With help from Eli Okun and Garrett Ross
QUOTE OF THE NIGHT — In his victory speech after handily winning the Republican gubernatorial nomination in Kentucky, DANIEL CAMERON took a shot at Florida Gov. RON DeSANTIS: “Let me just say, the Trump culture of winning is alive and well in Kentucky!” More on last night’s election results below
DEBT CEILING TALKS GET REAL — During yesterday’s bipartisan debt ceiling huddle at the White House, President JOE BIDEN agreed to a key process demand from Speaker KEVIN McCARTHY: shrinking the size of the negotiating table. The two men agreed to sideline other congressional leaders and designate representatives to negotiate directly on their behalf in a bid to clear the kitchen of surplus cooks.
This morning, we can report that those representatives huddled on Capitol Hill last night to start negotiations, reflecting the time crunch as the clock ticks toward a possible June 1 default.
On the Democratic side, Biden has chosen White House counselor STEVE RICCHETTI, budget director SHALANDA YOUNG and legislative affairs director LOUISA TERRELL to lead talks. Republicans privately applauded the selections — Young has deep relationships across the aisle thanks to her years as a House Appropriations staffer, and Ricchetti, too, has built trust due to his work on infrastructure and other issues.
On the GOP side, McCarthy tapped his favorite fixer, Rep. GARRET GRAVES (R-La.), who was instrumental in helping him win the speaker’s gavel and who more recently has been overseeing the “five families” meetings, where the warring factions of the House GOP duke out their differences. Graves isn’t a bomb-thrower or grandstander, and Democrats told us they’ve seen him as a steady hand in other bipartisan policy negotiations. Read our Graves profile from March
The slimmed-down negotiations kick off as Biden prepares to leave Washington today for the G-7 summit in Japan. But in a nod yesterday to the looming threat of default, he scrapped the back half of what had been planned as an eight-day Indo-Pacific swing and will be back in Washington on Sunday.
NEW THIS MORNING: Two related Playbook exclusives, and an update on House Dem floor tactics …
- AAN HITS THE AIRWAVES: American Action Network, the McCarthy-aligned issues advocacy group, is going live with a $250,000 D.C. cable ad buy on CNN, MSNBC and Fox News. The ad highlights McCarthy’s work unifying the GOP behind a debt ceiling plan packaged with spending cuts and knocks Biden for refusing to negotiate for several months. Watch the ad here
- SCHUMER HUDDLES WITH BANK EXECS: At 11 a.m. today, Senate Majority Leader CHUCK SCHUMER will meet with leaders of the country’s largest banks — including JPMorgan Chase CEO JAMIE DIMON and Citigroup CEO JANE FRASER — who are in town for the annual Bank Policy Institute meeting. He’ll call on the executives to lean on Republicans to back a bipartisan debt ceiling agreement and avoid default.
- DISCHARGE PETITION GOES LIVE: House Democrats will begin gathering signatures today for their longshot effort to sidestep McCarthy and put a clean debt-ceiling increase on the floor, Lindsay Wise reports for WSJ. Rep. BRENDAN BOYLE (D-Pa.) is leading the push, saying Dems would ”try whatever it takes.” But even under the rosiest scenarios, it would be the second week of June before the gambit produces results.
ABOUT McCARTHY’S ‘RED LINE’: The White House said in a late-night statement that Biden plans on “fighting” stricter work requirements on federal aid programs — not only for Medicaid, but SNAP and TANF, too — walking back the curiosity he showed over the weekend.
“Republicans couldn’t pass them into law when they had unified control of government,” spokesperson MICHAEL KIKUKAWA said. “And the President is fighting to ensure they will not be in a bipartisan budget agreement.”
The pushback comes after McCarthy said yesterday that beefed-up work requirements constituted a “red line” for the GOP. But, notably, he doesn’t have his entire conference on board. Multiple centrist Republicans told us yesterday that securing modest crackdowns on anti-poverty programs wasn’t worth a potential federal default.
“We know we’re not going to get everything. If we get three, four compromises, that’s a success,” said Rep. DON BACON (R-Neb.), emphasizing that work requirements could be handled as part of farm bill negotiations later in the year.
He’s not the only one. “Work requirements may be one of those things that we can give up,” if negotiations are going on in good faith, added Rep. MIKE GARCIA (R-Calif.).
Related reads: “Senators dismiss happy talk after Biden-McCarthy debt sitdown,” by Burgess Everett and Sarah Ferris … “Republicans push two-step deal on energy permits in debt talks,” by Josh Siegel
Good Wednesday morning. Thanks for reading Playbook, where we’re chugging coffee to keep up with all the news. Is it really only Wednesday?!? Send scoops and tips: Rachael Bade, Eugene Daniels, Ryan Lizza.
THE SANTOS PRECEDENT — When House Democrats, then in the majority, moved to kick Rep. MARJORIE TAYLOR GREENE (R-Ga.) off her committees in early 2021, some inside their ranks privately feared the move would backfire.
Up to that point, it was well accepted that each party had the prerogative to determine its own members’ committee assignments. And if a lawmaker stepped out of line, it was generally left in the hands of that member’s party leadership. What enforced that tradition was unwritten but easily understood: Today’s majority is tomorrow’s minority, and the shoe will eventually be on the other foot.
Fears of a slippery slope were well-founded: One of Republicans’ first moves this year after flipping the House was to oust Reps. ADAM SCHIFF (D-Calif.), ERIC SWALWELL (D-Calif.) and ILHAN OMAR (D-Minn.) from certain panels in open retaliation for the actions Democrats had taken against Greene and Rep. PAUL GOSAR (R-Ariz.).
Now, Democrats are once again threatening to open a Pandora’s box. Party leaders blessed a move yesterday by freshman Rep. ROBERT GARCIA (D-Calif.) to force a vote on expelling Rep. GEORGE SANTOS (R-N.Y.), who was recently indicted on multiple federal felony charges.
Sure, Democrats — and plenty of Republicans, let’s be honest — will argue he richly deserves it. He’s admitted to fabricating much of his life story and lying to his constituents about it, and he has now been charged with misusing campaign funds and falsifying his financial disclosure forms, among other crimes.
But moving directly to expulsion represents a major breach of House precedent — where accused and even indicted lawmakers have been afforded the right to defend themselves, whether in court or before the House Ethics Committee. The only two expulsions since the Civil War — of Reps. MICHAEL “OZZIE” MYERS in 1980 and JIM TRAFICANT in 2002 — came after they were convicted of federal crimes and refused to resign.
Santos warrants an exception, a senior Democratic aide told Playbook yesterday, in part because of the vast number of his alleged indiscretions but also because he admitted to theft last week in a Brazilian court, agreeing to pay restitution and fines in order to end a case that dated back to 2008.
The aide said that party leaders, including House Minority Leader HAKEEM JEFFRIES, were given a heads-up before Garcia forced the issue and ultimately decided not to shut it down. Democrats have been hearing plenty from constituents wondering what Santos is still doing in Congress, the aide said, and Jeffries & Co. also felt it was simply the right thing to do — to hell with any threats of GOP retaliation.
It appears Santos won’t be expelled, though — at least not this week. McCarthy told reporters yesterday that he would move later this week to send the matter to the Ethics Committee, which he said would “move rapidly on this.”
Color us skeptical: This may have been the first time we’ve heard “Ethics Committee” and “rapidly” uttered in the same sentence. For one thing, the panel typically waits for court proceedings to end before rendering its own judgment on a member’s alleged misconduct.
Related read: “House GOP leaders reassure their Santos critics after Dems launch expulsion push,” by Olivia Beavers: “McCarthy’s message to Santos skeptics in his conference: We have to do this properly.”
PHOTO OF THE DAY
ABOUT LAST NIGHT — A flurry of elections yesterday across Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Florida and Colorado produced some striking results. Beyond the literal victors and also-rans, the night’s big winners included Senate Minority Leader MITCH McCONNELL and moderate Democrats, while DeSantis and big-city Republicans fell flat.
Jacksonville, Fla.: In an upset, Democrat DONNA DEEGAN flipped the mayoralty, beating DeSantis-backed Republican DANIEL DAVIS in a city that had been swinging right of late. The initial data looks similar to how Democrats performed outside of Florida in last year’s midterms: struggling somewhat with base turnout, but scoring big by flipping swing voters. Deegan won despite well-funded GOP attacks that focused heavily on crime. The Messenger’s Marc Caputo called it “a signature win” for beleaguered Florida Dems. More from the Florida Times-Union
Kentucky: Despite her barrage of attack ads, KELLY CRAFT managed just third place in the GOP gubernatorial primary as Cameron, a McConnell protégé and Republican rising star, cruised to victory. He’ll take on Democratic Gov. ANDY BESHEAR in one of November’s marquee races. Notably, DONALD TRUMP endorsed Cameron early, while DeSantis somewhat confusingly declared a very late endorsement of Craft. And in another victory for the state’s GOP establishment, incumbent Secretary of State MICHAEL ADAMS easily turned back a primary challenge from election denier STEPHEN KNIPPER. More from the Louisville Courier Journal
Philadelphia: Shades of ERIC ADAMS in Philly: In a fractured field, CHERELLE PARKER triumphed in the Democratic mayoral primary, all but ensuring that she’ll be the city’s next leader. Parker staked out more moderate positions on crime and policing and consolidated the support of much of the city’s political establishment, racking up big margins in majority-Black neighborhoods. National progressives had put a lot of oomph behind HELEN GYM, but she and REBECCA RHYNHART each ended up more than 10 points behind Parker. More from the Philly Inquirer
Elsewhere in Pennsylvania:
- In a closely watched special election that might have flipped control of the state House had Republicans prevailed, Democrat HEATHER BOYD triumphed by more than 25 points.
- In a high-stakes state Supreme Court election, DANIEL McCAFFERY won the Democratic primary and CAROLYN CARLUCCIO eked out the GOP nod. National Republicans were pulling for Carluccio over a rival who had ruled against certifying the 2020 election results.
- In Pittsburgh, progressive up-and-comer SARA INNAMORATO won the Democratic primary for Allegheny County executive.
Colorado Springs, Colo.: The historically conservative city sprung for an independent, progressive outsider in YEMI MOBOLADE, who defeated moderate GOP stalwart WAYNE WILLIAMS in a mayoral runoff. He’ll be the first non-Republican-affiliated mayor in nearly half a century. More from The Gazette
2024 WATCH
BILLIONAIRE BLUES — 94-year-old GOP megadonor BERNIE MARCUS, a top Trump funder in his past campaigns, hasn’t decided which horse to back yet this time around, Puck’s Teddy Schleifer scoops. His reticence is worrying Trump world, as DeSantis and other contenders hope the Home Depot co-founder will jump ship. “He doesn’t think Trump can win. That’s clear,” one source tells Puck.
BACK ON THE TRAIL — “DeSantis returning to New Hampshire Friday ahead of imminent 2024 announcement,” by Fox News’ Paul Steinhauser
DEMS BREATHING A LITTLE EASIER — “Biden maintains edge over Trump in 2024 U.S. election” by Reuters’ Jason Lange and James Oliphant: “Among registered voters, Biden led Trump, his predecessor as president, by six percentage points in a hypothetical match-up, 44% to 38%.” The Reuters/Ipsos poll surveyed 4,410 U.S. adults.
FED UP — “Pence Calls for End to Fed’s Jobs Role as He Weighs 2024 Bid,” by Bloomberg’s Mark Niquette: “MIKE PENCE is calling for an end to the Federal Reserve’s dual mandate, saying the central bank should focus solely on fighting inflation and leave creating jobs to Congress and the president.”
TOP-ED — “So You Want to Beat Trump?” by ANDREW YANG in POLITICO Magazine
MORE POLITICS
FRANK TALK — In the latest excerpt adapted from his new book, “The Big Break,” Ben Terris today dives into FRANK LUNTZ’s place in politics for N.Y. Mag. Luntz’s angst about the Republican Party after it swung hard for Trump and TUCKER CARLSON alienated him in Washington and damaged his health: “I had a stroke because of Trump,” he says. “I didn’t have the guts to speak out enough about him, and it drove me crazy.” He briefly tried with the Trump White House, encouraging MICK MULVANEY to have Trump call the border wall a border “barrier” instead. That only invited the president’s ridicule.
But Luntz is still close with longtime Trump ally McCarthy, who checked in with him every day to make sure he was taking the necessary medical steps — and even administered his pre-diabetic shots to keep his blood sugar in check.
CONGRESS
TOP TALKER — In a brief hallway exchange with reporters yesterday, Sen. DIANNE FEINSTEIN seemed not to remember that she’d been gone from the Senate for months, Slate’s Jim Newell reports. Asked about her return, the California Democrat responded, “I haven’t been gone … I’ve been here. I’ve been voting … Please. You either know or don’t know.” Feinstein also told them that she was feeling fine aside from “a problem with the leg,” details of which she said were not for public consumption.
HOT ON THE RIGHT — “MTG Introduces Articles Of Impeachment Against FBI Director Christopher Wray,” by The Daily Caller’s Henry Rodgers … Greene also moved to impeach U.S. Attorney for D.C. MATTHEW GRAVES.
FEEL THE BERN — “Sanders goes big in new health package,” by Daniel Payne and Burgess Everett: “Sen. BERNIE SANDERS is launching his latest push as one of the Senate’s most powerful committee chairs: to pour nearly $200 billion of new money into the health care system.”
THE WHITE HOUSE
ONE VETO … “Biden officially vetoes resolution blocking temporary suspension of tariffs on solar panel imports,” by CNN’s Donald Judd
… AND ANOTHER ONE COMING: “Senate votes to block 2nd D.C. crime law; Biden veto expected,” by AP’s Mary Clare Jalonick: “The Senate has voted to overturn a District of Columbia law enacted last year to improve police accountability … [E]ight Senate Democrats [and independents] supported the GOP-led effort.”
JUDICIARY SQUARE
ANNALS OF JURISPRUDENCE — “How a 150-Year-Old Law Against Lewdness Became a Key to the Abortion Fight,” by NYT’s Emily Bazelon: “The Comstock Act, named for a public-morals crusader on a mission to ‘sanitize’ the U.S. in the 1870s, makes a comeback in the abortion-pill battle.”
NIGHT OF THE HUNTER — “IRS whistleblower in Hunter Biden investigation removed from probe, his attorneys say,” by CBS’ Graham Kates and Michael Kaplan
POLICY CORNER
WHAT’S IN A WORD — “White House faces pressure from the left to buck mainstream antisemitism definition,” by Jewish Insider’s Gabby Deutch and Marc Rod: “[T]he Biden administration is now facing pressure to buck the [International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance] definition from some on the left who argue that the IHRA definition, which identifies some forms of anti-Zionism as antisemitism, does not leave sufficient space for critiques of Israel.”
AMERICA AND THE WORLD
PRE-G-7 READING — “Biden brings debt crisis burden with him to G-7 summit,” by Eli Stokols in Hiroshima, Japan: “[A]s Biden takes off Wednesday for his third G-7 summit, it’s Washington giving the other leaders heartburn.”
Related read: “G-7 leaders likely to focus on the war in Ukraine and tensions in Asia at summit in Hiroshima,” by AP’s Adam Schreck
FROM 30,000 FEET — “What Everyone — Except the U.S. — Has Learned About Immigration,” by WSJ’s Tom Fairless: “Migration to affluent countries is at record highs, and some nations short of workers are overcoming political opposition to open their borders even wider, hoping to fill jobs and ease inflation. … The U.S. remains an outlier.”
BEYOND THE BELTWAY
ABORTION IN THE STATES — North Carolina enacted a 12-week abortion ban last night after Republicans in the state legislature narrowly overrode Democratic Gov. ROY COOPER’s veto, shrinking the period during which most abortions are legal by two months.
Though Republicans in red states have usually been the ones grappling with intra-party abortion divides lately, Democrats are increasingly riven over one particular policy, Megan Messerly and Alice Miranda Ollstein report this morning: Laws that require minors to tell their parents before getting an abortion haven’t been as easy for Democrats to oppose as most other policies. Some lawmakers worry that voting against them would give political opponents ammunition on parents’ rights. That has angered some abortion rights groups, which don’t want Dems to give an inch on the issue.
PROGRESSIVE PROSECUTOR GOES DOWN — “Rachael Rollins to step down as U.S. attorney following ethics probe,” by the Boston Globe’s Milton Valencia, Kris Hooks and Shelley Murphy
BORDER SONG — “DeSantis ready to deploy 1,100 Florida National Guard, state cops to Mexican border,” by the Orlando Sentinel’s Jeffrey Schweers and Skyler Swisher
MEDIAWATCH
IMPORTANT DYNAMIC — “Without Tucker Carlson, Far Right Loses a Foothold in the Mainstream,” by NYT’s Charles Homans: “For years, Mr. Carlson used his Fox News show to bring right-wing ideas into Americans’ living rooms. Playing the same role in his next chapter will be much harder.”
MISCELLANY
SCARY SITUATION — “Intrusion at national security adviser’s home under investigation,” by WaPo’s Carol Leonnig and Tyler Pager: “The unknown man walked into Jake Sullivan’s home at about 3 a.m. one night in late April. … Sullivan has a round-the-clock Secret Service detail. But agents stationed outside the house were unaware that an intruder had gotten inside the home, located in the West End neighborhood of Washington, until the man had already left.”
Lauren Boebert filed for divorce.
Joe Manchin sported Nikes at the Capitol yesterday.
Debbie Stabenow is an NBA Draft Lottery truther.
FIRST IN PLAYBOOK — Arabella Advisors, the progressive philanthropy consulting firm, has laid off more than 30 employees, Daniel Lippman has learned. The cuts have reduced the firm’s headcount by 10% and affected numerous departments.
Employees were told that a number of factors contributed to the layoffs, including rising competition, aggressive recent growth and a souring economic climate. Arabella spokesperson Steve Sampson said in a statement that the firm is “adapting our operating model to meet the needs of our sector and our clients most efficiently and effectively” and that the layoffs “do not change our values or our commitment to helping changemakers create a better world.”
In addition to its many other progressive clients, Arabella has attracted attention for its affiliation with huge Democratic super PAC the Sixteen Thirty Fund and been dubbed “the Left’s Dark-Money Manager” by The Atlantic. One employee affected said the cuts came after managers had repeatedly reassured them in recent months there would not be layoffs.
OUT AND ABOUT — President Joe Biden made a surprise appearance at EMILY’s List’s annual We Are EMILY Gala last night, celebrating Rep. Nancy Pelosi’s (D-Calif.) leadership as speaker and Democratic pro-abortion-rights women. VP Kamala Harris kicked things off with a speech. Also SPOTTED: Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Sens. Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) and Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, House Minority Whip Katherine Clark (D-Mass.), Reps. Lois Frankel (D-Fla.), Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-Wash.), Jennifer McClellan (D-Va.), Angie Craig (D-Minn.), Abigail Spanberger (D-Va.), Mary Gay Scanlon (D-Pa.), Becca Balint (D-Vt.), Nikema Williams (D-Ga.), Emilia Sykes (D-Ohio), and Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), Florida state House Minority Leader Fentrice Driskell, Tennessee state Rep. Gloria Johnson, Virginia state Sen. Ghazala Hashmi, Prince George’s County, Md., Executive Angela Alsobrooks, Lateefah Simon, Maya Wiley, Mini Timmaraju, Julie Chavez Rodriguez, Tiffany Muller, Allison Jaslow, Karen Finney, Minyon Moore, Donna Brazile, Ashley Etienne, Katrina Mendiola and Amanda Brown Lierman.
MEDIA MOVES — The Hill is adding David Freddoso as deputy opinion editor and Aryeh Cohen-Wade as an associate opinion editor. Freddoso previously worked on the Washington Examiner’s commentary page. Cohen-Wade previously was executive editor of Bloggingheads.tv.
TRANSITIONS — Scott Sendek is now principal and SVP at FlexPoint Media and will lead the newly launched FlexPoint Advocacy. He previously was VP for political & advocacy at Cross Screen Media, and is a Treasury alum. … Kevin Dawson is now chief of staff for Rep. Mike Kelly (R-Pa.). He previously was health policy adviser to Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.). … The National Restaurant Association has added Michael Monrroy as state affairs manager and Kelly Montgomery as policy comms manager. Monrroy previously was director of coalitions at the Libre Initiative. Montgomery previously was press secretary for Rep. Dan Kildee (D-Mich.). …
… Chile Emenuga is now press secretary for Rep. Mike Turner (R-Ohio). He previously was press assistant for Rep. Rick Allen (R-Ga.). … Sam Forbes is now digital outreach manager with Rep. Andrea Salinas (D-Ore.). He previously was a press assistant/legislative correspondent for Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-Calif.). … Adam Cooper is now assistant research director at the Center for Political Accountability. He most recently was deputy chief of staff at WelcomePAC.
WELCOME TO THE WORLD — Rep. Jake Auchincloss (D-Mass.) and Michelle Auchincloss, an associate partner at Bain & Co., welcomed daughter Audrey on Friday. She joins big siblings Teddy and Grace. Pics
HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo … NYT’s Mike Shear and Reid Epstein … Mike Smith … NBC’s Kelly O’Donnell … White House’s Rachel Palermo … Rick Wiley … Olivia Petersen of Morning Consult … Margarita Diaz … WaPo’s Peter Wallsten … … POLITICO’s Mikaela Dittbrenner, Sean Scott, Thao Sperling and Mike Farrell … WSJ’s Robin Turner … Cheryl Bruner … The Intercept’s Akela Lacy … Randy Schriver … Center on Budget and Policy Priorities’ Shannon Buckingham … Phillip Stutts … Derrick Robinson … Deirdre Murphy Ramsey of Precision Strategies … David Brancaccio … Margaret McInnis of Rep. Marcy Kaptur’s (D-Ohio) office … Brielle Hopkins … Nik Youngsmith of the House Administration Committee … Tim Del Monico … Emily Druckman of Rep. Marc Veasey’s (D-Texas) office … Ralph Neas … former Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) … Adi Sathi … former Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.) … Jenna Lowenstein … Bloomberg’s Jeremy Lin
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