BARRACK TRIAL JUDGE: TRUMP MAY BE CALLED TO TESTIFY: "Former President Donald Trump may be called as a witness at the criminal trial of Thomas Barrack , a private equity investor and former Trump fundraiser charged with acting as an unregistered agent for the United Arab Emirates," Reuters' Luc Cohen reports. — "U.S. District Judge Brian Cogan in Brooklyn told several prospective jurors for Barrack's trial about the prospect of Trump testifying to gauge whether they might be biased against the defendant." — Barrack and his former aide and co-defendant Matthew Grimes, who have both have pleaded not guilty, "intend to argue that their interactions with UAE officials were part of their work, and Barrack's lawyers have said the U.S. State Department, and Trump himself, knew of his contacts with Middle East officials," arguing in a court filing that "Trump and members of his administration 'cannot be ruled out as potential witnesses.'" PI ON THE ROAD: Your host is heading to Brooklyn this week as the Barrack and Grimes trial kicks off, so continue to watch this space for more coverage from the courthouse. If you'll be at there as well, come say hello! If you've got any other tips about the proceedings, as always, my inbox is open. ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROTUNDA: While at least one House Republican is itching to take the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to task as part of a potential GOP majority next year — a warning the Chamber has panned — the business lobby remains close with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who held court at the group's headquarters on Monday, per Axios' Hans Nichols. — "In a 45-minute question-and-answer session at the chamber, McConnell paired his optimism about winning the Senate with a stark warning about what's at stake in the election" while "using his remarks to stress the importance of free trade agreements and downplay the emergence of populism in his party." — The confab comes after the Chamber "gave $3 million to the McConnell-aligned Senate Leadership Fund super PAC for the Pennsylvania Senate race earlier this month, as Axios first reported. Chamber president and CEO Suzanne Clark praised McConnell at Monday's event for being a 'partner and ally' to the business community and called him 'a staunch defender of the values we all share.' She also noted that McConnell understands 'personnel is policy' and that the two of them have worked to push back against some candidates at regulatory agencies." IS AN IRA EXODUS TO K STREET IN THE OFFING?: "Passage of the Inflation Reduction Act could mean a wave of Democratic climate change and energy staffers moving from Capitol Hill to advocacy groups and lobbying firms," E&E News' Timothy Cama reports. — "The law, which includes $369 billion for climate and related matters, is by some standards the biggest piece of climate legislation to pass Congress" and the package, "along with other significant recent legislation, like the CHIPS and Science Act — are likely to spur demand for people with intimate expertise on how to make the most of the new laws." — "'A lot of the real action now happens on implementation. It goes to the agencies, they promulgate rules and regulations on how grant programs work, what the congressional intent was and the like,' said Blake Androff, a managing director at Signal Group and former Democratic Capitol Hill and Interior Department staffer." CASE IN POINT: Holland & Knight has added Elizabeth Noll, who most recently served as deputy assistant secretary for House affairs at the Energy Department, as a senior policy adviser as the downtown community turns its gaze to the Biden administration's implementation of the IRA. — Noll previously was a vice president at the energy and climate consultancy Coefficient Group and worked for the Natural Resources Defense Council to shape clean energy policy for the building, transportation and power sectors. — "Elizabeth is a superstar in the clean energy policy world and was intimately involved in the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act," Rich Gold, who leads Holland & Knight's public policy and regulation group, said in a statement, calling Noll "the perfect addition to our team as we enter a new era of investment in renewable energy and clean technology infrastructure." — Taite McDonald, who co-leads the firm's federal clean energy technology practice, added that Noll's resume will "help our clients navigate the risks and rewards that the government's historic investment means for their businesses." LIV-ING LIFE: LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman is hitting the Hill this week, where he's set to meet with the Republican Study Committee during the group's weekly lunch on Wednesday, Chair Jim Banks (R-Ind.) told POLITICO's Jordain Carney and Daniel. — "We're excited to have him. He's a legend. I think a lot of us are just curious. There's the PGA vs. LIV Golf. The competitive nature of it. There's been a lot of publicity about it," Banks said, adding that the RSC was a "forum for members to learn and have a dialogue, sometimes a spirited dialogue," and so having a conversation with Norman was "a conversation we're looking forward to having." — Daniel scooped earlier this week that the Aussie golfer-turned-LIV executive "was coming to Washington to meet with lawmakers of both parties as he tries to bolster LIV's public image." Norman's trip comes as the Saudi-financed league recently added its first lobbyists in response to criticism about its ties to Saudi Arabia, and as the league has feuded with the rival PGA Tour , whose actions toward LIV have reportedly sparked an antitrust inquiry at the Justice Department. FLYING IN: The International Franchise Association is heading to the Hill on Wednesday for the trade group's first full in-person fly-in since the Covid pandemic struck. The trade group's leadership conference in Washington kicked off on Monday, and today franchise owners will hear from McConnell, Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and DOL wage and hour division nominee Jessica Looman. — More than 300 attendees have nearly 20 meetings scheduled all over the Hill — mostly in person, with some virtual. Franchise owners will talk with lawmakers generally about the franchise business model, but they'll also discuss the as well as the NLRB's new proposed joint employer rule, the FTC's franchise rule, and the employee retention tax credit. — Meanwhile the National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association is kicking off its annual fly-in today. The group will hear from House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-Wash.), White House infrastructure coordinator Mitch Landrieu. — The trade association then has more than 200 meetings on the Hill on tap tomorrow, including with Sens. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) and McConnell and House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn and Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), to name a few. They'll chat implementation of the infrastructure bill, red tape and workforce development. CORRECTION: Monday's Influence mischaracterized the final version of California's FAST Recovery Act. It does not include joint liability for franchises. PI regrets the error.
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