| | | | |  | | By Rachael Bade, Ryan Lizza and Eugene Daniels | | | | | | |  Getty Images | |  | DRIVING THE DAY | | NEW OVERNIGHT IN UKRAINE — Secretary of State ANTONY BLINKEN and Defense Secretary LLOYD AUSTIN briefed reporters on Monday on their covert trip to Ukraine over the weekend. "After the first visit by high-level U.S. officials to Kyiv since the war began over two months ago, Blinken confirmed that the United States would reopen its embassy in Ukraine, with diplomats first operating in the western city of Lviv. The United States would also provide $713 million in foreign military financing to Ukraine and more than a dozen other nations to purchase new weapons, replenishing arms that were provided to Ukrainian forces." More from WaPo BACK IN BUSINESS — Today, Congress returns from a two-week recess facing the same unresolved issues that have plagued lawmakers for months. One big difference: Now, the legislative hourglass is running out of time for Congress to work its way through a jam-packed to-do list. The Senate is in for a five-week stretch before Memorial Day recess (the House is out the first week of May). That's when midterm election season really kicks into high gear, and it'll become much more difficult to pass legislation. Here's some of what they hope to tackle: 1. Pandemic relief money — The context: Lawmakers left town unable to pass a bipartisan deal to provide the administration with $10 billion in pandemic relief money. An agreement was brokered in part by Sen. MITT ROMNEY (R-Utah), but a bipartisan group of moderates on both sides of the aisle were just as adamant about attaching an amendment to the package delaying the White House's repeal of Title 42. With the White House unwilling to agree, Senate Majority Leader CHUCK SCHUMER scuttled any plans for the vote, realizing there would be enough support to pair the provisions. — What's next?: There's still no immediate solution in sight. Pressure to maintain DONALD TRUMP's pandemic-era asylum crackdown has only grown, as battleground Democrats came out during the recess to call for the administration to change course. That means it could be a while before we see pandemic relief funds make their way to President JOE BIDEN's desk. Expect another White House push: NBC's Mike Memoli reported Sunday that the Biden administration is gearing up for a renewed push on pandemic relief money as soon as lawmakers are back. "Congressional inaction is already taking its toll — from uninsured Americans' suddenly having to foot the bill for tests, treatments and vaccines, to states receiving fewer monoclonal antibodies to keep people out [of] the hospital," an official told him. "Further inaction is unacceptable, and Congress must promptly provide us the funds we urgently need." 2. More Ukraine aid — The context: The White House announced another $800 million tranche of Ukraine aid last week, but says it needs Congress to allocate more funds ASAP — money that would no doubt win bipartisan support in a stand-alone vote. The question is: Will it be a stand-alone? — What's next?: As Andrew Desiderioreported Friday, there are some Democrats who want to use this spoonful of sugar to help the medicine (i.e. the pandemic relief bill) go down for Republicans — sans Title 42 provisions, of course. But that's almost certainly a trick the GOP won't fall for, and could open Democrats to accusations that they're playing politics with life-saving aid to Ukraine. Ukraine's backers on both sides of the aisle are eager to move this new package of money fast. 3. Don't forget Biden's social spending bill — The context: Sen. JOE MANCHIN (D-W.Va.) and White House officials have been exchanging niceties in recent weeks, strong signals that they're willing to re-engage on a smaller social-spending package months after Build Back Better was left for dead. But everyone wants to know when — er, if? — they're going to actually get down to business. — What's next?: Manchin's top concern, as he's said repeatedly, is inflation — and that continues to be a major economic and political worry. But Democrats increasingly feel it's now or never to act. As Sen. TINA SMITH (D-Minn.) told WaPo's Tony Romm in his curtain-raiser for Congress' return , some members feel they need to have a deal to pass a reconciliation bill done by Memorial Day, before the election sucks up all the oxygen. "It doesn't get easier the longer we wait," she said. Good Monday morning. Thanks for reading Playbook. Drop us a line: Rachael Bade, Eugene Daniels, Ryan Lizza.
| | | | A message from Google: Google is helping American businesses grow. In 2021, Google digital tools helped provide $617 billion in economic activity for millions of businesses, creators, developers, and more. These digital tools include Google Search, Google Play, Google Cloud, YouTube, and Google advertising tools. View the 2021 Google Economic Impact Report. | | | PLAYBOOK'S GUIDE TO WHCA WEEK — That's right, it's no longer just a weekend. Here's our first cut of the events you need to know about. All of these are invite-only. We'll be adding updates all week, so please send us anything we're missing. Thursday — THIRSTY THURSDAY: The weekend has become so crowded with high-profile parties that some organizations have moved their events to Thursday. These tend to be more civilized and casual affairs that allow you to practice your rusty social skills and get a preview of who's in town before the historically fancier (and drunker) events that begin Friday.
- 6 p.m.: Washington Women in Journalism Awards. This year's honorees include ABC's MARTHA RADDATZ, CNN's KAITLAN COLLINS, WaPo's KATHLEENPARKER and NPR's AYESHA RASCOE.
- 6:30 p.m.: National Geographic reception, followed by screening of "We Feed People," a documentary about JOSÉ ANDRÉS and directed by RON HOWARD. Both will be on hand for a Q&A.
- 6:30 p.m.: Bytes & Bylines, hosted by the Irish ambassador. We've never been to a bad party hosted by the Irish, so this is a good choice to start the festivities.
Friday — REHEARSALS: This has become a big night for parties, and is now dominated by two talent agencies, CAA and UTA. There are tons of smaller events all over Washington scheduled for Friday, but you're probably having a good night if you're shutting down the dance floor at the UTA party at 2 a.m.
- 5 p.m.: Vanity Fair and Power to the Patients cocktail reception.
- 6 p.m.: NBCUniversal shows off its new digs on Capitol Hill with Chair CESAR CONDE.
- 6 p.m.: Motion Picture Association reception. This one has historically attracted a big Hollywood contingent.
- 6:30 p.m.: CAA WHCD Cocktail Party. Always a classy affair.
- 6:30 p.m.: 14th annual Our Voices event hosted by MARIA TERESA KUMAR and ROSARIO DAWSON. (No word on whether Sen. CORY BOOKER is invited.)
- 7 p.m.: Politics & Inclusion Dinner, which promises to "bring together 50 diverse leaders in politics and media, both established and rising stars." This year's hosts: CNN's ABBY PHILLIP and ColorComm's LAUREN WESLEY WILSON.
- 7 p.m.: Semafor party. JUSTIN SMITH, BEN SMITH, GINA CHUA, STEVE CLEMONS and RACHEL OPPENHEIM are hosting an informal get-together to talk about their new media venture.
- 7:30 p.m.: The Creative Coalition is hosting the #RightToBearArts Gala Dinner. They promise celebrities from "Grey's Anatomy," "Young Sheldon" and "Barry."
- 9 p.m.: Funny or Die/People Magazine party. How it's being pitched: "In a town filled with famously unfunny parties, Funny Or Die and PEOPLE Magazine present the funniest party this town has ever seen." Also: "celebrities galore."
- 9 p.m.: UTA Celebration of America's Journalists.
Saturday — GAME DAY Brunches: There's actually only one. Known simply as "Tammy's brunch," this party, now in its 27th year, has become as famous as the WHCD itself. TAMMY HADDAD, along with her 2022 co-hosts, MARK & SALLY EIN, KEVIN SHEEKEY, STEPHANIE RUHLE, YAMICHE ALCINDOR, CRAIG MINASSIAN, TERESA CARLSON and FRANCO NUSCHESE, will be honoring ABC News' BOB WOODRUFF and Lt. Gen. DONNA MARTIN, inspector general of the Army, with special awards.
- 11 a.m.: The 27th Annual White House Correspondents' Weekend Garden Brunch. A reminder from the hosts: "Aside from designated press areas, the event is off the record. We ask that you follow the same rules established by the WHCA for the dinner: No professional cameras or audio/video recorders are allowed inside the Party. Interviews are not permitted inside the event. Reporting on 'overheards' is strongly discouraged." :(
Pre-parties: One of the longest-running traditions of the dinner is the pre-party cocktail receptions throughout the Washington Hilton, hosted by news organizations. These often spill out into the hallways, and you can hop from one to the other. It's typically easier to see and talk to people at these receptions than inside the ballroom itself, and you'll get your first glimpse of interesting guests as you wander around. (One of us remembers chatting with MATT DRUDGE and PAULA JONES at one of these back in 1998.) Here are a couple, but there are many more:
- 5:30 p.m.: ABC News reception, hosted by ABC News President KIM GODWIN.
- 6 p.m.: POLITICO-CBS reception hosted by POLITICO CEO GOLI SHEIKOLESLAMI and CBS News President NEERAJ KHEMLANI.
The main event: President JOE BIDEN will be there. Awards for journalists and scholarships for students will be handed out. The air hangar of a ballroom will be filled with some 2,500 people mostly asking each other what afterparty they are attending. Note to TREVOR NOAH: Like almost every comedian who has come before you, you will be tempted to make jokes about the fact that this event is held at a Hilton. Don't do it! They always flop. Whatever you think of the Hilton brand, this one is a Washington landmark with a lot of history.
- 7:30 p.m.: The White House Correspondents' Dinner at the Washington Hilton.
Afterparties: There are more this year than ever. The Vanity Fair party used to be the hottest ticket, but GRAYDON CARTER canceled it in 2017, and the magazine isn't returning this year. NBC's shindig became the go-to destination from 2017-2019. Now, party newcomer Paramount is hosting an afterparty that is being buzzed about as the new Vanity Fair. We'll see!
- 9 p.m.: Vice News' "Break the News" party to celebrate "our friends in the field." This one goes until 1.
- 9:30 p.m.: Modern Luxury DC party. Don't worry if you didn't go to the dinner and aren't wearing black tie — the dress code for this one is "Cocktail Chic."
- 10:30 p.m.: theGrio's "A Seat at the Table" party celebrating Black media and APRIL RYAN's 25th anniversary covering Washington. MARY J. BLIGE is performing, and comedian CHRIS TUCKER is hosting.
- 10:30 p.m.: An Evening of Magical Realism, hosted by the ambassador of Colombia. This one, billed as "an exclusive soirée," sounds interesting. Music: Thievery Corporation's ERIC HILTON.
- 11 p.m.: The Paramount After Party.
- 11:30 p.m.: The NBCUniversal After Party. There's no end time on the invitation, so that bodes well.
Sunday — BRUNCH: You're hungover. You were dancing late into the night with MSNBC bookers. Or perhaps you couldn't sneak into the Paramount party, and ended up at Black Whiskey until closing time. However the night went, you need a bloody mary and some eggs. The city is scattered with some smaller gatherings Sunday, but the two main events are hosted by CNN and yours truly.
- 10:30 a.m.: CNN Political Hangover Brunch.
- 11 a.m.: POLITICO Brunch.
Please don't email us about getting on the list. We've called in all the favors with BRAD DAYSPRING that we can.
| | | | A message from Google:   Last year, Google digital tools helped provide $617 billion in economic activity for millions of Americans. Learn more. | | | BIDEN'S MONDAY: — 9:55 a.m.: The president will depart New Castle, Del., arriving back in Washington at 10:50 a.m. — 11:30 a.m.: Biden will receive the President's Daily Brief. — 2 p.m.: Biden will host the Tampa Bay Lightning on the South Lawn to celebrate their two recent Stanley Cups. Press secretary JEN PSAKI will brief at 3 p.m. THE SENATE will meet at 3 p.m. to take up LAEL BRAINARD's nomination as Fed vice chair. THE HOUSE is out. BIDEN'S WEEK AHEAD: — Wednesday: The president and VP KAMALA HARRIS will attend former Secretary of State MADELEINE ALBRIGHT's funeral at the National Cathedral, where Biden will speak. The Bidens will also host the Council of Chief State School Officers' 2022 National and State Teachers of the Year, with the Bidens, Education Secretary MIGUEL CARDONA and 2022 National Teacher of the Year KURT RUSSELL delivering remarks. — Saturday: The Bidens will attend the White House Correspondents' Dinner, where Biden will speak.
| | | | DON'T MISS ANYTHING FROM THE 2022 MILKEN INSTITUTE GLOBAL CONFERENCE: POLITICO is excited to partner with the Milken Institute to produce a special edition "Global Insider" newsletter featuring exclusive coverage and insights from the 25th annual Global Conference. This year's event, May 1-4, brings together more than 3,000 of the world's most influential leaders, including 700+ speakers representing more than 80 countries. "Celebrating the Power of Connection" is this year's theme, setting the stage to connect influencers with the resources to change the world with leading experts and thinkers whose insight and creativity can implement that change. Whether you're attending in person or following along from somewhere else in the world, keep up with this year's conference with POLITICO's special edition "Global Insider" so you don't miss a beat. Subscribe today. | | | | | PHOTO OF THE DAY
|  Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Sunday, April 24. | Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via AP | | | PLAYBOOK READS | | CONGRESS MCCARTHY UPSTAGES HIMSELF — House Minority Leader KEVIN MCCARTHY is leading a group of GOP lawmakers to the Texas border today. At 2:45 p.m. Eastern, he and his delegation — which, interestingly, includes far-right Rep. MARJORIE TAYLOR GREENE (R-Ga.) — are scheduled to hold a press conference highlighting the influx of migrants at the border, as well as the White House's move to end Title 42. But the GOP leader's message will likely get drowned out. That's because McCarthy is still reeling from last week's blunder, when he denied reports that he'd suggested asking for then-President Trump's resignation after the Jan. 6 attacks — only for audio to prove that his denials were bunk. Ever since, he's been on the receiving end of a buffet of negative headlines, as critics raise questions about his relationship with the truth and what they view as his willingness to do anything for power. All weekend, this line from WaPo's Dan Balz's blistering column ripping McCarthy lit up Twitter: "In his ceaseless drive to become the next speaker of the House, he has demonstrated weakness, hypocrisy and a willingness to lie to save his skin." Paul Kane, who knows a thing or two about the Hill, noted that inconsistent positions are actually part of a pattern with the GOP leader that "suggests that he will be a politically weak House speaker if Republicans can win the majority in November." — Related: Speaking of Republicans and the border, more than 50 House Republicans — led by Border Security Caucus co-chair BRIAN BABIN (R-Texas) and Republican Study Committee Chair JIM BANKS (R-Ind.) — released a letter Sunday night questioning Homeland Security Secretary ALEJANDRO MAYORKAS' fitness for the office. Fox News has the exclusive ALL POLITICS KEMP AND PERDUE SQUARE OFF — The first primary debate between Georgia Gov. BRIAN KEMP and DAVID PERDUE turned acrimonious fast, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Shannon McCaffrey recaps . The Trump-endorsed Perdue made false claims about the 2020 election a centerpiece of his arguments. "Weak leaders blame everybody else for their own loss instead of themselves," Kemp retorted. The prospect of Buckhead seceding from Atlanta also emerged as a top issue. And both men cast themselves as Republicans' best hope to defeat STACEY ABRAMS. 2024 WATCH — Arkansas Gov. ASA HUTCHINSON is heading to New Hampshire today for the New Hampshire Institute of Politics' famous "Politics and Eggs" series at Saint Anselm College, Fox News' Paul Steinhauser scoops. Of 2024, Hutchinson tells him, "That's something that is a consideration, an option. I'm certainly not ruling it out … I want to not only engage the debate now but keep my options open down the road." FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: DCCC TO GO ON OFFENSE ON GAS PRICES — With Republicans assailing Democrats over the high price of gasoline, the DCCC and one of its most vulnerable incumbents are trying to turn the tables on that narrative. Rep. SHARICE DAVIDS (D-Kan.), who has called for suspending the federal gas tax to lower prices at the pump, has been going hard after her GOP opponent AMANDA ADKINS, suggesting she is the one who wants higher prices. (Adkins has downplayed the proposal as a gimmick.) Today, the DCCC is getting involved by launching a billboard in Davids' district attacking Adkins for her opposition to the idea — the opening salvo of an attempt to turn the tables on this issue, difficult as that might be. FIRST IN PLAYBOOK — Today, the Institute of Politics at Harvard Kennedy School releases its latest polling taking the political pulse of voters ages 18-29, and the kids are … okay, we guess? Here are some of the results that stood out to us:
- Young voters say they'll turn out at roughly 2018 levels. Thirty-seven percent of those polled said they would definitely be voting this year. In 2018, that number was 36%, per Census figures — and that was a record-breaking level of youth turnout in a midterm cycle.
- They give Dems a big lead in the race for Congress. Forty percent of young voters want Democrats to hold onto control of Congress, while 28% prefer Republicans. The rest are unsure.
- But they've soured on Biden. The president's approval rating with young voters is down a whopping 18 points from a year ago: Just 41% approve of his job performance.
- They don't love the GOP. Fifty-one percent of young folks say the Republican Party cares predominantly about elites.
- Each party sees the other as a threat to democracy. Fifty-nine percent of young Dems and 61% of young Republicans see the other party as a threat to democracy.
- One thing they agree on: student debt forgiveness. Eighty-five percent of young voters say they want some form of federal action on student loan debt. Thirty-eight percent favor full cancellation, 27% favor repayment assistance and 21% prefer cancellation for those borrowers who need it the most.
| | | | A message from Google: Google is helping women-led startups like EyeGage reach more customers. LaVonda Brown founded EyeGage to help prevent fatal accidents by analyzing people's eyes for drugs and alcohol before operating vehicles and heavy equipment. Georgia-based EyeGage is just one of billions of people and businesses globally using Google Workspace tools to carry out everyday operations. View your state's impact report here. | | | AMERICA AND THE WORLD MACRON PREVAILS — Centrist French President EMMANUEL MACRON turned back a vigorous challenge from far-right leader MARINE LE PEN, winning reelection, 58.5%–41.5% as of publish time. It was a larger margin than polls had predicted, but also constituted a high-water mark for France's far right. He's the first French president to win reelection in two decades. More from Clea Caulcutt FOR YOUR RADAR — Biden will travel to Israel "in the coming months," having been invited by PM NAFTALI BENNETT, per Reuters. The leaders spoke Sunday about ongoing violence in Jerusalem and other issues. VALLEY TALK TWITTER RECONSIDERS MUSK'S BID — When ELON MUSK said he was going to mount a bid to take over Twitter, many expected the company to brush back the offer. But now that Musk has come back with an official bid, the two sides are moving toward a potential deal that could come within days, WSJ's Cara Lombardo and Dana Cimilluca scoop . It's "a dramatic turn of events" for the social media behemoth to consider selling itself, they write. But "there [is] no guarantee they will reach a deal." THE WHITE HOUSE DRIP, DRIP — Our friends at West Wing Playbook have the latest excerpt from the upcoming book by Jonathan Martin and Alex Burns tonight: While BARACK OBAMA and Biden project a bromance, the authors have details on the tensions and jealousies between the two. You can subscribe here
| | | | JOIN US ON 4/29 FOR A WOMEN RULE DISCUSSION ON WOMEN IN TECH : Women, particularly women of color and women from disadvantaged socioeconomic backgrounds, have historically been locked out of the tech world. But this new tech revolution could be an opportunity for women to get in on the ground floor of a new chapter. Join POLITICO for an in-depth panel discussion on the future of women in tech and how to make sure women are both participating in this fast-moving era and have access to all it offers. REGISTER HERE. | | | | | | | PLAYBOOKERS | | Ron Klain seemed to take it as a good sign that Emmanuel Macron secured a double-digit reelection victory while his approval rating is only 36%. (Our Sam Stein noted the result was something of an ink-blot test.) Apparently, there is a crystal shortage at the White House. It's an issue that began under George W. Bush, continued through "the massive state dinners of the Barack Obama era," and which Melania Trump inherited while declining "to carry out the suggested request" to fix it, per CNN's Kate Bennett. IN MEMORIAM — "McCrae Dowless, at center of NC-9 scandal, dies of cancer," by WBTV's Nick Ochsner: "Dowless, a lifelong Bladen County resident, worked for Republican congressional candidate Mark Harris in the 2018 scandal that prompted waves of coverage that resulted in the race being thrown out over allegations of fraud." OUT AND ABOUT — Jon Stewart received the Kennedy Center's Mark Twain Prize for American Humor with a performance and celebration Sunday night. SPOTTED: Pete and Chasten Buttigieg, Steve Ricchetti, Jen Psaki, Kate Bedingfield, Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.), Reps. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) and Mark Takano (D-Calif.), Bruce Springsteen, Steve Carell, Ed Helms, Samantha Bee, Dave Chappelle, Pete Davidson and Kim Kardashian, Jimmy Kimmel, Olivia Munn, Heather Podesta, Jake Tapper, David Rubenstein, Cappy McGarr, Tammy Haddad, John McCarthy, Reema Dodin, Carol Melton, Kent and Karen Knutson, Jeff Nussbaum, Robyn Bash, David Plotz, Kara Swisher and Bert Kaufman. FIRST IN PLAYBOOK — Addie Whisenant, assistant HUD secretary for public affairs and a close aide to Secretary Marcia Fudge, is leaving the department to return to the private sector. She previously worked at HUD during the Obama administration and is an Obama White House alum. MEDIA MOVES — CBS' "Face the Nation" announced several new hires and promotions: Carol Ross Joynt has been promoted to senior booking producer, Richard Escobedo is now a producer, Jake Rosen is now a broadcast associate, and Tyler Emery is now a social media producer. TRANSITION — Jack Arriaga is now managing federal relations for the city of Portland, Ore. He previously was senior legislative assistant for Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-Ore.). WELCOME TO THE WORLD — Michael Kaplan, an investigative producer at CBS News, and Elizabeth Schulze, a multiplatform reporter at ABC News, welcomed Henry Wayne Kaplan on April 14. Instapics — Scott Lively, senior director of government affairs at NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association, and Kristen Lively, founder and CEO of Buy Buy For Now LLC, welcomed Eden Farrah Lively on April 18. Pic HAPPY BIRTHDAY: PBS NewsHour's Geoff Bennett … John Anzalone … Erica Suares of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell's office … Steve Murphy of MVAR Media … Peter Daou … David Fenton … David Gardiner … Andy Sigmon … Bill Duhnke … Teddy Goff of Precision Strategies … POLITICO's Alex Nieves, Charisse Cotton and Sam Benson … The American Independent's Emily Singer … Jeff Mascott … Mike Doran of the Hudson Institute … David Hart … Kristen Ricciardelli … Smythe Anderson … Mike Tuffin of UnitedHealth Group … Jim Mustian … Bryce Campanelli … former Sen. Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.) … Seth Amgott … former Rep. Keith Rothfus (R-Pa.) … Jaclyn Rothenberg … Julie Roginsky … Raben Group's Michael Yudin … Jacob Wallace … Danielle Vogel … Patrick Mellody … Palantir's Wendy Anderson 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 Bethany Irvine, Eli Okun and Garrett Ross. | | | | 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 | Ottawa Playbook | Brussels Playbook | London Playbook View all our political and policy newsletters | | Follow us | | | | |
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