| | | | |  | | By Rachael Bade, Eugene Daniels and Ryan Lizza | | Presented by |  | | | With help from Eli Okun, Garrett Ross and Bethany Irvine
| | | |  | DRIVING THE DAY | | | JUST POSTED — “Matt Gaetz Is Winning,” by The Atlantic’s Elaine Godfrey: Rep. MATT GAETZ (R-Fla.) “is a creature of our time: versed in the art of performance politics and eager to blow up anything to get a little something.” About all that … “[T]he House Ethics Committee is still investigating [underage sex] claims, as well as others — including allegations that Gaetz shared sexual images with colleagues. One video, multiple sources told me, showed a young woman hula-hooping naked. … ‘He used to walk around the cloakroom showing people porno of him and his latest girlfriend,’ one former Republican lawmaker told me. ‘He’d show me a video, and I’d say, “That’s great, Matt.” Like, what kind of a reaction do you want?’”
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Donald Trump’s orbit is concerned that Speaker Mike Johnson’s removal would create a power vacuum at a time when GOP unity is essential. | Francis Chung/POLITICO | THE DON AND MIKE SHOW — There’s been plenty of speculation about Democrats saving Speaker MIKE JOHNSON’s gavel as Rep. MARJORIE TAYLOR GREENE (R-Ga.) threatens to oust him. The better bet right now is that if anyone comes to Johnson’s rescue, it will be the most powerful Republican around. Following a CNN report yesterday that Johnson will appear alongside DONALD TRUMP at an “election integrity” event at Mar-a-Lago tomorrow, we worked the phones to get a sense of what’s going on between these two camps. The upshot: Trump world isn’t happy with Greene’s threat to throw the House GOP into chaos once again. There’s a fear that an election-year speakership battle will undercut the party’s goals of keeping the House and flipping the White House and Senate. “100 percent distraction. Unwanted. And just stupid,” one Trump insider told Playbook last night. “We’re not going to get trapped into this cycle of bullshit that comes out of members of the House.” “It’s fair to say we don’t think she’s being constructive,” another person close with Trump said about Greene. “The internal fighting is not appreciated by [Trump].” The former president’s orbit is growing weary of the constant motion-to-vacate threats, that person added: “It’s no way to run a party; it’s no way to run a House. You can’t work in that environment.” The larger concern is that Johnson’s removal would create a power vacuum at a time when unity is essential and coordination between the Trump campaign and the speaker’s political operations is starting to tighten. For one, senior Trump adviser CHRIS LaCIVITA has been in close touch with BILLY CONSTANGY, Johnson’s top political operative who has worked alongside LaCivita in the past. HAYDEN HAYNES, Johnson’s chief of staff, has met recently with members of Trump’s team, and there’s talk about launching regular meetings between the Trump campaign and Johnson’s operation, as well as the RNC, NRCC and NRSC. Even if Greene’s effort is foiled, most likely with Democratic help, there’s a clear understanding that Johnson’s position in the party would be greatly hobbled — and that a weakened speaker means a weakened GOP apparatus. AS FOR THE TWO PRINCIPALS … Greene’s threats are coming just as Trump and Johnson themselves are starting to develop a rapport — engaging in more frequent phone calls, for one, and now putting a joint event on the books. Yes, Johnson’s office pitched the event to Trump’s team, no doubt mindful of how it might shore up the speaker’s precarious position. But the event is being viewed as a win by both camps. Johnson gets to stand onstage with the King of MAGA himself right as he faces a hard-right revolt, while Trump gets the country’s highest-ranking Republican to lend credence to his voting concerns as many in the GOP beg him to move past the 2020 election.
| | | | A message from The National Association of REALTORS®: Our communities are stronger when housing is fair for all. We at the National Association of REALTORS® support broad access to homeownership - from increasing housing supply to making mortgage finance more accessible. Everyone should have a fair shot at homeownership. Our members work across the country to help people from every background find a home that is right for them. Learn More at https://www.nar.realtor/fair-housing | | | THE TO-BE-SURES … Don’t expect a full-on love-fest. For one, Trump is very close with Greene, and we’re told we shouldn’t expect him to publicly criticize her effort or even necessarily give Johnson’s speakership a full-throated blessing. The bigger issue is that Johnson still has a legislative minefield to navigate, and Trump’s opinion of the embattled speaker could certainly change, even his inner circle admits. Here are a few dynamics to keep an eye on: — Spy powers: Trump encouraged Republicans yesterday to “KILL FISA,” arguing on Truth Social that the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act was used against him during his first campaign. Hours later, 19 House Republicans voted to block a reauthorization of a key part of that law over Johnson’s objections. We asked Trump’s inner circle whether Johnson passing a FISA reauthorization would sour their relationship. We’re told it would not. As Fox News’ Jacqui Heinrich pointed out yesterday, the former president actually confused two different parts of the sprawling spy law. — Ukraine aid: As we reported in Playbook last month, House Republicans have sought to convince Trump to either endorse Johnson’s version of Ukraine assistance or stay out of the debate altogether. If Trump publicly opposes Ukraine aid and Johnson still moves forward, that would almost certainly prompt Greene to trigger the motion to vacate. But it’s still TBD what Trump will do. The two men, we’re told, are going to have some one-on-one time to discuss this issue, among others, tomorrow ahead of the afternoon event. — The personal bond: While Johnson has always been a Trump supporter, he doesn’t have the kind of back-slapping relationship his predecessor KEVIN McCARTHY enjoyed with the former president. That isn’t necessarily a bad thing for Johnson. Some in Trump’s inner circle grew frustrated with McCarthy, believing he was too loose in making promises that he could not or would not fulfill. The reserved and businesslike Johnson hasn’t found himself in the same position. In fact, those around Trump see Johnson as entirely supportive of their efforts to flip the White House and think the two men can work together well in the coming months. But tomorrow’s event will be a test: They will likely take questions from reporters, we’re told, making it an audition of sorts where thorny issues from Ukraine to the 2020 election to abortion could complicate things fast. Good Thursday morning. Thanks for reading Playbook. Drop us a line: Rachael Bade, Eugene Daniels, Ryan Lizza. CLOSING THE LOOP — The Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation said last night that former Rep. LIZ CHENEY (R-Wyo.) could be considered for their annual public service medal in the future after controversy erupted over her being rejected for this year’s prize, Daniel Lippman reports. As Playbook first reported, foundation trustee and noted photographer DAVID HUME KENNERLY resigned Tuesday over the imbroglio, accusing the foundation of cowardice in not giving the award to a prominent Trump critic out of fear of retaliation from the former president. “Liz Cheney meets all the criteria the Ford Presidential Foundation medal signifies — courage, integrity, and passion to serve the American people,” Executive Director GLEAVES WHITNEY said in the new statement. “The Foundation’s decision … is not a reflection on her but on the law governing nonprofits. The Foundation’s action this year in no way precludes her from serious consideration to receive the medal in a future year.” Whitney reiterated in the statement that because Cheney had flirted with running for president, the executive committee decided that giving her the Ford medal during the 2024 election cycle “might be construed as a political statement.” (We’ll note that her father, DICK CHENEY, was honored as sitting VP during the 2004 election cycle.) As Playbook PM reported yesterday, former Indiana Gov. MITCH DANIELS will instead receive this year’s award.
| | | | A message from The National Association of REALTORS®:   Learn More at https://www.nar.realtor/fair-housing | | | | | WHAT'S HAPPENING TODAY | | On the Hill The Senate is in. It will hold a joint meeting with the House at 10:35 a.m. to receive an address from Japanese PM FUMIO KISHIDA, and will meet afterward at 12:30 p.m. The House will meet at 9 a.m. and recess and reconvene at 10:35 a.m. for the joint meeting. VA Secretary DENIS McDONOUGH will testify before the Veterans’ Affairs Committee at 9 a.m. CATHERINE HERRIDGE will testify before a Judiciary subcommittee at 9:30 a.m. FDA Commissioner ROBERT CALIFF will testify before the Oversight Committee at 1 p.m. USAID Administrator SAMANTHA POWER and FBI Director CHRISTOPHER WRAY will testify before Appropriations subcommittees at 1:30 p.m. and 2 p.m., respectively. 3 things to watch …
- Could the ALEJANDRO MAYORKAS impeachment trial be headed for a bipartisan dismissal? To listen to Sen. LISA MURKOWSKI (R-Alaska), it sure sounds that way: “I just have not seen anything that the House has presented to us that would rise to an impeachable offense of high crimes and misdemeanors,” she told Burgess Everett yesterday. More on the choreography from the Washington Examiner’s David Sivak
- Yesterday’s FISA floor faceplant was the seventh rule to go down on the floor this Congress, a new modern record per CNN’s Kristin Wilson. You’d think House Majority Whip TOM EMMER (R-Minn.) might feel a twinge of embarrassment as the chief GOP vote-counter, but you’d be wrong, telling reporters he continues to hew to the traditional practice of not whipping procedural votes. Leave it to our Anthony Adragna to ask the obvious follow-up: “Should you start?”
- Two weeks after the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, movement could be imminent on a push to guarantee that the federal government picks up the full replacement tab. Sen. BEN CARDIN (D-Md.) told Jennifer Shutt of States Newsroom legislation could drop as soon as today, while Sen. TED CRUZ (R-Texas) gave an important endorsement of the federal role at a Commerce hearing yesterday.
At the White House Biden will meet with Philippine President FERDINAND MARCOS JR. Later, Biden will hold a trilateral meeting with Marcos and Kishida, with VP KAMALA HARRIS attending. Harris will also preside over the joint meeting of Congress for Kishida’s remarks in the morning, and host a luncheon with Secretary of State ANTONY BLINKEN for him and YUKO KISHIDA in the afternoon, with second gentleman DOUG EMHOFF attending.
| | | | | PLAYBOOK READS | | THE WHITE HOUSE
|  At the state dinner last night, Japanese PM Fumio Kishida cracked a few jokes and quoted from “Star Trek.” | AP | ABOUT LAST NIGHT — The White House rolled out the red carpet last night to honor Kishida, hosting its first state dinner for Japan in nearly a decade. The guest list featured top figures from business, sports and politics, including BILL and HILLARY CLINTON, JEFF BEZOS, ROBERT DE NIRO, TIM COOK and KRISTI YAMAGUCHI. More names from WaPo During remarks at the event, Kishida cracked a few jokes and quoted from “Star Trek,” “telling guests at the White House that he hoped the ‘unshakable relationship’ between his country and the U.S. would ‘boldly go where no one had gone before,’” AP’s Darlene Superville and Michelle Price write. Biden emphasized the close relationship between the two countries, noting that he and Kishida “both remember the choices that were made to forge a friendship. … We both remember the hard work, what it has done to find healing.” The lavish soiree capped off several days of discussions between the White House and Kishida, which included dozens of new agreements on military, economic, space and climate initiatives, NYT’s Michael Shear reports in a rundown of the meeting. The backdrop, Alex Ward and Jonathan Lemire report, is that Biden is hoping to refocus attention on countering China with this week’s visits from Kishida and Marcos even as “the White House’s growing concerns about Chinese aggression have been overshadowed by the growing conflicts in Israel and Ukraine.” Related reads: “Japan gifts 250 new cherry trees to D.C., replacing those to be removed for repairs,” NBC … “DOJ opens formal investigation of U.S. Steel takeover,” by Josh Sisco TRUMP CARDS
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Donald Trump is headed for his first criminal trial, and questions remain about the strength of the prosecution. | Frank Franklin II/AP | EMPIRE STATE OF MIND — Trump’s first criminal trial is just days away from starting in Manhattan, but his first criminal conviction is not assured: In a deep dive for POLITICO Magazine, Ankush Khardori explores how Trump and his legal team could still pull off an upset win in court, particularly if they can exploit vulnerabilities in key witness MICHAEL COHEN’s testimony regarding payments made to adult film star STORMY DANIELS in 2016. Still, “it’s highly unlikely that Trump would be outright acquitted; all the jurors would need to agree to acquit him,” Khardori writes. “But if Trump’s lawyers can persuade one or more of the jurors to refuse to convict him, that would result in a mistrial and a de facto victory for Trump.” If at first you don’t succeed … “Trump fails to delay N.Y. criminal trial for a third time this week,” by WaPo’s Shayna Jacobs The media angle … “Is Cable News Ready to Cover the Trial of an Ex-President?” by Ian Ward: “Longtime CNN legal analyst JEFFREY TOOBIN explains why Trump’s trial won’t be like any other.” 2024 WATCH
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The Biden campaign is laying the groundwork to hammer Trump on abortion via personal testimonials. | Ian Maule/Getty Images | THE ABORTION ELECTION — The Biden campaign’s rapid response to Trump’s recent abortion announcement — featuring the story of a Texas woman “tearfully recalling the loss of her baby, interspersed with a description of the life-threatening conditions she faced after miscarrying and being denied a medically necessary abortion” — exemplifies how the incumbent plans to bedevil his predecessor on the issue in the coming months, Adam Cancryn, Elena Schneider and Jennifer Haberkorn report this morning. The plan is to hammer Trump on abortion “largely by enlisting ordinary American women who have suffered from restrictions on the procedure, elevating their voices in place of the president’s own,” they write. But, but, but … The messaging blitz is facing some obstacles — notably, Biden himself, who “has made for an awkward messenger on abortion at times” and “has shown some discomfort in talking about the issue and struggled on occasion to bring himself to say the word.” Meanwhile on the right … “Trump, GOP scramble to contain abortion ‘earthquake,’” by Adam Wren, Kimberly Leonard and Madison Fernandez: “Republicans were scrambling to contain the fallout by distancing themselves from an issue that still animates whole swaths of the GOP.” KNOWING MELINA ABDULLAH — As CORNEL WEST picked the California State University, Los Angeles professor for his running mate yesterday, “[t]he announcement was a major milestone for West’s campaign but was not without issue,” Brittany Gibson reports. “A technical difficulty affecting West’s audio input cut him out from their joint interview for almost 10 minutes.” Among the edgy opinions Abdullah brings to the ticket: that being a TAYLOR SWIFT fan might be “slightly racist,” as the N.Y. Post’s Diana Glebova notes.
| | | | A message from The National Association of REALTORS®:   Learn More at https://www.nar.realtor/fair-housing | | | AMERICA AND THE WORLD MIDDLE EAST LATEST — U.S. intelligence reports continue to indicate a retaliatory attack on Israeli assets by Iran or its proxies could be imminent, WSJ’s Warren Strobel, Gordon Lubold and Nancy Youssef report. The attack is expected in response to the killing of Iranian Gen. MOHAMMAD REZA ZAHED at an Iranian diplomatic facility in Damascus, Syria, last week. A top American military commander, Gen. MICHAEL ERIK KURILLA of Central Command, is headed to Israel to coordinate a response, while Biden told Israeli PM BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, and later reporters, that “our commitment to Israel’s security against these threats from Iran and its proxies is ironclad.” Blinken echoed the message, telling Israel’s defense minister during a phone call yesterday that the U.S. “will stand with Israel against any threats by Iran and its proxies,” CNN’s Jennifer Hansler reports. THE ECONOMY INFLATION NATION — In the wake of yesterday’s hotter-than-expected inflation numbers, Minneapolis Fed President NEEL KASHKARI told PBS’ Geoff Bennett that the central bank may not cut interest rates at all this year unless the trend changes: “The longer that inflation just moves sideways and doesn’t actually move back down, that would make me say we should pause indefinitely until we see that confidence that inflation is beat.” BEYOND THE BELTWAY ABORTION IN AMERICA — The Arizona Legislature erupted into chaos last night over a repeal of the state’s newly revived 1864 law that effectively bans abortions across the state, AP’s Anita Snow and Morgan Lee report from Phoenix. After Democrats and one Republican tried to open House debate on a repeal of the pre-statehood law, “GOP leaders, who command the majority, cut it off twice and quickly adjourned for the week. Outraged Democrats erupted in finger-waving chants of ‘Shame! Shame!’” A video shared by The Center Square’s Cameron Arcand shows the tense moments on the state House floor, with some lawmakers shouting “Save women’s lives” during a brief recess. “Arizona Republican lawmakers are split on how to best navigate this, as there is a proposed constitutional amendment that is likely to hit the ballot in November anyway,” Arcand writes. Related read: “Arizona’s abortion ban is likely to cause a scramble for services in states where it’s still legal,” by AP’s Laura Ungar and Devi Shastri POLICY CORNER A PEN AND A PHONE — “Biden to close ‘gun-show loophole’ and expand background checks for firearms,” by Myah Ward: “The new rule, the most sweeping expansion of firearms background checks in decades, will apply to more than 20,000 individuals engaged in unlicensed gun dealing and affect ‘tens and tens of thousands of gun sales’ each year.” BACK TO SCHOOL — “‘There’s nothing more important right now’: Cardona commits to fixing FAFSA disaster,” by Juan Perez Jr. and Bianca Quilantan
| | | | | PLAYBOOKERS | | Tim Sheehy apparently learned nothing from Kim Mulvey. John Bolton is a devoted Dick Cheney voter. Hillary Clinton got a nice surprise as she entered the White House for the state dinner. OUT AND ABOUT — a16z crypto celebrated the launch of general partner Chris Dixon’s new book, “Read Write Own: Building the Next Era of the Internet” ($31), at Café Riggs last night. SPOTTED: Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), Reps. Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.), Jake Auchincloss (D-Mass.), French Hill (R-Ark.), Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.) and Andy Barr (R-Ky.), Collin McCune, Jai Ramaswamy, Brian Quintenz, Paul Cafiero, Tammy Haddad, Liz Johnson, Adrienne Elrod, Sabrina Singh, Sydney Harvey, Lynda Carter and Anthony Polcari. — The Herald Group hosted an alliances and coalition spring reception at Bobby Van’s Rooftop downtown last night. SPOTTED: Grover Norquist, Tom Hebert, Mike Palicz, Bryan Bashur, Isabelle Morales, Joel Griffith, Phil Bell, Mark Bloomfield, Karen Kerrigan, Jackie Puente, Michi Iljazi, Patrick Hedger, Vinnie Vernuccio, Tom Schatz, John Berlau, Jon Decker, Suhail Khan, Richard Hunt, Jesse Arm, Tim Lee, Brian Wild and Liam deClive-Lowe. — SPOTTED at the Grassroots Analytics D.C. office last night for an event hosted by Rep. Maxwell Frost (D-Fla.) celebrating independent art and featuring music from artists Mia Gladstone, Mambo Sauce and Venture Motel: Reps. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-Wash.), Seth Magaziner (D-R.I.), Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.), Greg Casar (D-Texas) and Morgan McGarvey (D-Ky.) and Danny Hogenkamp. — SPOTTED at the Cherry Blossom Policy Summit on Monday at the Willard Hotel headlined by Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.): Sens. Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) and Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Rep. Kevin Hern (R-Okla.), Kellyanne Conway, Mike Pompeo, Safra Katz, Chad Wolf, Russ Vought, Eugene Scalia, Paul Ray, Stephen Miller, Kevin Warsh, Justin Muzinich, Geronimo Gutierrez Fernandez, Brian Hook, Vince Haley, Joe Lai, Pat Toomey, Duke Buchan, Ed McMullen, George Glass and Pete Hoekstra. BOOK CLUB — Our colleague Jonathan Lemire’s bestselling book “The Big Lie” ($29.99) will be released in paperback May 7. The book includes new material on how the lies surrounding the 2020 election have continued to dominate the Republican Party, shape Trump’s political and legal future — and could decide this November’s election. The cover WHITE HOUSE DEPARTURE LOUNGE — Roberto Berrios is now deputy legislative director and senior counsel for Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii). He previously was a special assistant to the president for legislative affairs and director of confirmations. MEDIA MOVES — David Gura has joined Bloomberg News, hosting “The Big Take” daily podcast and contributing to Bloomberg TV and Bloomberg Radio. He previously was at NPR. … Matthew Rose is joining the NYT opinion section as editorial director, overseeing guest essays, international coverage and video. He previously was chief enterprise editor at the WSJ. … Liam Quinn is joining Bloomberg Industry Group as commercial strategy manager. He previously was deputy managing editor at the Washington Examiner. FIRST IN PLAYBOOK — The DNC is adding Hannah Muldavin and Marcus Robinson as senior spokespeople. Muldavin most recently was a senior comms adviser for the Congressional Integrity Project. Robinson previously was public affairs director at SKDK. TRANSITIONS — Nicholas Batman is now an adviser to OMB’s comms office. He previously worked on the research team within White House comms and is a DCCC alum. … R. Latane Montague is joining Morgan Lewis as a partner to co-lead its global automotive and mobility practice. He previously was a global leader of Hogan Lovells’ transportation practice. … … Jason Rosenberg will be head of public affairs at Wells Fargo. He previously was head of corporate affairs at Block. … Eason Jordan will be SVP of the Connected Leaders platform at the Rockefeller Foundation. He currently is CEO of Oryx Strategies and is a CNN and NowThis alum. WELCOME TO THE WORLD — Bill Russo, who recently left the State Department as assistant secretary for global public affairs, and Alice Russo, former assistant chief of protocol for diplomatic partnerships at State, recently welcomed Elliot “Ellie” Jane Russo. She joins big brother Will. Pic … Another pic HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Ethel Kennedy (96) … SKDK’s Mariel Sáez and Rae Robinson Trotman … Alex Phelps … Don Graves … David Wofford … Cogent Strategies’ Missi Tessier … RIAA’s Michele Ballantyne … MSNBC’s Raelyn Johnson … Marcia Hale … Nina Verghese … Marc Ross of Caracal … Aaron Bennett … Nick O’Boyle of Rep. Ron Estes’ (R-Kan.) office … Kate Warren … Amanda Golden … Benjamin Bryant … Purple Strategies’ Jason Bargnes … J.D. Harrison … Linda Lipsen of the American Association of Justice … Julie Tarallo McAlister … Beth Osborne … former Reps. Mark Kennedy (R-Minn.) and Kevin Brady (R-Texas) … Holly Geffs … Janae Washington … Meghan McCann … Calla Wickenhauser … Chris Malagisi of Hillsdale College … Natalie Armijo of Federal Street Strategies … Citi’s Ed Skyler 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 and Playbook Daily Briefing producer Callan Tansill-Suddath.
| | | | A message from The National Association of REALTORS®: The National Association of REALTORS® supports the broadest possible access to homeownership. That means taking a 360 degree view. We support the creation of more housing that’s affordable for regular Americans. We support broad access to housing finance, through alternative credit scoring, down payment assistance, and special purpose credit programs. We support strong enforcement of fair housing laws that protect consumers from discrimination. And we work closely with partners like HUD to ensure broad access to homeownership for all—from first-time buyers to veterans to homebuyers of every background. In communities across the country and in Washington, we believe every aspiring homeowner should have the support they need on their homeownership journey. Because the fairer housing is in our country, the stronger our country. Learn More at https://www.nar.realtor/fair-housing | | | | | | | Follow us on Twitter | | | | Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook family Playbook | Playbook PM | California Playbook | Florida Playbook | Illinois Playbook | Massachusetts Playbook | New Jersey Playbook | New York Playbook | Ottawa Playbook | Brussels Playbook | London Playbook View all our political and policy newsletters | | Follow us | | | | |
