| | | | |  | | By Eugene Daniels, Ryan Lizza and Rachael Bade | | | With help from Eli Okun, Garrett Ross and Bethany Irvine
| | | |  | DRIVING THE DAY | | | THE TRUTH IS OUT THERE — Garrett Graff for POLITICO Mag: “We Have a UFO Problem. What We Don’t Have (Yet) is a Serious Answer.” SHOWDOWN ON SOUTH CAPITOL STREET — “Protest outside DNC headquarters in Washington turns violent,” by WaPo’s Maham Javaid and Clarence Williams: “Demonstration organizers said at least 100 participants suffered injuries after being pepper-sprayed and pushed by police. Six officers suffered injuries after being pepper-sprayed and punched, police said on social media. … The demonstration was one of several across the nation since the attack on Israel by Hamas on Oct. 7 and Israel’s blockade and recurring strikes against Gaza.” More via CNN … “According to a person familiar with the matter, the Democratic leaders — House Minority Leader HAKEEM JEFFRIES, House Minority Whip KATHERINE CLARK and PETE AGUILAR, the No. 3 Democrat — were inside as the clash between protesters and police erupted. About 10 members were there … meeting with House candidates who were in town for training sessions and to connect with fellow Democrats.” Eyewitness accounts … Semafor’s Dave Weigel … Rep. SEAN CASTEN (D-Ill.) … AZ-01 candidate ANDREI CHERNY … Jewish Voice for Peace Action
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President Joe Biden and China's President President Xi Jinping walk in the gardens at the Filoli Estate in Woodside, Calif., Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2023, on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperative conference. | Doug Mills/The New York Times | HE SAID, XI SAID — When President JOE BIDEN sat down across from Chinese President XI JINPING yesterday for a four-hour meeting at the APEC Conference in San Francisco, the biggest win the administration expected was a relationship reset — lowering the temperature between the two nations. According to Biden, they succeeded … for now. The two leaders agreed to (1) reestablish military communications after they were cut more than a year ago; (2) strengthen cooperation on counternarcotics as a way to curb the fentanyl crisis here in the U.S.; and (3) kick off a new round of talks on climate change. In a solo news conference after the meeting, Biden told reporters that in the months ahead, the U.S. would continue to preserve and pursue high-level diplomacy with the PRC to keep the lines of communication open. “He and I agreed that either one of us can pick up the phone and call directly,” Biden said. “Miscalculations on either side can or can cause real, real trouble with a country like China or any other major country.” The proof is in the pudding: The Chinese government has often made promises to only ignore those promises later. And while Biden seemed pretty pleased with where things stand, two small moments from the news conference give us a glimpse into just how frosty the relationship continues to be. When asked if he still saw Xi as dictator, Biden replied, “Well, look, he is.” Asked if he trusted the other leader, he said, “I trust but verify, as an old saying goes. That’s where I am.” Toplines on the ongoing tensions: POLITICO: “Biden’s candid assessment of China’s leader proved to be a closer reflection of the increasingly frosty relationship between the two powers. It also harkened back to a broader theme of Biden’s presidency: That the global stage is a fight for survival between democracy and autocracy, with stakes that couldn’t be higher. … “Below the surface pleasantries, readouts for the two leaders exposed the deep divisions on key bilateral issues. Xi demanded that the U.S. ‘stop arming Taiwan,’ Xinhua reported. He also declared that the self-governing island’s ‘reunification’ with China — something the majority of Taiwanese oppose — is 'unstoppable.' Biden said America’s policy on Taiwan has not changed.” NYT: “The two leaders issued no joint statement. There appeared to have been only brief discussion of the most aggressive actions that have come close to triggering disasters: the scores of Chinese intercepts of American planes that the U.S. says are flying in international airspace, or the confrontations in disputed waters off the Philippines and the South China Sea.” WSJ: “The outcome is likely to face pressure in coming months, with disagreements over an election in Taiwan and the Chinese navy’s harassment of ships from the Philippines, a U.S. ally.” Good Thursday morning. Thanks for reading Playbook. Drop us a line: Rachael Bade, Eugene Daniels, Ryan Lizza.
| | | | A message from Instagram: Parents should be able to decide which apps are right for their teens.
Apps can teach teens skills or ignite their creativity. But with access to so many apps, parents should have a say in which ones their teens download.
That’s why Instagram wants to work with Congress to require parental approval wherever teens under 16 download apps.
Learn more. | | | FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: REYNOLDS RALLIES FOR DeSANTIS — Iowa Gov. KIM REYNOLDS will join RON DeSANTIS for an appearance on Saturday in Urbandale as the Florida governor opens his new Iowa headquarters for the campaign’s homestretch. The DeSantis camp is betting that Reynolds, with her high popularity among Republicans in the state, will help put him over the top in the Jan. 15 caucuses. Related read: DeSantis campaign launches new TV ad in Iowa featuring Gov. Kim Reynolds,” by KCCI’s Amanda Rooker SENATE APPROVES JOHNSON’S LADDER — Crisis averted, or at least delayed. Last night, in an 87-11 vote, the Senate approved the House-passed staggered continuing resolution to keep the government open into 2024, with one tranche of government funding running out on Jan. 19 and the other on Feb. 2. (Good news for Hill folk: You can safely make your holiday travel plans!) After originally scoffing at the concept of the “ladder CR” championed (and created) by newly minted House Speaker MIKE JOHNSON, many senators sounded resigned to voting for the bill. Sen. SHELLEY MOORE CAPITO (R-W.Va.) told our Hill colleagues: “I liked the Christmas [government funding deadline] date the best. But obviously this sounds like it’s congealing. So we’ll just live with it.” Sen. MIKE ROUNDS (R-S.D.) told WaPo: “If it makes the kids happy, then what the heck? It’s Thanksgiving, and you know what? If you want to eat your dessert before you eat your turkey, that’s fine. But it will make it a bigger problem down the road.” (And yes, the “kids” he’s referring to are the Republicans in the House.) In a statement, White House press secretary KARINE JEAN-PIERRE said that President Biden “will sign the continuing resolution passed by bipartisan majorities in the House and Senate that prevents a government shutdown, maintains current funding levels, and has no harmful policy riders.” WHAT THE WHITE HOUSE REALLY THINKS: Though they would’ve been loath to admit this publicly during the negotiations, the feeling in the White House is that the lopsided Democratic votes needed to get this CR across the finish line strengthens the Democrats' hands moving forward into the supplemental and 2024 funding fights that will soon consume Congress. Biden aides feel certain that, at the end of the day, the GOP won’t do anything consequential without Democratic votes. (Fair enough: That’s a throughline from the earlier CR that sent KEVIN McCARTHY packing.) When we asked White House aides if they felt like that the anger aimed at Johnson from the right flank of the GOP could make this all backfire in some way, officials shrugged: They see any fracturing within the Republican House as simply strengthening Democrats’ hand.
| | | | A message from Instagram:   | | | | | WHAT'S HAPPENING TODAY | | On the Hill The Senate is out. The House is out. 3 things to watch …
- The long-awaited House Ethics Committee report on Rep. GEORGE SANTOS (R-N.Y.) will be out as soon as today, and reporters got an unusual sneak preview in the Capitol halls yesterday from Chair MICHAEL GUEST (R-Miss.). The report, he said, will not recommend a particular sanction for Santos but will say “enough for members to be able to make a decision as to whether or not they believe it would be proper to expel Rep. Santos." More from Anthony Adragna
- Expect the DNC clash last night to prompt Capitol Police and congressional officials to take an even more careful approach to member security as tensions continue rising over the conflict in the Middle East.
- One thing we’re not watching: Thanks to the Senate’s late-night exit, the Judiciary Committee won’t be holding its usual Thursday business meeting today, Chairman DICK DURBIN (D-Ill.) confirmed — meaning there won’t be any further action on Democrats’ proposed subpoenas for conservative honchos HARLAN CROW and LEONARD LEO for at least two weeks. (h/t The Hill’s Alex Bolton)
At the White House Biden will speak at the APEC CEO Summit in San Francisco at 1:45 p.m. Eastern. At 3:05, he’ll take part in a “family photo” with APEC leaders, followed by a working lunch. At 6:30, he’ll deliver remarks, and at 10:45, he and first lady JILL BIDEN will host the APEC heads of delegation for dinner. VP KAMALA HARRIS will deliver remarks at Biden and the First Lady’s welcome reception for APEC leaders this evening.
| | | | SUBSCRIBE TO CALIFORNIA CLIMATE: Climate change isn’t just about the weather. It's also about how we do business and create new policies, especially in California. So we have something cool for you: A brand-new California Climate newsletter. It's not just climate or science chat, it's your daily cheat sheet to understanding how the legislative landscape around climate change is shaking up industries across the Golden State. Subscribe now to California Climate to keep up with the changes. | | | | | | | PLAYBOOK READS | | ALL POLITICS
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Republican National Committee chair Ronna McDaniel speaks during a news conference at the Republican National Committee on Nov. 9. | Alex Brandon/AP | McDANIEL UNDER SIEGE — With conservative groups clamoring for her resignation and DONALD TRUMP privately criticizing the RNC’s handling of the primary debates and election year priorities, RNC Chair RONNA McDANIEL is “bearing the brunt of her party’s frustrations,” Alex Isenstadt, Meredith McGraw and Natalie Allison report this morning. But party sources believe she will survive the threat to her leadership. Behind the scenes: “McDaniel’s performance as chair has been a topic of conversation among southern RNC members gathered for a regional training this week at the Beau Rivage Resort & Casino in Biloxi, Miss. But nearly no one believes a majority, let alone two-thirds, of RNC members would be willing to hold a special vote to oust her a year before her term is up.” More top reads:
2024 WATCH JUST POSTED — “DeSantis talks tough on China, takes cash from China-backed company,” by The Miami Herald’s Ben Wieder, Theo Hockstader and Amelia Winger: “[Florida Gov. RON] DeSANTIS has gone on the offensive against Chinese influence in recent months, signing a bill restricting what land Chinese companies and citizens can buy in Florida and suspending state scholarships to several Florida schools … But this August he took a check for more than $11,000 from the CEO of a Tampa refrigerant company with direct backing from China. It was just the latest in years of financial support that the company, iGas USA, has given DeSantis.” NEW HAMPSHIRE ON THE CALENDAR — After New Hampshire’s Secretary of State announced yesterday that the state’s first-in-the-nation primary is scheduled for Jan. 23. There will be 24 Republicans and 21 Democrats on the ballot. (One name that will not be: Joe Biden.) More from WMUR’s Steve Bottari THE ACTBLUE BLUES — “Biden campaign considers changing digital fundraising platforms,” by Holly Otterbein and Zach Montellaro CONGRESS
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House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) walks to his office at the U.S. Capitol Nov. 13, 2023. | Francis Chung/POLITICO | HOUSE GOP IN DISARRAY? — If you peek behind that gossamer-thin bit of good news for the House Republicans (the passage of Mike Johnson’s laddered CR!), you see a very real fear that “the House won’t get any better when members return,” Sarah Ferris, Olivia Beavers and Jordain Carney report. The gist: “Republicans cannot agree on basic policy priorities or even fund the government without a majority of Democratic votes. Individual lawmakers are going rogue on the House floor with theatrical efforts to censure colleagues and impeach members of the Biden administration. A growing number of lawmakers are choosing to retire because they feel it’s impossible to get anything done. … “‘It’s the same clown car with a different driver,’ [Rep. KELLY] ARMSTRONG [R-N.D.] said. And unless the GOP could figure out a way to regain control of the floor, he warned: ‘We essentially don’t have the majority.’” More top reads:
- Progressive House Dems who oppose Israel's Gaza offensive are once again demanding Minority Leader HAKEEM JEFFRIES do more to shield them from primary threats from pro-Israel Democrats, as Nicholas Wu and Brittany Gibson report this morning. “[I]it's unclear how much Jeffries can do to dissuade AIPAC and other pro-Israel groups,” the pair write. “The United Democracy Project, a super PAC run by AIPAC, and DMFI PAC, which is run by Democratic Majority for Israel, are already ramping up for the 2024 cycle.”
- “Va. congressional delegation calls for probe into FBI site selection,” by WaPo’s Antonio Olivo and Erin Cox
| | | | A message from Instagram:   | | | TRUMP CARDS
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Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis claimed Harrison Floyd “engaged in numerous intentional and flagrant violations” of his bond agreement. | Ben Gray/AP | GEORGIA ON MY MIND — Fulton County District Attorney FANI WILLIS, who is leading the sprawling Georgia election interference case against former president DONALD TRUMP, asked a judge yesterday to revoke the bond of co-defendant HARRISON FLOYD due to possible witness intimidation. Willis claimed Floyd “engaged in numerous intentional and flagrant violations” of his bond agreement, pointing to recent comments “made on conservative podcasts and posts on the social media site X,” The Atlanta-Journal Constitution’s Tamar Hallerman reports. “If Fulton Superior Court Judge SCOTT McAFEE agrees, Floyd will be forced to return to jail as he awaits trial.” Meanwhile … JONATHAN MILLER, an attorney for former elections director and co-defendant MISTY HAMPTON, admitted yesterday to leaking the footage of prosecutors’ interviews with some of the defendants, AP’s Kate Brumback reports. Miller argued he released the previously undisclosed footage because “to hide” them “misleads the public about what’s going on.” “Prosecutors initially asked the judge to impose an order to prevent the release of any evidence in the case,” writes Brumback. McAfee “said he expected to rule Thursday and seemed inclined to issue a more limited protective order to prevent the release of materials deemed ‘sensitive.’” More top reads:
AMERICA AND THE WORLD FBI INVESTIGATING HAMAS — During his testimony yesterday before the House Homeland Security Committee yesterday, FBI Director CHRISTOPHER WRAY emphasized how the agency is ramping up multiple investigations into Hamas following the organization's surprise attack on Israel last month, NYT’s Adam Goldman and Eileen Sullivan report: “Since the Hamas attack, Mr. Wray said, ‘we’ve seen a rogue’s gallery of foreign terrorist organizations call for attacks against Americans and our allies,” …. ‘We’ve kept our sights on Hamas and have multiple investigations into individuals affiliated with that foreign terrorist organization.’” On the ground: “U.S. Relied on Intercepts in Assessing Hamas’s Operations at Gaza Hospital,” WSJ’s Nancy Youssef and Warren Strobel scoop: “The U.S. hasn’t been able to determine details of Hamas’s alleged operations at Al-Shifa, including their size and scope or whether the group’s fighters are operating inside the hospital, underground or both.” Related reads: “Why Israel aid isn’t much more popular than Ukraine aid,” by WaPo’s Aaron Blake … “Obama Alumni Call on Former President to ‘Leverage’ Influence for Gaza Ceasefire,” by The Intercept’s Prem Thakker JUDICIARY SQUARE ON DEFENSE — As HUNTER BIDEN continues his legal fight against two felony gun charges, his legal team requested a federal judge yesterday to authorize subpoenas seeking correspondence between Trump administration officials about investigating and punishing him, WSJ’s C. Ryan Barber reports: “[Biden’s] lawyer, ABBE LOWELL, said the information he is pursuing ‘goes to the heart of his defense that this is, possibly, a vindictive or selective prosecution arising from an unrelenting pressure campaign beginning in the last administration.’” The context: The president’s son “pleaded not guilty last month to three felony charges related to his purchase of a firearm from a Delaware gun shop in 2018. His indictment on those charges followed the collapse of a plea deal in which he was set to plead guilty to a pair of misdemeanor tax charges and avoid prosecution on a gun charge.” More details: “In addition to Trump and Barr, the younger Biden hopes to issue subpoenas to the two top-ranking Justice Department officials at the end of the last administration: former acting Attorney General JEFF ROSEN and his deputy RICHARD DONOGHUE.” MEDIAWATCH KRAUZE LEAVES UNIVISION — “Univision news anchor León Krauze departs after network's controversial Trump interview” by LA Times’ Stephen Battaglio THE ECONOMY ‘TIS THE SEASON — “U.S. Retail Sales Fall for First Time Since March as Holiday Season Approaches,” by WSJ’s Austen Hufford
| | | | GET A BACKSTAGE PASS TO COP28 WITH GLOBAL PLAYBOOK: Get insider access to the conference that sets the tone of the global climate agenda with POLITICO's Global Playbook newsletter. Authored by Suzanne Lynch, Global Playbook delivers exclusive, daily insights and comprehensive coverage that will keep you informed about the most crucial climate summit of the year. Dive deep into the critical discussions and developments at COP28 from Nov. 30 to Dec. 12. SUBSCRIBE NOW. | | | | | | | PLAYBOOKERS | | Marjorie Taylor Greene and Christopher Wray got into it during yesterday’s hearing. Chuck Schumer joked around with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, who visited to discuss military recruitment. Could we be getting a Hill-centered Christopher Nolan movie? OUT AND ABOUT — SPOTTED last night at Union Station at the U.S. Travel Association’s congressional reception following the Future of Travel Mobility summit: Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.) and Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.), Rick Larsen (D-Wash.), William Timmons (R-S.C.), Marcus Molinaro (R-N.Y.), Mark Alford (R-Mo.), Chris Nassetta, Geoff Freeman, Tori Barnes and Erik Hansen. TRANSITIONS — Ethan Sorcher is now a legislative assistant for foreign affairs for Rep. Josh Gottheimer’s (D-N.J.). He was previously the domestic affairs coordinator at the Israeli Embassy. … Matt Hill is now senior Director of comms for the DNC. He previously was comms director for CHIPS for America at Commerce. … Erika Gulija is now a director at New Heights Communications. She previously was a principal for Fireside Campaigns. WEEKEND WEDDING -- Meredith Good, director of strategic sales at Unite Us and a Trump CMS and Senate HELP alum, and Matthew Little, a project manager at Buch Construction, got married on Saturday at the Hyatt Regency Grand Reserve in Puerto Rico. The couple met in D.C. five years ago when Meredith was working in the Senate. Pic ... Another pic SPOTTED: Audrey Henson, Andrew Hansen, Calder Lynch, Jeet Guram, Eli Woerpel, Annie Humphrey, Ninio Fetalvo and Brady Brookes. HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Reps. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.), Beth Van Duyne (R-Texas) and Scott Fitzgerald (R-Wis.) (6-0) … Hannah Hankins of Barack Obama’s office … Matt Brooks of the Republican Jewish Coalition … Lisa Camooso Miller … Elizabeth Drew … CNN’s Fredreka Schouten … Adrienne Schweer … Heritage’s Ken McIntyre … Emily Ackerman of House Rules … Melissa Winter … Kathy Gilsinan … Zerlina Maxwell … Mike Reynard of Sen. Ted Budd’s (R-N.C.) office … GMMB’s Madalene Milano … Tim Keating … Michael Smith of AmeriCorps … James Joyner … Oliver-Ash Kleine … David Peikin of Bloomberg Industry Group … Invariant’s Jenny Werwa … The Intercept’s Jordan Smith … Economic Innovation Group’s John Lettieri … Michelle Nunn of CARE USA … Samir Paul … Shanti Shoji … Dylan Lizza Did someone forward this email to you? Sign up here. Send Playbookers tips to playbook@politico.com or text us at 202-556-3307. Playbook couldn’t happen without our editor Mike DeBonis, deputy editor Zack Stanton, producer Andrew Howard and Playbook Daily Briefing producer Callan Tansill-Suddath.
| | | | A message from Instagram: New federal legislation will give parents a say in teen app downloads.
Giving parents a say in which apps are right for their teens helps them support their teens in having a positive experience online.
That’s why Instagram wants to work with Congress to require parental approval wherever teens under 16 download apps.
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