| | | | |  | | By Eugene Daniels, Rachael Bade and Ryan Lizza | Presented by TikTok | With help from Eli Okun and Garrett Ross
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VP Kamala Harris is kicking off a seven-day diplomatic mission to Africa this week, aiming to reset relations between the United States and Ghana, Zambia and Tanzania. | Misper Apawu/AP Photo | | | | |  | DRIVING THE DAY | | BREAKING OVERNIGHT — “First Citizens Buys Silicon Valley Bank After Run on Lender,” by Bloomberg’s Ed Hammond and Matthew Monks: “The Raleigh, North Carolina-based bank entered into a purchase and assumption agreement for all deposits and loans of SVB, according to a statement from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. The deal includes the purchase of about $72 billion SVB assets at a discount of $16.5 billion, the FDIC said. … The estimated cost of the failure to the Deposit Insurance Fund is about $20 billion, though the exact extent will be determined when receivership is terminated, according to the statement.” CHAOS IN ISRAEL — The White House weighed in last night on the escalating unrest in Israel over Prime Minister BENJAMIN NETANYAHU’s highly controversial plan to overhaul the nation’s justice system and defang its powerful Supreme Court. There is an “urgent need for compromise,” NSC spokesperson ADRIENNE WATSON said, after a new round of street protests broke out Sunday following Netanyahu’s decision to fire his defense minister who broke with the court plan. “Democratic societies are strengthened by checks and balances, and fundamental changes to a democratic system should be pursued with the broadest possible base of popular support,” Watson added. “We continue to strongly urge Israeli leaders to find a compromise as soon as possible.” Overnight, Israeli President ISAAC HERZOG pleaded with Netanyahu to halt the legislation, which is on track for passage this week if the right-wing coalition behind it stays intact. Trade unions have launched a general strike, Ben Gurion Tel Aviv Airport has halted departing flights, highways are blocked and universities are closed amid reports in Israeli media that Netanyahu is on the cusp of reversing course. He is expected to address the nation in the coming hours. NYT ledeall by Patrick Kingsley Notable: Playbook contacted reps the Big Four congressional leaders — KEVIN McCARTHY, CHUCK SCHUMER, MITCH McCONNELL and HAKEEM JEFFRIES — last night for comment on the growing Israeli unrest. None offered a new statement on the situation, which has generated growing concern among American Jews. THE AFRICA PIVOT — Good Monday morning from Accra, Ghana, where VP KAMALA HARRIS is kicking off a seven-day diplomatic mission to Africa, aiming to reset relations between the United States and the three countries she’s visiting — Ghana, Zambia and Tanzania — as China looks to deepen its foothold on the continent. Playbook is with Harris as she becomes the latest and highest-ranking administration official to travel to Africa as part of President JOE BIDEN’s effort to reengage economically with the continent after decades of relations focused mainly on human rights and humanitarian concerns. That effort began in December with the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit in Washington, and several senior administration officials have visited since — U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations LINDA THOMAS-GREENFIELD and Treasury Secretary JANET YELLEN in January, first lady JILL BIDEN in February and Secretary of State ANTONY BLINKEN earlier this month. Biden plans to visit later in the year. But Harris’ trip, due to both the symbolic nature of her trip as the first Black VP and as the senior-most official to visit, has the highest stakes. In Accra, the locals know she’s here, and there’s a sense of excitement about the visit. Her schedule includes bilateral meetings with the leaders of each of the three nations, a visit to Ghana’s Cape Coast slave castle, announcements of new public-private investments, confabs with business and philanthropic leaders and even a trip to a local music studio. Harris must balance myriad diplomatic goals …
- Prove to African nations that the U.S. — like China — is willing to invest hard dollars in their countries as true partners …
- While not framing those partnerships as merely part of a global clash of superpowers …
- And also changing how Americans see the continent in order to generate more private investment.
African countries have long felt treated like charity cases by the U.S., according to several regional experts. That sentiment only worsened during the DONALD TRUMP administration, which largely ignored the continent — or worse. (Reminder: Trump, in a 2018 meeting, referred to some African nations as “shithole countries.”) China, meanwhile, deepened its investments. Notably, all three nations Harris is visiting are participating in China’s Belt and Road Initiative — its global effort to win influence abroad through infrastructure investment. “Washington is playing catch-up in Africa,” said CAMERON HUDSON, a senior associate at the Center for Strategic and International Studies’ Africa Program. “With all of the business investment that the Chinese have made comes a lot of leverage and political influence in those countries. It’s not just that they're making money there. It’s that they now have skin in the game in Africa in ways that we don’t. And that gives them leverage that we don’t have.” On the flip side, Biden and Harris have an opening, with some African leaders viewing China’s inroads as “a new form of exploitation,” said J. PETER PHAM, former special envoy for the Sahel region of Africa during the Trump administration. The Chinese-financed megaprojects, he said, often employ not Africans but rather imported laborers. As Biden and Harris seek to build an Africa policy based on long-term relationships and mutual interests, they’re playing down the great-power competition angle. Their still more nuanced task, experts say, is to shift how Americans view the continent away from civil war, human rights abuses and coups d’etat. “American businesses do not see Africa in economic terms. They don’t see African countries as investment opportunities,” said AMAKA ANKU, who heads the Africa practice at the Eurasia Group. “The challenge is not just convincing Africans that Africa’s economic transformation is in the American interest. It’s also convincing Americans. Otherwise, it’s just rhetoric.” Related reads: “In Ghana, Kamala Harris ‘excited about the future of Africa,’” by AP’s Chris Megerian … “Al Qaeda Closes In on a Stalwart U.S. Ally in Africa,” by WSJ’s Michael Phillips in Bawku, Ghana
| | | | GO INSIDE THE 2023 MILKEN INSTITUTE GLOBAL CONFERENCE: POLITICO is proud to partner with the Milken Institute to produce a special edition "Global Insider" newsletter featuring exclusive coverage, insider nuggets and unparalleled insights from the 2023 Global Conference, which will convene leaders in health, finance, politics, philanthropy and entertainment from April 30-May 3. This year’s theme, Advancing a Thriving World, will challenge and inspire attendees to lean into building an optimistic coalition capable of tackling the issues and inequities we collectively face. Don’t miss a thing — subscribe today for a front row seat. | | | | | Thanks for reading Playbook. Drop us a line with your “Succession” takes — should the kiddos have stuck with The Hundred? Rachael Bade, Eugene Daniels, Ryan Lizza.
| | | | A message from TikTok: TikTok is building systems tailor-made to address concerns around data security. What’s more, these systems will be managed by a U.S.-based team specifically tasked with managing all access to U.S. user data and securing the TikTok platform. It’s part of TikTok’s commitment to securing personal data while still giving the global TikTok experience people know and love. Learn more at http://tiktok.com/safety. | | | ONE TO WATCH — Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is stepping up a fight with Sen. TOMMY TUBERVILLE (R-Ala.) this week over the latter’s hold on more than 150 Pentagon nominations in protest of abortion policy at the Defense Department. “Not a good look for Republicans to be holding up promotions for key military leaders,” Schumer’s office said in an email last night. “What’s not a good look is the Biden Administration politicizing our military and illegally turning the Pentagon into an abortion travel agency,” a Tuberville spokesperson said in response, “all while missing enlistment goals by historic margins.” Tuberville first declared more than a month ago that he’d block all Pentagon nominees over the Defense Department’s new policy to give reimbursements and paid time off for service members who have to travel to receive abortions. The standoff has created a growing pileup of nominations for the Senate to clear. Among the current batch of pending promotions, there are five three-star generals or admirals up for positions whose current occupants will rotate out in the next three months, including commander of the Fifth Fleet. Later this year, the leaders of three major commands — and, of course, the Joint Chiefs of Staff chair — will turn over, too. Tuberville shows no signs of relenting. Last week on the Senate floor, he said he was still holding firm against the “illegal” policy. “The facts have not changed,” he said. “My position has not changed.” Senate Democrats can maneuver around him to get nominees confirmed, but doing so would burn precious floor time that is rarely expended on the Pentagon brass. Backstory from Roll Call last week THE WEEK AHEAD — Today: NIKKI HALEY and CHRIS CHRISTIE hold town hall events in New Hampshire … Tuesday: Biden travels to Durham, N.C., to promote his economic agenda; FDIC Chair MARTIN GRUENBERG and Fed Vice Chair MICHAEL BARR testify before Senate Banking … Wednesday: Biden hosts Argentine President ALBERTO FERNÁNDEZ at the White House; former Starbucks CEO HOWARD SCHULTZ testifies before Senate HELP; Homeland Security Secretary ALEJANDRO MAYORKAS appears before House and Senate appropriators … Thursday: House “weaponization” panel holds third hearing … Friday: Bureau of Economic Analysis releases core inflation data for February … Possible: House passes energy bill; Senate repeals Iraq AUMFs; Donald Trump is indicted in NYC.
| | BIDEN’S MONDAY:
9:30 a.m.: The president will receive the President’s Daily Brief.
2:30 p.m.: Biden will host the SBA Women’s Business Summit in the East Room.
Press secretary KARINE JEAN-PIERRE will brief at 1 p.m.
HARRIS’ MONDAY (all times Eastern):
7:15 a.m.: The VP will have a restricted and then expanded bilateral meeting with Ghanaian President NANA AKUFO-ADDO at Jubilee House.
8:40 a.m.: Harris and Akufo-Addo will hold a joint press conference.
11:10 a.m.: Harris will meet with artists and entertainers in a visit to the Freedom Skate Park and Vibrate Space.
3:30 p.m.: Harris and second gentleman DOUG EMHOFF will attend a state banquet hosted by the Akufo-Addos.
THE SENATE will meet at 3 p.m. to take up the resolution to repeal the authorizations for use of military force against Iraq, with a cloture vote at 5:30 p.m.
THE HOUSE will meet at noon and will take up several bills at 2 p.m. The Rules Committee will take up the big energy bill, H.R. 1, at 3 p.m. | | | | | | JOIN POLITICO ON 4/5 FOR THE 2023 RECAST POWER LIST: America’s demographics and power dynamics are changing — and POLITICO is recasting how it covers the intersection of race, identity, politics and policy. Join us for a conversation on the themes of the 2023 Recast Power List that will examine America’s decision-making tables, who gets to sit at them, and the challenges that still need to be addressed. REGISTER HERE. | | | | | PHOTO OF THE DAY
|  Israelis opposed to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's judicial overhaul plan set up bonfires and block a highway during a protest moments after the Israeli leader fired his defense minister, in Tel Aviv, Israel, Sunday, March 26, 2023. | Ohad Zwigenberg/AP Photo | | | PLAYBOOK READS | | 2024 WATCH THE FRONTRUNNERS — “Trump’s base splinters on Ron DeSantis,” by NBC’s Jonathan Allen and Dan Gallo in Waco, Texas: “Many of [Trump’s] own supporters see [Florida Gov. RON] DeSANTIS as the next great hope for the GOP — even if they believe a campaign against Trump is quixotic. … [T]here is still room for both men to define each other at this early stage in the contest.” — “The DeSantis conundrum,” by Axios’ Josh Kraushaar: “DeSantis’ biggest political asset is that he's viewed favorably by nearly all of the Republican Party's voters — across the ideological spectrum. … His biggest challenge is that those sky-high approval numbers are likely to falter now that he's sparring with former President Trump — and as he makes tough decisions on where he stands on hot-button national issues.” INTERESTING NAME DROP — NYT’s Maggie Haberman: “Sen THOM TILLIS of NC will be appearing in some early states, per person familiar with planning. He’s expected to focus on the military and governing, but his visits are likely to be taken note of.” MORE POLITICS BATTLE FOR THE HOUSE — Democrats are leaning into abortion hard to try to flip more than a half-dozen swing seats in New York and other blue states next year, Brittany Gibson reports this morning. Dems hope that abortion will remain front and center in the national political consciousness, through both House Republicans’ actions and ongoing state-level battles over the procedure. How well they succeed at “turning the ’24 election cycle into a referendum on abortion policy will go a long way toward determining the party’s success at the ballot box.” WINDY CITY SPRINT — Sen. DICK DURBIN (D-Ill.) endorsed PAUL VALLAS for mayor of Chicago yesterday, a big get for the moderate who’s trying to win over Democratic voters in the final week of the campaign, per the Chicago Sun-Times. Racial divides and issues are looming large in the end of the campaign between Vallas and progressive BRANDON JOHNSON, NBC’s Natasha Korecki reports. In some Black communities, Johnson “is rapidly ascending into an almost mystical status.” He’s tapping robust union and progressive get-out-the-vote infrastructure in communities of color; Vallas, who pulled votes from many white areas in the primary, is trying to make inroads in Black neighborhoods with a message focused on tackling crime. CONGRESS KNOWING HAKEEM JEFFRIES — “The Dual Education of Hakeem Jeffries,” by NYT’s Nicholas Fandos: “[A]ccounts of Mr. Jeffries’s history-making ascent have largely focused on his relative youth and his time as a House impeachment manager. But to fully understand how he claimed power and might wield it as the first person of color to lead a party in Congress, it is instructive to retrace the divergent experiences that fueled his rise from Brooklyn to Washington, as described in dozens of interviews with friends, allies and adversaries. “Call it the dual education of Hakeem Jeffries, a charismatic and enigmatic son of both Brooklyn and Big Law, who was shaped as much by hip-hop and the Black Baptist church as by the offices of corporate America where he handled high-stakes litigation.” CRANKING UP THE PRESSURE — “Top Democrats warn Biden: Don’t restart family detentions,” by the L.A. Times’ Courtney Subramanian and Hamed Aleaziz: “‘I urge you to learn from the mistakes of your predecessors and abandon any plans to implement this failed policy,’ Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), the second-ranking Democrat in the Senate, Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) and 17 other senators wrote in a letter sent to the White House on Sunday.” THE PANEL WITH THE ACTION — “Senate Banking Committee faces intense 2024 politics in bank collapse hearings,” by NBC’s Sahil Kapur TRUMP CARDS PLAYING DEFENSE — In a big look at Trump’s legal team and strategy as he faces possible indictment, WSJ’s Rebecca Ballhaus, Alex Leary and Corinne Ramey report that he’s turning to a familiar chaotic strategy of both fighting back and fighting internally. His many lawyers and legal advisers on various fronts are often working independently of each other, sometimes arguing over each other’s legal approach and abilities (and sometimes at Trump’s own direction, as he likes to pit aides against one another). There’s nobody in charge of the whole endeavor — other than Trump himself — and they’re more focused on the political ramifications of the various investigations than the legal ones. INVESTIGATING THE INVESTIGATORS — “Ex-Prosecutors Denounce Trump’s Attacks on Manhattan DA Bragg,” by Bloomberg’s Patricia Hurtado | | | | A message from TikTok:   data security and privacy. your concern. our commitment. Learn more at http://tiktok.com/safety. | | | POLICY CORNER FORMULA FUROR — There was a three-month delay between the time that the FDA learned of a positive bacteria test at an infant formula plant and the time it announced a recall last month, Helena Bottemiller Evich reveals for POLITICO this morning. It’s a gap “that mirrors the agency’s slow response to reports of food safety problems and infant deaths ahead of last year’s massive recall over the same type of bacteria,” raising questions about how sufficiently the agency has changed its oversight since last year’s major Abbott news. The stakes this time were lower, as the recall was small and no health problems have resulted. “For food safety advocates, however, it feels like a test that the agency didn’t pass.” WHAT MERRICK GARLAND WON’T CHANGE — “Biden’s Justice Dept. keeps hard line in death row cases,” by AP’s Michael Tarm and Alanna Durkin Richer in Chicago: “Lawyers for some of the over 40 death row inmates say they’ve seen no meaningful changes to the Justice Department’s approach under Biden and Trump.” BEYOND THE BELTWAY THE NEW CULTURE WARS — “Retirement funds for teachers and firefighters are caught in ESG crossfire,” by NBC’s Nidhi Sharma: “A growing wave of public pension administrators, business groups and labor unions are sending a message to Republicans looking to curb so-called ‘woke’ investing: our money, our choice.” WHO REALLY NEEDS OZEMPIC — “Their child’s obesity drug was working. Then their plan refused to pay,” by WaPo’s Ariana Eunjung Cha: “Youth obesity is an epidemic, but few insurers will cover drugs costing more than $1,300 a month for adolescents.” MEDIAWATCH PAY FOR PLAY — “Donors could steer coverage at Daily Caller nonprofit,” by Semafor’s Max Tani: “The charity arm of the conservative Daily Caller offered donors the opportunity to ‘propose topics for coverage’ and news beats for reporters in exchange for financial contributions. ‘News or policy beats that you care about can be the focus of a new project,’ a document circulated by the Daily Caller News Foundation between 2016 and 2017 offered.” The Daily Caller’s NEIL PATEL didn’t respond for comment after Tani authenticated the document, but said earlier that “our editors retain complete editorial control and independence.” LONE STAR DIMMING — “Texas Observer, legendary crusading liberal magazine, is closing and laying off its staff,” by The Texas Tribune’s Sewell Chan and Brandon Formby: “The decision marks an end to 68 years of publication … The closing of the Observer raises questions about whether small progressive publications can survive the digital and demographic transformation of journalism and the information ecosystem during a time of rapid social and technological change.” VALLEY TALK MUSK READ — “Twitter Says Parts of Its Source Code Were Leaked Online,” by NYT’s Ryan Mac and Kate Conger: It’s “a rare and major exposure of intellectual property as the company struggles to reduce technical issues and reverse its business fortunes under ELON MUSK. … One concern is that the code includes security vulnerabilities that could give hackers or other motivated parties the means to extract user data or take down the site.” GO GETTR — “Indicted Chinese exile controls Gettr social media site, ex-employees say,” by WaPo’s Joseph Menn: “GUO WENGUI, and his longtime money manager, WILLIAM JE, called the shots at the company while Donald Trump senior adviser JASON MILLER was its chief executive and public face.” Miller declined to comment, and Gettr reps did not respond to questions. THE WAR MACHINE — “Pentagon Woos Silicon Valley to Join Ranks of Arms Makers,” by WSJ’s Sharon Weinberger, Robert Wall and Doug Cameron: “The push to tap private capital comes in the midst of concern that U.S. defense-industry consolidation has led to dependence on a few large companies that rely on government funding for research and is hampering innovation.” | | | | A message from TikTok:   data security and privacy. your concern. our commitment. Learn more at http://tiktok.com/safety. | | | | | PLAYBOOKERS | | Maxwell Frost had to teach other members of Congress about Coachella. Ron Klain’s son Danny had a hand in the new season of “Succession.” FIRST IN PLAYBOOK — Matt McNally is now an SVP for Rasky Partners. He previously was chief of staff for former Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney (D-N.Y.) and is a Jeff Merkley alum. — Putnam Partners is adding Amy Kennedy and Mark Nickolas as SVPs. Kennedy previously was at Planned Parenthood Southeast, Southeast Advocates and Vote Choice PAC, and is a New Hampshire Dem veteran. Nickolas is a Democratic campaign veteran and documentary filmmaker. — Sid Ravishankar is now deputy chief of staff for Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-Texas). He was most recently the staff director for the Subcommittee for International Development and International Organizations at the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. TRANSITIONS — Matthew Bishop will return to Rep. Jerry Carl’s (R-Ala.) office as legislative director. He most recently was a senior consultant at Booz Allen, and is a Bradley Byrne alum. … Meghan Milloy is now a managing director in the strategic comms segment of FTI Consulting’s financial services public affairs practice. She previously was director of strategic comms at the Institute of International Bankers. … … Anthony Reyes is now a special assistant in the office of the USTR. He previously was a legislative aide for Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.). … Max Richards is now military legislative assistant for Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.). He previously was legislative assistant for Rep. Frank Lucas (R-Okla.). … Adam Brown will be press assistant for the Congressional Western Caucus. He previously was a war room analyst with the RNC. ENGAGED — Brandon Gillespie, a politics associate editor at Fox News, and Alexis Roberts, director of student athlete academics at Samford University, got engaged Saturday at Lake Oconee, Ga. They met through a church friend group in Birmingham, Ala., in 2021. Pic … Another pic — Joe Kalmin, senior director of government affairs at Food Allergy Research & Education, proposed to Gloriana Chaves, a senior recruiting manager, on Friday in the Kennedy Center’s Opera House — a fitting spot because she’s a classically trained opera singer. He surprised her after telling her he was receiving a (non-existent) award at a ceremony there. Pic … Another pic WEDDINGS — Delece Smith-Barrow, education editor at POLITICO, and Sean Bland, director of alumni engagement and communication at Morehouse College, got married Thursday evening in Baltimore at the Winslow wedding venue in the Parker Metal building. They met on Bumble in May 2021. Pic … Another pic — Mollie Bowman, national campaign director for More Perfect and a POLITICO alum, and Oliver Macklin, a teacher at Landon School, got married Saturday at the Mayflower Hotel. They met in 2018 through their involvement in the Jewish Federation. Pic … Another pic — Maya Humes, director of infrastructure comms at the White House and a Kamala Harris and State Department alum, and Alexander Markes, orthopedic surgery resident at UCSF, got married this weekend at the Bel-Air Bay Club in LA. They met exactly six years prior while living in San Francisco; after their first date, they promptly ran into each other at a Lawrence concert later that night.Pic … Another pic … SPOTTED: Carlie Waibel, Cameron Smith, Jess Kosmider, Katy Ann Searcy, Katie Hendrickson, Morgan Finkelstein, Jalina Porter, Kedenard Raymond, Desirée Cormier Smith, Amy Littleton, Amanda Brockbank, Michael and Anna Malaika Tubbs, Rykia Dorsey Craig and Nicolás Pedreira. HAPPY BIRTHDAY: NPR’s Mary Louise Kelly … Steve Atkiss … Rob Nabors of the Gates Foundation … Natalie (Buchanan) Joyce of Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s office … Niki Christoff … Rachel Semmel of the Center for Renewing America … Walt Mossberg … NBC/MSNBC’s Jacob Soboroff … Lisa Zhang … Meredith Artley … Liz Johnson of Sen. Mitt Romney’s (R-Utah) office … Billy Moore … The 19th’s Shefali Luthra … Alberto Martinez of Targeted Victory … David Mitrani … Whitney Smith of the Aerospace Industries Association … Devex’s Stephanie Beasley … Lauren Dikis … Katie Johnson of Jenner & Block … Lane Bailey of the Advocom Group … Laura Driscoll … Edelman’s Erin Schwille … Roll Call’s John Donnelly … Sally Kohn … Iain Hart of Rep. John Garamendi’s (D-Calif.) office … Mara Vandlik … James Park of House Judiciary … Jonathan Beam … POLITICO’s Kameryn Stanhouse and Toni DeWitt … Frank Sadler … former Rep. Susan Molinari (R-N.Y.) … Alex Aragon of Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s office … Mike Andrews (75) … Nora Volkow of the National Institute on Drug Abuse … Brad Rateike Did someone forward this email to you? Sign up here. Send Playbookers tips to playbook@politico.com or text us at 202-556-3307. 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