| | | | |  | | By Eli Okun | | | | 
The most notable policy moment in the Georgia Senate debate was Herschel Walker's slight softening of his stance on abortion. | Meg Kinnard, File/AP Photo | |  | DRIVING THE DAY | | Georgia is once again the center of the political universe, as its marquee elections continue to gobble up the nation's political oxygen, dollars and headlines. And remember: The Peach State could command outsize attention into January if either of its two top races head to a runoff. Friday's main attraction was the debate between Sen. RAPHAEL WARNOCK and GOP challenger HERSCHEL WALKER, likely their only head-to-head matchup of the campaign. In Savannah, the two men clashed over abortion (including the reporting that Walker paid for one, which he denied), high prices, the Inflation Reduction Act and campaign-trail falsehoods. Both said they would accept the results of the election. The most vivid viral moment came when Warnock highlighted Walker's false statements about serving in law enforcement: "I haven't pretended to be a police officer, and I've never threatened a shootout with police." In response, Walker pulled out what he said was a real police badge and said, "You know what's so funny, I am — worked with many police officers," before getting into a 30-second argument with the moderator over whether he'd broken the debate rules by bringing a prop. Full debate recap from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Among the most notable policy moments was Walker's response on abortion: Backing down from a previous hard-line position, the Republican said he supported the state law that includes exemptions for rape, incest and saving the life of the mother. Walker also flip-flopped on the 2020 election, acknowledging that JOE BIDEN won despite casting doubt on the result previously, and, when asked about government intervention on insulin prices, tried to pivot to high food costs by suggesting that diabetics "got to eat right." Asked about their respective parties' potential 2024 nominees, Warnock dodged on a potential Biden reelect, saying voters "didn't hire me to be a pundit." Walker, meanwhile, bear-hugged DONALD TRUMP, calling him "a friend" whom he'd like to see run again. For Walker, whose campaign has sagged under the weight of personal scandal the past two weeks, expectations were low — and some of the national coverage concluded that he'd cleared the bar. "Walker Helps Drama-Filled Senate Bid With Solid Debate Showing," declared Bloomberg's Billy House and Christian Hall. "Whether this debate changes the direction of the race seems doubtful to me … though Walker may have reassured some more moderate Republican voters concerned about whether he could perform on the stage," wrote NYT's Lisa Lerer . (Democrats, of course, quickly excoriated the framing .) Meanwhile, in the gubernatorial race, Fox News posted two striking stories Friday about STACEY ABRAMS: The Democrat is maneuvering to Gov. BRIAN KEMP's right on China by criticizing the state's encouragement of Chinese investment and state officials' use of WeChat, Brandon Gillespie scooped . But Abrams won't like this investigation into her Fair Fight PAC from Houston Keene and Joe Schoffstall, who report that it's "doling out thousands in payments to its director's family and friends who do not appear to have political experience and maintain other full-time jobs." The staffer in question is political director and longtime Abrams ally ANDRE FIELDS. Fair Fight said they're investigating the matter, and "[p]ersonnel will remain on leave." Another investigation: Following a Washington Free Beacon report, the Georgia secretary of state is probing "a charity controlled by the church that pays [Warnock] a $7,417 monthly housing allowance and owns an apartment building that is trying to evict tenants," per Andrew Kerr . The pivotal bloc: CNN's Michael Warren writes that the much-touted Kemp/Warnock crossover voters are the subject of intense focus by both parties, who see the small group of persuadable voters as the key to winning elections in Georgia well past 2022. In Perry, Warren reports that they "generally fall into two camps: minority Democratic-leaning men who prefer Kemp to Abrams … and White suburban Republican leaners for whom voting for Walker is a bridge too far." Early voting in the state starts Monday. Good Saturday morning. Thanks for reading Playbook. Drop me a line at eokun@politico.com , or reach out to the rest of the team: Rachael Bade , Eugene Daniels , Ryan Lizza . DEPT. OF DOWNERS: "A sense of dread surrounded meetings of finance ministers and central bankers in Washington this week, amid one of the most foreboding moments for the world economy in years," report Kate Davidson and Victoria Guida . … "Biden administration officials are raising concerns that the slow pace of developing a nasal vaccine for Covid-19 in the U.S. could pose a security risk," report Carmen Paun and Adam Cancryn .
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| JUMP BALL — Two years ago, Marianne LeVine and John Bresnahan wrote a story about everyone in the Senate dreading the prospect of a 50-50 partisan split. That's exactly what we got. Now it's deja vu: Marianne and Holly Otterbein have a story this morning on the prospect of a continued 50-50 partisan split come January. As Democrats' summer surge in Senate races abates, they're growing more worried about the possibility. Sen. TIM KAINE (D-Va.) reaches for SISYPHUS to describe the party's dread: "I've been trying to roll a boulder up the hill, and it's rolled back on top of me." (Officially, Majority Leader CHUCK SCHUMER touts his caucus' productivity with just 50 members and says they'll do more of the same if they must.) And the knives are coming out for Senate Majority PAC, the caucus' principal outside funder. The super PAC has been outspent by its GOP counterpart, and some in the party think "the group hasn't gone for the jugular enough." Wisconsin Dems say SMP left MANDELA BARNES exposed, while frustration is mounting in Pennsylvania: "[A] person with knowledge of the inner workings of the [JOHN] FETTERMAN campaign said there has been 'widespread disappointment' and 'perplexity' about Senate Majority PAC's efforts in the state." THE BIG PICTURE CALLING IN THE CAVALRY — Former President BARACK OBAMA will head to Milwaukee on Oct. 29 to bolster Democrats in the state, some of them in desperate need of a boost, NBC's Natasha Korecki and Bridget Bowman scooped . Obama will campaign with Barnes, Gov. TONY EVERS and others. Separately, Sen. ELIZABETH WARREN (D-Mass.) will visit for two events with Barnes. THE NEW PROPAGANDA — The American Independent Foundation and affiliated groups have quietly pumped $28 million into an effort to distribute newspapers across four swing states that surreptitiously present the news with a liberal slant, in an effort to sway voters, WaPo's Michael Scherer reports . "The Independent has quietly positioned itself on the edge of an emerging and controversial industry fueled by ideological donors who are looking to further political agendas with the trappings of old-fashioned journalism, down to the ornate Gothic nameplate fonts." BATTLE FOR THE SENATE DEPT. OF VETTING FAILURES — Spectrum News' Taylor Popielarz asked Ohio Republican J.D. VANCE's campaign why one of the hosts of a fundraiser for him this weekend is a pain doctor who's been cited in a lawsuit about opioid prescriptions. The organizers promptly canceled the event. (The campaign said the doctor was never accused of wrongdoing.) PAGING MITCH McCONNELL — Vance told the Washington Examiner's David Drucker in Painesville that he expects McConnell will be the next Senate majority leader, indicating he likely wouldn't fight the Kentuckian's ascension despite Vance's Trumpist pedigree. KNOWING MARC VICTOR — The Libertarian nominee could play spoiler in Arizona, but he told ABC's Libby Cathey that he's not backing down from his "live and let live" political philosophy. Victor says voters shouldn't have to choose the lesser of two evils. He also spent part of the week at his law office in Honolulu. FRONT OF THE PAC — Fetterman's campaign is blasting SCOTT DWORKIN's progressive super PAC the Democratic Coalition, calling it a scam PAC that falsely purports to be helping Fetterman, Caitlin Oprysko reports . The PAC says it's supporting Dems and has nothing to hide. BATTLE FOR THE STATES UP FOR DEBATE — Evers and GOP challenger TIM MICHELS met for their only debate Friday, sparring over abortion, guns, teaching history and the state Department of Natural Resources. Michels also declined to commit fully to accepting the results of the election. More from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel ALL EYES ON LAKE — Arizona Republican KARI LAKE is giving Democrats heart palpitations and Republicans dreams of a new MAGA star, Axios' Jonathan Swan and Alexi McCammond report . DAVID PLOUFFE calls her a "plausible presidential candidate." Trump world sees her as "infinitely more suited to the age of social media videos and quick TV hits" than other hard-right phenoms. And she's gotten the GOP establishment on her side. HOT POLLS — New York: Watch this space: Schoen Cooperman Research finds Democratic Gov. KATHY HOCHUL up just 6 points over Rep. LEE ZELDIN, 50% to 44%. — Ohio: Vance leads Rep. TIM RYAN for Senate 47% to 44%, per Trafalgar . GOP Gov. MIKE DeWINE has a yawning lead over NAN WHALEY, 55% to 37% . HOT ADS
Via Steve Shepard — Arizona: Trailing in the most recent polls, Democratic gubernatorial nominee KATIE HOBBS is attacking Lake for suggesting Arizona could secede from the U.S.
| | | | 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. | | | | | BIDEN'S SATURDAY (all times Eastern):
— 3 p.m.: The president will speak about lowering costs at East Portland Community Center in Portland, Ore.
— 4:45 p.m.: Biden will take part in a reception for Democratic gubernatorial nominee TINA KOTEK in Portland.
— 5:50 p.m.: Biden will leave Portland for New Castle, Del., arriving at 10:50 p.m.
VP KAMALA HARRIS' SATURDAY (all times Eastern):
— 9:35 a.m.: The VP will leave D.C. for Detroit.
— 12:35 p.m.: Harris will speak at a Michigan Democratic Party finance event with Gov. GRETCHEN WHITMER and Lt. Gov. GARLIN GILCHRIST at Focus: HOPE. She'll tour its manufacturing training facility at 1:55 p.m.
— 3:10 p.m.: Harris will speak at a voter education event with students at the Southfield High School for the Arts and Technology.
— 4:40 p.m.: Harris will leave Detroit for LA. | | | | | PHOTO OF THE DAY
|  President Joe Biden campaigns with Rep. Katie Porter (D-Calif.) on Friday in Irvine, where he spoke about lowering prescription drug costs. | Mario Tama/Getty Images | | | PLAYBOOK READS | | 9 THINGS THAT STUCK WITH US 1. THE SUBPOENA STANDOFF: After Trump reportedly said he might comply with the House Jan. 6 committee subpoena if he could testify live, NYT's Luke Broadwater and Maggie Haberman report that the panel is discussing the prospect — and open to it. If it actually materialized, they think members "could most likely elicit some significant developments from Mr. Trump's testimony." — New POLITICO video: "Jan. 6 committee votes to subpoena Trump. Now what?" 2. MAR-A-LAGO LATEST: The latest Justice Department filing Friday asked an appeals court to end the whole special master review of the documents the FBI seized in Florida, after the court already narrowed the special master's scope. Per the AP , the feds argued that "the judge who made the appointment had no basis for doing so and that Trump was not entitled to an independent review of the seized records or to claim privilege over them." The filing Meanwhile, federal investigators have been seeking to speak with Trump aide WILL RUSSELL as well as WALT NAUTA in the records probe, WSJ's Sadie Gurman and Alex Leary scooped . The Russell involvement is new; he worked in the Trump White House before heading to Mar-a-Lago, and hasn't talked to officials yet. 3. ALL THE OTHER PROBES: The number of investigations and lawsuits stemming from Jan. 6 and the efforts to overturn the 2020 election can boggle the mind. There were new developments Friday in several of them across the country:
- New Mexico: JOHN EASTMAN can't get his cellphone back from the Justice Department investigators who seized it, a federal judge ruled Friday, per Kyle Cheney . The decision
- Wisconsin: Attorney JEFF MANDELL intends to broaden his lawsuit against the state's "fake electors" for Trump to obtain any communications with Sen. RON JOHNSON and his staff, NBC's Natasha Korecki reports .
- D.C.: RUDY GIULIANI, facing a legal ethics case over his post-2020 involvement, submitted a proposed witness list that includes DOUG MASTRIANO, PAM BONDI, PETER NAVARRO, CHRISTINA BOBB, JENNA ELLIS and more, per Bloomberg's Zoe Tillman . The list
- Arizona: Republican AG MARK BRNOVICH's office asked the FBI and the IRS to probe True the Vote, the group behind the "2,000 Mules" documentary that pushes debunked election fraud claims. More from the Arizona Republic
4. DANCE OF THE SUPERPOWERS: Chinese officials are refusing to work with U.S. officials to prepare for a planned meeting next month between Biden and Chinese President XI JINPING, sparking doubts about whether it will actually happen, Phelim Kine reports . The Chinese are angry about a variety of recent Biden administration moves, and now their stonewalling on setting the agenda could torpedo the leaders' expected face-to-face confab at the G-20 in Bali, Phelim writes. 5. BRAIN DRAIN ON THE HILL: "What's the Matter With the Senate?" by NYT's Carl Hulse: "Senators tick off a litany of frustrations: Their constituents are difficult, the travel is grueling, fund-raising is joyless and omnipresent, the threat of primaries is a pain and they are constantly pestered by the press. … Most importantly, some say, the once-rewarding business of legislative bargaining and high-stakes lawmaking has lost its luster … The race for the exits is the best evidence yet that the political and policy allures of the Senate are rapidly diminishing."
| | | | A message from BlackRock:   Invested in the future of education. Learn more about BlackRock. | | | 6. THE SUN NEVER SETS ON THE MURDOCH EMPIRE: After almost a decade apart, Fox Corp. and News Corp. could reunite, with discussions in the early stages after RUPERT MURDOCH proposed the merger, WSJ's Cara Lombardo, Dana Cimilluca and Jeffrey Trachtenberg scooped . Bringing Fox News, the Journal and a suite of other assets back under the same roof could echo the Viacom/CBS re-merger. 7. BULL DURHAM: "Judge drops 1 of 5 charges against Trump-Russia dossier source, in blow to special counsel Durham," by CNN's Marshall Cohen: "The judge dropped one of the five false-statement charges, specifically pertaining to the allegation that [IGOR] DANCHENKO lied to the FBI about speaking with a Democratic operative about the anti-Trump dossier. … [JOHN DURHAM] personally urged [Judge ANTHONY] TRENGA to uphold the charge, before Trenga ruled against him. … The trial will continue on Monday with closing arguments and jury deliberations." 8. RED-LIGHT REDISTRICT: Ohio Republicans on Friday asked the federal Supreme Court to overturn a state Supreme Court ruling forcing them to redo the congressional district map. Seeking to toss out the judicial reprimand for the gerrymander, Republicans leaned on the once-fringe independent state legislature theory, which will be the subject of a blockbuster SCOTUS case this term. (Either way, the case won't affect the maps for November.) More from the Plain Dealer … The appeal 9. FUTURE-CASTING: New FEC filings show Rep. RO KHANNA (D-Calif.) is paying political consultants in Iowa, Nevada, Colorado and the Northeast, Fox News' Haris Alic reports . CLICKER — "The nation's cartoonists on the week in politics," edited by Matt Wuerker — 15 funnies GREAT WEEKEND READS, curated by Ryan Lizza: — "This Is Life in the Metaverse," by NYT's Kashmir Hill: "Every hour of the day and night with the gamers, parents, insomniacs, preteens and aspiring comedians who are the earliest adopters of the immersive, three-dimensional internet that Mark Zuckerberg has bet the future of his company on." — "I once fell for the fantasy of uploading ourselves. It's a destructive vision," by the L.A. Times' Jean Guerrero: "The tech supremacists promised a clean escape. I wanted one. I thought I couldn't possibly matter as much as what those men might make out of me." — "Everything Elon Musk Has Tweeted About Since Jan. 31," by Bloomberg's Joshua Brustein, Mark Milian, and Linly Lin: "The world's richest man spent a lot of time responding to other people's comments on SpaceX, Starlink, and Tesla." — "The Original Tiger Kings," by Chris Jones and Michael Mooney in The Atlantic: "At the peak of their fame, they were arguably the most famous magicians since Houdini." — "Reform or Abolish?" by Bill Keller in The New York Review of Books: "American prisons are often unjust, inhumane, and ineffective at protecting public safety. Mariame Kaba and Ruth Wilson Gilmore believe they should be eliminated entirely." — "L.A. Backstory: The History Behind the City Council's Racist Tirades," by The American Prospect's Harold Meyerson: "Where did the behind-closed-doors racist garbage from some leading Los Angeles elected officials come from?" — "Will America's Most Pilloried Pollster Get It Right Again?" by N.Y. Mag's Benjamin Hart: "A conversation with Trafalgar Group founder Robert Cahaly about his unusual methods." — "Mandatory reporting was supposed to stop severe child abuse. It punishes poor families instead," by NBC's Mike Hixenbaugh and Suzy Khimm and ProPublica's Agnel Philip in Philadelphia: "After the Penn State scandal, Pennsylvania required more professionals to report suspected child abuse. A flood of unfounded allegations followed, ensnaring thousands of low-income parents."
| | | | | PLAYBOOKERS | | Patrick Leahy was discharged from the hospital . Garrett Graff recounts a cinematic story from Leahy's memoir about being surreptitiously tipped off to secret intel reports during the Iraq War debate. Mike Itkis, a third-party challenger to Jerry Nadler, put out a sex tape starring himself as a "conversation piece." Peter Thiel is seeking Maltese citizenship . Dave Matthews will play a free concert for Tim Ryan. OUT AND ABOUT — Javelin held a party Friday night at El Cielo Social Club for Maggie Haberman's new book, "Confidence Man" ( $32 ). The long list of co-hosts comprised Michael Bender, Alex Burns and MJ Lee, Kaitlan Collins, Josh Dawsey, Tammy Haddad, Zolan Kanno-Youngs, Annie Karni, Jonathan and Betsy F. Martin, Susan Page, Abby Phillip, Katie Rogers, Jonathan Swan, Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson. Also SPOTTED: Ashley Parker, Matt Gorman, Sam Feist, Mark Leibovich, Tim Mak, Kylie Atwood, Jackie Alemany, Matt Latimer, Keith Urbahn and Kerri Kupec, Jeff Solnet, Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.), Valerie Biden Owens, Michael Crowley, John Harris and Ann O'Hanlon, Matt Kaminski, Dafna Linzer, Carrie Budoff Brown, Allison Hoffman and Adam Goldman, Julian Barnes, Alex Isenstadt, Susanna Quinn, Doug Heye, Doug Andres, Scott Sloofman, Rachel Levitan, Molly Ball, Phil Rucker, Brendan Buck, Jeff Zeleny, Julie Tate, Jamie Kirchick, Jake Sherman, Kasie Hunt, Ben Jacobs, Sasha Issenberg, Pam Stevens, Margaret Carlson, Robert Costa, Caroline Edwards, Ken and Danielle Vogel, Dylan Byers and Matt Viser. — SPOTTED at the Urban Alliance's 25th anniversary at the National Museum of African American History and Culture on Thursday night: former President Barack Obama, Domestic Policy Council Director Susan Rice, VA Secretary Denis McDonough, AG Merrick Garland, Lonnie G. Bunch, Andrew Plepler and Larry Di Rita. Pic via the Urban Alliance MEDIA MOVES — Kathryn Meyers is now a producer at Fox Business. She most recently was a producer at CNBC. … Lizzie LeBow is now an associate booking producer for "Alex Witt Reports" on MSNBC. She most recently was a producer for TMJ4 News in Milwaukee. WEDDING — Tyler Cherry and Jakob Stronko, via NYT : "Mr. Cherry now works as the press secretary and senior spokesperson at the U.S. Department of the Interior in Washington; Mr. Stronko is an international programs specialist at the Department of the Navy … The couple were married on Oct. 1 in front of about 100 guests at a friend's home in Washington. Deb Haaland, the secretary of the Interior, officiated." HAPPY BIRTHDAY: NBC's Jon Allen … White House's Erica Loewe … Jenni Pierotti Lim … Brian Walsh of Red Elephant Strategy … John Doty of House Judiciary/Rep. Jerry Nadler's (D-N.Y.) office … Liz Kenigsberg of SKDK … John "J.B." Byrd of Miller/Wenhold Capitol Strategies … Jose Villalvazo of Sen. Alex Padilla's (D-Calif.) office … Stu Loeser … Heather Caygle … Casey Harper of The Center Square … Rotimi Adeoye of the ACLU … Christy Setzer of New Heights Communications … Jim McFeely of Rep. Donald McEachin's (D-Va.) office … John Martin of Smith & Nephew … Meaghan Byrne … Nippon TV's Takaaki Abe (5-0) … Susan Ralston … former Reps. Rush Holt (D-N.J.) and Jim Leach (R-Iowa) (8-0) … Haim Saban … Bill Hoagland … Gigi Stone Woods … Liz Sears Smith of Kent Strategies … Chris Godbey … Stat's Rick Berke … Ken Griffin … Anna Farías … Alexis Krieg of the Omidyar Network … Kimberly McEvoy THE SHOWS ( Full Sunday show listings here ): CNN "State of the Union": National security adviser Jake Sullivan … Council of Economic Advisers Chair Cecilia Rouse … Kari Lake … Katie Hobbs … Joe O'Dea … Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.). NBC "Meet the Press": Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) … Evan McMullin … Rep. Stephanie Murphy (D-Fla.). Panel: Eugene Daniels, Maria Teresa Kumar, Pat McCrory and Amy Walter. ABC "This Week": Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg … Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) … Anthony Fauci. Panel: Chris Christie, Donna Brazile, Maggie Haberman and Julie Pace. CBS "Face the Nation": Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg … Ukrainian Ambassador Oksana Markarova … Betsey Stevenson … Karoun Demirjian and Rachael Bade. FOX "Fox News Sunday": House Minority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) … Jared Bernstein. Panel: Kevin Roberts, Mollie Hemingway, Josh Kraushaar and Richard Fowler. MSNBC "The Sunday Show": Franklin Foer … Kimberlé Crenshaw … Chris Jones … Lanae Erickson … Steve Phillips … Anita Hill. CNN "Inside Politics": Panel: Toluse Olorunnipa, Peter Baker, Susan Glasser and Kristen Soltis Anderson. 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, digital editor Garrett Ross and producers Setota Hailemariam and Bethany Irvine.
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