| | | | |  | | By Ryan Lizza, Rachael Bade and Eugene Daniels | | | With help from Eli Okun and Garrett Ross
|  Sen. Diane Feinstein's absence from the United States Senate has ignited two major political controversies — one in D.C. and one in her home state of California. | Andrew Harnik/AP Photo | | | | |  | DRIVING THE DAY | | | Greetings from Tallahassee, where statehouse Republicans are on track to pass a six-week abortion ban today. Gov. RON DeSANTIS has said he will sign the bill. The conventional wisdom is that the new law may help him in a Republican presidential primary but will be difficult to defend in a general election. Republican lawmakers here are leaving open the possibility of passing an outright abortion ban down the road. Much more on all this tomorrow, but speaking of abortion … BREAKING OVERNIGHT — “Court preserves access to abortion drug but tightens rules,” by AP’s Paul J. Weber and Jennifer Gresko: “Just before midnight Wednesday, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans ruled that the FDA’s initial approval of mifepristone in 2000 could remain in effect. But in the 2-1 vote, the panel of judges put on hold changes made by the regulator since 2016 that relaxed the rules for prescribing and dispensing mifepristone. Those included extending the period of pregnancy when the drug can be used from seven weeks to 10, and also allowing it to be dispensed by mail, without any need to visit a doctor’s office.” Read the 2-1 ruling MUST READ — “Leaker of U.S. secret documents worked on military base, friend says,” by WaPo’s Shane Harris and Samuel Oakford: “United by their mutual love of guns, military gear and God, the group of roughly two dozen — mostly men and boys — formed an invitation-only clubhouse in 2020 on Discord, an online platform popular with gamers. But they paid little attention last year when the man some call ‘OG’ posted a message laden with strange acronyms and jargon. … There were top-secret reports about the whereabouts and movements of high-ranking political leaders and tactical updates on military forces, the member said. Geopolitical analysis. Insights into foreign governments’ efforts to interfere with elections. ‘If you could think it, it was in those documents.’” MEANWHILE IN WASHINGTON — Sen. DIANNE FEINSTEIN’s absence from the United States Senate has ignited two major political controversies — one in D.C. and one in her home state of California. How both stories end will tell us a lot about the state of American politics. It all started yesterday when — less than an hour after POLITICO broke news of growing concerns about Feinstein’s slow recovery from the shingles — Rep. RO KHANNA (D-Calif.) tweeted something that many Democrats were saying privately: “It’s time for @SenFeinstein to resign. We need to put the country ahead of personal loyalty. While she has had a lifetime of public service, it is obvious she can no longer fulfill her duties. Not speaking out undermines our credibility as elected representatives of the people.” Some context: The Senate is split 51-49, and Feinstein is one of two Democratic senators who have been absent since February. While Sen. JOHN FETTERMAN (D-Pa.) is returning to work next week after being treated for depression, there is no timetable for Feinstein’s return, and, crucially, her absence is preventing several of President JOE BIDEN’s judicial nominees from being voted out of the Judiciary Committee. Khanna, who considered running for the Senate seat himself, has endorsed Rep. BARBARA LEE in the fiercely competitive campaign to replace Feinstein. The race is shaping up as a generational battle between the old guard of largely San Francisco-based establishment Democrats — Feinstein, NANCY PELOSI, GAVIN NEWSOM — and the younger, more diverse, and more progressive Democrats who have often chafed under the S.F. mafia’s grip on the state party. “There's an urgency that voters in California feel about women's rights, about the state of our democracy, and they want a senator who's leading the fight on those issues,“ Khanna told Playbook. “This is not a moment to be a bystander from the biggest state in the country that is leading on the issues of abortion and gun violence and democracy.” “We don't want an absentee senator,” he added. “And if we don't have more people calling for her resignation, I think it will just show that the California establishment is out of touch with where the voters are. … This is not the era where you go bend the knee and get blessed and win a seat in Congress. The politics have changed.” The establishment Khanna speaks of has its thumb on the scales for Rep. ADAM SCHIFF. The progressive rebels are backing Lee. The S.F. mafia is overly deferential to Feinstein, who is 89, while the progressives have been quick to suggest she step aside. Case in point: Pelosi, who has endorsed Schiff, was furious yesterday about Khanna’s tweet, according to multiple sources. “It’s interesting to me,” Pelosi said in remarks to CBS News. “I don’t know what political agendas are at work going after Sen. Feinstein in that way. I’ve never seen them go after a man who was sick in the Senate in that way.” (What “agendas” might she be referring to? Newsom has promised to appoint a Black woman to finish out Feinstein’s term if she resigns, and Lee — Khanna’s favored candidate — would be an obvious choice.) Hours after Khanna’s tweet, Feinstein’s office announced that she asked Senate Majority Leader CHUCK SCHUMER “to ask the Senate to allow another Democratic senator to temporarily serve” on Judiciary until she returns to Washington, and Schumer’s office quickly said he would seek to grant Feinstein’s request when the Senate convenes next week. And that’s what has created the second political fire. Committee assignments are worked out between the two party leaders at the beginning of the session in a resolution that is agreed to by unanimous consent. Senate Democrats and Republicans we talked to last night could not remember a recent example of either party having to modify that agreement mid-session. To switch out Feinstein for another Democrat on Judiciary would require either unanimous consent or 60 votes. No Republicans have so far threatened to torpedo the Feinstein request, and Democrats are cautiously optimistic none will oppose the change. But there will of course be political incentives for a JOSH HAWLEY or TED CRUZ or MIKE LEE to turn the vote into a referendum on stopping Biden’s judges. What will MITCH McCONNELL, who has himself been out of the Senate after being hospitalized for a bad fall, do? No word on that from his office last night. If Republicans obstruct, there are two political scenarios that seem equally plausible: It could intensify calls for her to resign. After all, she has now conceded that the Judiciary Committee needs to function properly in her absence. On the other hand, if the GOP makes her request a painful partisan ordeal, it could rally Democrats to her defense. Feinstein’s fate will tell us a lot about which faction of the Democratic party has the upper hand in California and whether the Senate will continue down the path of being little different from the House. Good Thursday morning. Thanks for reading Playbook. Drop us a line with your predictions about whether Feinstein will resign: Rachael Bade, Eugene Daniels, Ryan Lizza.
| | | | A message from Airlines for America: Did you know? Every day more than 780,000 workers in America make our industry go. Last year alone, airlines helped 50,000 new careers take flight. That's thousands of new jobs – pilots, flight attendants, mechanics and others – every month. In fact, job growth in the U.S. passenger airline industry is significantly outpacing overall U.S. job growth – and we are still hiring. Learn more: www.airlines.org/jobs. | | | YELLEN FROM THE TOP OF HER LUNGS — This afternoon, Treasury Secretary JANET YELLEN will hold a bilateral meeting with Ukrainian PM DENYS SHMYHAL at the Treasury Department, where she is expected to reiterate her focus on galvanizing international support for Ukrainian economic assistance and outline the IMF’s recently ratified $15.6 billion economic package for Ukraine. Yellen will also press the importance of appropriate safeguards to combat any misuse of the funds, according to a Treasury spokesperson. After their bilat, Yellen and Shmyhal will deliver remarks to the press. Here’s a sneak peek at Yellen’s prepared remarks: “As President [VOLODYMYR] ZELENSKYY said, this support is not charity — it’s an investment in democracy and global security. It comes with important safeguards to ensure that it is used effectively and delivers for the people of Ukraine,” Yellen will say. “And by supporting the Ukrainian home front — keeping children in school, hospitals open, and first responders on the job — we are helping to underpin the brave resistance of Ukrainians fighting on the front lines for their freedom.”
| | | | A message from Airlines for America:   Did you know? Every day more than 780,000 workers in America make our industry go. Last year, airlines helped 50,000 new careers take flight. Learn more: www.airlines.org/jobs. | | | | | BIDEN’S THURSDAY (all times Eastern):
6:15 a.m.: The president will meet with Irish President MICHAEL HIGGINS and participate in a tree planting ceremony and ringing of the Peace Bell in Dublin.
8 a.m.: Biden will meet with Taoiseach LEO VARADKAR.
8:40 a.m.: Biden will attend a youth Gaelic sports demonstration.
10:45 a.m.: Biden will address the Houses of the Oireachtas.
2 p.m.: Biden will attend a banquet dinner.
VP KAMALA HARRIS’ THURSDAY:
11 a.m.: The VP and second gentleman DOUG EMHOFF will deliver remarks to welcome wounded warriors, their caregivers and families to the White House as part of the annual Soldier Ride.
3:30 p.m: Harris will deliver remarks on the administration’s “Investing in America” tour at the Arland D. Williams Memorial Bridge, where she will detail new funding to improve the safety of bridges across the nation.
THE HOUSE and THE SENATE are out. | | | | | | 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
|  Justin Pearson celebrates with supporters after being reinstated to the Tennessee House of Representatives by the Shelby County Board of Commissioners building in Memphis, Tenn., on Wednesday, April 12, 2023. | Chris Day/The Commercial Appeal via AP | | | PLAYBOOK READS | | 2024 WATCH SCOTT’S PATH TO VICTORY — “How Tim Scott thinks he can outmaneuver Trump, DeSantis and Pence,” by Natalie Allison: South Carolina Sen. TIM SCOTT “has kept a healthy distance from [DONALD] TRUMP in the Senate, neither a loyalist and cheerleader nor a critic. That puts him in position to pick up Trump admirers who are ready for the party to move on, as well as anti-Trump Republicans. But positioning oneself as the candidate who can earn the support of social conservatives while also broadening the GOP’s appeal to independents and swing voters will prove to be a tall order.” DeSANTIS DOWNLOAD — There’s a pair of stories up that pull back the curtain on the scramble from Florida Gov. RON DeSANTIS’ team as it tries to seal up support from D.C. Republicans. — DeSantis coming to D.C: Our colleague Alex Isenstadt reports that DeSantis will travel to the nation’s capitol next week to “meet with Republican members of Congress and conservative leaders for an event dubbed as a ‘meet and greet policy discussion.’” Expected to join: Wisconsin Rep. MIKE GALLAGHER, Illinois Rep. DARIN LaHOOD and Iowa Rep. RANDY FEENSTRA. — His allies try to stanch the bleeding: NBC’s Matt Dixon reports that DeSantis’ team is contacting members of Florida’s GOP congressional delegation, asking them to halt any more endorsements in the 2024 race after Rep. BYRON DONALDS endorsed Trump. The targeted lawmakers include Reps. AARON BEAN, VERN BUCHANAN, KAT CAMMACK, MARIO DIAZ-BALART, LAUREL LEE and GREG STEUBE. — Meanwhile, in Tallahassee: “Meet the Florida Republicans who oppose the 6-week abortion ban,” by Arek Sarkissian in Tallahassee, Fla. UP FOR DEBATE — “The RNC chose Fox for first debate but rankled conservatives by entertaining CNN,” by Alex Isenstadt and Meridith McGraw HALEY’S TIGHTROPE ON ABORTION — “Nikki Haley, eager to carve a lane, courts women voters, talks abortion during Iowa trip,” by the Des Moines Register’s Galen Bacharier: “‘Let's let the states work this out,’ Haley said. ‘If Congress decides to do it — but don't get in that game of them saying”'how many weeks, how many” — no. Let's first figure out what we agree on, and then move forward.’” TRUMP CARDS TRUMP MULTI-FRONT LEGAL WAR … — In Washington: Special counsel JACK SMITH is zeroing in on Trump fundraising off of false claims about the 2020 election, report WaPo’s Josh Dawsey, Devlin Barrett, Rosalind Helderman and Jacqueline Alemany. Prosecutors “are said to be interested in whether anyone associated with the fundraising operation violated wire fraud laws, which make it illegal to make false representations over email to swindle people out of money.” The DOJ is also looking into Trump’s handling of a “map he took with him when he left office that contains sensitive intelligence information,”per NYT’s Maggie Haberman, Adam Goldman and Alan Feuer. — In Florida: “Trump sues Michael Cohen, a key witness in N.Y. criminal case, seeking $500 million,” by NBC’s Rebecca Shabad and Daniel Barnes — In New York: “The Trump Team’s Startling Questions for E. Jean Carroll Jurors,” by the Daily Beast’s Jose Pagliery: “One of Trump’s proposed questions stands out: ‘Do you think that the #metoo movement has gone too far?’” … “Trump to Face Questioning Thursday in N.Y. Attorney General’s Lawsuit,” by NYT’s Ben Protess, Jonah Bromwich and William Rashbaum — And here’s a shocker: “Trump’s tale of crying Manhattan court employees was ‘absolute BS,’ law enforcement source says,” by Yahoo’s Michael Isikoff THE WHITE HOUSE
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Patrick Semansky/AP Photo | MAY THE ROAD RISE UP TO MEET YOU — “‘I’m Comin’ Home’: Biden Takes a Tour of His Irish Heritage,” by NYT’s Katie Rogers and Michael Shear: “President Biden climbed the stone stairs of an ancient castle in the Republic of Ireland on Wednesday and paused to look out toward an iron-gray Irish Sea, where his maternal great-great-great grandfather set sail for America in 1849. On the ground, bagpipers puffed out an original song, called ‘A Biden Return,’ to celebrate the 80-year-old’s latest visit to his motherland. Irish rain drizzled down the president’s baseball cap. In other words, this was Peak Joe Biden.” Related read: “Joe O’Biden? In Ireland, president wonders why anyone leaves,” by AP’s Colleen Long and Darlene Superville Clicker: “Biden’s Visit to Ireland, in Pictures,” by NYT’s Kenny Holston CONGRESS KFILE ON THE CASE — “Hakeem Jeffries’ ‘vague recollection’ of controversy surrounding his uncle undermined by college editorial defending him,” by CNN’s Andrew Kaczynski and Em Steck INVESTIGATION INVENTORY — “House GOP Subpoenas FTC for Twitter Investigation Documents,” by WSJ’s Ryan Tracy POLICY CORNER IMMIGRATION FILES — “Signature Biden asylum reform is now on hold,” by L.A. Times’ Hamed Aleaziz: “The so-called asylum processing rule, which the administration launched with great fanfare in 2022, allowed asylum officers to unilaterally grant and deny asylum to migrants at the southern border. Administration officials insist that the pause is a temporary measure … [but] critics of the administration say the pause signals Biden’s latest move away from reforming the asylum process and back toward Trump-style restrictions at the southern border.”
| | | | A message from Airlines for America:   U.S. airlines are helping thousands of new careers take off every month. Learn more: www.airlines.org/jobs. | | | MORE POLITICS CONVENTIONAL WISDOM CHECK — “Top Wisconsin Supreme Court operatives’ advice: Abortion matters — with a wrinkle,” by Zach Montellaro: “The insights from [newly elected Supreme Court Justice JANET] PROTASIEWICZ’s campaign team offers a note of caution — and a roadmap — to Democrats who think abortion has transformed the electoral landscape in their favor. Broadly speaking, the issue plays in their favor, but the experience in Wisconsin suggests that it will take a nuanced strategy to fully reap the political benefits.” IT’S REELECTION SEASON — “Mitt Romney takes first step toward 2024 Senate reelection campaign,” by The Salt Lake Tribune’s Bryan Schott FIGHTIN’ FOR FITN — “New Hampshire says Iowa Democrats' new caucus plan would trigger 2024 calendar fight,” Des Moines Register’s Brianne Pfannenstiel WAR IN UKRAINE NEW DETAIL— “No Russia-Ukraine peace talks expected this year, U.S. leak shows,” by WaPo’s John Hudson: “The assessment … could galvanize the war’s critics who have called on major powers such as the United States and China to push for Kyiv and Moscow to reach a settlement and end a conflict that has displaced millions and left hundreds of thousands dead or wounded.” How we got here: “Why the U.S. didn’t notice leaked documents circulating on social media,” by Erin Banco EVAN GERSHKOVICH LATEST — “Putin Approved Arrest of U.S. Reporter on Spying Charges,” Bloomberg BEYOND THE BELTWAY BACK IN ACTION — “Justin Pearson reappointed to Tennessee House of Representatives by Shelby County Commission,” by the Memphis Commercial Appeal’s Katherine Burgess and Lucas Finton MEDIAWATCH FOX IN THE DOGHOUSE — “Judge in Dominion case sanctions Fox for withholding evidence, plans to appoint special master to probe possible misconduct,” by CNN’s Marshall Cohen in Wilmington, Del.: “The sanction [Delaware Superior Court Judge ERIC] DAVIS imposed against Fox will allow Dominion to conduct additional depositions of some Fox witnesses, if they want to, at this late stage in the case. Fox must make those witnesses available and pay for the depositions.” The context: “These extraordinary moves, on the brink of trial, are the latest blows to Fox News as it tries to fend off the $1.6 billion defamation lawsuit that Dominion filed over the network’s promotion of the false claim that its voting software rigged the 2020 election. Jury selection is set to begin Thursday, with opening statements following on Monday.” What comes next: “The special master will look into what sanctions might be appropriate against Fox, including potentially instructing jurors that Fox inappropriately blocked Dominion from obtaining key evidence. Fox said it would oppose this move, and the judge said he’ll decide later in the case.” Fox News’ statement: “As counsel explained to the Court, FOX produced the supplemental information from [former Fox News producer ABBY] GROSSBERG when we first learned it,” a Fox News spokesperson said in a statement, adding a previous statement given: “RUPERT MURDOCH has been listed as executive chairman of FOX News in our SEC filings for several years and this filing was referenced by Dominion’s own attorney during his deposition.” Meanwhile: Puck’s Dylan Byers flicks at one of the overarching questions in the dramatic run-up to the trial: Why did Murdoch not settle this case? TWIT EXODUS — “PBS Joins NPR in Quitting Twitter Over State-Backed Label,” by Bloomberg’s Gerry Smith
| | | | 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 | | Joe Manchin traveled to Ukraine and got Volodymyr Zelenskyy to pose with a West Virginia University Mountaineers baseball cap. Brad Paisley was also among the group meeting Zelenskyy. Jeff Bezos is out of the running to buy the Washington Commanders, his paper reports. IN MEMORIAM — “Richard Levick, crisis communications specialist, dies at 65,” by WaPo’s Michael Rosenwald: “Mr. Levick’s work took him around the world, placing him alongside chief executives and heads of state in sometimes dangerous environments requiring heavy security.” OUT AND ABOUT — SPOTTED: Second gentleman Doug Emhoff at the America Votes State Summit Reception at Unconventional Diner last night. Pic — SPOTTED at the World Economic Forum's Young Global Leaders’ gathering at the Avisa Partners U.S. Georgetown headquarters last night: Danny Richmond, Elaine Smith-Genser, Nilmini Rubin, Joel Rubin and Brian Forde. FIRST IN PLAYBOOK — The Senate Majority PAC have announced several senior staffers for the 2024 cycle: Amanda Ach as digital director, Ghada Alkiek as political manager, Sarah Guggenheimer as comms director, Emma Levin as senior adviser, Jessica Tucker as research director and Naveen Madathil as special assistant to the president. — The University of Chicago Institute of Politics is announcing its spring visiting fellows: former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, Astead Herndon, Dake Kang and Joan Donovan. — Marc Goumbri is now deputy chief of staff and senior adviser to the president at the AFL-CIO, replacing Julie Collier, who’s moved up to chief of staff. He previously was senior adviser to the president at the Service Employees International Union. TRANSITIONS — Andrew Mamo is now comms director for Sen. Tammy Baldwin’s (D-Wis.) reelection campaign. He most recently was deputy chief of staff and comms director for Rep. Josh Harder (D-Calif.). … Sofia Rose Gross is now director of comms at Anduril Industries. She most recently was head of policy partnerships and social impact at Snapchat, and is currently a public affairs officer in the U.S. Navy Reserve. ENGAGED — Abigail Cipparone, legislative director for Rep. Kweisi Mfume (D-Md.), and Michael Hopkins, a percussionist for “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band, got engaged Saturday afternoon at Lohmann’s Preserve on the Connecticut River in Old Lyme, Conn. The couple met at the First Congregational Church of DC. Pic HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) … Reps. Jim Costa (D-Calif.) … Celinda Lake … Doug Coutts … Brian Bartlett … Taylor Gross of the Herald Group … POLITICO’s Jack Smith, Amy Carlile, Colleen Luccioli and Jeffrey Tomich … CNN’s Nathaniel Meyersohn … Will Davis of the OECD Washington Center … Edelman’s Sujata Mitra and Kate Meissner … Maggie Feldman-Piltch … C-SPAN’s Jeremy Art … Alex Yost … John Barsa … Engage’s Nick Schaper … Sally Larson … Ford’s Rachel McCleery … Kasey O’Brien of Middle Seat … NBC’s Justice Gilpin-Green … Bloomberg’s Jeannie Baumann … AP’s Ayanna Alexander … Julia Brunner … Jonah Cunningham … WaPo’s Lateshia Beachum … Morning Consult’s Jeff Cartwright … Dean Hingson … American Conservation Coalition’s Will Galloway … Rebecca Pearcey … SKDK’s Mia Motley … Emily Loeb … Deena Tauster of Rep. Andrew Garbarino’s (R-N.Y.) office … former Reps. Marie Newman (D-Ill.), Susan Davis (D-Calif.) and Ted Yoho (R-Fla.) … Amy Goodman … David Carmen of the Carmen Group … Steve Ayscue … Geoff Embler … Kevin Warsh … Meredith Stasa … former Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell (R-Colo.) (9-0) 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 and producers Setota Hailemariam and Bethany Irvine.
| | | | A message from Airlines for America: Did you know? U.S. passenger airlines currently employ their largest workforce in 20 years – and we aren’t stopping there. Our carriers know that the miracle of aviation is not possible without the more than 780,000 employees that make our industry go. We understand the importance of securing a pipeline of employees – including pilots, flight attendants, mechanics and others – to accommodate growing demand for air travel across the country and around the globe. This is why U.S. airlines are investing heavily in our employees – new and old – and offering quality jobs with wages above the U.S. private sector average. In fact, in 2022, airlines helped 50,000 new careers take off – and we are still hiring.
Learn more about U.S. airline employment and hiring initiatives at www.airlines.org/jobs. | | | | | | | 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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