playbook. Raghu Manavalan is the host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio.  Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

Jonathan Chait’s latest — “Joe Biden vs. the Democrats” — poses this question on the new cover of New York magazine: “Why is a once-popular president with an even more popular agenda in so much trouble?” And, the Biden White House has become much more attuned to the political damage that the highest inflation since 1992 is inflicting. On Tuesday, the president will make remarks about lowering prices, an issue that now claims the kind of attention previously reserved for fighting the pandemic and promoting his infrastructure and reconciliation bills. Subscribe to POLITICO Playbook. Raghu Manavalan is the host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio.  Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

If a “New York minute” is a few passing seconds, then the opposite is a “McCarthy minute” — something that drags on and on for hours. On Thursday night, at 8:38 p.m., House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy took to the House floor with a speech designed to delay Democrats’ passage of the Build Back Better package.  This morning, at 5:10 a.m., some 8 hours and 32 minutes later, he finally stopped talking.  Subscribe to POLITICO Playbook Deep Dive. Raghu Manavalan is the host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio.  Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

There are three headlines that describe most big events in the 117th Congress so far: (1) “Dems in Disarray” (2) “Kevin McCarthy Defends Far-Right Member, Who [fill in the blank]” (3) “Congress Sends Biden Historic Legislation” Long stretches of Democratic infighting over policy are punctuated by semi-regular acts of extremism by the fringe of the House Republican Conference. And every so often, a massive spending bill ends up on the president’s desk.  This was supposed to be a “Dems in Disarray” week, but thanks to Rep. Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.), it turned into a “McCarthy Defends …” week. Subscribe to POLITICO Playbook. Raghu Manavalan is the host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio.  Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

If you want to know more about the state of the House GOP conference, today should provide a pretty telling snapshot. Ten months after rioters stormed the Capitol hunting for lawmakers, most House Republicans are expected to vote against rebuking one of their colleagues, Paul Gosar, who posted an anime video of himself stabbing Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. And, voters have increasing doubts about the health and mental fitness of President Joe Biden, the oldest man ever sworn into the White House, according to a new POLITICO/Morning Consult poll.” Subscribe to POLITICO Playbook. Raghu Manavalan is the host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio.  Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

It was all smiles and selfies at the White House on Monday as Democrats celebrated passage of the bipartisan infrastructure deal. But rising voter concern about inflation has cast a pall over President Joe Biden's victory lap.  The White House has tried to frame the president’s agenda as a long-term answer to inflation. A pair of stories this morning in POLITICO, however, underscores why those claims are probably wishful thinking. Subscribe to POLITICO Playbook. Raghu Manavalan is the host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio.  Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

In August, former Trump Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross and his wife Hilary Geary Ross sold their 10,000-square-foot home in Woodland-Normanstone for $13 million, according to D.C. tax records. It is the most expensive D.C. home sale of the last 12 months. The August deal was shrouded in mystery. The purchaser used an LLC called Salona Village Holdings that concealed their identity. The Rosses are barred by a confidentiality agreement from disclosing the real buyer’s name, Geary Ross told Daniel Lippman. But the secret is out. Subscribe to POLITICO Playbook. Raghu Manavalan is the host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio.  Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

Donald Trump has been complaining to members and guests at Mar-a-Lago that Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis still hasn’t joined the other 2024 hopefuls in pronouncing that he won’t run for president if Trump runs. And, the toughest trial Rep. Kevin McCarthy faces on his way to becoming House speaker isn’t reclaiming the majority. It’s what comes afterward.” That’s the blunt takeaway from Olivia Beavers’ big piece this morning drawing on interviews with more than 40 Republicans, which “point to two worrisome factions for McCarthy in a future vote for speaker: conservatives and wild cards.”  Subscribe to POLITICO Playbook. Raghu Manavalan is the host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio.  Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

Earlier this year, the Biden administration forecast that the annual rate of inflation would be 2 percent. On Wednesday the Labor Department reported that inflation hit 6.2 percent, the biggest spike in prices since 1990, and the news is reverberating across every aspect of American politics.  And, while the reconciliation bill, government funding and the debt limit will all play starring roles in the Senate between now and New Year’s Eve, don’t sleep on the drama over the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Subscribe to POLITICO Playbook. Raghu Manavalan is the host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio.  Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

We spend a lot of time in the weeds of congressional negotiations on the major legislation President Joe Biden, with some bipartisan help, is slowly moving through the system. At times it has all seemed pretty normal: 69 votes for an infrastructure package in the Senate that was hailed by Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, a less tidy but still pretty typical process of wrangling Democrats together for the much more partisan climate and social welfare reconciliation bill. Even Tuesday’s results in the off-year election in Virginia, which sent a message to the new president about overreach, were perfectly in line with recent history.  But there were two stories Tuesday that reminded us of how, outside of the (relatively) routine sausage-making on Capitol Hill, some enormously worrisome undercurrents remain in American politics. Subscribe to POLITICO Playbook. Raghu Manavalan is the host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio.  Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

All eyes are on Sean Parnell when he testifies today for the second and final time in an ugly child custody battle with his estranged wife, Laurie Snell. Though Parnell unequivocally denied abusing his wife and children on the stand Monday, the Republican Senate candidate in Pennsylvania is starting to bleed high-level support, two sources familiar with the matter told Playbook.  The Jan. 6 panel issued subpoenas Monday to a half-dozen Trump advisers, including campaign manager Bill Stepien, campaign senior adviser Jason Miller, national executive assistant to the campaign Angela McCallum and former national security adviser Michael Flynn. Subscribe to POLITICO Playbook. Raghu Manavalan is the host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio.  Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

Congress is out this week and the Biden administration will spend much of the next few days promoting the benefits of BIF, making the case for the reconciliation bill and pushing parents and schools to get kids vaccinated. So enjoy a brief window of calm in between last week’s Virginia and BIF news and the holiday insanity coming to Congress. The must-read of the day to get prepared for what’s coming is this WSJ piece by Nick Timiraos, Natalie Andrews and Ian Talley on the obstacles looming for Biden. Subscribe to POLITICO Playbook. Raghu Manavalan is the host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio.  Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

The House adjourned just after 10 p.m. on Thursday night as Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her leadership team struggled to round up votes to pass the twin infrastructure and Build Back Better bills. Democratic leadership announced the House will be back in session at 8 a.m. and votes would happen today. — One reason for Democrats to be optimistic today: “[M]any in the caucus are set to embark on overseas trips ahead of next week’s recess.” A deadline, in other words, could help push them to act. — One reason for Democrats to be pessimistic: “But party leaders’ failure to corral the votes they need on Thursday — after several exhausting weeks spent hashing out many of the same issues — has left some Democrats privately wondering how they’ll pull it off on Friday.” Subscribe to POLITICO Playbook. Raghu Manavalan is the host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio.  Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

Following an embarrassing election night for Democrats, Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her caucus have redoubled their efforts to pass the bipartisan infrastructure bill (BIF) and Build Back Better package (BBB) through their chamber this week. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer announced Wednesday night that both bills could even see a floor vote as soon as today. For now, the GOP sweep in Virginia and Dems’ razor-thin victory in New Jersey seem to have done what months of negotiations on the Hill could not: force moderates and progressives into line on passing both bills. Raghu Manavalan is the host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio.  Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

 New Jersey’s gubernatorial race is still too close to call as you wake up this morning. With 88% of the expected vote in, incumbent Phil Murphy is trailing Republican Jack Ciattarelli by just over 1,000 votes.  President Joe returned from Europe overnight to a Washington where politics has been completely upended since he left six days ago.  Before he departed, Biden told House Democrats, “I don’t think it’s hyperbole to say that the House and Senate majorities and my presidency will be determined by what happens in the next week.” He meant inaction on his two legislative priorities, leaving Europe with no congressional backing for his climate proposals, and potential defeats in one or more crucial elections Tuesday that would make everything worse. Biden may have been prescient. Raghu Manavalan is the host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio.  Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

Terry McAuliffe’s final message was almost entirely negative, focused on tying his opponent to Trump. Glenn Youngkin’s pitch was more complicated. He spent far more time advocating for job training programs, fixing the Virginia DMV, eliminating the state’s grocery tax and admiringly name-checking George W. Bush than he did talking about how he would ban critical race theory (a topic he’s leaned on plenty during the campaign to activate the MAGA base, despite the fact it’s not being taught in schools). Still, Virginia is a blue state that Joe Biden won by 10 points, and the obvious intensity gap on display in the final days can be deceiving. Subscribe to POLITICO Playbook. Raghu Manavalan is the host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio.  Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

Could prescription drug pricing reform make it into the reconciliation bill after all? Senate and House Democrats and the White House came close to reaching a deal on the issue Sunday, report Burgess Everett, Alice Miranda Ollstein and Heather Caygle. The plan in the works would allow some Medicare negotiations with pharmaceutical companies — but if it comes together, it would still be much narrower than many Democrats initially intended. And, the race for governor in Virginia heads into the final stretch. The final polls: FiveThirtyEight’s poll tracker has Youngkin surging into a slight lead, now up by an average of 0.6 points. Raghu Manavalan is the host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio.  Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

To say Thursday was a roller coaster for President Joe Biden's agenda wouldn’t do justice to how truly head-spinning the day was. The White House releases a Build Back Better (BBB) deal backed by Manchinema (now they’re getting somewhere) — only to watch Bernie Sanders balk (never mind). The president delays his trip to Europe to rally House Democrats behind his plan — then whiffs, somehow neglecting to deliver the tough love message Democratic leaders wanted him to so they could pass the bipartisan infrastructure bill (BIF) this week.  But just when it looked like the day would end in embarrassment for Democrats, the Congressional Progressive Caucus issues a surprise endorsement of the president’s compromise plan — removing one of the last big obstacles in its way.  Raghu Manavalan is the host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio.  Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

A senior White House official recently described the reconciliation negotiations as a “nine-way teeter-totter.” Wednesday was a good example. Ever since Sen. Kyrsten Sinema nixed the party’s plan to raise corporate, capital gains and individual tax rates to pay for the bulk of the reconciliation bill, Democrats have been struggling to re-balance the revenue plank. And, House Majority Whip James Clyburn had this to say speaking to the Jewish Federation of Charleston on Wednesday night: “I’m not too sure that Democrats have yet developed the will to win in 2022.”  Raghu Manavalan is the host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio.  Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

President Joe Biden was hoping to announce a deal on his legislative agenda before he heads to Europe on Thursday. But it’s Wednesday already, and so far this week, it’s been two baby steps forward, one giant leap backward for Democrats. We’re not saying a deal won’t materialize; odds are it will — eventually. Here’s a look at the state of play. And, A local TV station in Nevada took down a pro-Catherine Cortez Masto ad Tuesday after the NRSC complained it included “flagrantly false” information about the vulnerable senator’s GOP challenger.  Raghu Manavalan is the host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio.  Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

President Joe Biden might be finally homing in on a deal with Sen. Joe Manchin, but a sense of discontent is starting to bubble up among progressives on the Hill, and it threatens to impede what the White House hoped would be a big week for the Biden agenda.  As the reconciliation bill’s provisions on Medicare, climate and family leave get watered down — if not axed entirely — progressives who initially sounded a positive note after meetings at the White House are now expressing concerns. And those worries are steering the left into a moment of reckoning over how hard to fight for their priorities. Raghu Manavalan is the host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio.  Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

The next nine days are the most important of Joe Biden’s young presidency: He needs to rescue his legislative agenda in Congress, rescue his party’s political candidates in two states and rescue America’s leadership on climate policy in Scotland. The White House is hoping for a virtuous cycle of developments that will help accomplish all three goals: Securing a deal on the reconciliation bill could help Democratic candidates in Virginia and New Jersey. The climate provisions of the final deal will tell world leaders at next week’s COP26 how serious the United States is when it comes to reaching Biden’s stated emissions goals. Raghu Manavalan is the host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio.  Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

Taking questions at a live town hall in Baltimore, Biden got into the nitty-gritty of the reconciliation negotiations, speaking about his mix of frustration with and respect for Sens. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) with surprising candor. He also made some news about the particulars of the bill/framework at this point in time. Raghu Manavalan is the host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio.  Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

The Joe Manchin news that shook Washington on Wednesday was David Corn’s report in Mother Jones that the West Virginia senator is considering motoring his houseboat out of the Democratic dock: “In recent days, Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) has told associates that he is considering leaving the Democratic Party if President Joe Biden and Democrats on Capitol Hill do not agree to his demand to cut the size of the social infrastructure bill from $3.5 trillion to $1.75 trillion, according to people who have heard Manchin discuss this. Manchin has said that if this were to happen, he would declare himself an ‘American Independent.’ And he has devised a detailed exit strategy for his departure.” A rather angry Manchin told our Burgess Everett that Corn’s story was “bullshit.” We talked to Corn on Wednesday night and came away with the impression of a reporter who is 1,000% sure his story was correct.  Raghu Manavalan is the host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio.  Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

President Joe Biden began pitching lawmakers on an outline for his Build Back Better plan Tuesday night. The proposal, pegged in the range of $1.75 to $1.9 trillion, is far from a done deal: Moderates and progressives will have plenty to say before giving anything their blessing. But Hill Democrats are relieved that Biden is getting his hands dirty after sitting on the sidelines for weeks.  “This was a productive conversation and also one that demonstrates momentum,” said a senior congressional aide briefed on one of several meetings Tuesday between the president and lawmakers. “This is a sign that the White House is actually putting pen to paper.” Here’s what Biden told lawmakers about the state of play, as well as our own analysis of the latest. Raghu Manavalan is the host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio.  Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

An unusual confluence of factors have brought back a climate-change fighting policy that many Democrats saw as politically toxic: the carbon tax. While the idea has long been the favored tool of economists (Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen is a strong supporter), some Republicans (like Sen. Mitt Romney) and the American Petroleum Institute, the Biden White House has always opposed pricing carbon. The president’s staff has feared both the general politics and the specific fact that a carbon tax could violate the president’s pledge not to raise taxes on Americans making under $400,000 a year. Raghu Manavalan is the host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio.  Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

Congress returns from recess today with 13 days until Speaker Nancy Pelosi's new Halloween deadline to pass the party’s package of infrastructure and social services legislation. One problem: The latter has yet to be written — or really even outlined. And yet: A series of calls Sunday with sources we trust to give us an honest read on the state of play turned up some genuine optimism they can get it done. At least perhaps an outline of an agreement. The end of October is both the official deadline to renew transportation funding and the effective deadline to provide a boost to Democrat Terry McAuliffe in his surprisingly close campaign for Virginia governor. As Heather Caygle and Burgess Everett wrote over the weekend, there’s a recognition among top Democrats that they’ve got to get this done to help save the state — and that a loss could be seen as an indictment of the party’s legislative agenda. Raghu Manavalan is the host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio.  Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

Fox News’ Paul Steinhauser writes that House Democrats have the upper hand over House Republicans in fundraising ahead of the 2022 midterms. A quick look at the numbers: - In September: DCCC raised $14.5 million; NRCC raised $12.2 million - In Q3 (July-Sept.): DCCC: $35.8 million; NRCC: $25.8 million - In the first nine months of 2021: DCCC: $106.5 million; NRCC: $105 million - BUT BUT BUT… cash on hand: DCCC: $63 million; NRCC: $65 million And, former chiefs of staff to Obama and Bush agree that Ron Klain may be spending too much time on Twitter while managing the leader of the free world. Listen and subscribe to Playbook Deep Dive Raghu Manavalan is the host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio.  Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

 It’s a story we’ve become all too familiar with since Democrats took control of the House in 2019: Lawmakers issue subpoenas to Trump White House officials — who then stonewall at his behest.   Today, the Jan. 6 committee could find itself hitting the same roadblocks. Steve Bannon and Kash Patel have been subpoenaed for questioning today, and Mark Meadows and Dan Scavino are slated for Friday. Trump has asked them not to cooperate, claiming executive privilege bars their participation — an assertion Democrats call bogus.  Raghu Manavalan is the host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio.  Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

So what’s the state of negotiations between the White House and Joe Manchin and Krysten Sinema? The talks have been shrouded in mystery, but we have some fresh details we can share this morning. More is known about Manchin than Sinema, and for a good reason: While Manchin has been willing to discuss his priorities in detail with his colleagues in the Senate, Sinema only negotiates with the White House. Part of solving the Manchinema puzzle is that the 74-year-old former governor from a coal state and the 45-year-old former Green Party activist from Arizona are at odds on some major policies. Raghu Manavalan is the host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio.  Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

With the exception of today — when the House briefly returns to clear the Senate-passed, short-term debt ceiling stopgap — Congress is out on recess this week after lawmakers kicked the can on their entire legislative to-do list.   The big question on everyone’s mind right now is this: Will the delay help them get it all done, or just make matters worse?  Raghu Manavalan is the host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio.  Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

A shouting match erupted on the Senate floor after the vote to delay the debt limit crisis for two months. Sens. John Thune and Mitt Romney confronted Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer after he lambasted Republicans in a floor speech right after the vote. And, it’s no secret that Trump’s endorsements have been impulsive, and it looks like he jumped the gun again by giving an early nod to Sean Parnell in the open Pennsylvania Senate race. Republicans we talked to in Washington and Trump-world are clearly worried since the news broke this week that Parnell requested a gag order on his estranged wife Laurie and her lawyer during their custody battle. Shortly after Trump endorsed Parnell in September, rival Jeff Bartos revealed that Parnell’s wife filed two protective orders against him in 2017 and 2018. Both were expunged, but some Republicans worry that there may be more shoes to drop. Take the POLITICO Podcast Listener Survey Raghu Manavalan is the host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio.  Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

Donald Trump and Sen. Elizabeth Warren actually agree on something: Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell backed down Wednesday when he offered Democrats an extension of the debt ceiling until December. (As of early this morning, the two sides hadn’t finalized the deal.) “McConnell caved,” said Warren. “Looks like Mitch McConnell is folding to the Democrats, again,” said Trump. Was it the filibuster? McConnell backed down after Democratic threats of nuking the filibuster for the debt ceiling started to become more real. At their Tuesday lunch, Democratic senators discussed how McConnell’s blockade on the debt ceiling was boosting the case of filibuster reformers. Later that day, Biden, generally a skeptic of filibuster reform, said such a change for the debt ceiling was now a “real possibility.” Take the POLITICO Podcast Listener Survey Raghu Manavalan is the host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio.  Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.  

Republicans are set to filibuster Democrats’ latest bid to raise the debt ceiling today, just as Mitch McConnell has been saying they’d do since this summer. What is Chuck Schumer's Plan B? The majority leader, a political animal to his core, never passes up an opportunity to put the GOP on record on issues he thinks make Republicans look hypocritical. But privately, many Democrats acknowledge this isn’t going to get them out of the pickle they’re in because McConnell is seemingly impervious to shame — and Dems are running out of time. Take the POLITICO Podcast Listener Survey Raghu Manavalan is the host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio.  Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

President Joe Biden summoned progressives to a Zoom meeting to deliver a simple message, per a senior White House official: “He told them that the end point would be about $2 trillion and he wanted their input on what it should look like.” It was part of a weeklong project by Biden, Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to let it gradually sink in that the reconciliation bill will be dramatically scaled back. Nobody we talked to left the roughly 90-minute call with a detailed understanding of what might be cut or how the new top line would be achieved. Take the POLITICO Podcast Listener Survey Raghu Manavalan is the host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio.  Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

Now that the dust has settled from last week’s drama on the Hill, let’s take stock of where things stand with President Joe Biden's core legislative agenda. Oct. 31 is the new Sept. 30: Congress extended the highway bill, which expired Thursday, until Halloween. “Our goal is to get both bills done in the next month,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said at an event in New York on Sunday. Take the POLITICO Podcast Listener Survey Raghu Manavalan is the host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio.  Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

So much for that make-or-break Thursday vote on the bipartisan infrastructure bill. Speaker Nancy Pelosi delayed the roll call just before 11 p.m. after a flurry of late-night meetings trying to strike a deal with Sens. Krysten Sinema and Joe Manchin over the still-not-final reconciliation package, Build Back Better, at the heart of progressives’ reluctance to pass the BIF at this moment. Here are some takeaways from a crazy day on Capitol Hill... Take the POLITICO Podcast Listener Survey Raghu Manavalan is the host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio.  Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

It’s died a million deaths before. Today might be the latest — albeit, perhaps not the last. Sen. Joe Manchin pretty much ensured defeat of the bipartisan infrastructure deal known as BIF, if the House votes on it at all today. While Manchin signaled he’d support a more modest reconciliation package to roll back the GOP’s 2017 tax cut, that does nothing for Democrats demanding a vote today — or for those vowing to tank it absent a deal. Asked Wednesday night if she intends to pull the vote, Speaker Nancy Pelosi reiterated that “the plan is to bring the bill to the floor.” Is she worried she doesn’t have the votes? “One hour at a time,” she said. Here are the scenarios we could see play out today, from most to least likely. Take the POLITICO Podcast Listener Survey Raghu Manavalan is the host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio.  Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

Tuesday was the day it became clear either: A) President Joe Biden's legislative agenda is about to implode or B) Biden made serious progress toward a deal to salvage his agenda. The public evidence points to option A. By the end of the day, there was no indication Democrats were near a deal that would allow BIF to pass the House on Thursday. But the real action was shrouded in secrecy: the talks between Biden and the two senators who control the fate of his presidency, Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema. So you can’t rule out option B.  Take the POLITICO Podcast Listener Survey Raghu Manavalan is the host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio.  Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

The Democrats’ “two-track” process is no more. After weeks of linking passage of the $1.2 trillion infrastructure package (BIF) to the party’s larger reconciliation bill, Speaker Nancy Pelosi told her members Monday night that she’s forging ahead with a stand-alone vote on BIF as the much larger social spending bill is being hashed out.   It’s a reversal by not only Pelosi but Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and President Joe Biden. Their previous position was that one should not — indeed, cannot — pass without the other. This sets up a major showdown between Pelosi and the Squad, as well as other members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus. CPC Chair Pramila Jayapal has been saying her members will tank the Thursday vote if the Senate doesn’t pass the larger multitrillion-dollar reconciliation bill first. Take the POLITICO Podcast Listener Survey Raghu Manavalan is the host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio.  Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

Congress is three days out from a critical vote on a key plank of the president’s agenda — a massive $1.2 trillion infrastructure package (BIF) — and President Joe Biden and House Democratic leaders haven’t even started the whipping process, we’re told from sources across the Democratic spectrum. Our colleagues Natasha Korecki and Laura Barrón-López reported Sunday night that the president was making calls and doing Zoom sessions from Camp David over the weekend on BIF and the larger reconciliation package. But the seeming lack of urgency so far — given the sheer scale of the task and mere days to complete it — is alarming some House Democrats going into a critical week, multiple people involved told us Sunday night. “I don’t understand why the president isn’t whipping his own historic bill,” said one moderate House Democrat. Take the POLITICO Podcast Listener Survey Raghu Manavalan is the host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio.  Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

Subscribe to Global Insider Global Insider's Ryan Heath runs all over New York, capturing the madness of UNGA’s kickoff, accompanied by his sidekick, producer Olivia Reingold. Hear from Ryan’s go-to “U.N. whisperer,” Richard Gowan of the Crisis Group, and Penny Abeywardena, New York City's Commissioner for International Affairs. Plus: protestors accusing the U.S. of “vaccine apartheid” stop New York City traffic, setting the tone for critics of the Biden administration to come throughout the week. Also: if you have the time, we’re trying to learn more about our listeners. We’d appreciate it if you’re able to take our short survey.  Ryan Heath is the host of the "Global Insider" podcast and newsletter.  Olivia Reingold produces “Global Insider.”  Irene Noguchi edits “Global Insider” and is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.  Richard Gowan is the Crisis Group’s UN director.  Penny Abeywardena is New York City's Commissioner for International Affairs.  Linda Thomas-Greenfield is the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations.   You can subscribe to Ryan’s “Global Insider” newsletter here.

Buckle up. That was the advice from Capitol Hill late Thursday night as news got out that Speaker Nancy Pelosi privately told her committee chairs that she does, in fact, intend to bring the reconciliation bill to the floor next week, reports Heather Caygle. The question now: Is it bravura or bravado? And, The Arizona Republic scooped the results of the Maricopa County “audit” paid for by “Stop the Steal” and Donald Trump allies: It found that Trump lost the key county by a wider margin than the official election results. To put a finer point on this: The firm selected by the people promoting the election lie, Cyber Ninjas, did its own count and found that Joe Biden won. Take the POLITICO Podcast Listener Survey Raghu Manavalan is the host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio.  Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

Here’s the most important development that came from President Joe Biden's five hours of meetings with 23 legislators in the Oval Office on Wednesday, according to a senior White House official: “Moderates agreed that they need to coalesce around an offer to the liberals.” It might not sound like much. But given how dug in both sides have been, the White House views the commitment from the Manch-ema wing as “a real breakthrough.” And, the killing of 20-year-old Army soldier Vanessa Guillen, who had told family she was being sexually harassed by several soldiers prior to her disappearance at Fort Hood last year, has galvanized calls to change how the military deals with sexual assault and harassment.  Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand and Joni Ernst, a veteran and a sexual assault survivor, have long pushed Congress to act on the issue. Join Playbook's Rachael Bade today at 1 p.m. for a Women Rule virtual joint interview with Ernst and Gillibrand to discuss the state of their proposed legislation and what it will take to curb sexual assault and sexual harassment in the military. Register here Take the POLITICO Podcast Listener Survey Raghu Manavalan is the host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio.  Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

Can the House get to 218 on the BIF? That’s the big question on Capitol Hill after Speaker Nancy Pelosi made clear Tuesday her team would not delay a Monday vote on the bipartisan infrastructure bill, aka the BIF. Here’s what we’re watching as Pelosi’s whipping operation gets underway for what promises to be a close vote. Take the POLITICO Podcast Listener Survey Raghu Manavalan is the host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio.  Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

Internal Democratic discord has wounded President Joe Biden’s massive social spending plan, raising the prospect that the package could stall out, shrink dramatically — or even fail altogether. Myriad problems have arisen. Moderate Senate Democrats Joe Manchin (W.Va.) and Kyrsten Sinema (Ariz.) continue to be a major headache for party leadership’s $3.5 trillion target. The Senate parliamentarian just nixed the party’s years long push to enact broad immigration reform. House members may tank the prescription drugs overhaul the party has run on for years. And a fight continues to brew over Sen. Bernie Sanders’ (I-Vt.) push to expand Medicare. And today, Biden interrupts his mission to rescue his agenda in Congress with a mission to rescue his agenda with world leaders. He’ll speak at 10 a.m. before the U.N. General Assembly to an audience far more skeptical about his insistence that “America is back” than they were in the afterglow of Donald Trumps loss, which was (mostly) celebrated around the world.  Take the POLITICO Podcast Listener Survey Raghu Manavalan is the host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio.  Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

Sen. Kyrsten Sinema delivered a tough message to President Joe Biden at a private meeting Wednesday, we’re told: If the House delays its scheduled Sept. 27 vote on the bipartisan infrastructure plan — or if the vote fails — she won’t be backing a reconciliation bill. Sinema is not the only moderate taking this stand. Rep. Kurt Schrader — one of approximately 10 moderate Democratic House members playing hardball with leadership — said he and several members of their group are on the same page. Some of the lawmakers have conveyed that message up the chain to leadership and the White House. A senior Democratic aide confirmed the warnings.   “If they delay the vote — or it goes down — then I think you can kiss reconciliation goodbye,” Schrader told Playbook. “Reconciliation would be dead.”  Take the POLITICO Podcast Listener Survey Raghu Manavalan is the host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio.  Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

- WaPo’s Arelis Hernández and Nick Miroff report overnight that some 10,000 Haitian migrants have crossed the Rio Grande and congregated under a border bridge in South Texas. - President Joe Biden announced in April that his community college professor wife would lead the administration’s efforts on new education initiatives, including her longtime mission to make two years of community college tuition-free. -  NYT’s Jonathan Martin broke a stunning but perhaps not surprising story last night: Rep. Anthony Gonzalez (R-Ohio), one of 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach Donald Trump, is bowing out of what he said would have been a “brutal” reelection primary fight against former Trump aide Max Miller. Take the POLITICO Podcast Listener Survey Raghu Manavalan is the host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio.  Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi made a deal with about a dozen skeptical House moderates In late August to win their support on the party’s $3.5 trillion budget. If they backed the fiscal blueprint, Pelosi promised two things. One was to hold a vote on the bipartisan, $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill by Sept. 27, a sweetener for those members eager to campaign on the policy win. The other promise was less straightforward but no less important: Rather than the House and Senate drafting and voting on separate sweeping reconciliation bills, she agreed to figure out the contours of the social spending package with her Senate counterparts on the front end, ensuring any bill that passes the House would have 51 votes to clear the upper chamber.  Now, however, some moderates are increasingly concerned that Pelosi and her team are playing fast and loose with that commitment. They worry that Democratic leaders are charging ahead with their own expansive version of the reconciliation package without getting on the same page with the Senate first — and making them walk the plank in the process.  Raghu Manavalan is the host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio.  Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio. Subscribe to POLITICO Playbook

Calif. Gov. Gavin Newsom crushed the recall attempt by a nearly 2-to 1 margin. The coverage: David Siders and Carla Marinucci with how he did it. … AP’s Nick Riccardi with 5 takeaways … LAT’s Steve Lopez on possibly “ the most frivolous waste of time in California election history” And, Stephanie Grisham writes in her upcoming book that she did not believe that the election was stolen and tried to convince Melania Trump there was no grand conspiracy to deny her husband a second term. But a senior Trump aide provided text messages to Playbook suggesting that Grisham was sympathetic to — and in one instance tried to assist — efforts to stop the certification of the election in her home state of Arizona.  Subscribe to POLITICO's newest podcast, Global Insider Raghu Manavalan is the host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio.  Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

When it comes to the reconciliation bill, fights over health care and taxes — which are still unresolved by the way — have been the focus while other major policy areas like climate have received little attention. But that’s about to change. House committees have now marked up the key pieces of climate policy. And with the Senate’s return this week, all eyes will once again be on Sen. Joe Manchin, who as chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, is responsible for writing the single most important piece of climate legislation. It’s a bill that could determine whether the United States meets an aggressive emissions-reduction target scientists say is needed to avert global catastrophe (no pressure). Raghu Manavalan is the host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio.  Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

At 1:25 p.m. on Jan. 6, soon after rioters had broken through barricades outside of the Capitol, Melania Trump received a text message from her then-chief of staff, Stephanie Grisham. “Do you want to tweet that peaceful protests are the right of every American, but there is no place for lawlessness and violence?” Grisham asked the first lady. A minute later, Melania replied with a one-word answer: “No.” At that moment, she was at the White House preparing for a photo shoot of a rug she had selected, according to exclusive excerpts of Grisham’s forthcoming book, “I’ll Take Your Questions Now: What I Saw in The Trump White House,” obtained by POLITICO.  And late last night, lawmakers, Hill aides and tax lobbyists were sending around a five-page memo outlining House Ways and Means Democrats’ proposed $2.9 trillion in tax increases. The hikes would “amount to the biggest tax increase in decades, and enough to cover most of what even progressive Democrats hope to spend on their coming ‘reconciliation’ package,” our tax team colleague Brian Faler writes. Raghu Manavalan is the host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio.  Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

On Thursday, President Joe Biden was unsparing about the burdens that the unvaccinated have thrust onto the rest of us: thousands more dead, overflowing hospitals, a rebounding economy showing signs of retreat. Pandemic politics, as Biden called it, are not simple. But eight months into the crisis, any new set of rules offered by the president raises an obvious question: Why didn’t he do this already? The White House calls it a 6-point plan, but there were two big new things that Biden announced: — Vaccinations: Biden is finally leveraging the unilateral power of the federal government to expand vax mandates to some 100 million Americans: all workers at companies with over 100 employees, all federal employees and contractors, anyone who works for a health care provider that receives Medicare or Medicaid reimbursements, any employee at a school that receives federal money from Head Start and a few other programs.  — Testing: Biden is using federal authorities to surge the production and distribution of rapid Covid tests, including at-home tests. Raghu Manavalan is the host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio.  Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

They started off with a $6 trillion price tag, then lowered it to $3.5 trillion. Now, there’s reporting suggesting Sen. Joe Manchin wants the total for Democrats’ reconciliation plan to drop as low as $1 trillion or $1.5 trillion (though for what its worth some people close to him say his comfort zone is probably closer to $2 trillion). So what exactly will Democrats’ topline number be? And, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has promised to bring up long-stalled voting rights legislation when the Senate returns. Raghu Manavalan is the host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio.  Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

A scoop on the Trump revenge front: Marc Caputo and Alex Isenstadt report that Donald Trump is set to endorse Wyoming attorney Harriet Hageman in her expected primary against GOP Rep. Liz Cheney. the former president’s top target in his attempt to purge the Republican party of his fiercest critics. Caputo and Isenstadt call it “the most important political endorsement yet in Trump’s post-presidency,” while noting that not too long ago Hageman was a staunch supporter of Cheney. As of Tuesday night, Hageman “still had a photo of the two of them together on [her] website.” And, on Tuesday, Rep. Richard Neal (D-Mass.), the chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, released a major batch of legislation that he wants stuffed in the Dems’ $3.5 trillion reconciliation bill, including proposals on family and medical leave, retirement, child care, trade, elder care, nursing and an expansion of Medicare to include dental, hearing and vision coverage. Progressives cheered. But in no time, a source close to the negotiations reached out to us to dampen the celebration on the left: “Neither the White House or Senate Dems approved the Ways & Means package released today. Negotiations are ongoing.” It is the latest example of a frequent complaint from House staffers: that Biden and his White House have a Senate bias. Raghu Manavalan is the host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio.  Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

One challenge in covering the Dems’ $3.5 trillion reconciliation bill is conveying the sheer enormity of it. Nobody really even knows what to call it. Is it a jobs package? A human infrastructure bill? A climate bill? Social welfare legislation? Yes. Because Dems aim to pass into law every major domestic priority on which they can find agreement, it is all of those things and more. The NYT’s Jonathan Weisman today has one of the better distillations of the breadth of this legislation by looking at its “cradle to grave” qualities and how they would affect the relationship between Americans and the federal government. Raghu Manavalan is the host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio.  Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

A few reactions and realities the day after the Supreme Court abortion decision... States are already weighing copycat laws on abortions, Covid-19 precautions, and gun restrictions... Democrats feel the limits of their power in trying to protect Roe v. Wade... Even some anti-abortion conservatives think the Texas law is bad for their cause. MEDICARE EXPANSION VS. ACA: Democratic leaders have been spending the August recess privately sparring over which health care programs should get priority in the party’s $3.5 trillion reconciliation bill. The fight is expected to drag out for days if not weeks — and pits extra benefits for seniors versus coverage for more low-income individuals... Speaker Nancy Pelosi wants to shore up subsidies for Obamacare, while Sen. Bernie Sanders is looking to expand Medicare to include dental, vision and hearing... in the middle, Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is trying to persuade Pelosi.  Carlos Prieto is a Politico podcast producer. Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio.  Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

BREAKING OVERNIGHT: The Supreme Court, by 5 to 4, declined to block Texas’s law banning abortions after six weeks — a strong but not final indication that the court will soon overturn Roe v. Wade … Conservative majority cites “complex,” “novel” legal technicalities and insists constitutionality can still be reviewed later on … Chief Justice John Roberts and the court’s three liberals write outraged dissents describing the law as clearly unconstitutional and blasting the majority for shirking their duty. … The ruling, per AP, “​​for now [strips] most women of the right to an abortion in the nation’s second-largest state.” What you’ll hear today from abortion rights supporters, via former acting Solicitor General Neal Katyal (@Neal Katyal): “Congress should tmrw pass legislation to codify Roe. SCOTUS powerless to stop it. If [Republicans] filibuster, great [argument] to get rid of it.” Raghu Manavalan is the host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio.  Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

President Joe Biden ended August on Tuesday with a combative speech in which he defended his decision-making on Afghanistan, which has become by far the most controversial turn of his short presidency. He criticized Afghan national security forces for melting away in the face of the Taliban. He insisted that Americans in Afghanistan had “multiple warnings and offers to help them leave.” “Biden is fighting The Blob,” noted our colleague Alex Ward. “That seems to be the messaging here, both in and out of DC.” And, Biden is about to make a sharp pivot from fighting D.C.’s foreign policy Blob to fighting D.C.’s interest group Blob. Two weeks from today, congressional committees are scheduled to complete assembling the myriad pieces of Build Back Better into a single bill — resulting in possibly the largest package of new legislation in American history. Today we start Playbook’s series of deep dives into the major policies of the reconciliation bill by digging into the Dems’ proposals to lower prescription drug costs.

It’s been a month from hell for President Joe Biden. From the Afghanistan pullout mission that led to American casualties, to the spike in Covid-19 hospitalizations — and an accompanying hit to his poll numbers — September can’t come soon enough for the president. After the last soldier boarded a C-17 to depart Afghanistan on Monday, the White House and Democrats are looking for a reset, our colleagues Natasha Korecki, Chris Cadelago and Laura Barrón-López report. The trio write today that Biden and the Democrats are “racing to put the conflict’s tumultuous exit behind them … plotting a way forward that hinges tactically on Biden’s handling of the Covid-19 pandemic and passage of his sweeping economic agenda on Capitol Hill. Raghu Manavalan is the host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio.  Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

Lara Seligman has a breathtaking account from inside the Pentagon that is based on detailed notes of three classified calls in the hours leading up to Thursday’s terrorist attack outside Abbey Gate at Kabul’s Hamid Karzai International Airport that killed almost 200 people. Lara documents the Pentagon’s deepening frustration with reliance on the Taliban to provide security in Kabul (and even drive buses for evacuees), as well as Biden officials’ growing conviction that an attack was coming and a fateful decision to keep the airport’s Abbey Gate open in order to process British evacuees.  And, add Hurricane Ida and North Korea to the list of crises President Biden is facing this week. August was supposed to be devoted to highlighting pieces of the Biden economic agenda that is now being assembled by congressional committees into a $3.5 trillion bill. Biden hasn’t held an event devoted to a piece of that bill since the evacuation crisis began. Raghu Manavalan is the host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio.  Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

When Kabul fell to the Taliban several days ago, rocking President Joe Biden's pullout operation, the White House made a strategic choice: They doubled down, didn’t apologize and crossed their fingers that the nation would move on quickly. Now, 13 U.S. service members are dead following a pair of suicide bombs — the first U.S. troops to be killed in Afghanistan in 18 months — as are 95 Afghans. The attack, carried out by ISIS-K, is the deadliest assault on U.S. troops in the country in a decade. Raghu Manavalan is the host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio.  Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

Today is the kind of day that candidate Joe Biden said he was uniquely prepared for. Congress is gone, domestic policy has been momentarily pushed aside, and global crises are colliding. President Biden awakens to the burden of his promises with a busy public schedule completely focused on foreign policy. He receives an update on the situation in Afghanistan from his national security team in the morning, has two bilateral meetings with new Israeli PM Naftali Bennett before noon and hosts a late-afternoon Zoom with governors who have volunteered to help resettle Afghan refugees. Here's what to expect in the day ahead. Raghu Manavalan is the host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio.  Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

We try our best around here to sift through the competing narratives each day and present our dear listeners with a coherent story. But this is one of those weeks in American politics when it’s best to lay out some possibilities, especially across the three great challenges that President Joe Biden is facing right now: Afghanistan, the Covid-19 pandemic and Build Back Better. Raghu Manavalan is the host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio.  Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

“How dare you?!” … “I’m pissed off!” … "Please, everybody vote for the damn thing.” Those were just some of the choice phrases being thrown around in the House Dems’ caucus meeting Monday night as tensions over the budget standoff between Speaker Nancy Pelosi and moderate Democrats reached a boiling point. The chamber broke shortly after midnight without any deal in place to advance the fiscal blueprint vital to passing President Joe Biden’s legislative agenda. Raghu Manavalan is the host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio.  Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

This week's big storyline: the Pelosi-Gottheimer game of chicken — The House returns to Washington today for a rare mid-August-recess vote on Democrats’ $3.5 trillion budget — at least in theory. One little problem: Speaker Nancy Pelosi still doesn’t have the votes to pass it. And on Sunday night, the White House announced that over a 12-hour period at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul on Sunday, approximately 1,700 people were evacuated on 8 U.S. military flights, and 3,400 people via coalition aircraft. — Biden is considering extending the Aug. 31 deadline to withdraw troops in order to facilitate the evacuation of Americans and Afghan allies. Among those lobbying for it: British PM Boris Johnson, according to the Telegraph. Raghu Manavalan is the host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio.  Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.  

A pair of must-reads on Afghanistan overnight: — A WSJ scoop that casts perhaps the harshest light yet on the administration’s performance, by Vivian Salama: “An internal State Department memo last month warned top agency officials of the potential collapse of Kabul soon after the U.S.’s Aug. 31 troop withdrawal deadline in Afghanistan, according to a U.S. official and a person familiar with the document. — A POLITICO tick-tock on “five days of panic” inside the Biden administration as Afghanistan unraveled and crisis ensued, by Alexander Ward, Lara Seligman, Andrew Desiderio, Alex Thompson and Bryan Bender: “[B]y Thursday morning in Washington, more population centers were falling to the Taliban by the hour, including the provincial capitals of Ghazni and Badghis. And, did Barack Obama ruin the party in D.C.? His over-the-top 60th birthday party in Martha’s Vineyard first drew criticism for the size of the guest list during the Delta surge — and then after he slimmed it down, the former president was blasted for throwing an opulent party during a pandemic. It didn’t matter that he was following CDC protocols for an outdoor event. The bashing of the bash is having a chilling effect on the D.C. party scene as (especially Democratic) pols and their staffers scramble to figure out when and where — or even if — they can party again.  Raghu Manavalan is the host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio.  Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

Republicans universally agree that President Joe Biden's bungled handling of the Afghanistan pullout has given them fresh ammunition to attack the commander in chief. Many Democrats think the same. But a major rift is starting to emerge in GOP messaging, as the Donald Trump wing of the party seeks to turn the matter into a base appeal with anti-immigration rhetoric. Over the past week, most GOP lawmakers have lambasted Biden for abandoning interpreters and Afghan civilians who put their lives at risk to help U.S. troops — and are now trapped as armed militias block their escape. But a not-insignificant chunk of the party is using the Afghanistan disaster as fodder for their campaign against immigration. The unsubstantiated charge: that Biden intentionally fumbled the withdrawal in order to flood the U.S. with Afghans.  Raghu Manavalan is the host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio.  Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

President Joe Biden's average approval rating is below 50% for the first time this year. 538: 49.8% … RCP: 49.4% The dip has been driven by a slow erosion among independents that seems tied to the Delta surge and predates the problems in Afghanistan. It also may be inevitable. FiveThirtyEight’s Geoffrey Skelley: “We don’t know the range in which Biden’s approval will ultimately settle, but if the past two presidents are any indication, it’ll be a narrow one: Donald Trump’s approval mostly hovered between 40 and 45 percent during his presidency, while Barack Obama’s approval tended to fall between 45 and 50 percent.” And, in the coming days we’re going to be picking out the most consequential proposals in the infrastructure plan and digging into the politics of these policies. But first we want to hear from you. What policies do you most want to see unpacked? What are the political crosscurrents that you’re witnessing from your perch at, say, a House committee, Cabinet agency or outside interest group? What policies are the most vulnerable and unlikely to survive the sausage-making process? What are the hidden land mines in Build Back Better? Send us your scoops, insights, requests and tips at playbook@politico.com. We’ll keep it all confidential, and it will help us cover this unprecedented period of legislating in Washington. Raghu Manavalan is the host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio.  Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

Before President Joe Biden took the podium to address the deteriorating situation in Afghanistan on Monday, senior Obama White House advisor David Axelrod was on CNN giving him some free advice: “You cannot defend the execution here. … This has been a disaster,” he said. “He needs to own that failure. … He’s the commander in chief.” As Axelrod said after, Biden did anything but. Even as he asserted that “the buck stops with me,” Biden pointed fingers at everyone but himself: Donald Trump tied his hands with his deal with the Taliban, the Afghan army wasn’t willing to fight, and some civilians didn’t initially want to leave. Most of all, he defended the pullout he’s been advocating for years. Raghu Manavalan is the host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio.  Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

Every biography or deep profile of President Joe Biden emphasizes his stubbornness, the chip on his soldier, his lifelong desire to prove doubters wrong — whether it was overcoming a stutter, or demonstrating his intellectual bona fides or entering political contests the experts said he couldn’t win. This is what the right gets wrong about Biden. Many conservatives see Biden’s Afghanistan blunder as evidence of a president who is detached and a plaything of his strongest advisers. Nothing could be further from the truth. Raghu Manavalan is the host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio.  Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

Zach Montellaro, a POLITICO campaigns reporter and expert in (among other things) redistricting, writes in with a special dispatch today: Thursday brought the Census Bureau’s long-delayed release of redistricting data — the granular demographic data that mapmakers across the country will use to redraw political boundaries for the next decade. And while it’ll take some more number-crunching before data is ready for prime time, we already have some big takeaways: 1) The country is more diverse. 2) America is more urban. 3) We’re getting older. Raghu Manavalan is the host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio.  Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi is calling the House back from summer recess Aug. 23 to vote on the party’s $3.5 trillion budget, but she has a problem: Six moderate House Democrats, our ace House reporters Sarah Ferris and Heather Caygle report, have indicated that they’ll oppose the fiscal blueprint unless the speaker puts the Senate-passed BIF up for a vote at the same time. The speaker can lose only three votes. So this sets up another Washington staredown, this time pitting Pelosi against some of her most electorally vulnerable members, whom she often bends over backward to protect. And, former President Donald Trump is expected to meet Thursday with Harriet Hageman, a potential challenger to Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney, his Republican nemesis in the House. Raghu Manavalan is the host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio.  Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

We have liftoff. Early this morning, in a 50-49 vote along party lines, the Senate passed a $3.5 trillion budget resolution that outlines the Dems’ policy agenda. We stayed up late watching the Senate vote-a-rama, the long and free-wheeling debate over amendments to the budget resolution. The vote-a-rama is meaningless in some ways. The amendments — as well as the underlying resolution — are all non-binding. But if there was one area where the Republican Party repeatedly revealed a Democratic divide, it was on climate policy. Raghu Manavalan is the host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio.  Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

It’s about time. After months of haggling, the chamber is expected to pass the BIF today at 11 a.m., then move fairly quickly to consider Democrats’ $3.5 trillion budget resolution. Majority Leader Chuck Schumer indicated late Monday night that he thought both sides would agree to forgo the 50 allowable hours of debate. That would allow the chamber to start their vote-a-rama today and get out of town ASAP. But, it’s the Senate, y’all. And all it takes is one senator to slow things down. And, Jewish Insider’s Matthew Kassel has picked up on a really juicy dynamic playing out in Democratic districts across the country: a war between Justice Democrats and Democratic Majority for Israel. Per Kassel, the faceoff between the two groups is “unusually personal” and “has animated several high-profile contests in recent cycles, particularly amid growing divisions between the hard left and moderates over Israel.” We saw this playing out last week in the election-night speeches of Shontel Brown, who benefited from contributions from pro-Israel groups and thanked “my Jewish brothers and sisters,” and Nina Turner, who complained about “evil money” from outside groups. The Democratic Majority for Israel super PAC spent nearly $1 million to boost Brown.  Raghu Manavalan is the host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio.  Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

The legislation formerly known as BIF — officially it’s the Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act, but IIJA doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue — could pass the Senate today. What else did we learn during BIF’s long and winding road to (seemingly imminent) passage? We pinged some of the people at the center of the deal in the Senate and White House for some lessons learned. Here are some of the key takeaways. Raghu Manavalan is the host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio.  Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

Days after Mitch McConnell's political flacks complained about our reporting detailing the GOP leader’s concerns about Herschel Walker running for Senate in Georgia, CNN has a story confirming the scoop and adding to it. McConnell, it turns out, is so worried about the former NFL star and Donald Trump favorite becoming the GOP nominee that he’s seeking other candidates. And, it’s been nearly eight months, and the Biden administration does not have a single ambassador to a country confirmed. Raghu Manavalan is the host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio.  Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

Chuck Schumer is about to double-dog dare Mitch McConnell and his members to vote against a debt ceiling increase this fall. Just weeks after the minority leader implored his counterpart to tack a debt ceiling increase on to their party’s massive reconciliation bill — lifting the $28 trillion borrowing cap without any GOP votes — Schumer instead is maneuvering to make Republicans squirm. The tentative plan: Tack the debt-ceiling hike on to a short-term funding bill designed to avert a government shutdown at the end of September, a move that would require GOP support. The Democratic leader is, in short, betting the GOP will cave rather than risk the blame for destabilizing an already shaky economy.  And during the 2020 primary season, we had countless conversations with Biden campaign officials who warned that it was crucial to separate the social media conversation about Democratic politics from the conversations happening offline in early states.  It became a cliche to say that Biden’s unofficial campaign slogan was “Twitter isn’t real life.” While Biden and Bernie haven’t been very far apart on policy, old electoral divisions have repeatedly resurfaced in campaigns this year, and we’ve been having a familiar conversation with folks in Biden world recently. Raghu Manavalan is the host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio.  Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

Mike Carey might have been on the ballot, but in the Buckeye State on Tuesday night Donald Trump was just as much the winner. The former president’s candidate prevailed in a 10-way primary to replace former Rep. Steve Stivers, showing that the “Trump influence waning” narrative last week was premature. For the second time in recent weeks, progressives came up short. Our Ally Mutnick, reporting on the ground in Bedford Heights, Ohio: “The Democratic establishment dealt a crushing blow to the progressive movement Tuesday, with Shontel Brown, the preferred candidate of party stalwarts, triumphing over Nina Turner, a face of the insurgent left, in a special congressional primary election.” And, New York Democrats are gearing up to impeach Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo — and soon — after he refused to step down in the wake of state A.G. Tish James’ Tuesday report that he sexually harassed 11 women. We break down what it will look like. Raghu Manavalan is the host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio.  Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.  

The two special election primaries for Congress in Ohio today offer windows into each party a little more than six months into President Joe Biden's tenure — and Donald Trump's post-presidency. And, for a while now the hottest ticket in town has been an invitation to Sen. Joe Manchin's houseboat. He’s entertained top White House officials like Ron Klain, but mostly he’s used the boat to bring together bipartisan groups of senators. But this week Manchin’s ongoing attempts to lubricate the gears of Congress with bonhomie aboard Almost Heaven, as the vessel is called, took a frightening turn when a vaccinated Sen. Lindsey Graham, one of his Saturday guests, tested positive for Covid-19. Raghu Manavalan is the host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio.  Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

All eyes are on the Senate again this week. On Sunday night, a little past 9 p.m., the bipartisan infrastructure bill finally hit the Senate floor. Majority Leader Chuck Schumer introduced the legislation with these momentous words: “I call up the Sinema-Portman substitute amendment!” OK, maybe it doesn’t read as momentous on the page, but we watched it live, and after weeks of delay — and a comical weekend of Schumer repeatedly coming to the Senate floor and granting the bipartisan group more time — it seemed like a big deal. And, with the lapsed moratorium on evictions now Washington’s latest political hot potato, House Democratic leadership sent out a joint statement Sunday night calling on the White House and CDC to extend the protections, and declaring that “action is needed and it must come from the Administration.” Raghu Manavalan is the host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio.  Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

Sen. Krysten Sinema is not letting BIF or the reconciliation bill get in the way of her summer plans. When Chuck Schumer announced earlier this month that he might keep the Senate in session into August — delaying a previously scheduled recess in order to shepherd the two gigantic bills through the chamber — Sinema told the majority leader that she was not sticking around to vote, multiple Senate sources tell Playbook. She had prior vacation plans, she said, and wasn’t about to let the infrastructure or reconciliation bills get in the way. She may be in luck, though: Rank-and-file hopes run high on the Hill that if the BIF-related votes pass without a hitch, Schumer could hold a vote-a-rama on the budget Thursday night, allowing senators to leave Washington by Aug. 6 with their summer plans intact. But maybe that’s too rosy (or rosé, if you’ll pardon the pun). Raghu Manavalan is the host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio.  Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell wants to flip the chamber in 2022. But one potential obstacle keeps coming up time and again: multiple Donald Trump-inspired candidates who might sweep their GOP primaries but go on to lose in the general election. Take Georgia: While Trump is all but begging NFL legend Herschel Walker to run against Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock, McConnell views Walker’s personal history as a vulnerability. Raghu Manavalan is the host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio.  Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio

In the special election runoff in Texas’s 6th District, Jake Ellzey defeated the Trump-endorsed candidate, Susan Wright. It's a pretty rough outcome for Trump in a district where his super PAC spent over $100,000 last weekend, according to the Dallas Morning News. And, this was the week we stepped back in time when it comes to masks, and ditched carrots for sticks when it comes to vaccinations. Expect this to get politicized quickly with announcements in the coming days from states, cities, companies and political entities either embracing or condemning vaccine requirements.  Raghu Manavalan is the host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio.  Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio  

This is going to be an all-around tough day for House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy — and to a large degree, it’s a self-inflicted predicament. The House’s Jan. 6 committee makes its debut this morning. And, for the first time across dozens of high-profile Trump-related oversight hearings, Republican leadership and allies will have no voice on the panel. Raghu Manavalan is the host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio.  Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

Earlier this year, two of the most unlikely pairings in America started on a journey that we here at Playbook have been watching closely: Bennifer and BIF. Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck's first clandestine meetings were reported in the spring. Around that same time, some Republican senators began quietly meeting with their Democratic colleagues to discuss infrastructure. Both reunions were so improbable that they needed to be shrouded in secrecy lest they fall apart under the glare of public scrutiny. In the end, Bennifer went public before BIF. The couple made it “Instagram official” Saturday, but we’re still waiting to see the full details of the bipartisan infrastructure framework. Raghu Manavalan is the host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio.  Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

No matter what happens to BIF, Pete Buttigieg has already won. The Iowa caucus winner-turned-Transportation secretary has redefined the backwater Cabinet position where Democrats typically plant their obligatory Republican senior official and vice versa (e.g. Obama/LaHood, Bush/Mineta). Buttigieg has assumed celebrity status in D.C., a mainstay of Playbook “spotteds”: In the past six months we’ve seen him riding his bike to work, hanging with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez at the dog park, waiting in line for ice cream, sitting next to President Joe Biden in the Oval Office and beamed into our living rooms giving off warm fuzzies about a pretty non-ideological issue: infrastructure. It’s a posting that has never led to the presidency, yet some say Buttigieg has positioned himself well by taking the gig, right when fixing roads and bridges is the issue.  Raghu Manavalan is the host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio.  Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.