| | | | |  | | By Rachael Bade, Eugene Daniels and Ryan Lizza | | Presented by |  | | | With help from Eli Okun, Garrett Ross and Bethany Irvine
| | | |  | DRIVING THE DAY | | | POSTED MOMENTS AGO — Who is to blame for the crisis gripping The Washington Post? WILL LEWIS, the CEO with an increasingly scarred reputation? FRED RYAN, his predecessor? Someone else? These are the central questions of a nearly 9,000-word epic by Brian Stelter, “The Secret History of the Cataclysm at The Washington Post,” that just posted at The Atlantic. And the potential answer is unsettling an already dyspeptic newsroom. “Underneath the drama, there is a rising fear among Post staffers that they had not previously understood the root of the problem at their paper, one of the country’s most essential publications. The continuing tumult has drawn attention to the very top of the Post, to the person responsible for hiring both Ryan and Lewis: [owner JEFF] BEZOS,” Stelter writes. “Bezos wants the Post to reinvent its business model and show the news industry a new, profitable way forward,” he continues. “Yet it remains unclear whether Lewis and Bezos really know what they want the news organization to become — or whether Bezos cares enough to make the transformation come to pass.”
|  Turner Broadcasting's Techwood Campus is seen in Atlanta on June 26, 2024, the day before President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump are set to meet in a debate hosted by CNN. | Francis Chung/POLITICO | DEBATE DAY — After months of questions about whether we’d even see a presidential debate this cycle, the big day is here — sooner than anyone thought. President JOE BIDEN and former President DONALD TRUMP take center stage in Atlanta tonight at 9 p.m., where they’ll both get grilled by practiced CNN pros JAKE TAPPER and DANA BASH — and, of course, by each other. It's hard to overstate the significance of this moment. Both candidates are competing for an ever-smaller fraction of undecided voters in what’s shaping up to be one of the closest and contentious elections in modern history, and more than 70 percent of Americans are expected to tune in tonight, as Adam Wren notes this morning. And what happens tonight could set the tone on the campaign trail for the next 11 weeks, since the two won’t come face to face for their second debate until September (presuming that debate happens). It is “the highest-stakes hate watch of any modern presidential campaign,” as Adam puts it. Behind the scenes, the Biden campaign acknowledges that tonight could be a major turning point for the president in this race — for better or for worse. Aides believe the electorate hasn’t quite tuned into the campaign; thus, aides see Biden’s main job as dragging Trump into the living rooms of every American and reminding them of the chaos of the previous administration — not to mention the possible future threat to democracy. For Trump, it’s a chance to solidify or even grow the slim lead he’s enjoyed in polling averages most of the year. And of course, remind voters that concerns about their pocketbooks, crime and the border have all exploded on Biden’s watch. The landmines abound for both men. — For Biden, a physical stumble or mental freeze would reinforce suggestions that he’s lost a step and is too old to lead. Mistakes tonight will be especially glaring for the president, given that he’s spent the last week practicing with multiple 90-minute mock debates at Camp David. — For Trump, his advisers — and pretty much every Republican under the sun — seem to be imploring the former president to go against his every gut instinct. They want him to tone it down and avoid a repeat of his too-aggressive first 2020 debate with Biden; focus on the future, not the past — especially avoid election denialism — and zero in on policy, not personality. (As former Minnesota Gov. TIM PAWLENTY told our Meridith McGraw and Natalie Allison, “Trump needs to offer persuadable voters some measure of comfort that he won't act like a total maniac if he's elected.”) THE VIEW FROM TRUMP WORLD: Despite expressing confidence, Trump’s inner circle has been working awfully hard to downplay expectations. They’ve made no secret — the opposite, in fact — that Trump hasn’t practiced in the standard mock debate setting once, and will take the podium tonight after a few mere “policy refreshers.” Trump and his inner circle are also already trying to discredit the debate: Beyond unsubstantiated allegations that Biden will be using performance-enhancing drugs — and, of course, similarly baseless accusations that the CNN hosts are out to get the former president — Trump allies in the past 24 hours have been peddling a narrative that Biden is a liar. This morning at 5 a.m., the Trump campaign launched a new website — factcheckbiden.com— that claims “Biden has made a career of lying on the debate stage.” "Biden has been doing political debates for 50 years, having taken part in at least 40 debates since 1972. His performances are often filled with lies,” Trump spox BRIAN HUGHES told Playbook. “This debate will be no different, except the Trump campaign has the receipts.” The strategy, in sum: “If Trump stumbles, then he has already set up who and what to blame,” Meridith and Natalie write. “It’s also a brand of grievance politics that has long animated Trump’s most fervent supporters and helped him, baselessly, explain away past political failures and legal setbacks.” THE VIEW FROM BIDEN WORLD: Team Biden, meanwhile, is prepared to amplify their guy’s best moments — just in case voters miss the debate tonight. In their digital war room, the campaign will host 18 influencers/social media creators who have a combined 8 million followers, NBC’s Mike Memoli reports. We can also report this morning that the Biden campaign is launching a seven-figure paid multimedia campaign as it tries to underscores the stakes of the election. It will:
- Blitz the websites of BuzzFeed, USA Today, CNN, El Tiempo Latino, Telemundo, theGrio, and the Atlanta Journal Constitution with ads in the headers and margins.
- Take out a full-page ad in USA Today that reads, “The choice — a convicted criminal who’s looking out for himself, or a president who’s fighting for you.”
- Push out QR codes on social media, billboards and cars, inviting voters to scan and read more about “Project 2025” — what they’re calling Trump’s “insidious and destructive plans” for the country if he’s elected.
The show of force comes as the Biden team has reserved more than $2 million worth of ads in swing states for today alone — a sum that dwarfs the mere $100,000 the Trump team has spent in swing states for the debate, our colleagues report, citing AdImpact. ANOTHER ANGLE TO WATCH: Tonight won’t just be about Trump’s and Biden’s performances. The former president has less than three weeks now to select a running mate — and you can bet the TV-obsessed former “Apprentice” star will be watching how well each wannabe VP on his shortlist performs in post-debate spin rooms. Many of those same Republicans — North Dakota Gov. DOUG BURGUM, former HUD Secretary BEN CARSON, Florida Sen. MARCO RUBIO, Ohio Sen. J.D. VANCE, New York Rep. ELISE STEFANIK and Florida Rep. BYRON DONALDS — will attend a watch party fundraiser hosted by former Georgia Sen. KELLY LOEFFLER and the RNC, where donors who’ve given or raised $25,000 will dine with them. (We’re told Trump may or may not attend, depending how the night goes.) South Carolina Sen. TIM SCOTT will attend the debate as a guest of Trump’s, per the Examiner. In a sign that the veep talks are heating up, the Trump campaign and RNC have tapped NICK LUNA to be director of VP operations, Playbook has learned. Luna, who was with Trump on Jan. 6, testified before House investigators as well as federal investigators probing the president’s attempt to overturn the election. The hope is to have Luna up and running by the time Trump chooses his running mate, we’re told — whenever that may be. What’s next: Tomorrow, Trump will rally with Gov. GLENN YOUNGKIN in Virginia, while Biden is off to North Carolina. Good Thursday morning. Thanks for reading Playbook. What would you ask if you were moderating the debate tonight? Drop us a line: Rachael Bade, Eugene Daniels, Ryan Lizza.
| | | | A message from The American Petroleum Institute: For nearly four years, Americans have faced the pain of high inflation and global conflict. During tonight’s presidential debate, voters want to hear how leaders will secure our nation’s energy future and provide relief to consumers and their families.
The American Petroleum Institute’s Policy Roadmap contains five actions policy makers can take today to secure energy leadership, protect consumers and help reduce inflation. Americans deserve answers, starting with the question below. | | | PAINT THE TOWN RED — The NRCC is planning to uncork nearly $46 million in ad spending this fall as it seeks to grow the narrow majority the GOP won in the midterms, Ally Mutnick scoops this morning. The details: “The reservations will include TV and digital ads across 22 districts in 29 media markets, according to details shared first with POLITICO.” The top targets: “Thirteen of the 22 districts are held by Democrats … signaling a primarily offensive posture. And more than a quarter of the total spending will be marshaled against the five Democrats in districts that then-President Donald Trump won in 2020: Reps. JARED GOLDEN in Maine, MARIE GLUESENKAMP PEREZ in Washington state, MARY PELTOLA in Alaska, MARCY KAPTUR in Ohio and MATT CARTWRIGHT in Pennsylvania. “Other top Democratic targets that will have major reservations placed against them: Reps. SUSAN WILD of Pennsylvania, DON DAVIS of North Carolina, YADIRA CARAVEO of Colorado and EMILIA SYKES of Ohio. The NRCC will also spend $2.7 million in open seats in Michigan currently held by Reps. DAN KILDEE and ELISSA SLOTKIN.”
| | | | A message from The American Petroleum Institute:   | | | | | WHAT'S HAPPENING TODAY | | On the Hill The Senate is out. The House will meet at 9 a.m. Transportation Secretary PETE BUTTIGIEG will testify before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee at 10 a.m. 3 things to watch …
- FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: We’re 40 days out from the next big Democratic primary showdown, between Rep. CORI BUSH (D-Mo.) and St. Louis County prosecutor WESLEY BELL. Bush might be a card-carrying member of the hard-left Squad, but Bell is eager to avoid getting tagged as a centrist, DINO type. In a new state-of-the-race memo obtained by our colleague Nick Wu, Bell touts the Aug. 6 contest as a “left vs. left primary” pitting a “progressive prosecutor against a scandal-plagued incumbent.” One thing Bell does have in common with GEORGE LATIMER, who beat Bush’s Squad colleague JAMAAL BOWMAN (D-N.Y.) Tuesday: lots of local support. The memo lists dozens of endorsements from unions, political groups and elected officials.
- House Energy and Commerce Chair CATHY McMORRIS RODGERS (R-Wash.) appears to be on a collision course with House GOP leaders over the long-brewing data privacy bill she is hoping to advance out of her panel later today. Olivia Beavers reported yesterday that Speaker MIKE JOHNSON and Majority Leader STEVE SCALISE (R-La.) suggested to her the bill would be headed nowhere fast without significant changes. But as of this morning, the markup of the American Privacy Rights Act is still on — with the retiring McMorris Rodgers hoping a big bipartisan vote will get the landmark bill over any leadership hurdles.
- The battle for the soul of the Senate Republican Conference continues to play out — in a sharp exchange of letters. Responding to a series of rule-change suggestions from Sen. THOM TILLIS (R-N.C.) meant to further aggrandize the power of the GOP leader, Sen. MIKE LEE (R-Utah) fired back yesterday, Ursula Perano reports, arguing not only for imposing term limits on the top leader but further diffusing power in other ways that Tillis and other MITCH McCONNELL allies believe would make the Senate GOP ungovernable.
At the White House Biden will receive the President’s Daily Brief in the morning before departing Camp David to travel to Atlanta for the debate. Afterward, the president and first lady JILL BIDEN will attend a campaign event before traveling to Raleigh, North Carolina. Press secretary KARINE JEAN-PIERRE will gaggle aboard Air Force One en route to Atlanta. VP KAMALA HARRIS will receive briefings and conduct internal meetings with staff in the morning. In the evening, Harris will deliver remarks during a virtual campaign event.
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This combination of pictures created on September 29, 2020, shows Donald Trump Joe Biden squaring off during the first presidential debate at the Case Western Reserve University and Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio. | Jim Watson and Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images | POLL POSITION — The latest NYT/Siena College poll comes at an interesting time in the 2024 race just before Trump and Biden square off in the first presidential debate and weeks after Trump’s conviction in the hush money case against him. The big takeaway: The conviction isn’t torpedoing Trump’s standing among Republicans — and it’s actually Biden facing more skepticism among voters. “The national survey on the eve of the first presidential debate shows that voters have broad distaste for both candidates but that Mr. Trump has so far better consolidated the support of his own party,” NYT’s Shane Goldmacher and Ruth Igielnik write. “Only 72 percent of voters who said they cast a ballot for Mr. Biden four years ago say they approve of the job he is doing as president. And voters overall say they now trust Mr. Trump more on the issues that matter most to them.” As for Trump’s legal troubles, “more than two-thirds of voters said the outcome of his Manhattan criminal case made no difference to their vote. Roughly 90 percent of Republicans still view Mr. Trump favorably.” The horse race: “The head-to-head results of the survey show Mr. Trump with his biggest lead in a national Times/Siena poll among likely voters, 48 percent to 44 percent, a 3 percentage point margin when calculated before the figures are rounded. Mr. Trump’s lead with registered voters was an even larger 6 percentage points.” Speaking of the conviction: The Biden campaign had its “single biggest day of online fundraising the day after Trump was convicted,” Jessica Piper writes. “And as the money flowed in, his political operation also drew more new donors the day of the verdict than any day since Biden launched his campaign last year.” SPOILER ALERT — In a potentially major move out of North Carolina, the state’s board of elections in a party-line vote yesterday “rejected initial bids for ROBERT F. KENNEDY JR., CORNEL WEST and Constitution Party candidate RANDALL TERRY to place their names on the November ballot, saying they want more time to review their petitions,” WRAL’s Paul Specht reports. “The board’s two Republican members voted to place the candidates on the ballot, while the board’s three Democratic members rejected those motions.” MORE POLITICS
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Reps. Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.), Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), Jonathan Jackson (D-Ill.), and Cori Bush (D-Mo.), from left, attend a vigil with state legislators and faith leaders on a hunger strike outside the White House to demand that President Joe Biden call for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza on Nov. 29, 2023. | Nathan Howard/AP | WHAT’S NEXT FOR AIPAC? — The fallout from Jamaal Bowman’s loss on Tuesday is still coming into focus — but one of the biggest questions seems to be clear: AIPAC isn’t standing down. After helping torpedo Bowman, AIPAC is moving on to Missouri Rep. Cori Bush. In going up against Bush, though, the organization is continuing the trend of targeting already wounded progressives who have pre-existing issues, and steering mostly clear of the war in Gaza at that. “While the outside groups are going after candidates with baggage, they’re skipping other races where their investments might not make much of a difference,” Emily Ngo, Madison Fernandez and Nick Reisman report this morning. Squad up: But even with Bowman’s loss, progressives in the House said they have “no plans to change their tactics — including their vocal criticism of Israel’s war in Gaza, which prompted a pro-Israel PAC to turn Bowman’s race into the most expensive primary in history,” Nicholas Wu and Daniella Diaz report. “The outgoing New York Democrat’s allies instead argue Bowman’s loss is attributable to his own frequent missteps as a candidate, according to interviews with two dozen of his fellow House Democrats.” More top reads:
- HUNG CAO, the GOP Senate candidate in Virginia, “has made repeated references to becoming disabled after he was ‘blown up’ in combat, and has stressed that he has scars from his military service,” USA Today’s Elizabeth Beyer and Tom Vanden Brook write. But Navy records obtained by USA Today indicate that Cao did not receive a Purple Heart nor the Navy’s Combat Action Ribbon — distinctions generally given to those injured in service.
| | | | A message from The American Petroleum Institute:   | | | AMERICA AND THE WORLD
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Journalist Evan Gershkovich, accused of espionage in Russia, looks out from inside a glass defendants' cage prior to a hearing in Yekaterinburg's Sverdlovsk Regional Court on Wednesday. | Natalia Kolesnikova/AFP via Getty Images | STUCK IN THE KREMLIN’S SHADOW — EVAN GERSHKOVICH, the imprisoned Wall Street Journal reporter, saw his “trial” get underway in Russia. In total, the proceedings yesterday lasted for 2.5 hours and the court said the next hearing will come in August. The scene: “Television cameras crowded around him as he stood in a cage surrounded by bulletproof glass, his head newly shaved due to prison rules. Then the media was ushered out, leaving him with his defense team, the state prosecutor and one or more judges. Neither U.S. Embassy personnel nor the reporters’ friends or fellow journalists were allowed to remain,” WSJ’s Matthew Luxmoore and Thomas Grove report. “What happens in Gershkovich’s secret trial is largely a mystery, as even the lawyers representing him are restricted from publicly discussing it. Conviction could carry a prison sentence of 10 to 20 years. In 2021, the judge now overseeing Gershkovich’s trial told a local news outlet that he had only issued three or four acquittals in 21 years of service.” More top reads:
- As Iran prepares to pick a new president, Trump is top of mind, NYT’s Farnaz Fassihi reports. “To hear the six candidates tell it, the former president’s victory in the 2024 White House race is a foregone conclusion. The urgent question facing Iranian voters as they go to the polls on Friday, they say, is who is best suited to deal with him.”
- “NATO Will Offer Ukraine a ‘Bridge’ to Membership, Hoping That’s Enough,” by NYT’s Steven Erlanger: “[I]t is designed to function even if Donald J. Trump, a sharp critic of the alliance and of aid to Ukraine, wins the U.S. presidency in November.”
- For your radar: “Military flees Bolivia government palace after coup attempt fails,” by AP’s Paola Flores and Megan Janetsky in La Paz, Bolivia
- On the Korean peninsula: “North Korea says it tested a multiwarhead missile. Kim covets the weapon to overwhelm US defenses,” by AP’s Hyung-jin Kim
- Panda diplomacy: “First new pandas to arrive in U.S. in over 20 years are on their way from China,” by NBC’s Janis Mackey Frayer and Jennifer Jett
| | | | SUBSCRIBE TO GLOBAL PLAYBOOK: Don’t miss out on POLITICO’s Global Playbook, our newsletter taking you inside pivotal discussions at the most influential gatherings in the world. Suzanne Lynch delivers the world's elite and influential moments directly to you. Stay in the global loop. SUBSCRIBE NOW. | | | | | | | PLAYBOOKERS | | Katie Porter is going back to school — sort of. Paris Hilton popped up on the Hill to testify on youth treatment facilities. Debbie Dingell was a fan. Brian Kemp said he didn’t vote for Donald Trump in Georgia’s primary. (To be clear, he “didn’t vote for anybody.”) Scott Jennings is dubbing tonight’s debate as the “Slamma in Atlanta.” OK, then! Adam Kinzinger endorsed Joe Biden. Karen Travers, Trevor Hunnicut and Justin Sink won three-year seats on the WHCA board, with Sink in line to be president in the third year. PLAYBOOK REAL ESTATE SECTION — “Rupert Murdoch’s New York City Penthouse Gets $10 Million Price Cut,” by Bloomberg’s James Tarmy: “The triplex is now on the market for $28.5 million.” OUT AND ABOUT — House GOP Chair Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) rang in her 40th birthday early last night with a fundraiser at Pearl Street Warehouse, where guests enjoyed an 80s cover band and raised more than $350,000 for Stefanik’s efforts to grow the GOP majority. SPOTTED: husband Matthew Manda and son Sam, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.), Reps. Jason Smith (R-Mo.), Bryan Steil (R-Wis.), Michelle Fischbach (R-Minn.) and Nancy Mace (R-S.C.), Kellyanne Conway, Boris Epshteyn, Matt and Mercedes Schlapp, Cara Mason, Dan Conston and Rob Astorino. — Walmart hosted a reception at their Washington, D.C. office yesterday evening for an event highlighting its “Made in the USA” initiative showcasing U.S. suppliers and small business entrepreneurs. SPOTTED: Reps. Steve Womack (R-Ark.), Bill Foster (D-Ill.), Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.), Jonathan Jackson (D-Ill.), Kevin Kiley (R-Calif.), Carol Miller (R-W.Va.) and Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-Iowa), Bruce Harris, Dan Bryant, Erica Johnson Creamer, Dontai Smalls, David Thomas, Mike Otterman, Tres Bailey, Susan McCue, Bill Shufelt, Sean Bresett, Jennifer Poersch, Drew Goesl, Kyle Simmons, Ivan Zapien, Luke Schneider, Phillip Wallace, Laura Siegrist and Don Nickles. FIRST IN PLAYBOOK — Secretary of State Antony Blinken later today will dedicate two rooms on the State Department’s seventh floor to former Secretaries of State Madeleine Albright and Colin Powell. The State Department’s Treaty Room will be dedicated to Powell, who was the first African-American secretary of State, and the Secretary of State’s Conference Room will be dedicated to Albright, who was the first woman secretary of State. Members of the Albright and Powell families will be present for the dedication ceremony. TRANSITIONS — Precision is adding Tim Mulvey and Melissa Miller as SVPs on the comms team. Mulvey previously was comms director for the House Jan. 6 committee and is a Democratic Hill veteran. Miller most recently managed policy comms for Ford, and is a DCCC and DGA alum. … Jason Noble is now director for public affairs and earned media at Bryson Gillette. He previously was comms director for the Iowa Senate Democratic caucus and is an Elizabeth Warren, Jason Kander and Des Moines Register alum. HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Reps. David Scott (D-Ga.) and Ashley Hinson (R-Iowa) … Tom Steyer … Jennifer DeCasper … Ilya Shapiro … Tony Fratto … Hunter Morgen … Terry Nelson of FP1 Strategies … Bob and Louis Boorstin … Josh Rubin … Reuters’ David Shepardson … POLITICO’s Eleanor Mueller, Seth Batbayar and Liz Thompson … NYT’s Krista Mahr and Lisa Friedman … David Wochner of K&L Gates … Isaac Reyes of Target … Sarah Bovim … Geoff Vetter … Hub Project’s Jessica Floyd … Robert Schlesinger … CNN’s Carrie Stevenson … Matt Letourneau … former Reps. Scott Taylor (R-Va.), Mike Honda (D-Calif.), Conor Lamb (D-Pa.) (4-0), Jim Nussle ( R-Iowa) and Jeff Miller (R-Fla.) … former Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.) … former USTR Ron Kirk (7-0) … former Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt … … Andrea Flores … Brian Martinez of the American Conservation Coalition … Caroline Adler Morales … Sahar Hafeez … Matthew Tilghman … Jesse Lehrich … Charles Bronfman (93) … Kathleen Welch 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. Correction: Tuesday’s Playbook contained 2020 presidential election results for Nick LaLota’s old district lines. It has been updated with the results from his new House seat.
| | | | A message from The American Petroleum Institute: For nearly four years, the American people have faced the pain of high inflation and global conflict. Now, more than ever, it’s time to end political gamesmanship. Let’s work together on solutions that help American consumers and secure our energy future.
At a time of persistent inflation and geopolitical instability, the American people need more affordable energy and less partisanship. Here are five actions policymakers can take now that will make a difference.
a. Protect consumer choice
b. Bolster geopolitical strength
c. Leverage our abundant natural resources
d. Reform our broken permitting system
e. Advance sensible tax policy
Let’s work together on solutions that help address the consequences of inflation, while securing America’s energy future. Learn more. | | | | | | | 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 | | | | |
