| | | | | |  | | By Ryan Lizza, Rachael Bade, Tara Palmeri and Eugene Daniels | Presented by |  | | | | | | |  | DRIVING THE DAY | | On Wednesday night, it seemed like Israeli PM BENJAMIN NETANYAHU might be heeding JOE BIDEN'S call for peace. Case in point, this news breaking late last night: "Israel and Hamas Near Cease-Fire Amid Mounting Pressure," WSJ: "A cease-fire in the fighting between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas could come as early as Friday, according to people involved in the discussions, as pressure mounts from Washington and other foreign capitals to bring an end to airstrikes and rocket fire that have claimed a rising number of civilian casualties." But this morning, we're learning, maybe not. The AP posted a story around 3 a.m. about the latest wave of airstrikes across Gaza, which killed "at least one Palestinian and [wounded] several others." From the story, headlined "Israel unleashes strikes after vowing to press on in Gaza,": "Explosions shook Gaza City and orange flares lit up the night sky, with airstrikes also reported in the central town of Deir al-Balah and the southern town of Khan Younis. As the sun rose, residents surveyed the rubble from at least five family homes destroyed in Khan Younis. There were also heavy airstrikes on al-Saftawi Street, a commercial thoroughfare in Gaza City." A TEST FOR THE BIDEN-BIBI RELATIONSHIP — In a call with Netanyahu on Wednesday (the fourth in a week), Biden again used the c-word — cease-fire — that had been so difficult for him to utter earlier in the conflict. "The President conveyed to the Prime Minister that he expected a significant de-escalation today on the path to a cease-fire," according to a White House readout. A couple of notable things about the statement: It omitted the usual boilerplate language about Israel's right to self-defense. And Biden added the word "today." NYT: "Although [administration officials] portrayed the call as consistent with what Mr. Biden had been saying, his decision to set a deadline was an escalation." Until Wednesday Biden had avoided going public with his private admonishments to Netanyahu, partly because of fears they would be ignored. Later in the day, that fear seemed justified. After the call with Biden, the Israeli leader announced that Israel was "determined to continue this operation until its aim is met." And while overnight reports about a potential cease-fire suggest Israel may indeed be poised to wind down hostilities, the violence erupting this morning isn't a hopeful sign. If the bloodshed continues, it will be a direct rebuke of Biden in his first test of American influence. WaPo writes that Netanyahu's "public defiance underlined his disconnect with Biden," while the AP notes the current crisis is "plunging the two leaders into a difficult early test of the U.S.-Israeli relationship" and that "their current differences over the war in Gaza create a challenge that Biden was trying mightily to avoid." Meanwhile, the U.S. has continued to prevent the U.N. Security Council from using the c-word, a position that is seen at the U.N. as increasingly untenable. WSJ: "'Everybody is concerned and the most of members are saying that the Council can't remain silent any more, and it's time to take action,' a European diplomat said." Biden faced escalating demands from Democrats to help end the hostilities, which as of 5:45 a.m. have killed 12 Israelis, who have been targeted with Hamas rockets, and 230 Palestinians, who have been killed by Israeli airstrikes. A band of House Democrats introduced a resolution Wednesday to halt a recently approved military aid package to Israel, though it has no prospects for passage. The congressional pressure has had an impact, though. In addition to the Biden-Netanyahu call Wednesday, there were calls between Secretary of State TONY BLINKEN and Israeli Foreign Minister GABI ASHKENAZI as well as one between Secretary of Defense LLOYD AUSTIN and Israeli Defense Minister BENNY GANTZ. Axios: "Israeli officials said on all three calls, the issue of domestic political pressure from Congress for a ceasefire was mentioned." WaPo: "The White House has told Netanyahu in recent days that the ground is shifting in the United States, even among some lawmakers who have long been supportive of Israel." Finally, amid all of this, the White House, per our Nahal Toosi, can't seem to settle on an ambassador to Israel. | | A message from Google: A path to in-demand jobs in under six months. Google has launched four new Career Certificates for in-demand jobs in project management, data analytics, UX design, and Android development.
1.3 million jobs are open in these fields right now in the U.S, and no relevant experience is required to take these courses. Learn more. | | | Good Thursday morning. Thanks for reading Playbook. Drop us a line: Rachael Bade, Eugene Daniels, Ryan Lizza, Tara Palmeri. BREAKING LATE LAST NIGHT — "NY attorney general has been looking into the taxes of Trump Organization CFO for months, sources say," by CNN's Kara Scannell and Sonia Moghe: "The New York attorney general's office has opened a criminal tax investigation into top Trump Organization officer ALLEN WEISSELBERG , increasing the legal pressure on the long-time aide to former President Donald Trump, people familiar with the investigation say..." "Prosecutors are seeking to find leverage that could sway Weisselberg into cooperating with authorities, people familiar with the investigation said, potentially raising the legal stakes for Trump and his family. It's a common tactic used by prosecutors to try to get individuals to 'flip' to help build a case higher up the corporate ladder." — Interesting nugget from the piece: Weisselberg's former daughter-in-law Jennifer Weisselberg, an ex-ballerina married to his son Barry for 14 years, is cooperating with authorities. "Her attorney Duncan Levin previously told CNN that she has 25 years-worth of bank records, credit card records and tax records in her possession." INFLATION WATCH — In Wednesday's big market drop, boosters of bitcoin, dogecoin and other cryptocurrencies took a hit — and so did inflation skeptics. WSJ: "U.S. stocks, commodities, overseas shares and bitcoin dropped in turbulent trading Wednesday as investors' risk appetite diminished and the Federal Reserve signaled an eventual shift away from its easy-money pandemic policies. "The Dow Jones Industrial Average declined as much as 587 points in morning trading before paring its losses to less than 200 points, while other markets steadied as well. "Investors continued to fret about the quickening pace of inflation. Fed officials also acknowledged that evidence of mounting inflation and a robust economic recovery could lead to an earlier review of near-zero interest rates and its massive bond-buying program." | | | | A message from Google:   In as little as six months, Google Career Certificates can prepare and connect people to in-demand jobs with 130+ employers, like Infosys, Better.com, and Snap Inc. Learn more. | | | WHY THE DEATH OF THE 1/6 COMMISSION MATTERS — It's all but official: Senate Minority Leader MITCH MCCONNELL joined forces with House Minority Leader KEVIN MCCARTHY to dash the already dim hopes for an independent commission to investigate the Jan. 6 riot. It's worth pausing for a minute to just think about all the things we still don't know about what happened that day — and may never actually learn. Some of the biggest questions remain shrouded in mystery, including whether Trump refused to give a go-ahead to send in the National Guard, what exactly he was doing as lawmakers were running for cover and leadership was begging for backup, and how White House staff and military leaders surrounding him worked with then-VP MIKE PENCE to ultimately break the logjam. Yes, Senate committee chairs looking into the matter will release a report as early as June on everything we know so far about what happened. But it will lack testimony from key players who were at the White House that day and can speak to Trump's actions, including former chief of staff MARK MEADOWS, former White House counsel PAT CIPOLLONE and members of Trump's national security apparatus. WHAT'S NEXT? There's already talk on the Hill about whether Democrats should empanel their own select committee, or do a deep-dive investigation of their own. Technically NANCY PELOSI can do that with a simple vote of the House, just as Republicans did to probe the attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya. But when it comes to changing the minds of Republican voters, an investigation led by one party will not have the same effect a bipartisan investigation could have. And chances are Democrats will run into the same problem that has dogged their oversight efforts for two years and counting: Trump officials refusing to comply with their subpoenas. More headlines — HuffPost: "Mike Pence's Own Brother Opposes The Capitol Riot Commission" … POLITICO: "GOP defections over Jan. 6 commission deliver rebuke to McCarthy" and "Anonymous statement on Capitol Police letterhead roils Jan. 6 riot commission debate" — Video of the day: Rep. TIM RYAN (D-Ohio) blasting Republicans for chasing HILLARY CLINTON on Benghazi for two years but refusing to back a commission. Watch here — Here's a list of the 35 Republicans who bucked McCarthy and backed the commission. — And here are the Republicans who co-sponsored a bill calling for a commission that looked strikingly similar to the final product, but who voted no anyway: JAMES COMER (Ky.), JIM BANKS (Ind.), ASHLEY HINSON (Iowa), TED BUDD (N.C.), MICHAEL MCCAUL (R-Texas), DOUG LAMALFA (Calif.), MICHELLE STEEL (Calif.), AUGUST PFLUGER (Texas), KAT CAMMACK (Fla.), JAKE LATURNER (Kan.), RALPH NORMAN (S.C.), JEFF VAN DREW (N.J.), DIANA HARSHBARGER (Tenn.), BETH VAN DUYNE (Texas), CLAY HIGGINS (La.) and JACKIE WALORSKI (Ill.). BIDEN'S THURSDAY — The president will receive the President's Daily Brief at 9:30 a.m. Biden will sign the Covid-19 Hate Crimes Act into law at 2 p.m. in the East Room, where he and VP KAMALA HARRIS will deliver remarks. — Press secretary JEN PSAKI will brief at 12:30 p.m. THE SENATE is in. HUD Secretary MARCIA FUDGE and Transportation Secretary PETE BUTTIGIEG will testify about infrastructure before the Banking Committee at 10 a.m. The Commerce Committee will take up the nomination of ERIC LANDER to head the Office of Science and Technology Policy at 10 a.m. The Judiciary Committee will take up judicial nominations including KETANJI BROWN JACKSON at 10:30 a.m. THE HOUSE will meet at 9 a.m., with last votes at 3 p.m. ZALMAY KHALILZAD, special representative for Afghanistan reconciliation, will testify before an Oversight subcommittee at 9 a.m. Director of National Intelligence AVRIL HAINES will testify before an Appropriations subcommittee behind closed doors at 9:30 a.m. Pelosi will hold her weekly presser at 10:45 a.m. McCarthy will host a press conference for Cuban Independence Day at 11:30 a.m. — Meanwhile, Democrats on the House Foreign Affairs Committee are expected to meet with someone from the Biden administration as early as today about the $735 million arms sale to Israel. The huddle comes days after Chairman GREGORY MEEKS (D-N.Y.) privately floated the idea of crafting a letter asking the administration to delay the sale, an idea promptly panned by Democratic leaders in the House. WaPo's Karoun Demirjian has the curtain-raiser. | | | | SUBSCRIBE TO WEST WING PLAYBOOK: Add West Wing Playbook to keep up with the power players, latest policy developments and intriguing whispers percolating inside the West Wing and across the highest levels of the Cabinet. For buzzy nuggets and details you won't find anywhere else, subscribe today. | | | | | | | PLAYBOOK READS | | | 
PHOTO OF THE DAY: Secretary of State Antony Blinken greets Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov as they arrive for a meeting in Reykjavik, Iceland, on Wednesday, May 19, on the sidelines of the Arctic Council Ministerial summit. | Saul Loeb/Pool Photo via AP Photo | POLITICS ROUNDUP LATEST ON GAETZ-GATE — "Grand jury subpoena names another person in Gaetz probe," by Marc Caputo: "A new name has surfaced tied to the scandal engulfing Florida Rep. MATT GAETZ: JOE ELLICOTT, a close friend and former employee of the elected tax collector who pleaded guilty to a host of crimes Monday. Ellicott was listed in a federal grand jury subpoena sent to a different individual and obtained by POLITICO. … "The Dec. 28, 2020 subpoena states that the grand jury is investigating alleged crimes 'involving commercial sex acts with adult and minor women, as well as obstruction of justice' and seeks any communications, documents, recordings and payments the individual had with Ellicott, Gaetz and [JOEL] GREENBERG from January 2016 until now. Two sources familiar with the investigation say Ellicott is also being scrutinized for alleged sex trafficking of a minor. "Ellicott was one of Greenberg's closest friends and was a groomsman at the former tax collector's wedding to his wife, ABBY GREENBERG. Before he was elected to office in 2016, Greenberg paid to broadcast a local sports-themed radio show, and Ellicott would sometimes appear as 'Big Joe.'" KNIVES OUT FOR LUNTZ — "GOP pollster Frank Luntz claimed to be impartial — but was paid by Ted Cruz during 2018 Texas race," Salon: "On Oct. 15, 2018 … HBO aired a VICE News focus group orchestrated by Luntz, which had been filmed three days earlier in Dallas. … [P]articipants were chosen by Luntz, who also decided what questions would be asked. But what neither HBO nor VICE News told their audience — possibly because they didn't know — was that Luntz was being paid by the Cruz campaign. … "On Oct. 23, a week after the show aired, Ted Cruz for Senate paid Luntz's company FIL, Inc. $51,129.87 for 'survey research/travel.' … Luntz did not respond to Salon's requests for comment through his website." NEW COLUMN from RICH LOWRY: "Why Republicans Still Have the Upper Hand for 2022" TOP-ED — The WSJ editorial page highlights a backlash from the right against what it calls "woke corporate politics" — companies that have taken liberal stands on charged issues like voting rights and transgender athletes, including Nike, Coca-Cola and American Airlines. Consumers' Research, a conservative nonprofit, is spending millions on ads calling out those companies for their own alleged misdeeds, like Nike making shoes in low-wage factories in China and Coke contributing to obesity. "These attacks are sometimes excessive, as political ads usually are, since Covid-19 is the cause of airline layoffs and sugary drinks aren't the only cause of obesity," the Journal writes. "But when CEOs take sides in political fights unrelated to their business interests or regulation, they have to expect to be treated like politicians themselves." MEDIAWATCH INVESTING IN THE ALT-YOUTUBE — "Peter Thiel, J.D. Vance Invest in Rumble Video Platform Popular on Political Right," WSJ: "The investment is being led by Narya Capital, a Cincinnati-based venture-capital fund co-founded by [J.D.] VANCE and COLIN GREENSPON, and by [PETER] THIEL, who is also a Narya investor, in a personal capacity. Colt Ventures, the family office of Dallas investor and former Trump adviser DARREN BLANTON, is also part of the investment group. "[The WSJ] previously reported that a group of conservative investors, including Mr. Blanton, were eyeing an investment in Rumble as some on the right seek to set up an alternative social-media ecosystem outside mainstream platforms that they see as excessively restricting speech. … The size of the transaction wasn't disclosed." CHATTING WITH MURDOCH — "Fox CEO Lachlan Murdoch talks about his dad, Tucker Carlson, Trump, and why he plans to stick around," Insider TENURE DENIED — "After conservative criticism, UNC backs down from offering acclaimed journalist tenured position," NC Policy Watch: "UNC-Chapel Hill's Hussman School of Journalism and Media pursued [NIKOLE] HANNAH-JONES for its Knight Chair in Race and Investigative Journalism, a tenured professorship. But following political pressure from conservatives who object to her work on 'The 1619 Project' for The New York Times Magazine, the school changed its plan to offer her tenure — which amounts to a career-long appointment. "Instead, she will start July 1 for a fixed five-year term as Professor of the Practice, with the option of being reviewed for tenure at the end of that time period. 'It's disappointing, it's not what we wanted and I am afraid it will have a chilling effect,' said SUSAN KING, dean of UNC Hussman." OUT OF STYLES — "Inside the Drama Shaking Up the New York Times' Styles Section," The Daily Beast: "Under CHOIRE SICHA, the section became a must-read. Why isn't he still running it?" | | | | A message from Google:   Google Career Certificates offer professional training for in-demand jobs with no relevant experience required. | | | TRUMP CARDS BEHIND THE SCENES — "Inside Trump's push to oust his own FBI chief," by Daniel Lippman: "Trump sought to oust FBI Director CHRISTOPHER WRAY last spring and replace him with counterintelligence head WILLIAM EVANINA, according to three former Trump officials familiar with the episode. "Under the plan, the former officials said, KASH PATEL — a former aide to Rep. DEVIN NUNES (R-Calif.) and a fierce critic of the Russia probe — would have become the bureau's deputy director. Previously unreported details of the proposal reveal just how seriously the former president took his grievances against the intelligence and law enforcement establishment." KIMBERLY WEHLE puts on a fine point on things in THE ATLANTIC: "The Country Is on the Cusp of a New Era: America is inching closer to a possibility it has never seen before: the indictment and trial of a former president." MORE ON THE TRUMP ORG DRAMA — WaPo's in-house Trump Org gurus have a pair of stories you should read to get caught up on all things related to the ex-president's legal issues — and future business plans. — David Fahrenthold and Shayna Jacobs on the investigative front, with "Seven questions about New York's investigations of Trump" — And Jonathan O'Connell and Lori Rozsa looking forward with "Florida GOP eases path for Trump to pursue casino license": "The legislation includes a 30-year compact with the Seminole Tribe of Florida, negotiated by Gov. RON DESANTIS (R), a Trump ally. The compact includes a provision barring the tribe from interfering should the state issue a gambling license to a facility more than 15 miles 'in a straight line' from the tribe's Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood." STILL A MONEY MAKER — "Trump, even in exile, is the Republican Party's cash cow," by Meridith McGraw and Sam Stein: "Even without his usual social media platforms to give him a fundraising boost like Twitter or Facebook, Trump continues to rake in money for his leadership PAC. A Trump adviser said Save America PAC currently has over $90 million. But his rift with the RNC was quickly resolved after party officials worked to smooth things over— and for the most part disregarded Trump's demands. Trump remains in regular contact with RNC Chairwoman RONNA MCDANIEL." BEYOND THE BELTWAY THE LEFT'S ANTI-ANTI-CHINA CAUCUS — "Progressives warn Biden, Congress against fueling hatred with anti-China measures" by Gavin Bade: "More than 60 activist groups and at least four prominent lawmakers are stepping up their criticisms as the Senate pushes through this week a package of anti-China bills that enjoy backing from members of both parties and the White House. "Any coordinated opposition could gum up the ongoing amendment process on the Senate floor, or throw a wrench in future efforts to reconcile the measure with the House's slower-moving initiatives against China. … For now, many members of Congress aren't willing to publicly challenge the rising anti-China sentiment, and none are yet planning to oppose China-related bills." EYEING OTHER ELECTION AUDITS — "Trump allies seek to import Arizona's election audit to Georgia," CNN: "A day after Trump said in a statement that Georgia should follow Arizona's lead, former Georgia state Rep. VERNON JONES, a Trump supporter who is challenging incumbent Republican Gov. BRIAN KEMP in next year's GOP primary, proposed an audit Wednesday. … Despite the failure to find any evidence of fraud, Trump's supporters there and in Arizona have continued to assert that more reviews of the 2020 election results are needed." WaPo tracks the same lies spreading across the country | | | | SUBSCRIBE TO "THE RECAST" TODAY: Power is shifting in Washington and in communities across the country. More people are demanding a seat at the table, insisting that politics is personal and not all policy is equitable. The Recast is a twice-weekly newsletter that explores the changing power dynamics in Washington and breaks down how race and identity are recasting politics and policy in America. Get fresh insights, scoops and dispatches on this crucial intersection from across the country and hear critical new voices that challenge business as usual. Don't miss out, SUBSCRIBE . Thank you to our sponsor, Intel. | | | | | | | PLAYBOOKERS | | FIRST IN PLAYBOOK — Gavin Newsom's political guru Peter Ragone, Republican consultant Matt Mackowiak and PR exec Darius Fisher have teamed up to form a political action committee that advocates for transparency on … UFOs. UFOPac is the first PAC dedicated to "finding the truth on UAPs [Unidentified Aerial Phenomena] and UFOs," according to their press release. The organization will raise money and press the government to "disclose, declassify, and demystify all information related to UFOs." Ragone, who was also a senior advisor to New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, said in a statement: "It's rare that there is an issue that most Americans can agree on these days. It's very clear that getting to the bottom of this issue is one of them." Even former President Barack Obama recently admitted there are just some things the government can't explain. — Erin McPike and Corey Chambliss have joined the Facebook policy comms team. McPike most recently was a managing director at Tusk Strategies, and Chambliss was head of comms at Industrious. Both are Bloomberg campaign alums. GIVING NEW MEANING TO EPICURIOUS — They tasted "a tiny bit nutty" but not at all like shrimp — despite suggestions that they're the "shrimp of the land." That's NPR White House correspondent Tamara Keith's takeaway after eating … cicadas. You'll recall that over the weekend, Keith tweeted out a picture of a jar full of the creepy crawlers, accompanied by a request for people to send her their best recipes. Thinking it must be a joke, we followed up with Keith, only to be appalled to learn it wasn't. After freezing them — which Keith said is the customary and "humane" way of preparing the bugs — she deep-fried them in some sort of Old Bay batter. Keith tells us she ate two "but wouldn't necessarily recommend it, at least not the preparation I went with." But at least "my kids enjoyed laughing at me as I ate bugs, which was really what got this whole adventure started." Bon appetit! | 
| FROM OBAMA, TO TRUMP, WITH LOVE — "'Madman … racist, sexist pig': new book details Obama's real thoughts on Trump," The Guardian: "According to a new book, Obama called Trump a 'madman', a 'racist, sexist pig', 'that fucking lunatic' and a 'corrupt motherfucker'. … Dovere reports that Obama first preferred the prospect of Trump as president to Ted Cruz, because Trump was nowhere near as clever as the hard-right Texas senator, the runner-up in the Republican primary in 2016. But from 2017, as reality swiftly set in, Obama reacted like many in the US and around the world." SPOTTED: Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) on a flight from DCA to Charleston. … Preet Bharara and Andrew Ross Sorkin having dinner on the outside patio Wednesday night at Marea in Manhattan. WHITE HOUSE ARRIVAL LOUNGE — Tara Schwetz is now assistant director for biomedical science initiatives at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. She most recently was associate deputy director of NIH. OMB ARRIVAL LOUNGE — Isabel Aldunate is now deputy associate director for comms at OMB. She most recently was surrogates comms director for the Presidential Inaugural Committee, and is a Biden campaign and Chuck Schumer alum. TRANSITION — Mike Sistak is now engagement and coalitions director for the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget. He most recently was director for grassroots program development at the American Farm Bureau Federation. WEEKEND WEDDING — Cassie Leonard, director of congressional affairs at the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives, and Jimmy Ballard, legislative director for Rep. Rodney Davis (R-Ill.), got married Saturday in a small ceremony at the Carlyle House Historic Park in Alexandria, Va. The two met five years ago for a night of dinner and drinks in D.C. and now live with dog Emmett in Virginia. Pic, via Sarah Botta Photography HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Sen. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) (7-0) … Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo … Delaware Gov. John Carney … Cindy McCain … Jon Meacham … former Rep. Mark Walker (R-N.C.) … Craig Melvin … Phil Elliott of Time … George Condon … Marie Royce … former Rep. Nick Rahall (D-W.Va.) … American Airlines' Stacy Day … WaPo's Amber Phillips … USA Today's Rebecca Morin … Cassie Smedile of America Rising ... CoBank's Sarah Tyree … ABC's Dan Abrams … APCO Worldwide's Margery Kraus … Michael Oren … WSJ's Chad Day … Rebecca Eichmann … Mia Phillips … Aylon Berger ... Lauren Wolman … Amazon's PJ Hoffman … Ryan Kuresman ... Jacob Daniels ... Brian Darling ... Amy Leveton … Walter Isaacson … former Rep. Harold Ford Sr. (D-Tenn.) … Gabriel Muller … former New York Gov. David Paterson … POLITICO's Jen Scott, Eric Busch, Shaw Newman and Casey Arbaugh … Michael Law … Christina Bellantoni of USC Annenberg … Gail Kaufman Send Playbookers tips to playbook@politico.com . Playbook couldn't happen without our editor Mike Zapler, deputy editor Zack Stanton and producers Allie Bice, Eli Okun and Garrett Ross. | | A message from Google: Helping prepare job seekers for careers in high-growth fields with Google Career Certificates.
When Rey Justo lost his construction job during the pandemic, he enrolled in an IT training program with Merit America. They helped him earn his Google Career Certificate and now he is working at Zennify, a computer software company. Learn more about Google Career Certificates. | | | | | | | 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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