| | | | |  | | By Garrett Ross | | | |  | DRIVING THE DAY | | ANOTHER MUST-READ FROM ARIZONA — WaPo's Ruby Cramer profiles KARI LAKE — and her omnipresent clip-on mic: "On Kari Lake's campaign for Arizona governor, the mic is always hot." "The microphone is the operational heart of Lake's Republican campaign to become governor of Arizona," Cramer writes. "[It] captures the magnetism she brings to a stage. It also amplifies the existential danger Democrats see in her candidacy, from her election denialism to her restrictive abortion agenda to the national platform she could assume. But more than that, it is wielded as a weapon and a threat." — Related: "In quest for victory, 'Lake and Blake' is a thing, but 'Katie and Kelly' is not," Arizona Republic's Ronald Hansen and Stacey Barchenger: "In Arizona, Republicans are sticking together, at least before the election. Democrats seem to be on their own." IOWA POLL STUNNER — A new Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa Poll by ANN SELZER shows longtime GOP Sen. CHUCK GRASSLEY leading Democrat MIKE FRANKEN by just three points: 46% to 43%, within the margin of error. DMR's Stephen Gruber-Miller and Brianne Pfannenstiel note that this amounts to Grassley's "toughest reelection fight in 40 years."
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A video showing Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer is played as the Jan. 6 committee holds a hearing on Thursday, Oct. 13. | Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via AP, Pool | HOW HILL LEADERS SAVED THE CAPITOL ON JAN. 6 — Just days after the House Jan. 6 committee released never-before-seen footage of Speaker NANCY PELOSI and other congressional leaders at Fort McNair as DONALD TRUMP's supporters laid siege to the Capitol, The Atlantic is up this morning with a new piece adapted from our Rachael Bade and WaPo's Karoun Demirjian's new book, "Unchecked: The Untold Story Behind Congress's Botched Impeachments of Donald Trump," ( $28 ) that reveals even more details from that frantic scene. As the national emergency unfolded, top Democrats and Republicans were escorted into separate holding rooms at the base while the Pentagon stonewalled leaders from both parties. In the Dems' room, Pelosi and then-Senate Minority Leader CHUCK SCHUMER received mixed signals about whether the National Guard had been deployed: Defense officials insisted they'd given the order, but state leaders in Virginia and Maryland told them the opposite. In the GOP's room, then-Senate Majority Leader MITCH McCONNELL repeatedly tried to contact Pentagon brass — only to be put on hold as other Republicans present steamed about a lack of urgency. Eventually, the Kentuckian and his fellow Republicans stormed across the hall in search of Pelosi and Schumer. For perhaps the only time in Trump's presidency, leaders from both parties united to force an intervention to bring him to heel. Together, Bade and Demirjian show, the most senior lawmakers in Congress browbeat the Pentagon for answers about why the National Guard wasn't moving more quickly. Unsatisfied with the response, they turned to VP MIKE PENCE to plead for him to light a fire under Defense leaders — and ultimately give an order to "clear the Capitol," even though some of them weren't sure he had a right to issue it. Some other interesting and colorful nuggets:
- McConnell was personally embarrassed that he had supported a man who'd led the country to such lows. The then-majority leader — whose aides were hiding in the Capitol while frantically trying to rouse the Justice Department to send a SWAT team for immediate help — spent the entire evacuation insisting to Democratic leaders and Pence that they needed to return that very night to certify Biden's victory and put an end to Trump's mayhem once and for all.
- Schumer was apoplectic about the slow response. "If the Pentagon were under attack, it wouldn't take you four hours to formulate a plan," he yelled at Defense leaders.
- House Majority Leader STENY HOYER scolded GOP lawmakers for enabling Trump.
- A staffer for Rep. ILHAN OMAR (D-Minn.) sat in a corner and quietly drafted articles of impeachment.
- And House GOP leader KEVIN McCARTHY screamed over the phone at DAN SCAVINO, the White House aide who often handled Trump's Twitter account, insisting that the president's halfhearted social media missive calling for people to "stay peaceful" was not good enough: "Trump has got to say: 'This has to stop.'"
The scene underscores that Republicans on that day knew and agreed that the man they'd defended for four years would not lift a finger to help them or his allies in Congress. Instead, they turned to Democratic leaders and saved themselves. — Related: "The new Jan. 6 video, and the other baseless GOP claim about Pelosi," analysis by WaPo's Aaron Blake Good Sunday morning. Thanks for reading Playbook. Drop us a line: Rachael Bade , Eugene Daniels , Ryan Lizza .
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Throughout the U.S., we help people invest for retirement, offer greater access to markets with low-cost investment options, and help communities thrive. BlackRock is invested in the future of Americans. Learn more. | | | SUNDAY BEST — Rep. ADAM KINZINGER (R-Ill.) on whether Trump will testify before the Jan. 6 committee, on ABC's "This Week": "He's made it clear he has nothing to hide is what he says, so he should come in on the day we ask him to come in to. If he pushes off beyond that, we'll figure out what to do next." More from David Cohen — Rep. STEPHANIE MURPHY (D-Fla.) on why the Jan. 6 committee waited to subpoena Trump, on NBC's "Meet the Press": "We've been gathering additional information, and we've gotten new information even since the July hearing." On the Secret Service: "I look forward to us calling back in some of those Secret Service officials who have knowledge about what happened and putting them under oath this time now that we have additional information to gather their perspectives." — Sen. BERNIE SANDERS (I-Vt.) on the Fed, on "Meet the Press": "I think they're hurting the situation. I think that it is wrong to be saying that the way we're going to deal with inflation is by lowering wages and increasing unemployment. That is not what we should be doing. This inflation thing is a real issue." — Kari Lake on whether she would accept the election results, on CNN's "State of the Union": "I'm going to win the election and accept that result." — Arizona Democratic gubernatorial nominee KATIE HOBBS on why she refused to debate Lake, on "State of the Union": "Kari Lake has made it clear time and time again that she's not interested in having substantive, in-depth conversations about the issues that matter to Arizonans. She only wants a scenario where she can control the dialogue. And she's refused to sit down in a one-on-one, lengthy conversation to really clarify with Arizonans where she is on the issues."
| | | | A message from BlackRock:   BlackRock is proud to support U.S. roads and infrastructure, with over $20 billion invested on behalf of our clients. Learn more. | | | TOP-EDS: A roundup of the week's must-read opinion pieces, curated by Zack Stanton. All politics …
The Jan. 6 committee …
The world …
BIDEN'S SUNDAY — The president has nothing on his public schedule. VP KAMALA HARRIS' SUNDAY — The VP is in LA and has nothing on her public schedule. PHOTO OF THE DAY
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President Joe Biden pays for his ice cream order as he stands with Oregon Democratic gubernatorial nominee Tina Kotek at a Baskin-Robbins in Portland, Ore., on Saturday, Oct. 15. | AP | | | PLAYBOOK READS | | | 
| BIG PICTURE NEW CBS BATTLEGROUND TRACKER — "GOP keeps lead for House control, Democrats' momentum stalls amid economy worries," by Anthony Salvanto, Kabir Khanna, Jennifer De Pinto and Fred Backus DEMOGRAPHIC DIVIDE — "Republicans looking for gains with Latinos have lots of catching up to do on TV," by Marissa Martinez and Jessica Piper: "Republican candidates and outside groups are still playing catch-up in terms of total spending and the number of places where they are investing in Spanish ads. AdImpact, the ad-tracking service, has cataloged more than $54 million in Democratic spending on Spanish-language TV and radio ads since the start of 2021, compared to $19 million for Republicans. "If future Spanish-language bookings hold , GOP candidates and groups will spend at least $30 million on Hispanic media, far surpassing the $22 million total they spent during the 2020 cycle, according to AdImpact — but still trailing what Democrats have already spent." WHAT REPUBLICANS WANT TO TALK ABOUT — "Republicans go to town on Dems' IRS funding boost" by Brian Faler WHAT DEMOCRATS WANT TO TALK ABOUT — "Biden to zero in on abortion rights at DNC event 3 weeks from Election Day," by CNN's Arlette Saenz WHAT DEMOCRATS DON'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT — "Democrats Spent $2 Trillion to Save the Economy. They Don't Want to Talk About It," by NYT's Jim Tankersley IN CASE YOU WERE WONDERING — "Social Security boost seen as unlikely to help Dems at polls," by AP's Amanda Seitz THE GOP SURROGATE OF CHOICE — "GOP hopefuls turn to Pence to broaden appeal before election," by AP's Jill Colvin THE DEM SURROGATE OF CHOICE — "As Democrats try to hold on in November, it's Pete Buttigieg who's in demand on the campaign trail," by CNN's Edward-Isaac Dovere: Transportation Secretary PETE BUTTIGIEG is "so in demand that he's getting more requests than Vice President KAMALA HARRIS," Dovere reports. OBAMA ON THE ROAD — Former President BARACK OBAMA is hitting the campaign trail for Democrats in some just-announced stops. On Oct. 28, he'll campaign in Atlanta on behalf of RAPHAEL WARNOCK, STACEY ABRAMS and other Georgia Dems, per the AJC . On Oct. 29, he'll hit Milwaukee on behalf of TONY EVERS and MANDELA BARNES. And that same day, Obama will swing by metro Detroit to rally for GRETCHEN WHITMER and Michigan Dems, per the Free Press . BIDEN ON THE ROAD — "Joe Biden to visit South Florida one week before Election Day to raise money for Crist," by the Miami Herald's Bianca Padró Ocasio BATTLE FOR THE SENATE IN PENNSYLVANIA — "John Fetterman Had a Stroke. Gisele Fetterman Became A Political Star," by Rolling Stone's Kara Voght: "As a former undocumented immigrant from Brazil, standing in the spotlight runs counter to years of warnings her mother gave her to 'be invisible.' Over 15 years of marriage to Fetterman, she was content using the platform his offices afforded as an extension of the career she'd built helping the needy — like when she opened the pool at the lieutenant governor's residence to the public, so children without water access could learn how to swim. Then her husband had a stroke four days before the primary for the U.S. Senate. Suddenly, the reluctant political spouse became the de facto candidate." — And the Philly Inquirer editorial board endorses Fetterman: "John Fetterman is the best choice to represent Pennsylvania's priorities in the U.S. Senate" MEANWHILE IN OHIO — This morning, the Cleveland Plain Dealer editorial board endorsed TIM RYAN for Senate. BATTLE FOR THE HOUSE THE NEW GOP — "New Generation of Combat Vets, Eyeing House, Strike From the Right," by NYT's Jonathan Weisman: "A new breed of veterans, many with remarkable biographies and undeniable stories of heroism, are running for the House on the far right of the Republican Party, challenging old assumptions that adding veterans to Congress — men and women who fought for the country and defended the Constitution — would foster bipartisanship and cooperation. At the same time, they are embracing anti-interventionist military and foreign policies that, since the end of World War II, have been associated more with the Democratic left than the mainline G.O.P." — "Far-Right Republicans Face Tough Races in Swing Districts, Testing McCarthy," by NYT's Annie Karni: "Some of the candidates have risen despite the efforts of Mr. McCarthy, the California Republican who spent freely to defeat them in primaries and toiled to strike a balance between courting the mainstream and making peace with the ascendant extremists in his party's ranks." HOT POLLS — Connecticut: Democratic Sen. RICHARD BLUMENTHAL leads Republican challenger LEORA LEVY 49% to 44%, according to a new CT Examiner/Fabrizio, Lee & Associates poll . And Democratic Gov. NED LAMONT leads Republican BOB STEFANOWSKI, 46% to 40%. HOT ADS Via Steve Shepard FIRST IN PLAYBOOK — The GOP-aligned Congressional Leadership Fund is up with a new ad in Pennsylvania's 17th Congressional District hitting Democrat CHRIS DELUZIO for donating to organizations and candidates supportive of the "defund the police" movement. Watch the ad — Pennsylvania: The McConnell-linked super PAC American Crossroads is up with a new ad hitting Fetterman on his vote to parole a convicted murderer. "Far-left John Fetterman is too far left," the narrator says over a photo of the candidate campaigning with Sen. BERNIE SANDERS (I-Vt.). — Colorado: GOP Rep. LAUREN BOEBERT's latest ad accuses her Democratic opponent, ADAM FRISCH, of "succumbing to blackmail" when Frisch was on the city council in Aspen. The words "caught having affair in storage locker" flash on the screen, though nothing quite as salacious is otherwise mentioned in the ad. — California: House Majority PAC, Democrats' top congressional super PAC, seeks to turn the issue of gas prices around on GOP Rep. DAVID VALADAO, even putting the Republican incumbent on the now-infamous "I did that!" stickers on some gas pumps. — Maine: Former GOP Rep. BRUCE POLIQUIN's latest ad seeks to tie Democratic Rep. JARED GOLDEN to Biden (who lost Golden's district by 7 points in 2020).
| | | | A message from BlackRock:   Invested in the future of education. Learn more about BlackRock. | | | 6 THINGS FOR YOUR RADAR 1. YOU CAN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH: "Co-founder of Trump's media company details Truth Social's bitter infighting," by WaPo's Drew Harwell: "WILL WILKERSON, one of Trump Media & Technology Group's first employees, alleges the company violated securities laws and that Trump pressured executives to hand over their shares to his wife. He shared a cache of internal documents with The Post and federal investigators that he says support his claims." 2. JAN. 6 AND ITS AFTERMATH: "Secret Service Minimized Threats Before Jan. 6, Documents Show," by Bloomberg's Jason Leopold and Mike Dorning: "A Secret Service unit responsible for identifying threats repeatedly downplayed advance warnings of potential violence on Jan. 6, 2021, newly released documents show, a lapse that is now part of the House investigation into the attack on the US Capitol. "The Secret Service Protective Intelligence & Assessment Division's preparation and response to Jan. 6 is laid bare in nearly 900 pages of emails, internal reports and threat assessments obtained by Bloomberg News in response to a Freedom of Information Act request." 3. MESSAGING MATTERS: "President Biden highlights fight against Big Pharma in Portland speech," by the Oregonian's Rose Wong 4. SCHOOL DAZE: "How DeSantis and Florida Republicans are reshaping higher education," by Andrew Atterbury: "Conservatives in recent years developed an antagonistic relationship with academia, viewing college campuses as proving grounds for progressivism. And, fueled by the populist movement that elected Donald Trump, many Republicans have declared war on elitism — and used higher education as a symbol of what they're fighting. But [Gov. RON] DeSANTIS, considered a leading contender for president in 2024, seems to be taking the notion a step further." 5. THE PANDEMIC: "As White House Presses for Booster Shots, Americans Are Slow to Get Them," by NYT's Noah Weiland: "Only about 15 million doses of the new shots have been administered nationally since their introduction at the beginning of September, representing less than one in 10 people who are eligible, and there are signs that many Americans are unaware of or simply uninterested in them." 6. DANCE OF THE SUPERPOWERS: "Xi Jinping's path to power: From outcast to 'emperor,'" by Phelim Kine: "Xi has harnessed a masterful combination of strategic planning and an uncanny aptitude to lead allies and enemies alike to underestimate his ambition to pave a path to becoming the most powerful Chinese leader since Mao Zedong." — "China's Xi Jinping Stakes Out Ambitions, With Himself at the Center," by WSJ's Chun Han Wong
| | PLAYBOOKERS | | SPOTTED: Barack and Michelle Obama dining at L'Ardente on Saturday night. WHAT PLAYBOOKERS ARE READING: A roundup of the most-clicked links from the past week in Playbook. 1. "4 takeaways from first Ohio Senate debate between Tim Ryan, J.D. Vance," by The Columbus Dispatch's Haley BeMiller 2. "What Will Happen to America if Trump Wins Again? Experts Helped Us Game It Out," by WaPo's David Montgomery 3. "Dem candidate in key House race uses doctored photo to make female opponent look aggressive in campaign ad," by Fox News' Kyle Morris 4. Mike Lee's plea to Mitt Romney to support him 5. "House Democrats retrench as GOP money floods the map," by Ally Mutnick and Sarah Ferris OUT AND ABOUT — SPOTTED at a party for Cody Keenan's new book, "Grace: President Obama and Ten Days in the Battle for America" ( $23.99 ), hosted by Jeff and Mary Zients at their home Friday night: Kristen Bartoloni, Jen Psaki, Jon Favreau, Tommy Vietor, Dan Pfeiffer, Jon Lovett, VA Secretary Denis McDonough, Stephanie Cutter, Jay Carney, Norah O'Donnell and Geoff Tracy, Peter Alexander, Michael O'Neil, Liz Allen, Adam Frankel, Ben Krauss and Shana Mansbach. — SPOTTED at John, Mary and Gabe Podesta's party celebrating the wedding of Obama alum Chris Kirchhoff and John Tsou: Alondra Nelson, Anne Neuberger, Jon Finer, Gautam Ragavan, David and Jo Edelman, Bill and Mary Lynn, Vivek Viswanathan, Sasha Rogers, Salman Ahmed, Kristina Costa, Richard Danzig, Moira Whelan, Kumar Garg, Chris Kuang, Liza Tobin, Gayle Smith, Sandy Hodgkinson and Chris Mooney. WEEKEND WEDDING — Andrew Fasoli, director of international and regional comms at the American Chemistry Council, and Mackenzie Wislar, who works for the Department of Navy, got married at the Bedens Brook Club in Skillman, N.J., and a Catholic wedding mass at St. Alphonsus in Hopewell, N.J. Joseph Brazauskas, a principal at Bracewell, and Chris Albrecht, SVP and GM at the new Cesar's Danville Virginia, were groomsmen. The two met in January 2020 through Hinge. Pic WELCOME TO THE WORLD — Betsy Woodruff Swan, a national correspondent at POLITICO, and Jonathan Swan, a national political correspondent at Axios, recently welcomed their second child, Samuel, who joins very proud big sister Esther. Pic — Pete Schroeder, a Reuters correspondent, and Megan Schroeder, pharmacologist with the FDA, recently welcomed Arthur Leon Schroeder. Pic HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Rep. André Carson (D-Ind.) … Sarah Westwood of the Washington Examiner … Michael Pratt of Real Chemistry … Jim Courtovich … Beatrice Peterson … Rodell Mollineau of Rokk Solutions … Delacey Skinner … Mark Bohannon … Jenny Hopkinson … WaPo's Andrew Heining … Alex Macfarlane of SKDK … ONE Campaign's Daniel Henke … Phil Bianchi of Squire Patton Boggs … Connor McNutt of Rep. Ilhan Omar's (D-Minn.) office … Adeline Sandridge of Rep. Kat Cammack's (R-Fla.) office … Tyler Evans … Anne Deere of BOMA International … POLITICO's Kelly Hooper … Becca Milfeld … Tiph Turpin … Ben Coffey Clark of Bully Pulpit Interactive … former Reps. Tom MacArthur (R-N.J.) and Dave Trott (R-Mich.) … former SEC Chair Christopher Cox … former North Dakota Gov. Jack Dalrymple … former Sen. Dan Evans (R-Wash.) (96) … Bobbe Bridge … Foreign Policy's Ravi Agrawal (4-0) Did someone forward this email to you? Sign up here. Send Playbookers tips to playbook@politico.com or text us at 202-556-3307. Playbook couldn't happen without our editor Mike DeBonis, deputy editor Zack Stanton, reporter Eli Okun and producers Setota Hailemariam and Bethany Irvine. Correction: Saturday's Playbook incorrectly referred to the timing of a possible Georgia runoff election. It would be held in December.
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