| | | | | |  | | By Rachael Bade, Ryan Lizza, Tara Palmeri and Eugene Daniels | Presented by Facebook | | | | |  | DRIVING THE DAY | | BREAKING OVERNIGHT — "8 dead, more injured in shooting at FedEx facility near the airport," Indianapolis Star PELOSI'S LATEST HEADACHE — "Lawmakers scramble for 'musical chairs' to view Biden's first Capitol speech," by Mel Zanona and Sarah Ferris: "Which is a hotter ticket: Beyonce's first post-pandemic concert or President Joe Biden's first address to Congress? Washington is about to find out. Even as life slowly returns to normal on Capitol Hill amid the shrinking threat of Covid, strict safety protocols will remain in place for Biden's April 28 joint address inside the House chamber. That means only 200 lawmakers, administration officials and staff will likely be allowed to attend the distanced and heavily sanitized event, a far cry from the typical crowds for a prime-time presidential speech. "Such tight limits mean Democrats are already jockeying to score one of the precious few seats. And a handful of lawmakers have already logged a request with party leaders, who have the unenviable task of divvying up the small passel of tickets for the president's debut speech." "Jockeying" is one word for it. We're told the situation surrounding Biden's speech is already downright contentious. One Democratic source told us that some in leadership didn't even want to have this address because they knew it would cause this very problem with their members. People will feel jilted if they don't get an invite. And Speaker NANCY PELOSI can't afford that now because her majority is so narrow. But Biden wanted it, and the president gets what he wants. | | A message from Facebook: It's time to update internet regulations
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See how we're making progress on key issues and why we support updated regulations to set clear rules for addressing today's toughest challenges. | | | AND A GROWING HEADACHE FOR BIDEN, TOO — Progressives started out with a nudge: lawmakers including Rep. ILHAN OMAR (D-Minn.) privately telling administration officials they needed to lift DONALD TRUMP'S historically low cap on refugees. Biden promised as much in the campaign, Omar, herself a one-time refugee, reminded them. Well, the time for nice is up. This morning, Omar and others are publicly demanding that Biden take action now to fix a system that "remains unacceptably draconian and discriminatory," according to a letter provided early to Playbook. Joining her are Congressional Progressive Caucus Chair PRAMILA JAYAPAL (D-Wash.) and Rep. JAN SCHAKOWSKY (D-Ill.), a top Pelosi ally, as well as every member of the Squad, a couple of committee chairs and several more junior members of the speaker's leadership team. FROM THE LETTER TO THE W.H. : "We have all been deeply distressed at the stories of hundreds of refugees who had been cleared for resettlement having their flights cancelled at the last minute, in some cases having already left their residences and sold their belongings. We must keep our promises to people who have fled unthinkably brutal conditions in their home countries and live up to our ambition to provide them a safe haven to re-start their lives." The missive comes after CNN reported that the holdup was over concerns that lifting the cap would look bad politically. White House press secretary JEN PSAKI danced around the issue during Thursday's press briefing. "I don't have an update on the timeline of the signing," she said when pressed on the reason for the delay. "The president remains committed to raising the refugee cap." TGIF. Thanks for reading Playbook, and here's to a headache-free weekend. But if you do have a headache, we recommend this new 45-minute Arcade Fire song of "meditative vibes to help you focus and feel inspired." Drop us a line with tips, praise, criticism … whatever you'd like to share: Rachael Bade, Eugene Daniels, Ryan Lizza, Tara Palmeri. | | | |   | | | BIDEN'S FRIDAY — The president will receive the President's Daily Brief at 9:50 a.m. Biden will host Japanese PM YOSHIHIDE SUGA for an official working visit at 1:30 p.m. in the Oval Office. The two will hold an expanded bilateral meeting at 2:30 p.m. in the State Dining Room and at 4:15 p.m. will hold a news conference in the Rose Garden. Biden will leave the White House at 5:30 p.m. en route to Wilmington, Del., where he is scheduled to arrive at 6:25 p.m. — VP KAMALA HARRIS will hold a bilateral meeting with Suga at 11 a.m. in the Vice President's Ceremonial Office. — The White House Covid-19 response team and public health officials will brief at 10:30 a.m. Psaki will brief at 11 a.m. THE HOUSE will meet at 9 a.m. THE SENATE is not in session. | | | | SUBSCRIBE TO "THE RECAST" TO JOIN AN IMPORTANT CONVERSATION: Power is changing, in Washington and across the country. More people are demanding a seat at the table, insisting that all politics is personal and not all policy is equitable. Our twice-weekly newsletter "The Recast" breaks down how race and identity are shaping politics and policy in America and we are recasting how we report on it. Get fresh insights, scoops and dispatches on this crucial intersection from across the country and hear from important new voices that challenge business as usual. Don't miss out, SUBSCRIBE . Thank you to our sponsor, Intel. | | | | | | | PLAYBOOK READS | | | 
PHOTO OF THE DAY: President Joe Biden and VP Kamala Harris meet with Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus members in the Oval Office on Thursday. | Doug Mills/Pool via Getty Images | CONGRESS THE SENATE EXPLORES AN INFRASTRUCTURE DEAL — On Thursday, Biden ally Sen. CHRIS COONS (D-Del.) floated a two-pronged approach to infrastructure: a bipartisan bill on core infrastructure spending, followed by a second bill that includes all the other stuff Biden has proposed in his American Jobs Plan and the forthcoming American Families Plan. On paper the Coons approach makes sense. But the details may prove impossible to work out. The two parties might be able to agree on spending. House Transportation Chair PETER DEFAZIO (D-Ore.) sounded pretty bullish about the $600 billion to $800 billion number floated by Sen. SHELLEY MOORE CAPITO (R-W.Va.): "That's not an insignificant amount of money, particularly for the things she's focused on … roads, bridges, highways, wastewater and drinking water. That would be a significant investment!" But it's prudent to be skeptical. Democrats want infrastructure spending that addresses climate change and racial equity goals, which are not GOP priorities. But even if they can agree on what highways, bridges and airports to fix, the two sides are miles apart on how to pay for it. Meanwhile several Republicans are balking at the Coons two-step, noting that they are not interested in a bipartisan deal if it means Democrats will then pass a giant reconciliation bill. On the flip side, several Democrats don't like the two-bill option because they fear the second bill may never happen. Sen. SHELDON WHITEHOUSE (D-R.I.): "If [Republicans] know that we've committed to the bipartisan lane, there's a very strong incentive for them to make that a fake and to use it simply to slow down." More from Marianne LeVine, Burgess Everett and Sarah Ferris Bottom line: The prospects for a bipartisan bill are a little higher now, but the most likely scenario remains a very large reconciliation bill that is essentially too big to fail — because of the damage it would do to the Biden presidency — that every Democrat, including Sens. JOE MANCHIN (W.Va.) and KYRSTEN SINEMA (Ariz.), feel obligated to support. BIDEN BIDEN REMAINS PRETTY POPULAR — "Biden's approval rating rises, helped by the vaccine distribution push," NYT THE ECONOMY IS ROARING BACK — "U.S. Economy Ramps Up on Spending Surge, Hiring Gains," WSJ FOREVER WAR FALLOUT — "Biden's Afghan Pullout Is a Victory for Pakistan. But at What Cost?" NYT: "In President Biden's decision to withdraw all American forces from Afghanistan by September, Pakistan's powerful military establishment finally gets its wish after decades of bloody intrigue: the exit of a disruptive superpower from a backyard where the I.S.I. had established strong influence through a friendly Taliban regime before the U.S. invaded in 2001. "A return of the Taliban to some form of power would dial the clock back to a time when Pakistan's military played gatekeeper to Afghanistan, perpetually working to block the influence of its archenemy, India. But the Pakistani military's sheltering of the Taliban insurgency over the past two decades — doggedly pursuing a narrowly defined geopolitical victory next door — risks another wave of disruption at home. "Pakistan is a fragile, nuclear-armed state already reeling from a crashed economy, waves of social unrest, agitation by oppressed minorities and a percolating Islamic militancy of its own that it is struggling to contain." BIDEN RESET WITH RUSSIA — "U.S. Puts Fresh Sanctions on Russia Over Hacking, Election Interference," WSJ: "In addition to imposing financial penalties, U.S. expels 10 diplomats from Russian embassy." A TRUMP-RUSSIA STORY THAT WAS NOT AS BAD AS WE THOUGHT — Remember the story of Russia offering bounties to Afghan militants who killed U.S. soldiers? Biden famously used it to slam Trump at a presidential debate. Well, it turns out it may not have been true. NYT : "The available evidence supporting a stunning C.I.A. assessment — which President Donald J. Trump's inaction on prompted bipartisan uproar — remains less than definitive proof." A TRUMP-RUSSIA STORY THAT WAS WORSE THAN WE THOUGHT — Remember when everyone figured that the polling PAUL MANAFORT gave to a Russian intelligence operative probably made its may to Russia intelligence services? The Biden administration alleges that's exactly what happened. NYT: "Biden Administration Says Russian Intelligence Obtained Trump Campaign Data" MEDIAWATCH FRED RYAN'S 'BLACK BOX' SEARCH FOR A NEW EDITOR — For a while it was an irresistible parlor game among WaPo staffers: Trying to piece together who was up or down in the running to succeed MARTY BARON as top editor. Now, they're getting annoyed. Post Publisher and CEO FRED RYAN has been, shall we say, quite guarded about his process, revealing neither what he's looking for in a new leader nor his timeline for a decision. (Baron left in late February.) One WaPo staffer said Ryan is interviewing candidates by himself, but no one seems to know much more than that. Another called the entire situation a "black box." In a recent letter, the Post Guild asked Ryan to participate in an employee forum that would allow staffers to express what qualities they want in their next newsroom leader. The group wasn't looking to discuss specific names, just the future of the Post, we're told. Ryan declined. WaPo didn't comment for this item. But we reached out to the Guild and were given this rather pointed statement: "The staff members of The Washington Post are accomplished, hardworking and thoughtful journalists who could offer valuable perspectives about the direction the newsroom should be going and the qualities needed in our new leader. We're disappointed Fred Ryan hasn't shown he values those perspectives." For what it's worth, the latest thinking among reporters is that former Post managing editor KEVIN MERIDA, now with ESPN, doesn't want the job. Others in the mix include MARC LACEY and REBECCA BLUMENSTEIN of the NYT; SUSAN GOLDBERG of NatGeo; and more recently, LOUISE STORY of the WSJ and formerly NYT. Two internal contenders are managing editor CAMERON BARR and national editor STEVEN GINSBERG. MEANWHILE, AT CBS — "CBS names two new presidents of unified news and television division," CBS: "Wendy McMahon and Neeraj Khemlani will become the presidents and co-heads of a unified CBS News and CBS Television Stations division, the company announced Thursday. CBS News President Susan Zirinsky, who has led the network's newsgathering for more than two years, is in discussions for a 'significant' role at a new CBS News Content Studio, the company said." | | A message from Facebook: Facebook supports updated internet regulations
It's been 25 years since comprehensive internet regulations passed. But a lot has changed since 1996.
See how we're taking action and why we support updated regulations to address today's challenges —protecting privacy, fighting misinformation, reforming Section 230, and more. | | | POLITICS ROUNDUP 2024 WATCH — "2024 GOP contenders collect cash," by Benjamin Din: "Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) led the pack in first-quarter contributions, with totals that dwarfed those of their potential competition. Cruz brought in $3.6 million to his Senate reelection committee, which reported $5.6 million in cash on hand. Hawley's totals: $3 million in receipts, with $3.1 million on hand. … "[Sen. Rand] Paul raised $1.9 million and has $3.1 million on hand, while [Sen. Marco] Rubio reported a haul of $1.6 million this quarter, with $3.9 million in cash on hand. … Sen. Ben Sasse (R-Neb.), who was just elected to his second term, raised just under $130,000 and has $2.1 million on hand. … Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) reported bringing in about $397,000, for a total of $6.5 million in cash on hand, while Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.), who mostly self-funded his 2018 campaign, raised about $96,000 and has just under $2.2 million in cash on hand." THE NEW GOP — "'A nicer version of Trump': GOP donors flock to DeSantis," by Alex Isenstadt: "Major givers across the country are lining up to support the governor's 2022 reelection effort, with some committing to hosting fundraising events and others plowing funds into his campaign bank account. In the past two-plus months alone, [Ron] DeSantis has received six-figure contributions from Republican megadonors including Bernie Marcus, Paul Tudor Jones and Steven Witkoff, who in March held a high-dollar fundraiser at his lavish Miami Beach home. "The surge of attention illustrates how the GOP donor class is beginning to look beyond former President Donald Trump. While the former president would almost certainly lock down vast donor support should he wage a 2024 comeback bid, the lack of clarity about his plans has opened the door for other would-be candidates to get a look. Nearly two dozen top Republican Party contributors and fundraisers said in interviews that the focus was increasingly centered on DeSantis. Donor interest in the governor extends far beyond Florida." 2022 WATCH — FRIDAY READ: "The Democrats' Giant Dilemma," by Holly Otterbein: "John Fetterman's blue-collar progressivism has endeared him to Pennsylvania voters. Why are so many Democratic leaders opposing his Senate run?" GAETZ-GATE HOW IT UNFOLDED — "How the Justice Department came to investigate Rep. Matt Gaetz," WaPo: "The allegations against [Orlando-area preparatory school teacher Brian] Beute, federal investigators concluded, had been fabricated by his incumbent opponent, Joel Greenberg, in a bid to smear him. But when authorities arrested Greenberg and sifted through his electronic records and devices — according to documents and people involved in the case — they discovered a medley of other alleged wrongdoing, leading them to open an investigation of possible sex trafficking involving a far more high-profile Florida Republican: Rep. Matt Gaetz. "This account of how the Justice Department's investigation evolved from an examination of a local tax collector's alleged misdeeds to a sprawling probe of sex and corruption involving a prominent Trump ally is based on interviews with more than a dozen people involved in the investigation or otherwise tied to Gaetz or Greenberg, as well as police reports and other public records." WATCH: Racism in America keeps rearing its head and Washington responds: Testimony ended Thursday in the murder trial of former Minneapolis police officer DEREK CHAUVIN, and lawmakers find themselves in a very familiar bind — how to address the issue of racism in America. On Tuesday, Biden was asked about the protests over DAUNTE WRIGHT'S shooting. The next day, Sen. MAZIE HIRONO (D-Hawaii) opened up about the fear she feels as an AAPI woman. As they watch this week's top news videos, EUGENE shares his own fear of law enforcement with TARA, and they discuss how white privilege can completely change your feelings toward cops. | 
| TV TONIGHT — PBS' "Washington Week," guest-moderated by Nancy Cordes: Eugene Daniels, Anne Gearan, Kasie Hunt and Wesley Lowery. SUNDAY SO FAR … | CBS | "Face the Nation": French President Emmanuel Macron … U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Linda Thomas-Greenfield … Anthony Fauci ... Scott Gottlieb. | ABC | "This Week": Secretary of State Antony Blinken … Anthony Fauci. Panel: Jonathan Karl, Mary Bruce, Averi Harper and LZ Granderson. | FOX | "Fox News Sunday": Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) … Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) … national security adviser Jake Sullivan. Panel: Marc Short, Karen Tumulty and Marie Harf. Power Player: retired Navy Adm. William McRaven. | Gray TV | "Full Court Press": John Boehner … Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.) … Sen. Deb Fischer (R-Neb.). | MSNBC | "The Sunday Show": David Henderson … Scott Hadland … Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio) … Rep. Mondaire Jones (D-N.Y.) … Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) … Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) … Jennifer Carroll Foy … Laura Riley. | CNN | "Inside Politics": Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-Va.) … Michele Norris and Toluse Olorunnipa … Ashish Jha. | NBC | "Meet The Press": Panel: David French, Eddie Glaude Jr., Anna Palmer and Kristen Welker. | | | | | | YOUR GUIDE TO THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION: As the Biden administration closes in on three months in office, what are the big takeaways? Will polls that show support for infrastructure initiatives and other agenda items translate into Republican votes or are they a mirage? What's the plan to deal with Sen. Joe Manchin? Add Transition Playbook to your daily reads for details you won't find anywhere else that reveal what's really happening inside the West Wing and across the executive branch. Track the people, policies and power centers of the Biden administration. Subscribe today. | | | | | | | PLAYBOOKERS | | MAXINE WATERS tells JIM JORDAN to "shut your mouth" RAND PAUL and TED CRUZ have ditched their masks MIKE PENCE got a pacemaker CHELSEA CLINTON tries to cancel TUCKER CARLSON Twitter cancelled JAMES O'KEEFE KARA SWISHER interviews DON LEMON PAUL KRUGMAN is not impressed with ANDREW YANG HUNTER BIDEN'S book isn't selling SPOTTED by the Pentagon: UFOs SPOTTED: Reps. Linda Sánchez (D-Calif.) and Ed Perlmutter (D-Colo.) having a catch outside the Capitol between votes Thursday afternoon. The two are both on the Congressional Baseball Team, which is preparing for the upcoming season. Pic SPOTTED at a virtual party celebrating Morris Pearl and Erica Payne's new book, "Tax The Rich! How Lies, Loopholes, and Lobbyists Make The Rich Even Richer" ($16.55), hosted by The Patriotic Millionaires: Jamal Simmons, Ilyse Hogue, John Anzalone, Celinda Lake, David Corn, Michael Isikoff and Mary Ann Akers, Nancy Bagley, Holly Kinnamon, Adam Parkhomenko, Bruce Kieloch, Diane Blagman, Tricia Enright, George Zimmer, Sally Minard, Naomi Aberly, Bill Lazonick, Barbara Simons, Brett Abrams and Angelo Carusone. NOW DEPARTING: GATE 35X — On Thursday, we asked for your best (and worst) stories from DCA's infamous Gate 35X as it closes down this week. We heard a handful of funny and fascinating stories, but we thought this one best encapsulated the essence of what you could find at 35X on any given day: "A memorable moment for me, as a former longtime adviser to Vice President Gore, was the chance to meet Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) and his wife. Prior to that, I had only ever sparred with the senator politically. He's such a lovely person IRL. We didn't talk politics (I didn't mention who I was), we just passed the time enduring one of the many airport delays." -Kalee Kreider, principal at Kreider Strategies FIRST IN PLAYBOOK — Michael Collins is now special assistant to the president and director of public engagement and intergovernmental affairs for the VP's office. He previously was chief of staff and floor assistant for late Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.). — ON THE CALENDAR: The Biden administration is sending Cedric Richmond and U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Linda Thomas-Greenfield to speak Monday evening at J Street's annual conference, which is being held virtually this year. (h/t Theodoric Meyer) TRUMP ALUMNI — Chris Pilkerton is now chief legal and regulatory strategy officer at Accion Opportunity Fund. He most recently was White House senior policy adviser for the Opportunity Now Initiative and was acting SBA administrator. TRANSITION — Sebastian Bae will be a research analyst for the gaming and integration program at CNA. He previously was a defense analyst at RAND. HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Secretary of State Antony Blinken … Rep. Frank Mrvan (D-Ind.) … former Rep. John Delaney (D-Md.) … Ann Romney … Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI … Frances Lanzone of Chief Social Architects … Prime Policy Group's Scott Pastrick (65) … Chuck DeFeo of i360 … Morgan Jones … NEA's Ramona Oliver … Matt Duckworth … Jane Oates of WorkingNation … Virginia Coyne … Sally-Shannon Birkel of the U.S. Chamber … Deborah Zabarenko … Reuters' Andy Sullivan … Heather Purcell of Rep. Ro Khanna's (D-Calif.) office … Aubree Abril … Fred Graefe, celebrating by co-hosting a virtual event for Rep. Richard Neal (D-Mass.) … Spencer Brown … Alex Glass of Glass Ceiling Strategies … Adam Gotbaum … Chris Eddowes of Rep. Lloyd Smucker's (R-Pa.) office (3-0) … Doug Heye … Bradley Beychok of American Bridge … Katie Oppenheim … PhRMA's Nick McGee ... former Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-Fla.) (8-0) ... Tori O'Neal-McElrath … S&P Global's Josh Goldstein … Christopher Finan … AP's Ted Anthony … Brett Coughlin … NBC's Mosheh Gains … Jim Hollis … Jake Matilsky of the Center for Secure and Modern Elections (5-0), celebrating with friends in Idaho … Howard Bauleke ... Goldman Sachs' John F.W. Rogers … former Alaska Gov. Bill Walker … Arlene Branca … former VA Secretary Anthony Principi … POLITICO's Lina Miller Send Playbookers tips to playbook@politico.com. Playbook couldn't happen without our editor Mike Zapler and producers Allie Bice, Eli Okun and Garrett Ross. | | | | Sponsored Survey WE VALUE YOUR OPINION: Please take a 1-minute survey about one of our advertising partners. | | | | | | | 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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