| | | | | |  | | By Anna Palmer and Jake Sherman | Presented by Facebook | | | | |  | DRIVING THE DAY | | IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE QUIET, but we should've known better. IN ONE NIGHT, President DONALD TRUMP pardoned three crooked former Republican congressmen and some private security guards convicted of killing civilians in Iraq, endorsed a primary challenge to Sen. JOHN THUNE (R-S.D.) -- "Mitch's boy," he said, and also a candidate to be the next Senate GOP leader -- and is on the brink of blowing up a massive bipartisan spending and Covid relief deal that his administration negotiated with Capitol Hill. WE'RE SORRY IF YOU DECIDED TO UNPLUG or downshift in these closing days of this wretched year. IF YOU WEREN'T PAYING ATTENTION, TRUMP released a quite bizarre video Tuesday night, in which he suggested he was unhappy with the Covid relief/government funding deal. He spent much of the video decrying the foreign spending in the bill, suggesting that it shouldn't be in a coronavirus package. Of course, the foreign spending wasn't part of the relief package itself, but rather part of a government funding bill it was twinned with to ease passage in the Senate. SOURCES TELL US that TRUMP was angry at that foreign spending -- even though he's signed similar spending countless times. He also seemed pumped to one-up Congress on the direct payments portion. He said he wanted $2,000 checks, and Congress had only approved $600 checks. THE THINKING IN THE WHITE HOUSE -- if there is any at all -- seems to also be that TRUMP is eager to show that he's more generous than Congress, and wants to put more money in the pockets of everyday Americans. They think it's never wrong to go against the Hill, and act like the outsider that he thinks himself to be. Plus, he puts everyone in a jam and redirects the attention back his way. OF COURSE, he also makes a complete fool of Washington's Most Eager Man, Treasury Secretary STEVEN MNUCHIN, and the rest of his administration as a result. The $600 check was partially their idea! Don't be fooled here, the White House was wishy washy on what size check they could accept, and they eventually settled on $600. SPEAKER NANCY PELOSI took TRUMP up on the idea to up the payments, suggesting that she would offer a bill to increase the direct checks to $2,000 by unanimous consent -- the House is in for a very short session on Christmas Eve. Someone in the House would almost certainly object to this, of course -- looking at you, Reps. JUSTIN AMASH (Libertarian-Mich.), CHIP ROY (R-Texas) and TOM MASSIE (R-Ky.). AND THERE IS PRACTICALLY NO WAY this will get consent in the Senate. But TRUMP doesn't really seem to give a hoot whether he divides Senate Republicans on his way out the door. TRUMP ALSO ASKED for Congress to "get rid of the wasteful and unnecessary items from this legislation, and to send me a suitable bill, or else the next administration will have to deliver a Covid relief package, and maybe that administration will be me." OF COURSE, Congress is not going to renegotiate this bill at this late hour, and the next administration will not be his. HERE'S THE REALITY: TRUMP now has five days to sign the package Congress passed or else the government shuts down. Real-world stuff, guys. As we've written, Congress pushed through a seven-day stopgap as part of this package, and TRUMP has already signed that. Dec. 28 is the day by which he needs to make a decision -- this coming Monday. Unemployment benefits end this week for many people. These are real-world deadlines that TRUMP needs to consider in the midst of a worsening pandemic as he relaxes at his Mar-a-Lago club over the Christmas holiday. IT'S DIFFICULT to see why the White House thinks it's helpful to TRUMP to look as if he has no sway with the legislature. IF HE DOES VETO, can Congress come back and override it? Maybe -- probably! So, again, it's difficult to see why it's helpful to have TRUMP choose to lose another fight with Congress. IF TRUMP DOES VETO and Congress can't override it, the Hill will just pass this again in January, and JOE BIDEN will get to take credit, and TRUMP will get none. 4D chess. AND WHAT ABOUT GOP Sens. DAVID PERDUE and KELLY LOEFFLER, who have been touting the bill in Georgia? Where does this leave them? 28 DAYS until BIDEN takes office. Good Wednesday morning. | | | | A message from Facebook: It's time to update internet regulations
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Learn More | | | SOME PRE-CHRISTMAS GOOD NEWS! -- "Pfizer Nears Deal With Trump Administration to Provide More Vaccine Doses," by NYT's Sharon LaFraniere and Katie Thomas: "The Trump administration and Pfizer are close to a deal under which the pharmaceutical company would bolster supply of its coronavirus vaccine for the United States by at least tens of millions of doses next year in exchange for a government directive giving it better access to manufacturing supplies, people familiar with the discussions said. "An agreement, which could be announced as early as Wednesday, would help the United States at least partly offset a looming vaccine shortage that could leave as many as 110 million adult Americans uncovered in the first half of 2021." MEANWHILE … LAT: "Coronavirus wave pushes California to brink of 2 million cases," by Luke Money and Rong-Gong Lin II ICYMI -- AP: "WH virus coordinator Deborah Birx says she will retire," by AP's Aamer Madhani and Brian Slodysko: "Dr. Deborah Birx, coordinator of the White House coronavirus response, said Tuesday she plans to retire, but is willing to first help President-elect Joe Biden's team with its coronavirus response as needed. Birx, in an interview with the news site Newsy, did not give a specific timetable on her plans. 'I will be helpful in any role that people think I can be helpful in, and then I will retire,' Birx told the news outlet." The interview A MERRY CHRISTMAS FOR SOME CONVICTED CRIMINALS … KYLE CHENEY and JOSH GERSTEIN: "Trump latest batch of pardons favors the well-connected" -- WAPO: "Trump grants clemency to 20 people, including three former GOP members of Congress and two men convicted in the Russia probe," by Rosalind Helderman, Matt Zapotosky and Josh Dawsey: "President Trump granted clemency on Tuesday to 20 people, including three former Republican members of Congress and two people who were convicted of crimes as part of the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. "He also pardoned four military contractors convicted of killing 14 unarmed Iraqi civilians in Baghdad in 2007, and extended clemency to several people convicted of drug offenses, including some who had already benefited from initial commutations. The pre-Christmas pardons and commutations came as the president has been exploring how to reward friends and allies in his waning days in the White House, with more acts of clemency expected to come. "Trump has told advisers he wants to be liberal with pardons and plans to sign more before leaving office on Jan. 20, according to people familiar with his views. The White House has been flooded with requests from dozens of members of Congress, one senior administration official said, as well as lawyers, lobbyists, allies and other supporters of the president." WaPo AND THIS -- NYT : "U.S. Considers Granting Immunity to Saudi Prince in Suspected Assassination Attempt," by Pranshu Verma and Mark Mazzetti: "The Trump administration is considering a request to grant Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia immunity from a federal lawsuit that accuses him of trying to kill a former Saudi intelligence official living in Canada, legal documents related to the case show. "If the request is granted, the State Department's recommendation could potentially provide a legal basis to dismiss other cases against the prince, most notably one where he is accused of directing the assassination of the Saudi dissident Jamal Khashoggi in 2018, a person familiar with the case said." IRAN ALIGNS ITSELF WITH TRUMP -- "FBI links Iran to online hit list targeting top officials who've refuted Trump's election fraud claims," by WaPo's Ellen Nakashima, Amy Gardner and Aaron Davis: "The FBI has concluded that Iran was behind online efforts earlier this month to incite lethal violence against the bureau's director, a former top U.S. cyber expert and multiple state elections officials who have refuted claims of widespread voter fraud promoted by President Trump and his allies, federal and state officials said Tuesday. "FBI Director Christopher A. Wray and ousted Homeland Security Department official Christopher Krebs were among more than a dozen people whose images, home addresses and other personal information were posted on a website titled 'Enemies of the People.' Crosshairs were superimposed over the photos. "Many of these officials in one way or another have attested to the security of November's election, saying they had not seen evidence of widespread fraud — a conclusion at odds with Trump's baseless claims that the election was rigged." | | | |   | | | NEWSOM NAMES PADILLA -- "Meet Alex Padilla, California's first Latino U.S. senator and a rising political star since his 20s," by LAT's Patrick McGreevy and Phil Willon in Sacramento: "People have been saying Alex Padilla is a politician to watch since he was in his early 20s. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology-trained engineer gave up a career in aerospace to enter politics at an early age. At 26, he became Los Angeles' youngest council member. Then, he went on to be the face of city government in the days after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. "That brought him national prominence. 'This can only be helpful, if you want to be crude in the political sense, to whatever future plans he has,' one political consultant said of Padilla at the time. Now, he is set to become California's first Latino U.S. senator, appointed by Gov. Gavin Newsom to fill the term of Vice President-elect Kamala Harris." LAT THE TRANSITION SLOWDOWN … "How the Georgia runoffs could delay Biden's Cabinet," by Marianne LeVine and Burgess Everett: "The next Congress will begin in a haze of uncertainty — and that has consequences for President-elect Joe Biden. With the Senate majority unknown until the Jan. 5 Georgia runoffs, much of the chamber's business remains up in the air — potentially for days or weeks after if the elections are tight and certification is postponed. And that could mean more delay for staffing Biden's cabinet and implementing his agenda. "Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.), who could chair the Senate HELP Committee in the next Congress, said that the current state of limbo renders the confirmation process 'moot' until control of the Senate is clear. "'If you can't form committees until Jan, 6, 7, 8, something like that? And know whether you're in the majority or minority? Staff, schedule, meet with nominees, look at FBI files for the chair and ranking member?' Burr asked. 'You only really have two weeks there before the inauguration. I'm just not confident a whole lot can be accomplished.'" -- "Biden faces uncertain outlook for quick confirmation of Cabinet nominees as some Republicans urge caution," by CNN's Manu Raju and Ted Barrett TRUMP'S WEDNESDAY -- The president and first lady Melania Trump will leave the White House at 4 p.m. en route to West Palm Beach, Fla. They will arrive at Mar-a-Lago at 6:55 p.m. BIDEN and VP-elect KAMALA HARRIS will make a transition announcement. They will also meet with transition advisers. | | | | EVERYONE IS TALKING ABOUT TRANSITION PLAYBOOK, SUBSCRIBE TODAY: A new year is quickly approaching. Inauguration Day is right around the corner. President-elect Joe Biden's staffing decisions are sending clear-cut signals about his priorities. What do these signals foretell? Transition Playbook is the definitive guide to the new administration and one of the most consequential transfers of power in American history. Written for political insiders, this scoop-filled newsletter breaks big news daily and analyzes the appointments, people and emerging power centers of the new administration. Track the transition and the first 100 days of the incoming Biden administration. Subscribe today. | | | | | | | PLAYBOOK READS | | | 
PHOTO DU JOUR: Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, prepares to receive his first dose of the coronavirus vaccine at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Md., on Tuesday, Dec. 22. | Patrick Semansky/Pool via AP Photo | DACA LATEST -- "DACA backers ask judge for reprieve until Biden administration," by Josh Gerstein: "A lawyer for states seeking to preserve the Obama-era program for so-called Dreamers asked a federal judge Tuesday to hold off ruling on a legal challenge to the arrangement until President-elect Joe Biden is sworn in next month. "With backers of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program expecting another adverse decision from U.S. District Court Judge Andrew Hanen, they pleaded with him to wait to see what the Biden administration does before issuing a ruling on a lawsuit Texas and other conservative states brought in 2018 to the original DACA plan issued back in 2012. "'Given … the ongoing federal transition we think this court can expect further changes to that framework soon,' New Jersey State Solicitor Jeremy Feigenbaum said during a three-hour-plus court hearing in Houston. 'Policies can be a bit of a moving target during [a] transition.' Hanen seemed unpersuaded by the suggestion. "'How can they change what happened eight years ago?' asked the judge, a George W. Bush appointee who blocked President Barack Obama's effort to expand DACA in 2015. Feigenbaum said the new administration couldn't turn back time but could clarify 'confusion' about the program in the wake of a Supreme Court ruling earlier this year that rejected President Donald Trump's attempt in 2017 to initiate a phase-out of DACA." BEYOND THE BELTWAY -- DAVID SIDERS: "The Fall of Michael Tubbs" | | | | A message from Facebook: Internet regulations need an update
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Learn More | | | OPIOID WARS -- "U.S. Sues Walmart, Alleging Role in Fueling Opioid Crisis," by WSJ's Timothy Puko and Sadie Gurman: "The Trump administration sued Walmart Inc. Tuesday, accusing the retail giant of helping to fuel the nation's opioid crisis by inadequately screening for questionable prescriptions despite repeated warnings from its own pharmacists. "The Justice Department's lawsuit claims Walmart sought to boost profits by understaffing its pharmacies and pressuring employees to fill prescriptions quickly. That made it difficult for pharmacists to reject invalid prescriptions, enabling widespread drug abuse nationwide, the suit alleges. "Walmart responded in a public filing Tuesday, saying the lawsuit 'invents a legal theory that unlawfully forces pharmacists to come between patients and their doctors, and is riddled with factual inaccuracies and cherry-picked documents taken out of context.'" VALLEY TALK -- "Google could face trillions in fines in Texas antitrust suit," by Leah Nylen and Renuka Rayasam | | | | KEEP UP WITH THE PEOPLE AND POLITICS DRIVING GLOBAL HEALTH IN 2021: The pandemic revealed just how critical it is to keep up with the politics, policy and people driving global health. The Covid-19 vaccine is here — now what? What will the distribution look like globally? Our Global Pulse newsletter connects leaders, policymakers and advocates to the politics impacting our global health. Join the conversation and subscribe today. | | | | | | | PLAYBOOKERS | | Send tips to Eli Okun and Garrett Ross at politicoplaybook@politico.com. TRANSITIONS -- Victoria Coates will be president of the Middle East Broadcasting Networks. She most recently was a senior policy adviser at the Department of Energy. Announcement … Christopher Jerrolds will be legislative director for Rep.-elect Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.). He most recently worked on the Biden campaign doing voter protection. … Ayodele Okeowo will be digital organizing director for Jennifer Carroll Foy's Virginia gubernatorial campaign. He most recently managed Qasim Rashid's congressional campaign in Virginia. ENGAGED -- Raheem Kassam, editor-in-chief of The National Pulse and co-host of Steve Bannon's "War Room: Pandemic," proposed to Noelle Garnier, senior digital strategist at the White House, on Monday night. They met at the Trump hotel. Pic -- Paris Dennard, RNC senior comms adviser for Black media affairs, proposed to Cherenna Wright, a Coldwell Banker real estate professional, at a private dinner party at the home of their friends Jeff and Alexandra Baker. Pic … Another pic BIRTHDAY OF THE DAY: Shannon Bream, anchor of "Fox News @ Night" and chief legal correspondent, is 5-0. A fun fact about her: "I'm an aspiring barista. Working from home all these months has led me to purchase a few gadgets and all kinds of syrups. It's gotten a little out of hand. If you show up at our house, I'm probably going to force a blackberry mocha latte on you. Just ask our FedEx guy …" Playbook Q&A BIRTHDAYS: Bill Kristol … Rep. Michael Burgess (R-Texas) is 7-0 … Rep. Dave Loebsack (D-Iowa) is 68 … Doug Vilsack … Roy Behr … Mari Culver … David Smith … Nicole Vance … Irma Gonzalez (h/ts Teresa Vilmain) … Lucinda Guinn, executive director of the DCCC … Michawn Rich, comms director for Sen.-elect Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) … Dentons' John Russell IV … Patrick Burgwinkle … Kelley Moore, comms director for Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) … Karen Roberts … Jonathan Zucker is 49 … Steve Thomma, executive director of the White House Correspondents Association and the pride of Chicago … Chris Peacock is 6-0 (h/ts David Jackson) … Fatima Noor … Axios' Claire Kennedy … ... Emil Pitkin, CEO of GovPredict … retired Gen. Wes Clark is 76 … Steve Hills is 62 … Meghan Stabler … Texas A.G. Ken Paxton is 58 ... Louisiana A.G. Jeff Landry is 5-0 … Alyssa DiBlasi … Julio Negron … Adam Milakofsky … Elizabeth Bingold … Tom Epstein (h/t Jon Haber) … Julia Franklin … Mark Clesh … Jared Gilmour ... Dan Shott is 34 ... Lewis A. Kaplan ... Lee Feinstein ... Melissa Ann Merz ... Abe Sutton ... Bill Goodson ... Natasha Dabrowski ... Zina Bash ... Brittany Bolen ... Google's Patrick D. Smith ... Audrey Kubetin ... James Miller ... Joe Boswell ... Hilary Novik Sandberg is 32 ... Brennan Foley ... Deloitte's Rasheq Zarif ... Allison Dobson ... Rich Tarplin ... Carter Snead ... Kevin Hayes | | | | 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 | Brussels Playbook | London Playbook View all our political and policy newsletters | | Follow us | | | | |
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