| | | | |  | | By Garrett Ross | | Presented by |  | | | |  | THE CATCH-UP | | | BREAKING — “D.C. officer guilty for leaking to Proud Boys’ Tarrio before Jan. 6,” by WaPo’s Spencer S. Hsu, Rachel Weiner and Tom Jackman: “SHANE LAMOND, a 24-year department veteran, aided the far-right Proud Boys group when he leaked word to [Proud Boys leader HENRY ‘ENRIQUE’] TARRIO that a warrant had been signed for his arrest for burning a Black Lives Matter flag stolen from a historic African American church during a pro-Trump rally weeks earlier, U.S. District Judge AMY BERMAN JACKSON said after a week-long bench trial.” HOT DOC — The House Ethics Committee released the full MATT GAETZ report. Read it here … More on the report from Olivia Beavers
|  Luigi Mangione is escorted from Manhattan Criminal court after his arraignment on state murder and terror charges on Monday, Dec. 23. | AP | CEO SHOOTER LATEST — “Luigi Mangione pleads not guilty to murder and weapons charges in UnitedHealthcare CEO’s death,” by AP’s Michael Sisak and Jake Offenhartz: “One of [LUIGI] MANGIONE’s attorneys told a judge that government officials, including New York Mayor ERIC ADAMS, have turned Mangione into a political pawn, robbing him of his rights as a defendant and tainting the jury pool.” Related read: A group of Democratic lawmakers are “calling for aggressive action to curb the increasing market power of UnitedHealth Group, including a possible breakup of a business empire they say is undermining competition, corrupting Medicare, and hurting vulnerable patients,” Stat News’ Casey Ross, Bob Herman, Tara Bannow and Lizzy Lawrence report. “The lawmakers, including several U.S. senators, argue the problems created by the company’s size and reach demand immediate steps to restore public confidence in the health care system. They condemned the targeted killing of BRIAN THOMPSON, the CEO of UnitedHealth’s insurance business. But they said the display of resentment and rage that followed was neither new nor surprising at a time when people feel powerless to defend themselves against a company that controls their doctors, their data, and their insurance policies.” BRAND-NEW BRANDING — C-SPAN is planning to unveil a new tagline — “Democracy Unfiltered” — in the new year to coincide with Republicans’ trifecta takeover of Washington. “Democracy Unfiltered captures the essence of what C-SPAN has always been about: providing viewers with direct access to the workings of their government without commentary or editorial bias,” new C-SPAN chief SAM FEIST said in a release announcing the change. ROUNDS SHRUGS OFF MUSK — Sen. MIKE ROUNDS (R-S.D.) joined the POLITICO Tech podcast today, telling our colleague Steven Overly that ELON MUSK’s efforts to influence Congress are “nothing new” to the chamber. “We get that kind of pressure on a regular basis,” Rounds said, adding: “But, you know, if you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.” “He's not accountable to us,” Rounds continued of Musk. “[I] would assume that he is accountable to the president because the president is the one who is allowing him to advise him. The president is listening to what he has to say, but he's accountable to the president. And I think he would acknowledge that.” ANATOMY OF A FALL — “Why the permitting talks collapsed,” by POLITICO’s E&E News’ Kelsey Brugger: “Lawmakers have spent days lamenting the collapse of a package to improve the electric grid and accelerate the development of all type of energy projects. They’ve been playing a blame game. But people familiar with the talks say a deal was never even close, despite negotiators insisting they were making progress a week ago. “Senate Energy and Natural Resources Chair JOE MANCHIN (I-W.Va.) has been behind the ‘permitting reform’ push for years, particularly since passage of the Democrats’ climate law in 2022. He had powerful allies on both sides of the aisle, and lobbyists from fossil fuel and renewable energy interests. In the end, lawmakers got bogged down by the same problems that have plagued the effort for years. And there wasn’t enough time to resolve those issues for a permitting accord to ride on another must-pass vehicle.” THE LIST I’M CHECKING TWICE — “A million taxpayers will soon receive up to $1,400 from the IRS. Who are they and why now?” by AP’s Susan Haigh Good Monday afternoon. Thanks for reading Playbook PM. A big shoutout to the Penn State women’s volleyball team on winning the program’s eighth national championship. Drop me a line at gross@politico.com.
| | | | A message from Instagram: Congress can help keep teens safe online today.
By passing federal legislation requiring app store parental consent and age verification, Congress would put parents in charge of teen app downloads. This helps parents ensure teens download apps that are safe.
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Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has his eyes on commercial breaks to cut down drug companies. | Francis Chung/POLITICO | 1. HOW RFK JR. WOULD WIELD POWER: “Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Wants to Ban Drug Ads on TV. It Wouldn’t Be Easy,” by NYT’s Rebecca Robbins: “The push against TV drug ads threatens to dent the revenues of pharmaceutical companies, which can make back in sales five times as much as they spend on commercials, according to some analysts. … Though it’s not clear how such a ban might happen — [ROBERT F. KENNEDY JR.] has called for an executive order — any attempt would face an uphill battle. Efforts to modestly restrict drug ads have repeatedly been defeated in the courts, often on First Amendment grounds. The first Trump administration tried to require that commercials mention the drug’s price, but a judge blocked the move, saying that it lacked authority from Congress.” 2. FOR YOUR RADAR: The Biden administration issued a warning that Pakistan is currently “developing a long-range ballistic missile that could eventually provide nuclear-armed Islamabad with a weapon capable of striking the U.S.,” WSJ’s Michael Gordon reports. “The administration disclosed the intelligence about Pakistan’s secret missile activities and imposed sanctions against a state-owned entity involved in the work after repeated efforts to press its concerns in confidential channels fell short, U.S. officials said. … The White House warning underscored a growing rift between Washington and Islamabad,” once a critical partner in South Asia and previously viewed as a “major non-NATO ally” by former President GEORGE W. BUSH.
| | | | You read POLITICO for trusted reporting. Now follow every twist of the lame duck session with Inside Congress. We track the committee meetings, hallway conversations, and leadership signals that show where crucial year-end deals are heading. Subscribe now. | | | | | 3. MIDDLE EAST LATEST: “Israel’s Enemy in Yemen Proves Hard for U.S. to Deter,” by WSJ’s Carrie Keller-Lynn, Benoit Faucon and Saleh al-Batati: “Despite hundreds of American and allied strikes and the deployment of a U.S. Navy flotilla to the Red Sea, Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels have kept up a steady drumbeat of attacks on commercial shipping passing through the vital waterway and lobbing missiles at Israel. … The Houthis, a U.S.-designated terrorist organization, continue to disrupt global trade, causing billions of dollars in losses and forcing shippers to reroute cargo or run a gantlet of missiles and drones. They say they won’t stop until Israel stops fighting in Gaza.” The stepback: “Under Biden, a generational shift in U.S. views of Israel,” by WaPo’s Yasmeen Abutaleb: “For decades after the Jewish state was founded in 1948, support for the country, born three years after the Holocaust, was widespread among Americans. Now it’s a divisive, volatile issue, as Republicans led by President-elect Donald Trump firmly embrace the country, Democrats are increasingly critical and progressives stage impassioned protests against Israel and its policies.” Related read: “Israel is demolishing northern Gaza and fortifying military positions, imagery shows,” by WaPo’s Miriam Berger, Imogen Piper, Hazem Balousha and Evan Hill 4. TALKING THE TALK: Back in April, Rep. JOSH GOTTHEIMER (D-N.J.) trumpeted new legislation designed to protect access to mifepristone amid a push by anti-abortion groups to use the 151-year-old Comstock Act to ban the mailing of the drug, which is commonly used to induce abortions and treat miscarriages. “But eight months later, the congressmember, who formally launched his gubernatorial campaign last month, has still not introduced the legislation, the Protecting Personal, Private Medical Decisions Act. And the draft that his office provided to POLITICO is a non-binding resolution — an expression of sentiment that has no force of law,” Matt Friedman reports. “Gottheimer’s office told POLITICO that the delay is due to the complexity of the court fights around abortion access.” 5. WAR IN UKRAINE: U.S. intelligence now assesses that the deployment of North Korean troops to Russia was North Korea’s idea and not Russia’s, despite President VLADIMIR PUTIN’S support for the move. “U.S. officials do not believe [North Korean leader KIM JONG UN] has received anything immediate in return. Instead, they say, he appears to be hoping that Russia will repay the favor in the future by offering support in diplomatic fights, assisting if a crisis breaks out and providing technology,” NYT’s Julian Barnes and Michael Schwirtz report. “According to American and Ukrainian officials, the North Korean troops have now entered the fight in a major way, and some have been killed.” Related read: “Zelensky’s slow shift toward negotiating for Ukraine’s future,” by WaPo’s Isabelle Khurshudyan and Ellen Francis: “Officials and analysts said Zelensky’s tone shift is probably an attempt to be more in line with Trump’s emphasis on halting the conflict. But the Ukrainian leader is also trying to ensure his country doesn’t come out empty-handed.”
| | | | POLITICO Pro's unique analysis combines exclusive transition intelligence and data visualization to help you understand not just what's changing, but why it matters for your organization. Explore how POLITICO Pro will make a difference for you. | | | | | 6. DANCE OF THE SUPERPOWERS: “U.S. Takes Aim at China’s Production of Essential Computer Chips,” by NYT’s Ana Swanson and Paul Mozur: “The Biden administration on Monday initiated a trade investigation into China’s production of older types of computer chips that are integral for cars, dishwashers, telecom networks and military weaponry. The probe could ultimately result in tariffs or other measures to block Chinese chips from entering U.S. markets, though the decision of which, if any approach to take would fall to the incoming Trump administration. … China is building more new semiconductor factories than any other country, a development that American officials argue threatens the viability of chip plants in Europe and the United States.” 7. LIFE IN SPRINGFIELD, OHIO: Haitian immigrants are still sorting through the fallout from Trump and his supporters’ baseless and racist claims against them during the presidential campaign, especially now that Trump is headed back to the White House. “Now, many of them fear they may not be able to stay in the United States,” NYT’s Miriam Jordan reports. “Mr. Trump has vowed to carry out mass deportations and to curtail programs, such as Temporary Protected Status, that have allowed many of the Haitians to remain in the country at least in the short term. And he has promised to target the thousands of Haitians living and working in and around Springfield.” Immigration files: “8 Months Inside New York’s Migrant Shelters: Fear, Joy and Hope,” by NYT’s Luis Ferré-Sadurní
| | | | A message from Instagram:   | | | | | PLAYBOOKERS | | Tulsi Gabbard is in talks to have a sit-down with John Negroponte. ENGAGED — Alexis Grady, associate at Elias Law Group, and LJ Johnson, library associate at GWU, got engaged on Saturday at Book Hill Park. The couple are college sweethearts — they met and began dating at Howard University. Pic 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.
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