| | | | | |  | | By Tara Palmeri | | | | | | |  | DRIVING THE DAY | | ANTITRUST THE PROCESS — "Biden's assault on monopolies launches Friday," by Leah Nylen: "The White House is scheduled to issue an executive order Friday to promote competition throughout the U.S. economy in the most ambitious effort in generations to reduce the stranglehold of monopolies and concentrated markets in major industries. "The order … offers a response to progressives' criticisms that the federal government has focused too much on supporting banks and other corporations without concern about the effect on consumers, who have watched their choices dwindle over the years. … The order's impacts could be felt in industries including agriculture, airlines, health, broadband and banking. Previously unreported elements include a provision urging the Federal Communications Commission to reinstate its Obama-era net neutrality rules, as well as a call for financial regulators to allow data sharing among financial companies." Bloomberg reports it will "set new regulations on everything from airline luggage fees to non-compete clauses." GUILFOYLE RANKLES TRUMP — It's DONALD TRUMP'S most frequent complaint: people profiting off his name. The latest offender? His son's girlfriend, MAGA's own Eva Perón, KIMBERLY GUILFOYLE. Aides told Playbook that Trump has been openly griping that Guilfoyle joined ERIC GREITENS' campaign for Senate in Missouri as national campaign chair, and he's becoming increasingly short with Guilfoyle. "Trump thinks Greitens is problematic, and that Kim is annoying," said one Trump adviser. "He said, 'Why the f--- is she working for him?'" Another adviser said Trump would not endorse Greitens if the primary were today, citing the scandal that forced him to resign as governor three years ago: allegations that he tied up, sexually assaulted and blackmailed a St. Louis hairdresser with whom he had an affair in 2015. A March poll conducted by Trump's former pollster TONY FABRIZIO shows Greitens with a 40-point lead over the next closest contender. Trump has been huddling with other candidates in the competitive race to replace GOP Sen. ROY BLUNT, including Rep. BILLY LONG (R-Mo.), who paid homage to him at Mar-a-Lago this spring, and Missouri A.G. ERIC SCHMITT, who visited Trump twice, once at Mar-a-Lago and another time at Bedminster this year. One Trump adviser said Greitens has the disadvantage of being associated with MIKE PENCE because his former chief of staff, NICK AYERS, ran his gubernatorial campaign. Multiple advisers said Trump has been concerned that attaching Guilfoyle's name to Greitens will look like an implicit endorsement from him. The first warning it would not came in a Washington Examiner story in April by David Drucker about Guilfoyle's new gig. It said her affiliation with Greitens would not even mean an endorsement from her boyfriend DONALD TRUMP JR., let alone his father. Since then, there've been signs that Guilfoyle is on the outs: She'd been nudging Trump's team to join the Make America Great Again Action super PAC before finally being added to its roster late last month as national finance chair. NYT's Maggie Haberman reported this week that both RUDY GIULIANI and his son ANDREW have also been pressuring Trump to support Greitens. Guilfoyle wrote in a text that the notion that she and Trump are at odds is false. SPEAKING OF TRUMP: The WSJ's Mike Bender continues his streak of juicy anecdotes teasing his soon-to-publish Trump book. In an essay adapted from the book for his own newspaper — headlined "Inside Trump's Last Days in the White House and Plans for a Comeback" — Bender reports on a rare blowup between Pence and Trump in 2018 over the hiring of COREY LEWANDOWSKI by Pence's super PAC. A disgusted Trump threw a crumpled-up newspaper article about the hiring at Pence; Pence threw it back at him and snapped, "You need to get your facts straight." Happy Friday, and thanks for reading Playbook. Drop us a line: Rachael Bade, Eugene Daniels, Ryan Lizza, Tara Palmeri. | | | | A message from PhRMA: Out-of-pocket costs shouldn't be out-of-this-world confusing. If we fix insurance, we can fix out-of-pocket medicine costs. See how. | | | THE SUN SETS ON KOSINSKI AND DARROCH: Former CNN correspondent MICHELLE KOSINSKI won a small victory in her fight against The Sun newspaper for printing allegations of an affair between her and former British Ambassador KIM DARROCH. Our colleague Daniel Lippman found that the British tabloid quietly removed the story from its website. In October, Kosinski, who is now working as an anchor for TRT World in Istanbul, hired the same law firm that PRINCE WILLIAM used to combat reports of an affair. The Daily Beast's Lachlan Cartwright reported in October that the Britain-based firm Harbottle & Lewis served the Sun with legal notice stating: "The allegation our client provided sexual favors to the UK Ambassador in return for stories is also seriously defamatory and should not be republished." Looks like they got the message. A spokesperson for the Sun did not get back to us. Kosinski had no comment, and Darroch declined to comment. SONDLAND AND WIFE SPLIT: Trump's embattled former Ambassador to the EU GORDON SONDLAND and his wife KATY DURANT are divorcing, according to a memo to stakeholders in Provenance, the boutique hotel line he founded. "We wanted you to know that we have decided to amicably divorce and continue our future lifelong relationship as best friends, business partners and parents to our great children," the two of them wrote in a joint email obtained by Lippman. In November 2019, ProPublica published a piece naming three women who claimed Sondland retaliated against them after they rejected his sexual advances. Sondland made news in May when he announced that he was suing MIKE POMPEO and the government for $1.8 million to cover the legal bills he racked up testifying in Trump's impeachment hearings. HOW THE 'BURBS TURNED BLUE — Michigan's Oakland County, once a Republican stronghold, is turning blue. Eugene and Zack (also a Michigan native — he's from the "knuckle"), talk about whether shedding these suburbs is a warning light for Trumpism. Plus: Former Michigan GOP leader JEFF TIMMER on what he thinks losing this stronghold says about the strength of a Republican electoral map. 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| | | | | A message from PhRMA:   The way insurance covers your medicine is too complicated. See how we can make the system work for patients. Not the other way around. | | | BIDEN'S FRIDAY: — 10 a.m.: President JOE BIDEN and VP KAMALA HARRIS will receive the President's Daily Brief. — 1:30 p.m.: Biden will deliver remarks and sign an executive order on "promoting competition in the American economy." — 5:15 p.m.: Biden will leave the White House en route to Wilmington, Del., where he is scheduled to arrive at 6:10 p.m. Press secretary JEN PSAKI will brief at 12:30 p.m. HARRIS' FRIDAY: The VP will also speak to the National Association of Counties Annual Conference at 1 p.m. THE HOUSE will meet at 10 a.m. in a pro forma session. THE SENATE is out. | | | | 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: Civil rights leaders speak Thursday after meeting at the White House with the president and VP to discuss voting rights and police reforms. | Alex Wong/Getty Images | THE WHITE HOUSE BIDEN STRIKES BACK — "'Overdue': Biden sets Aug. 31 for U.S. exit from Afghanistan," by AP's Zeke Miller and Aamer Madhani: "Biden said Thursday the U.S. military operation in Afghanistan will end on Aug. 31, delivering an impassioned argument for exiting the nearly 20-year war without sacrificing more American lives even as he bluntly acknowledged there will be no 'mission accomplished' moment to celebrate. Biden pushed back against the notion the U.S. mission has failed [and] urged the Afghan government and Taliban … to come to a peace agreement." BUT … Sen. LINDSEY GRAHAM (R-S.C.) warns that "President Biden does not understand conditions are developing in Afghanistan for a reemergence of al-Qaeda and ISIS which will directly threaten the American homeland and our allies," and that Americans should prepare "for major upheaval as this decision by President Biden is a disaster in the making." HUNTER ETHICS WATCH — "Deal of the art: White House grapples with ethics of Hunter Biden's pricey paintings," by WaPo's Matt Viser: "White House officials have helped craft an agreement under which purchases of HUNTER BIDEN'S artwork — which could be listed at prices as high as $500,000 — will be kept confidential from even the artist himself, in an attempt to avoid ethical issues that could arise as a presidential family member tries to sell a product with a highly subjective value. … "A New York gallery owner is planning to set prices for the art and will withhold all records, including potential bidders and final buyers. The owner, GEORGES BERGÈS, has also agreed to reject any offer that he deems suspicious or that comes in over the asking price, according to people familiar with the agreement. Biden's art sale, expected to take place this fall, comes with potential challenges. Not only has Biden previously been accused of trading in on his father's name, but his latest vocation is in a field where works do not have a tangible fixed value and where concerns have arisen about secretive buyers and undisclosed sums." CONGRESS BUCKLE UP — "'The biggest bill in the history of the country': Dems wrestle over control of the infrastructure throttle," by Burgess Everett and Sarah Ferris: "Democrats are hurtling toward their most consequential stretch of legislating since the passage of Obamacare, with major decisions left unmade as they wrangle over the size and scope of President Joe Biden's sweeping domestic agenda. July and August will render a decisive verdict on Democrats' so-called 'two-track' strategy of enacting Biden's jobs and families plans via twin bills, one with GOP support focusing on physical infrastructure and the other on a partisan spending plan centered on fighting climate change, increasing child care and raising taxes on corporations and the wealthy. "Work on both items is nearing a climax, with senators in both parties drafting that centrist bill for a July Senate vote and the Senate's 50 Democrats haggling over how big to go in their own, party-line endeavor." ALL POLITICS TARGETING THE PRE-CHECKED BOX — "Four States Start Inquiries Into Recurring Donation Tactics of Both Parties," by NYT's Shane Goldmacher: "The attorneys general for New York, Minnesota, Maryland and Connecticut have sent letters to WinRed, which processes online donations for Republicans, and ActBlue, its Democratic counterpart, asking for documents related to the practices, according to court documents and people familiar with the matter. WinRed revealed the existence of the letter from the attorneys general in a Federal District Court filing this week, as the firm is seeking to stop any state-level investigation, arguing federal law should pre-empt any such effort." ON SECOND THOUGHT — "Toyota stops donations to election objectors after PAC takes ads out against company," by Detroit News' Riley Beggin: "Toyota Motor Corp. will no longer donate to members of Congress who voted against certifying the 2020 election in January, the company said Thursday, after facing blowback over corporate contributions. The move also follows an announcement earlier in the day that The Lincoln Project, a political action committee founded by Republicans to help defeat Trump in the 2020 election, would be releasing a series of advertisements directed at companies that donated to policymakers who opposed certifying the election on Jan. 6, beginning with Toyota." 2022 WATCH — "Democrats bet on early Latino outreach to avoid '20 pitfalls," by AP's Will Weissert: "Fifteen months before the midterm elections, groups … are mobilizing across the country — both Democrats who have enjoyed a historic Latino allegiance and Republicans emboldened by gains in 2020 — all trying to lock down the fastest growing segment of the U.S. population. … The stakes are high, particularly for Democrats who are counting on Latino votes as a vital part of a winning coalition for cycles to come." VOTING RIGHTS SAGA CONTINUES — "Texas Republicans renew efforts to pass voting restrictions in special session," by WaPo's Amy Gardner: "The legislature convened Thursday for a special session called by Gov. GREG ABBOTT (R) to enact a laundry list of conservative priorities, including a ban of transgender athletes on youth sports teams and beefed-up border security. But Abbott has made clear that 'election integrity' is a top priority, and Republicans filed bills in the House and Senate that include many of the same voting provisions they sought to enact earlier in the year. … "The measures would ban several election programs implemented last year to help people vote during the coronavirus pandemic, including drive-through voting and 24-hour and late-night voting. Voting rights advocates noted that voters of color used these programs disproportionately, meaning they could disproportionately feel the impact of the restrictions." | | | | A message from PhRMA:   Let's make out-of-pocket costs transparent, predictable and affordable. See how. | | | AMERICA AND THE WORLD LATEST IN HAITI — "Haiti assassination allegedly involved Americans and retired members of Colombian military, officials say," CNN: "Much of the public anger has so far centered on the foreign nationals arrested in connection to the shooting. Late Thursday, Elections Minister MATHIAS PIERRE told CNN two American citizens were among the 17 people arrested. Pierre identified the men as JAMES SOLAGES and JOSEPH VINCENT, both naturalized citizens from Haiti. "Separately, on Thursday, Police Chief Charles said 15 of those detained were Colombian nationals. He paraded some of the suspects at a press conference, alongside an array of military style weaponry." TV TONIGHT — PBS' "Washington Week": Dan Balz, Leigh Ann Caldwell, Jacqueline Charles and Weijia Jiang. SUNDAY SO FAR … | ABC | "This Week": Eric Adams. Panel: Chris Christie, Sarah Isgur, Donna Brazile and Jane Coaston. | FOX | "Fox News Sunday": Texas Gov. Greg Abbott. Panel: Marc Short, Julie Pace and Charles Lane. Power Player: Yo Yo Ma. | CBS | "Face the Nation": Scott Kirby … Jeh Johnson … Scott Gottlieb. | MSNBC | "Cross Connection": Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried … Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.) … Rep. John Curtis (R-Utah) … Carlos Curbelo. | Gray TV | "Full Court Press": Leon Panetta. | CNN | "Inside Politics": Panel: Jeff Zeleny, Jonathan Martin, Molly Ball, Lauren Fox, Leana Wen and Elie Honig. | NBC | "Meet the Press": Panel: Al Cardenas, Stephanie Cutter, Kasie Hunt and Mark Leibovich. | | HEADS UP — Trump will be interviewed by Maria Bartiromo on Fox News' "Sunday Morning Futures" at 10 a.m. Sunday. | | | | 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 | | UNLIKELY BEDFELLOWS: It's been almost two years since billionaire conservative donor David Koch died, and now all eyes are on his widow Julia, one of the wealthiest women in the world, to see how she will spread her wings in the political landscape. If her house guests over the July Fourth weekend are any indication, it would seem to be the opposite direction of her late husband. DCCC Chair Sean Patrick Maloney (D-N.Y.) and his husband Randy Florke stayed at her $27 million Southampton home . A spokesperson for Julia Koch seemed to swat away the idea that their friendship is political in nature. "Mrs. Koch and Congressman Maloney's families are friends and spent time together over the holiday weekend," the spokesperson said in a statement. DINNER PARTY — @SymoneSanders46: "Tonight the Vice President and Second Gentlemen hosted the team at their home. The food was good and the people were amazing. #VPRBBQ" With pics A FAREWELL TO FEDS — Brian Hale, who is leaving the FBI as head of public affairs, and Marc Raimondi, who is leaving DOJ as the top national security spokesperson, were toasted Thursday night at Dirty Habit for their long run as government spox. The two served in the government for a combined 39 years, Hale for 15 and Raimondi for 24. SPOTTED at the event: FBI Deputy Director Paul Abbate, Adam Entous, Pete Williams, Dean Boyd, Josh Gerstein, Natasha Bertrand, Evan Perez, Corey Ellis, Tim Barrett, Devlin Barrett, Anthony Coley, Eamon Javers, James Gordon Meek, Preston Golson, Josh and Ali Rogin, Jonathan Dienst, Sarah Lynch, Cale Brown, Ross Feinstein, Sadie Gurman, Sebastian Rotella, Whitney Wild, Sharon Weinberg and Ellen Nakashima. SPOTTED: Second gentleman Doug Emhoff ordering lunch at TaKorean in Union Market on Thursday. … Ryan Zinke and Saul Anuzis at the Capitol Hill Club on Thursday. … Al Sharpton at Shelly's on Thursday night. MEDIAWATCH — Emilie Ikeda will be a newsgathering correspondent at NBC News. She most recently was a reporter at Fox 5 Atlanta. TRUMP ALUMNI — "King & Spalding Lands Trump CIA Director Gina Haspel," Bloomberg Law TRANSITIONS — Sharon Bradford Franklin will be co-director of the Center for Democracy & Technology's Security & Surveillance Project. She most recently was policy director for New America's Open Technology Institute. … Ross Wallenstein has launched Wall to Wall Communications, where he is CEO. He most recently was director of comms for David Weprin's campaign for NYC comptroller, and is a J Strategies and Marino alum. WELCOME TO THE WORLD — Bradley Singer, WME's top talent agent who represents, among others, Tamron Hall, Sunny Hostin and Playbook's own Tara and Eugene, and Kate Nexon, EVP of domestic TV and digital sales at Lionsgate, on Wednesday welcomed Paige Nexon Singer. She's named in memory of her late grandparents Phil and Pam. Pic HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) … Patrick Steel … ACLU's Anthony Romero and KP Trueblood … Drew Hammill of Speaker Nancy Pelosi's office … Protocol's David Wertime … the White House's Jaclyn Gelfond … Lauren Nunnally of Sen. John Kennedy's (R-La.) office … HuffPost's Amanda Terkel … Brian Blase of Blase Policy Strategies … AP's Tom Beaumont … Danny Diaz of FP1 Strategies … DOT's Mohsin Syed … Sara Durr of the U.S. Conference of Mayors … E&E News' Manuel Quinones … Mollie Timmons of Sen. Rob Portman's (R-Ohio) office (27) ... ABC's Luke Barr (26) … Alexa Vance of Rep. Ken Buck's (R-Colo.) office (26) … Michael Abate … DNC's Patrick Stevenson … Megan Ortiz … former Reps. Scott Garrett (R-N.J.) and Dave Camp (R-Mich.) … Irene Jay Liu ... Amanda Gonzalez Thompson ... NYT's Amy Fiscus … Jimmy Bondi ... Libby Hambleton Sharp ... Tim Schlittner … Caroline Scullin ... Nick Rathod ... CNN's Jeff Simon ... Amy Hunt ... Jennifer Baskerville ... Mineko Tokito ... Jeff Wexler ... Cathy St. Denis … Maria (Miller) Lohmeyer … Emma Doyle … Mercury's Kirill Goncharenko … Floyd Abrams … Donna Imperato of BCW 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 PhRMA: Getting to what you pay for medicines shouldn't be a maze. Let's make out-of-pocket costs transparent, predictable and affordable. And let's do it without sacrificing access to medicines and innovation. See how we can make the system work for patients. Not the other way around. | | | | | | | 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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