| | | |  | | By Eli Okun | Presented by The U.S. Chamber of Commerce | |  | THE CATCH-UP | | | 
President Donald Trump had some tough words for both Russia and Ukraine today. | Pool via AP Photo | TO RUSSIA, WITH LOVE: A week after berating Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Oval Office, President Donald Trump today trained his ire on Russia. In the wake of an intense Russian assault on Ukrainian energy facilities overnight, Trump warned on Truth Social that he wasn’t happy with Moscow’s battlefield barrage. “I am strongly considering large scale Banking Sanctions, Sanctions, and Tariffs on Russia until a Cease Fire and FINAL SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT ON PEACE IS REACHED,” Trump wrote. The threat was in line with Trump’s consistent emphasis on ending the war in Ukraine as soon as possible — but a shift from his frequent castigation of Ukraine for not stopping the war Russia started. More from POLITICO’s Ali Bianco and Robbie Gramer Change of heart? A top White House official tells Axios’ Barak Ravid that Trump’s post reflects a genuine “intensifying” of his anger this week as Russia has stepped up its attacks rather than moving toward peace. And though the Biden administration and Europe have already spent years trying to punish Russia with sanctions, National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett tells Fox News’ Jacqui Heinrich that there remain “a heck of a lot of things” the U.S. can target to force Russia to the negotiating table. But but but: Trump’s latest comments in the Oval Office made clear that he’s still not thrilled with Ukrainian leaders either. “I have to know that they want to settle,” he said. “If they don’t want to settle, we’re out of there.” He added that “it may be easier dealing with Russia.” And more broadly, Trump’s recent moves to choke off aid and intelligence to Ukraine, which delighted Russia, continue to rattle Europe: Both Germany and Poland have now opened the door to acquiring their own nuclear weapons, fearing they can’t count on the U.S. The reaction: “We support tougher sanctions against Moscow from the West and other measures,” said Andriy Yermak, head of Zelenskyy’s office, who emphasized that Russia has to stop striking Ukraine. Meanwhile, Bloomberg reports that Moscow told the U.S. last month it’s open to considering “a temporary truce in Ukraine provided there is progress toward a final peace settlement.” ANOTHER GEOPOLITICAL SHAKE-UP: Trump told Fox Business’ Maria Bartiromo in a clip that aired today that he’d sent Iranian Ayatollah Ali Khamenei a letter seeking to open nuclear negotiations. “I would prefer to make a deal, because I’m not looking to hurt Iran,” Trump said in a striking shift from his previous threats against the country’s leadership, though he noted that the alternative to an agreement is for Iran to be handled “militarily.” Iran’s mission to the U.N. said it hadn’t gotten the missive, per Axios’ Barak Ravid. JOBS DAY: The latest Labor Department report shows that the U.S. added 151,000 jobs in February, while the unemployment rate ticked up to 4.1 percent. Those numbers — a hair above January’s growth and a hair below economists’ expectations — reflect a labor market that remained pretty solid if slightly softening, with unemployment remaining close to record lows. Wage growth slowed but still beat inflation. The big question is whether this snapshot is already out of date: The data won’t capture most of the impact from Trump’s tariffs, hiring freeze and mass firings until next month. More from POLITICO’s Sam Sutton Some signs of slowdown: The numbers did already show a dip of 10,000 jobs in federal employment. The levels of Americans who could only find part-time work or who are working multiple jobs rose. “That sets a weak backdrop” for the Trump disruptions to come, Bloomberg’s Augusta Saraiva writes. And as consumer confidence has been shaken, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned today on CNBC that the economy may be in for some tough times as it goes through a “detox” from higher government spending. Many fired federal workers could struggle to find new jobs, NYT’s Lydia DePillis and Colby Smith report. More incoming? Trump warned that he might slap reciprocal tariffs on lumber and dairy products from Canada today or early next week, ramping up the trade threats again after yesterday’s reprieve, per Bloomberg. Overall, the fairly strong economy that Trump inherited now faces a lot of wobbling, “almost entirely a result of Mr. Trump’s policies and the resulting uncertainty,” NYT’s Ben Casselman and Colby Smith report. Happy Friday afternoon. Thanks for reading Playbook PM. Drop me a line at eokun@politico.com.
| | | | A message from The U.S. Chamber of Commerce: When Main Street businesses have a competitive tax code, local economies thrive, and workers benefit from higher paychecks and more job opportunities. Permanently extending the pro-growth reforms in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act would prevent a $4 trillion tax increase on American families and employers. This permanency would provide the certainty and stability needed for long-term investments, driving economic growth, boosting productivity, and ensuring prosperity across the economy. Learn more. | | | | | 8 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW | | 1. PAGING BILL CASSIDY: “US CDC plans study into vaccines and autism, sources say,” by Reuters’ Dan Levine and Leah Douglas: “The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is planning a large study into potential connections between vaccines and autism … despite extensive scientific research that has disproven or failed to find evidence of such links. It is unclear whether U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr, who has long promoted anti-vaccine views, is involved in the planned CDC study or how it would be carried out.” 2. SHUTDOWN SHOWDOWN: Next week, Senate Democrats will face a pivotal decision point on whether to acquiesce to Republicans’ seven-month continuing resolution or help shut the government down, POLITICO’s Jordain Carney and Katherine Tully-McManus report. It’s a fraught choice, and many aren’t saying how they’ll vote. Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) will vote for the CR to avoid a shutdown. But Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) says he doesn’t sense that there are yet enough Democratic votes to swallow the GOP plan, especially due to concerns about Trump and Elon Musk ignoring congressionally mandated funding. Some Dems first want to see if Speaker Mike Johnson can actually pass it in the House. 3. HEADS UP: The Education Department and HHS are slashing $400 million in grants to Columbia University due to a determination that the school has failed to stop campus antisemitism sufficiently, The Free Press’ Maya Sulkin and Gabe Kaminsky scooped. And many more could yet be canceled, seriously imperiling the university’s scientific research (which is largely in fields unrelated to the anti-Israel protests in question). This is “only the beginning,” said Leo Terrell, who leads the Justice Department’s antisemitism task force. Also coming today: Trump said he’ll sign an executive order making changes to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program, per NYT’s Erica Green. 4. MIDDLE EAST LATEST: “Israel objected to secret U.S.-Hamas talks in tense call,” by Axios’ Barak Ravid: “Israel’s concerns over the Trump administration’s secret negotiations with Hamas erupted in a contentious call Tuesday between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-hand man and the U.S. official leading the talks … [Ron] Dermer objected to [Adam] Boehler making such proposals without Israel’s consent. Boehler assured Dermer he wasn’t close to a deal with Hamas.” 5. IN THE DOGE HOUSE: The humanitarian crisis in Gaza is at risk of worsening due to the foreign aid freeze, as regional aid groups supported by USAID now haven’t gotten payments in more than a month, AP’s Julia Frankel reports from Jerusalem. Meanwhile, as the Department of Government Efficiency slashes federal agencies and the Trump administration pivots away from democracy promotion abroad, staffers at the traditionally GOP-backed International Republican Institute “feel betrayed” by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, WaPo’s Liz Goodwin reports. The room where it happens: NYT’s Jonathan Swan and Maggie Haberman have new reporting from inside the “remarkable,” tense meeting between Musk and Cabinet members, which our colleagues Dasha Burns and Kyle Cheney scooped. An angry and “caustic” Musk clashed with Rubio, who’s been “privately furious” over DOGE destroying USAID, and with Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy over DOGE’s efforts to fire air traffic controllers, per the NYT. Domestic fallout: Mass firings across the federal government have left many civil servants trapped in “bureaucratic purgatory,” uncertain of their status or struggling to get unemployment benefits due to the layoffs’ unusual nature, WaPo’s Danielle Paquette reports from Philadelphia. In Trump-supporting Parkersburg, West Virginia, more than 100 people were stunned to be fired from the Treasury Department’s Bureau of Fiscal Service, Reuters’ Nathan Layne and Aleksandra Michalska report. And today, thousands of people are expected to protest at a “Stand Up for Science” demonstration in D.C., WaPo’s Scott Dance, Ellie Silverman, Richard Sima and Carolyn Johnson report. 6. WHOOPS: “Social Security reverses course, will allow Maine parents to register their newborns at hospitals,” by the Portland Press Herald’s Joe Lawlor: “The mandate was widely panned as being cumbersome, unfair and inefficient, and would have caused some parents to have to drive hours for an appointment … The directive also would have terminated electronic filing of death records at funeral homes. State officials said the Social Security Administration did not provide any explanation for the abrupt end of the decades old registration process, or for the sudden reversal. … The canceled contracts may have been targeted as part of efforts to cut government programs under Elon Musk’s team.” 7. STATE OF THE UNIONS: “Homeland Security Tells TSA Agents It Will Ignore Labor Contract,” by WSJ’s Allison Pohle: “The Department of Homeland Security said it would no longer honor a bargaining agreement with the union representing airport security agents … The department said the move is meant to remove ‘bureaucratic hurdles’ … Union-represented transportation security officers ratified a new labor contract last year that was set to run through 2031. Union and government officials have said TSA has experienced high employee turnover, in part, because of lower pay levels.” 8. IMMIGRATION FILES: The Bulwark’s Lauren Egan reports that DHS spent $30,000 to air ads thanking Trump for his immigration crackdown — and telling migrants to leave — in the West Palm Beach market during a recent weekend when he was at Mar-a-Lago. Winners and losers: Private prisons are eyeing boom times as the Trump administration seeks to ramp up mass deportations and detentions, NYT’s Alexandra Berzon, Allison McCann and Hamed Aleaziz report. It’s a big turnaround from the public outcry the industry faced from liberals in recent years. On the flip side, tens of thousands of migrants from around the world are now stuck in southern Mexico after Trump effectively ended the U.S. asylum system and canceled their appointments, WSJ’s Ryan Dubé reports from Tapachula. There, they face fears of crime and few employment or housing opportunities. Migrants are strategizing whether to figure out a new way to the U.S. or chart a different path.
| | | | A message from The U.S. Chamber of Commerce:  
Adopting a current-policy baseline would help Congress deliver permanent tax relief for American families and businesses. Learn more. | | | | | TALK OF THE TOWN | | The NRCC has deleted its X post calling Adriano Espaillat an “illegal immigrant.” OUT AND ABOUT — SPOTTED at Climate Power’s “Beyond the Noise” forum at the Eaton Hotel yesterday, bringing together comms strategists and creators to talk about messaging and media: Bill Nye, Leigh Ann Caldwell, Brian Beutler, Xochitl Hinojosa, Lori Lodes, Blair Imani, Barrett Adair, Jess McIntosh, Dwayne Greene, Jacob Simon, Matt Spence, Patrick Stevenson, Shaniqua McClendon, Scott Waldman, Heather Hargreaves, Alex Witt, Jesse Lee, Anita Dunn, Mindy Myers, Alex Glass, Scott Mulhauser, Jess O’Connell, Elizabeth Thorp, Edder Díaz Martínez and Dave Willett. — SPOTTED at a tax reception with the Bipartisan Policy Center and BPC Action at Sonoma yesterday evening: David Brown, Andrew Lautz, Erin Meade, Shai Akabas, Kyle Perel, Elle Collins, Kathryn Chakmak, Scott Greenberg, Tyler Parks, Daniel Bunn, Anna Tyger, Sara Ragsdale, Connor Rabb, Nick O’Boyle, Caroline Oakum, David Jimenez, Ethan Dodd, Gianluca Nigro, Hana Greenberg, Ben Jordon and Nick Johns. — SPOTTED at Signal Group’s “Independence Party” at the Capitol Crossing penthouse Wednesday: Abigail Ross Hopper, Nazak Nikakhtar, Joanna Wischer, Diana Shaw, Kristina Peterson, Bennett Richardson, Nick Pope, Ross Barkan, John Parkinson, Dan Flatley, Patrice Willoughby, Steve Gonzalez, Erica Loewe, Kate Berner, Liza Acevedo, Nandita Bose, Haley Bull, Caleb Burns, Alex Floyd, Morgan Phillips, Teddy Amenabar and Marisol Samayoa. — The Radio Television Digital News Association’s RTDNA Foundation honored the winners of its annual First Amendment Awards with a black-tie dinner yesterday at the Watergate. Awards went to the AP, CNN’s Omar Jimenez, NPR’s Steve Inskeep, Fox News’ Trey Yingst, ABC’s Rachel Scott, Ballard Spahr’s Charles Tobin, CBS’ Lesley Stahl and New York Public News Network’s Karen DeWitt. TRANSITIONS — Eric Anderson has been named executive director of the Pennsylvania GOP. He previously was political director for Dave McCormick’s Senate campaign. … Jon Schweppe is joining the FTC as senior policy adviser to the chair. He most recently has been policy director at the American Principles Project. … Will Reinert is joining Kevin McCarthy’s new firm, Watchtower Strategy, as senior director. He previously was national press secretary at the NRCC. … … Charles Truxal is now chief of staff for Rep. Kat Cammack (R-Fla.). He most recently was legislative director for Rep. Morgan Luttrell (R-Texas). … Janiyah Thomas is joining Templar Baker Group as director of public affairs. She previously was Black media director for the Trump campaign. … Debbie McFetridge is now a media manager at the National Federation of Independent Business. She is a Federalist Society, RGA and RNC alum. WELCOME TO THE WORLD — John Sakellariadis, cybersecurity and intelligence reporter at POLITICO, and Carly Hillman welcomed Lina Sakellariadis on Wednesday. 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 deputy editor Zack Stanton and Playbook Daily Briefing producer Callan Tansill-Suddath. | | | | 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 politics and policy newsletters | | Follow us | | | |
