| | | | |  | | By Rachael Bade | | | | | | |  | DRIVING THE DAY | | HEARTBREAKING NEWS OVERNIGHT — AP: "A pregnant woman and her baby have died after Russia bombed the maternity hospital where she was meant to give birth, The Associated Press has learned. Images of the woman being rushed to an ambulance on a stretcher had circled the world, epitomizing the horror of an attack on humanity's most innocent." PRESSURE POLITICS — Something quite striking has happened in Washington since Russia invaded Ukraine. Congress — which typically takes a back seat on foreign policy matters — has repeatedly driven the White House beyond its comfort zone with bipartisan demands for more assertive policies. It started with calls for tougher sanctions, then escalated to an appeal for a larger military and humanitarian assistance package. Members of both parties then clamored for a U.S. ban on Russian oil, which the White House saw as politically risky given the effect on gas prices at home. And they insisted that the U.S. end permanent normal trade relations with Russia. The tactics have worked. And this week, lawmakers will be at it again — this time nudging the Biden administration to go further than it wants in facilitating the transfer of fighter jets from Poland to Ukraine. The White House POV: The Biden White House — worried about ratcheting up tensions with the Kremlin — has rejected Poland's offer to move their Soviet-style planes. Indeed, Russia over the weekend warned that it would view any such delivery as an escalation, and signaled that any such convoys (even American-delivered ones) would be considered "legitimate targets." Alex Ward, who anchors POLITICO'sNational Security Daily newsletter, noted Sunday that the administration has gone out of its way to avoid any moves that could trigger further conflict with Russia. It has even taken steps back to ease tensions, such as canceling special operations training and delaying missile tests. Our colleagues also scooped Sunday that a "Pentagon push to send more trainers to Ukraine was scrapped in December amid White House fears of provoking Russia." The supporters' POV: Supporters of approving a transfer of fighter jets argue that Russia has drawn multiple lines that the West has already crossed — and that VLADIMIR PUTIN is the aggressor here. Sen. ROB PORTMAN (R-Ohio), speaking from the Ukraine-Poland border, noted on CNN's "State of the Union" on Sunday that Putin had also called sanctions an "act of war" and warned the U.S. against providing stringers and helicopters. "What we've heard directly from the Ukrainians is they want them badly," Portman said of the planes. "They want the ability to have better control over the skies in order to give them a fighting chance. I don't understand why we're not doing it."
| | | | A message from PhRMA: ICYMI: A majority of Americans reject so-called government "negotiation" once they learn it could restrict access and choice and chill the innovation of new treatments and cures. The survey also shows a majority find health care coverage costs unreasonable and a top priority health care issue for policymakers to address today. | | | The build-up: While Republicans led the charge calling for the transfer last week, over the weekend we saw some Hill Democrats join the fray. Ex-military Democratic Reps. JASON CROW (Colo.), JARED GOLDEN (Maine) and CHRISSY HOULAHAN (Pa.) and a couple of others signed a bipartisan letter backing the move, as we first reported in Playbook PM on Friday. By Sunday, the 58-member-strong bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus — half Democrats — had joined them. "With Russia's alarming disregard for Ukrainian civilian casualties, the U.S. must … help supply more comprehensive air defense systems to defend Ukraine and its people," the letter read. Meanwhile, Sen. AMY KLOBUCHAR (D-Minn.) — who doesn't break often with President JOE BIDEN — said the U.S. shouldn't rule out making the transfer: "I have made clear to them — I spoke to the president himself about 10 days ago about this — I'd like to see the planes over there," she said on "State of the Union," floating the idea of other types of air defense assistance that could also work. "I still don't rule out having planes at some point." So is it just a matter of time before the Biden White House flips and moves on the Poland transfer? Perhaps. What is clear is that Congress has had success with this type of vocal, bipartisan push before. WaPo's Amy Wang has more on the bipartisan movement on the plane issue. (Read on for more on Ukraine below.) Good Monday morning. Thanks for reading Playbook. Drop us a line: Rachael Bade, Eugene Daniels, Ryan Lizza.
| | | | A message from PhRMA: ICYMI: Majority of Americans reject so-called government "negotiation" once they learn it could restrict access and choice and chill the innovation of new treatments and cures. | | | BIDEN'S MONDAY: — 10:30 a.m.: The president will receive the President's Daily Brief. — 2:10 p.m.: Biden will address the National League of Cities Congressional City Conference at the Marriott Marquis. — 7:45 p.m.: Biden will take part in a DNC fundraiser. Press secretary JEN PSAKI will brief at 3 p.m. THE SENATE will meet at 3 p.m. to take up SHALANDA YOUNG's nomination as OMB director. THE HOUSE is out. BIDEN'S WEEK AHEAD: — Tuesday: The Bidens, VP KAMALA HARRIS and second gentleman DOUG EMHOFF will take part in an Equal Pay Day event. — Thursday: Biden will have a bilateral meeting with Irish Taoiseach MICHEĆL MARTIN, and the Bidens, Harris and Emhoff will host the Martins for a St. Patrick's Day tradition: a shamrock presentation at the White House.
| | | | SUBSCRIBE TO NATIONAL SECURITY DAILY : Keep up with the latest critical developments from Ukraine and across Europe in our daily newsletter, National Security Daily. The Russian invasion of Ukraine could disrupt the established world order and result in a refugee crisis, increased cyberattacks, rising energy costs and additional disruption to global supply chains. Go inside the top national security and foreign-policymaking shops for insight on the global threats faced by the U.S. and its allies and what actions world leaders are taking to address them. Subscribe today. | | | | | PHOTO OF THE DAY
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy shakes hands with a wounded soldier during his visit to a hospital in Kyiv on Sunday, March 13. | Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via AP Photo | | | PLAYBOOK READS | | CONGRESS HIDDEN AGENDA — Congressional Democrats left their Philadelphia retreat last week disappointed in the lack of a game plan to revive their stalled domestic agenda. Many — particularly frontliners in vulnerable districts — had hoped that Biden would offer some clarity as they search for a winning strategy ahead of the midterms. Instead, the president — with his attention focused on the war in Ukraine — talked more about wanting to tout what they passed last year. Senior Democrats weren't surprised by this. They downplayed suggestions that they saw the retreat as a place to iron out a timeline for pushing their policies through Congress and settling on a message for the midterms. It's why Democrats started talking last week about Biden going it alone via executive actions as a way to move items that have stalled out but are being demanded by the base. (They want unilateral action on everything from student loan forgiveness and voting rights to criminal justice reforms and immigration issues.) That doesn't mean action in the Capitol is non-existent. Hill Democrats have some unfinished business that they're hoping to make headway on in the coming days, including: 1. The China competition bill: The legislation has passed both chambers, but the provisions of each measure are quite different. We're told that lawmakers will head to a conference on this bill, a win for frontliners who are eager to tout the legislation as a response to supply-chain bottlenecks. 2. Pandemic relief: In the House, a senior Democratic aide tells us conversations about finding an alternative pay-for to cover a new tranche of pandemic relief will pick up again likely this week. That comes after Democratic infighting killed the White House's request for billions in new funding last week. The Plan B, the aide said, might be smaller than the original $15 billion proposed. It's unclear whether Senate Republicans would back it. 3. Further off: A SCOTUS fight — then, maybe, a reconciliation bill. Confirmation hearings to seat KETANJI BROWN JACKSON on the high court will start next week and dominate Congress' attention until a final vote. Senate Democrats are still hoping to get Jackson confirmed before the two-week Easter recess that begins April 12. Leaders are eyeing the work period between the return from that break and Memorial Day as the sweet spot to finally pass a reconciliation bill. No, it won't look anything like Build Back Better — a phrase you don't hear Democrats utter anymore. But they are still hoping to unify progressives and moderates like Sen. JOE MANCHIN (D-W.Va.) behind a package that addresses prescription drug costs, tax reforms and climate change — and perhaps an Obamacare fix. PIN THIS: SENATE GOP VOWS 'RESPECTFUL' SCOTUS FIGHT — Compared to knock-down-drag-out SCOTUS fights of recent memory, it seems not only odd but virtually impossible. And yet, as our Marianne LeVine writes this morning, Senate Republicans have coalesced around one key principle for the looming confirmation process: "that they'll keep it classy." "'The best message I can give you at this point, but I think you've heard me say it before: It's going to be a fair, thorough hearing, and we're not going to get in the gutter like the Democrats did,' said Iowa Sen. CHUCK GRASSLEY, the top Republican on the Judiciary Committee." That's where the agreement ends, however, Marianne writes. While Democrats went into recent confirmation fights centered on a specific theme, Republicans appear to be all over the place in what they want to talk about and emphasize.
| | | | A message from PhRMA:   ICYMI: Majority of Americans reject so-called government "negotiation". | | | ALL POLITICS SENATE GOP PRIMARY FIGHTS GET NASTY — GOP political types in Washington all privately agree on one thing when it comes to flipping the Senate in 2022: If they fail to seize the majority, it's largely going to be because they can't get out of their own way in a series of contentious primaries across the nation. This morning, our Natalie Allison has a story about GOP candidates "thrashing" each other in about a dozen primaries in key swing states — all while Democrats have largely held their fire in a pair of key primaries. Take Pennsylvania: "As the Democratic frontrunners Lt. Gov. JOHN FETTERMAN and Rep. CONOR LAMB run ads arguing why they can win in one of the nation's top battleground states, GOP candidates there have dropped a record-shattering $35 million on TV — the vast majority coming from MEHMET OZ and DAVE MCCORMICK, the leading Republicans, whose camps are framing the other as a 'liberal RINO' and 'Wall Street insider,' respectively." "'They're doing what I want them to do, which is kick the crap out of each other,' said J.B. POERSCH, president of the Senate Majority PAC, Senate Democrats' flagship super PAC." — ICYMI (for all you watching this crazy Missouri primary …): "Schmitt raises $1.6M at Mar-a-Lago event, lands visit from Trump," by Fox News' Brooke Singman CHENEY'S GAMBIT — In 2007, the leftist crowd in Wyoming's liberal bastion of Jackson Hole dragged an effigy of DICK CHENEY through downtown in protest of the Iraq War. Now, his daughter LIZ CHENEY is turning to the same swath of voters to save her hide in November. And Trumpist Republicans are doing everything in their power to stop her, Tara Palmeri reports from Jackson, Wyo. "Her campaign is loath to talk strategy publicly, but the math doesn't lie — and neither do Cheney's actions on the ground here in recent months. She has shunned town halls and other voter forums in Wyoming's overwhelmingly red counties in favor of controlled events." ALL POLITICS IS NATIONAL — South Dakota Gov. KRISTI NOEM's "election-year fight with fellow Republicans in the Legislature has spurred criticism she is neglecting her job to angle for the White House, but the resistance could actually be helping her national brand rather than tarnishing it," AP's Stephen Groves and Thomas Beaumont write. Although a chunk of her agenda has been derailed by Republican lawmakers, "Noem has shown a knack for the political theatrics invaluable in [ DONALD] TRUMP's Republican Party and last month won the former president's endorsement for her reelection campaign. Her social media feeds are filled with images of her riding a motorcycle at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, on horseback carrying an American flag, showing off a flamethrower and hunting pheasants." 2024 WATCH — "Anti-Trump Republicans lining up for 2024 shadow primary," by AP's Steve Peoples KEY UKRAINE READS OVERNIGHT — "Talks between Russia and Ukraine to resume after deadly attack on military base," by The Guardian RUSSIA TURNS TO CHINA FOR HELP — "Russia has requested military and economic assistance from China, U.S. officials say," per CNN But, but, but … "China faces consequences if it helps Russia evade sanctions, U.S. says," per Reuters MEANWHILE — "Zelensky presses Biden to increase economic pressure on Moscow, expand sanctions," by WaPo's Jeff Stein THE STEP BACK — "How Does It End? A Way Out of the Ukraine War Proves Elusive," by NYT's David Sanger and Eric Schmitt AMERICA AND THE WORLD FUTURE-CASTING — For POLITICO's 15th anniversary, we're hosting unfiltered one-on-one conversations about the next 15 years. In the first installment of our series, former Treasury Secretary LARRY SUMMERS sits down with billionaire hedge fund manager RAY DALIO. The two discuss everything from inflation and redistribution to political polarization and global competition with China. "I think we're living in a time when we're not at the end of history and the question of whether the ultimate organization of societies that's going to work best is one like ABRAHAM LINCOLN talked about at Gettysburg when he talked about 'by the people, for the people,' is still an issue," Summers says, "because China has a very different model and they've had really very remarkable results." Watch and read more from the conversation here
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Video by Renee Klahr and Brooke Minters | IRAN SENDS A WARNING — Iranian officials on Sunday "claimed responsibility for a missile barrage that struck near a sprawling U.S. consulate complex in northern Iraq, saying it was retaliation for an Israeli strike in Syria that killed two members of its Revolutionary Guard earlier this week," AP's Qassim Abdul-Zahra reports . "Iraq's Foreign Ministry on Sunday summoned Iran's ambassador to protest the attack, calling it a flagrant violation of the country's sovereignty. No injuries were reported."
| | | | DON'T MISS POLITICO'S INAUGURAL HEALTH CARE SUMMIT ON 3/31: Join POLITICO for a discussion with health care providers, policymakers, federal regulators, patient representatives, and industry leaders to better understand the latest policy and industry solutions in place as we enter year three of the pandemic. Panelists will discuss the latest proposals to overcome long-standing health care challenges in the U.S., such as expanding access to care, affordability, and prescription drug prices. REGISTER HERE. | | | | | | | PLAYBOOKERS | | MARCH MADNESS STUDY GUIDE — Time to get your picks ready. ESPN: "What to know about every team in the men's NCAA tournament bracket" Barack Obama has Covid-19, but says he's fine. Ditto for Jeanne Shaheen. Mitt Romney accused Tulsi Gabbard of "treasonous lies" that "may well cost lives." Adam Kinzinger regrets not voting to impeach Trump the first go-round. RUSSIA HEARTS TUCKER: A little over a week into Russia's invasion of Ukraine, "the Kremlin sent out talking points to state-friendly media outlets with a request: Use more TUCKER CARLSON. 'It is essential to use as much as possible fragments of broadcasts of the popular Fox News host Tucker Carlson, who sharply criticizes the actions of the United States [and] NATO, their negative role in unleashing the conflict in Ukraine, [and] the defiantly provocative behavior from the leadership of the Western countries and NATO towards the Russian Federation and toward Putin, personally,' advises the 12-page document written in Russian," which was obtained by Mother Jones' David Corn. FIRST IN PLAYBOOK — Eva Rodriguez is joining The Fuller Project as editor-in-chief. She previously was deputy foreign editor at WaPo, and is a WSJ, NYT, Businessweek and POLITICO Magazine alum. — Amanda Slater is now SVP of public policy and head of U.S. federal affairs at Mastercard. She previously was a principal at Rich Feuer Anderson, and is a Visa, Tom Carper and Ed Perlmutter alum. MEDIA MOVES — Natalie Pahz is now director of comms for CBS' "60 Minutes." She previously was a senior PR manager at CNN. … Nicole Meir has joined the AP as media relations manager. She previously was assistant director of media relations for the Atlantic Council. TRANSITIONS — Margarita Valdez is now the director of policy and advocacy at the American Society of Gene & Cell Therapy. She previously was assistant director of congressional relations at the American Society for Radiation Oncology. … Glen Echo Group is adding Ashley Durkin-Rixey as a senior director and Kieran Henstenburg as a graphic designer. Durkin-Rixey most recently was a director of comms at ACT | The App Association. … Adam Ozimek is joining the Economic Innovation Group as its first ever chief economist. He most recently was chief economist at Upwork. ENGAGED — Amanda Golden, news comms manager at Google News and Google News Initiative and an NBC News alum, and Matthew Kincaid, a 3L at University of Virginia School of Law and an incoming associate at Sullivan & Cromwell, got engaged Saturday. They first met on a blind date set up by a mutual friend in December 2018. The proposal, which took place in front of the same spot in D.C., was followed by a surprise celebration with family and friends. Pic … Another pic — George Khalaf, managing partner of the Resolute Group, proposed to Briana Johnson, political fundraiser at Radiance Strategies. Pic WELCOME TO THE WORLD — Jeffrey Cimmino, associate director of the Scowcroft Strategy Initiative at the Atlantic Council, and Anne Houtz Cimmino, assistant to the owner at Authentically You Weddings, welcomed Adeline Rose Cimmino on Friday. Pic HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas) … Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon … White House's Rory Brosius … Bill McGinley of the Vogel Group … Faith McPherson of National Public Affairs … WaPo's Christine Emba … Andrea Bozek of Big Dog Strategies … AEI's Kevin Kosar … Deb Jospin … T.A. Hawks of Monument Advocacy … Lily Adams … Fox News' John L. Wallace III … Eric Reath of Rep. Lloyd Smucker's (R-Pa.) office … Moderna's John Lepore … Jimmy Loomis of Rep. Stephanie Murphy's (D-Fla.) office (27) … Georgetown's Lauren Mullins … Jason Johnson … Virginia Dem Chair Susan Swecker … POLITICO's Campbell Rawlins … Alicia Pardo … former Rep. Bill Jefferson (D-La.) … Amy Travieso … Rick Grafmeyer … Kathy Wright … Kelsey Cooper of Sen. Rand Paul's (R-Ky.) office … Kei Helm … John Connolly of Mission: Readiness (26) … Margita Thompson … Ashley Simmons Did someone forward this email to you? Sign up here. 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: According to a new poll , voters overwhelmingly support policies that would lower out-of-pocket costs and bring greater transparency and accountability to the health insurance system.
We need to make the cost of medicine more predictable and affordable. Government price setting is the wrong way. The right way means covering more medicines from day one, making out-of-pocket costs more predictable and sharing negotiated savings with patients at the pharmacy counter.
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