| | | | |  | | By Rachael Bade, Eugene Daniels and Ryan Lizza | Presented by The U.S. Chamber of Commerce | With help from Eli Okun and Garrett Ross
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Chris Christie, who has never garnered more than low single digits in 2024 polls, is unsure if he can win — and says he will only run if he thinks he plausibly can. | Carolyn Kaster/AP Photo | | | | |  | DRIVING THE DAY | | | THINGS FALL APART — “Frustrated and tired: DeSantis’ demands wear out GOP Florida allies,” by Gary Fineout: “Florida Gov. RON DeSANTIS’ iron-clad grip on the Republican-controlled Legislature may be slipping amid growing frustration among GOP legislators. “Republican lawmakers are stalling a handful of his key remaining legislative priorities with just weeks left in the annual session. And what started out as whispers in private about unhappiness over the governor are starting to become louder …. DeSantis’ announcement this week that he wanted legislators to take aim again at Disney has irritated conservative Republicans loathe to target private businesses. One GOP legislator privately said: ‘We’re not the party of cancel culture. We can’t keep doing this tit for tat.’” Right on cue: Three more Florida Republican members of Congress (Reps. VERN BUCHANAN, GUS BILIRAKIS and CARLOS GIMENEZ) are gearing up to endorse DONALD TRUMP over their home state governor in the 2024 GOP primary. Related read: “DeSantis’s Electability Pitch Wobbles, Despite G.O.P. Losses Under Trump,” by NYT’s Shane Goldmacher THE PLAYBOOK INTERVIEW: CHRIS CHRISTIE — For a while now, the conventional wisdom in Republican circles — even among high-profile Trump critics — has been that if you want to beat the former president, you have to market yourself as Trump without the drama — which means not criticizing him directly. Enter CHRIS CHRISTIE, the two-time New Jersey governor who says that’s all bull, and is now considering taking the former president on himself. This week, Rachael sat down with Christie to press him on how a Republican can beat Trump while going after a man many GOP voters idolize. The most striking part of the conversation centered on Christie’s own deliberations about whether to run. The short of it is this: It appears that he’s absolutely itching to get into the race. The one thing holding him back? Christie, who has never garnered more than low single digits in 2024 polls, is unsure if he can win — and says he will only run if he thinks he plausibly can. Today, Christie is back in New Hampshire for a second town hall, testing the waters on whether GOP voters are interested in his brand of pugnacious authenticity. A few noteworthy nuggets from Rachael’s full story, which just posted: THE CASE FOR RUNNING: Christie is exasperated by Trump’s top-tier challengers skirting direct confrontation with the former president, including their unwillingness to even name-check him. Take DeSantis, who attempted a passive-aggressive jab at Trump over the allegations at the center of his recent indictment in New York. “I don’t know what goes into paying hush money to a porn star,” DeSantis said — then quickly reversed course amid blowback. Christie said DeSantis’ gibe was “way too subtle.” “Oh, so that's supposed to prove to me that you’re tough enough to take on Donald Trump?” Christie asked. “This is a guy who said TED CRUZ’s wife was ugly. Like, you think he cares that you made a little sideswipe at him?” The former governor has no such trepidation about criticizing Trump directly. “I don't believe that Republican voters penalize people who criticize Trump,” he added. “If you think you're a better person to be president than Donald Trump, then you better make that case.” That brawler’s mentality is central to Christie’s appeal, and a key reason why some Republicans are looking to him to enter the race — including, Christie says, one unnamed former Republican presidential candidate, who recently urged him to run and take the fight to Trump, saying: “No one else has the balls to do it.” WHAT CHRISTIE WON’T DO: While some Republicans are openly rooting to have Christie on GOP debate stages later this year simply to bludgeon Trump — that is, do the dirty work that DeSantis, Pence, Haley and others haven’t so far been willing to do — Christie insists he’s not interested in that. “I'm not a paid assassin,” he said.
| | | | A message from The U.S. Chamber of Commerce: Congress gave veterans the ability to sue the U.S. government over Camp Lejeune-related health problems, but it didn’t limit how much money plaintiffs’ lawyers can charge veterans and their families. The VETS Act would fix that by limiting attorneys’ fees and ensuring victims get the compensation they need. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Institute for Legal Reform, which advocates for a fair and balanced legal system, urges Congress to protect veterans and pass the VETS Act. | | | THE THREE THINGS CHRISTIE NEEDS TO RUN: Talking with Rachael over the course of an hour, Christie laid out his three prerequisites before he mounts a 2024 campaign: 1. Have something to say. 2. Have your life in good enough shape to handle months on the road away from your family and hundreds of phone calls begging for money. 3. Have a path to victory. He’s got the first two down, and on a purely personal level, thinks he’s in a better position to run this time around than eight years ago. His kids are now grown, meaning his wife of 37 years, MARY PAT, can travel with him instead of staying home to parent the kids. (She is encouraging him to run, he says.) It’s on No. 3 that Christie hasn’t quite convinced himself. But he still suggested he might be ready to go by faith, if not by sight. “I had someone ask me yesterday on one of these phone calls, 'Well, explain to me the exact path that gets you there.' And I'm like, 'I can't,’” Christie said. “And anybody who says they can is completely full of it, you know? Explain the Donald Trump path in 2016. Who had that one predicted? Not even Trump.” Good Thursday morning. Thanks for reading Playbook. Drop us a line: Rachael Bade, Eugene Daniels, Ryan Lizza. HEADLINE OF THE DAY — “What I Learned Playing Magic: The Gathering With a Marine Running for Senate,” by Time’s Mini Racker McCARTHY TO BIDEN: YOUR MOVE — Yesterday, Speaker KEVIN McCARTHY unveiled House Republicans’ plan to raise the debt limit while cutting federal spending — a release that was quickly panned by President JOE BIDEN, but was intended to pressure the White House, our colleagues Adam Cancryn, Jennifer Scholtes and Sarah Ferris write. The proposal: “The House GOP proposal would raise the debt limit by $1.5 trillion, or through March of next year — whichever comes first — ensuring Biden has to relitigate the issue with House Republicans before voters pick the next president. It also cuts federal funding by $130 billion in the upcoming fiscal year, turning back discretionary spending totals by about two years.” The response: “That’s the MAGA economic agenda: spending cuts for working and middle class folks,” Biden said, while speaking from a Maryland union hall. “It’s not about fiscal discipline, it’s about cutting benefits for folks that they don’t seem to care much about.” New this morning: White House press secretary KARINE JEAN-PIERRE has issued an even more caustic statement trashing the GOP proposal: “Yesterday, Speaker McCarthy sided with the extreme MAGA wing of his conference and released a blueprint to devastate hard-working American families. … Every House Republican who votes for this bill is voting to cut education, veterans medical care, cancer research, meals on wheels, food safety, and law enforcement.“ Read the full statement What’s next: McCarthy has stated that he wants to bring the bill up for a vote next week. But passage is unclear at this point, as rank-and-file Republicans aired internal frustration about the path forward during a closed-door conference meeting. Complicating matters further is the fact that McCarthy and Biden haven’t spoken about the issue since February. Related reads: “House GOP debt limit plan would block Biden’s student loan agenda, prohibit future relief,” by Michael Stratford … “Biden blasts GOP ‘wacko notions’ amid debt limit standoff,” by AP’s Josh Boak, Seung Min Kim and Zeke Miller … “House G.O.P. Eyes Rescinding Unspent Covid Money as Part of Its Fiscal Plan,” by NYT’s Catie Edmondson and Madeleine Ngo
| | | | A message from The U.S. Chamber of Commerce: Congress gave veterans the ability to sue the U.S. government over Camp Lejeune-related health problems, but it didn’t limit how much money plaintiffs’ lawyers can charge veterans and their families. Some lawyers are spending millions of dollars on advertisements to sign up veterans for lawsuits because they may take 40 percent or more of any award or settlement. The VETS Act would fix that by limiting attorneys’ fees and ensuring victims get the compensation they need. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Institute for Legal Reform, which advocates for a fair and balanced legal system for everyone, urges Congress to protect veterans and pass the VETS Act. | | | HAPPENING TODAY — “Boris Epshteyn, Trump Legal Adviser, Is to Be Interviewed by Special Counsel,” by NYT’s Alan Feuer and Maggie Haberman: “It remained unclear what subjects the prosecutors wanted to discuss with [BORIS] EPSHTEYN. But given his expansive ties to Mr. Trump, Mr. Epshteyn is in a position to provide information in both of the investigations that [Special Counsel JACK] SMITH is overseeing: one focused on Mr. Trump’s efforts to retain power after losing the 2020 election and the other centered on his handling of classified documents after he left the White House.”
| | BIDEN’S THURSDAY:
7:30 a.m.: The president will receive the President’s Daily Brief.
8:30 a.m.: Biden will convene the fourth virtual leader-level meeting of the Major Economies Forum on Energy and Climate.
2:30 p.m.: Biden will host a bilateral meeting with Colombian President GUSTAVO PETRO.
Jean-Pierre will brief at 1 p.m.
VP KAMALA HARRIS’ THURSDAY: The VP has nothing on her public schedule.
THE HOUSE will meet at 9 a.m. to complete consideration of the “Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2023,” with first and last votes expected at 10 a.m. Transportation Secretary PETE BUTTIGIEG will testify before an appropriations subcommittee at 10 a.m.
THE SENATE will meet at 10 a.m. to resume consideration of the “Fire Grants and Safety Act.” HUD Secretary MARCIA FUDGE will testify before an appropriations subcommittee at 10 a.m. Energy Secretary JENNIFER GRANHOLM will testify before the Energy committee at 10 a.m. Labor Secretary nominee JULIE SU will testify before the HELP committee at 10 a.m. | | | | | | 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. | | | | | PHOTO OF THE DAY
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President Joe Biden speaks about his economic agenda at International Union of Operating Engineers Local 77's training facility in Accokeek, Md., on Wednesday, April 19. | Patrick Semansky/AP Photo | | | PLAYBOOK READS | | JUDICIARY SQUARE SCOTUS PUNTS MIFEPRISTONE DECISION TO FRIDAY — “Alito extends reprieve for abortion pill access, maintaining status quo for 2 more days,” by Alice Miranda Ollstein and Josh Gerstein: “As is customary with such orders, [Justice SAMUEL] ALITO offered no explanation for his decision, but extending the hold signals that the justices need additional time to decide whether to allow a set of sweeping restrictions on the drug, mifepristone, to take effect as a result of lower court decisions.” Read the orders 2024 WATCH EYES EMOJI — “Biden Summons Big Donors to Washington as 2024 Campaign Nears,” by NYT’s Maggie Haberman, Shane Goldmacher, Katie Glueck and Rebecca Davis O’Brien: “Top donors to President Biden have received a last-minute invitation to travel to Washington at the end of next week to see Mr. Biden as he gears up for a 2024 campaign, according to more than a half-dozen people who have been invited to or briefed on the event. “Invitations are going out to some of the biggest donors and bundlers for Mr. Biden’s 2020 campaign — those who donated or raised at least $1 million, according to one person. The initial round of invitations is being made by phone instead of email. The event, which is not a fund-raiser, is seen as an effort to rally donors before what is expected to be an expensive 2024 run.” VAX NOT — Lisa Kashinsky sets the odd scene at RFK Jr.’s campaign launch in Boston yesterday: “JOHN F. KENNEDY harnessed the nation’s ambition in his moonshot speech in Houston. ROBERT F. KENNEDY channeled its grief after his brother’s assassination two years later. TED KENNEDY quoted from ‘Ulysses’ in defense of the liberal movement at Madison Square Garden. And then, on Wednesday, came ROBERT F KENNEDY JR., the family’s black sheep — rallying government conspiracy theorists, vaccine skeptics and Republicans from across the country as he launched his quixotic campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination.” THE DeSANTIS DOWNLOAD — “In first S.C. swing, Ron DeSantis slams ‘woke’ culture, gender identity as ‘cultural Marxism,’” by the Post and Courier’s Caitlin Byrd Meanwhile: “Ron DeSantis’ Presidential PAC To Send First Mailer Out To Four States Touting The ‘DeSantis Playbook,’” by The Daily Caller’s Henry Rodgers So much for the Sunshine State: “Florida poised to make DeSantis’ travel records secret,” by Gary Fineout THE PENCE POLICY PUSH — “Potential GOP presidential candidate Mike Pence urges continued American aid to Ukraine in O.C. speech,” by L.A. Times’ Seema Mehta THE WHITE HOUSE WATCH THIS SPACE — “Hunter Biden Probe Is Being Mishandled, IRS Supervisor Says,” by WSJ’s Aruna Viswanatha, Sadie Gurman and C. Ryan Barber: “A letter sent to Congress on Tuesday says a career Internal Revenue Service criminal supervisory special agent has information that would contradict sworn testimony by a ‘senior political appointee.’ … The supervisor has details that show ‘preferential treatment and politics improperly infecting decisions and protocols that would normally be followed by career law enforcement professionals in similar circumstances if the subject were not politically connected,’ according to the letter.” NEW NOMINATION — “The White House is planning to nominate MONICA BERTAGNOLLI to run the National Institutes of Health,” our colleague Adam Cancryn scoops. “The decision would end a lengthy vacancy atop the health research agency, and vault Bertagnolli, a Boston cancer surgeon, into a top role just months after being appointed as director of the government’s National Cancer Institute.” HARD LABOR — “Biden’s labor secretary nominee faces doubts in Senate,” by AP’s Stephen Groves: “President Joe Biden’s nominee to be the next labor secretary, Julie Su, will testify to the Senate Thursday with key Democrats unwilling to voice support for her confirmation, creating uncertainty about her prospects in the narrowly divided chamber.“ COMING SOON — “‘Tennessee 3’ will meet with Biden at White House next week,” by Myah Ward MORE POLITICS WHEN YOU’VE LOST TRUMP — “Republicans are alarmed about a Mastriano for Senate bid. Even Trump,” by Holly Otterbein and Meridith McGraw CONGRESS DISCORD SOWS DISCORD — A private briefing yesterday for a bipartisan group of senators on the recent leak of a trove of sensitive Pentagon documents on a Discord server failed to rise to lawmakers’ expectations, NBC’s Liz Brown-Kaiser and Zoë Richards report. “‘I would, by and large, typify it as bureaucratic gobbledygook,’ Sen. RON JOHNSON, R-Wis., a member of the Homeland Security Committee, told reporters after emerging from the basement of the Capitol, where senators were briefed about dozens of Defense Department classified documents that were leaked online. Sen. LINDSEY GRAHAM, R-S.C., used sharper language when asked about the briefing. ‘It’s just a s---show,’ he said.” THE MTG EXPERIENCE — “Marjorie Taylor Greene silenced by GOP-led committee after calling Mayorkas a ‘liar,’” by CNN’s Melanie Zanona, Annie Grayer, Haley Talbot and Kristin Wilson: “The outburst took up considerable time during the hearing and threatened to overshadow [DHS Secretary ALEJANDRO] MAYORKAS’s testimony — to the frustration of Republican committee members. A source close to [Tennessee Rep. MARK] GREEN said the chairman was furious with the congresswoman’s behavior and planned to privately reprimand her, and also said he would encourage Speaker Kevin McCarthy to remove her from the committee if she ever had an outburst like that again.” NEW THIS MORNING — Sen. ROGER MARSHALL (R-Kan.) is introducing a resolution calling for a vote of no confidence in Mayorkas, according to a copy of the resolution obtained by Playbook. Related read: “House GOP plows ahead on risky immigration plan,” by Jordain Carney TRUMP CARDS GREEN LIGHT — “Judge OKs subpoena from House GOP to former Trump prosecutor,” by Erica Orden: “A federal judge declined Wednesday to block a subpoena from the House Judiciary Committee to a former prosecutor who investigated Donald Trump in the Manhattan district attorney’s office, paving the way for a Thursday deposition of the former prosecutor, MARK POMERANTZ. ‘The subpoena was issued with a “valid legislative purpose” in connection with the “broad” and “indispensable” congressional power to “conduct investigations,”’ wrote U.S. District Judge MARY KAY VYSKOCIL.” RED LIGHT — “Trump Says He May Skip Rape Case to Spare New Yorkers Traffic Hassles,” by NYT’s Benjamin Weiser AMERICA AND THE WORLD JUST POSTED — “Janet Yellen to Say Security Comes Before Economy in U.S.-China Relationship,” by WSJ’s Andrew Duehren THAT’S REASSURING — “U.S. Afghanistan watchdog tells Congress he can’t guarantee American aid is ‘not currently funding the Taliban,’” by CNN’s Haley Britzky, Oren Liebermann and Jeremy Diamond MEDIAWATCH THE ART OF THE DEAL — CNN’s Marshall Cohen and Oliver Darcy have a must-read look inside the monumental settlement between Fox News and Dominion Voting Systems that materialized seemingly out of nowhere on Tuesday afternoon just as the historic trial was set to start. The stunning opening anecdote: “Veteran mediator JERRY ROSCOE was on a relaxing river cruise from Budapest to Bucharest celebrating his 70th birthday on Sunday when he received an urgent phone call. … As Roscoe sailed aboard the cruise ship, he didn’t hesitate to accept the unexpected task of brokering a deal to avoid the media law trial of the century.” More from WSJ: “He negotiated from … a tour bus, where he sat in back, speaking into his phone with his coat over the mouthpiece to maintain secrecy, and at his hotel in Brasov, Romania. ‘Everyone on the tour bus was wondering why this obnoxious guy was on the phone all the time,’ he said.” The ramifications: “Fox likely to see limited business fallout from a settlement that could remake Dominion,” by NBC’s Brian Cheung and Ben Collins What comes next: “Fox News’s next big problem: Smartmatic,” by WaPo’s Aaron Blake POLICY CORNER THE TRUTH IS OUT THERE — “UFO sightings are up, but no proof of aliens yet, Pentagon official says,” by Connor O’Brien
| | | | STEP INSIDE THE WEST WING: What's really happening in West Wing offices? Find out who's up, who's down, and who really has the president’s ear in our West Wing Playbook newsletter, the insider's guide to the Biden White House and Cabinet. For buzzy nuggets and details that you won't find anywhere else, subscribe today. | | | | | | | PLAYBOOKERS | | A peregrine falcon has made a home a few blocks from the White House. Geraldo Rivera said he’s switching to Bud Light. John and Gisele Fetterman talked to People magazine about mental health. OUT AND ABOUT — SPOTTED at a reception celebrating the launch of “The Hill” on NewsNation at the Hay-Adams yesterday evening: Reps. Bob Good (R-Va.) and Ryan Zinke (R-Mont.), Tom McMillen, Stephanie Penn, Larry Hogan, Libby Weit, Matt Corridoni, Asjia Garner, Mike Allen, Ben LaBolt, Kara Hauck, Rebecca Spicer, Rina Shah and Steve Scully. FIRST IN PLAYBOOK — Priorities USA has added John Spaw as director of data science, Shehn Datta as political director, Julia McCarthy as senior content manager, Luis Joy Perez as deputy research director and Sally Gillis as director of planning and buying. — Quorum has added Scott Castleman as chief customer officer, Brook Carlon as chief people officer and Erin Mills as chief marketing officer. TRANSITIONS — Brian Cavanaugh is now a visiting fellow at the Heritage Foundation. He currently is SVP at American Global Strategies, and is a Trump NSC, DHS and FEMA alum. … Brianna Willis is now a director at West Wing Writers. She previously was senior speechwriter for Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot. … Reed Westcott is now director of federal policy at the National Small Business Association. He previously was global government affairs coordinator at Airlines for America. … … Naomi Savin is now deputy comms director for Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.). She previously was deputy comms director for the House Budget Dems. … Rebecca Santos Seetahal is now deputy online fundraising director for the DNC. She previously was a managing strategist at Middle Seat Digital. … Jeff Nussbaum is joining Bully Pulpit Interactive as a partner, where he will work on their executive communications offering. He most recently was counselor at West Wing Writers. HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Frank Lizza Sr. … NSC’s Brett McGurk (5-0) … NBC’s Carol Lee and Annalise Anderson … Time’s Molly Ball … POLITICO’s Sarah Ferris, David Siders, Liz Parsons and Jose Ramirez … Evan Smith … Fox News’ Jennifer Griffin … Colin Reed of South & Hill Strategies … Lee Moak … Floodlight’s Emily Holden … Kyle Feldscher … Emily Rodriguez … Lee Ferran … Josh Delaney … CNBC’s Jacob Pramuk … Tess Whittlesey of Sen. Alex Padilla’s (D-Calif.) office … Lyft’s Heather Foster … Leon Harris … Marc Rotenberg of the Center for AI and Digital Policy … Conner Swanson of Rep. Kelly Armstrong’s (R-N.D.) office … Ashley Woolheater … Ethan Susseles … Avisa Partners’ Eric Bovim … Penta’s Melissa Manson … Patrick Collins of the League of Conservation Voters … former Sen. Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) … former Reps. Lee Hamilton (D-Ind.) (92) and Cindy Axne (D-Iowa) … Mary Springer … Lindsey Mask … Zachary Baum … Michael Layman … Rational 360’s Jay Hauck 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 and producers Setota Hailemariam and Bethany Irvine. | | | | 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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