| | | | |  | | By Rachael Bade, Ryan Lizza and Eugene Daniels | | | With help from Eli Okun and Garrett Ross
|  Playbook has learned new details about how former President Donald Trump’s team has worked behind the scenes to ensure RNC delegate selection rules play to their favor. | Drew Angerer/Getty Images | | | | |  | DRIVING THE DAY | | | ABOUT THE ARRAIGNMENT — “Inside the courtroom: Donald Trump, Jack Smith and a historic glance,” by Kyle Cheney. More on this in a moment … WHAT GOP INSIDERS ARE WORRIED ABOUT — “Trump plans to use charges to revisit 2020 election, a fraught topic for GOP,” by WaPo’s Isaac Arnsdorf, Josh Dawsey and Michael Scherer. WHAT DEM INSIDERS ARE WORRIED ABOUT — “Biden beware: Dems see a massive dip in grassroots donations as enthusiasm wanes,” by Jessica Piper NEW NYT/SIENA IOWA POLL — DONALD TRUMP 44%, RON DeSANTIS 20%, TIM SCOTT 9%, VIVEK RAMASWAMY 5%, NIKKI HALEY 4%, MIKE PENCE 3%, DOUG BURGUM 1%, CHRIS CHRISTIE <1% … The writeup … The toplines … The crosstabs CUCCINELLI: TRUMP IS TRYING TO ‘RIG’ THE NOMINATION — In late June, California GOP Chair JESSICA MILLAN PATTERSON and RNC committee members HARMEET DHILLON and SHAWN STEEL floated a new set of delegate selection rules that could make their state more competitive in the GOP nomination process. Blindsided by the proposal — which would potentially allow lower finishers to claim more delegates than under the previous system — Trump's aides and allies jumped into action and called state leaders to complain. Far-right internet personality and white nationalist LAURA LOOMER alleged the state party was trying to steal the nomination from Trump, triggering a cascade of conspiracy theories among the MAGA faithful. And after speaking to Trump’s concerned inner circle, Speaker KEVIN McCARTHY and his home-state allies made phone calls to Patterson: This new setup wouldn’t do, they said; she needed to change the rules. Within days, Patterson, Dhillon and other authors of the original proposal had all but abandoned their plan. And last weekend, the executive committee of the California GOP overwhelmingly adopted rules that Trump’s team supported — awarding all of the state’s delegates to the candidate who secures more than half of statewide vote, which Trump campaign aides believe he will do. Playbook has learned new details about how Trump’s team has worked behind the scenes to ensure delegate selection rules play to their favor — or, in their rivals’ telling, to “rig” the system. While state parties traditionally set their own standards for apportioning delegates — and most candidates just follow them — the Trump orbit has been quietly reaching out to allies to make tweaks either aimed at locking down the nomination or beating back proposals that could help his rivals. The wonky-yet-important effort underscores just how politically savvy the Trump operation — once caught flat-footed by Sen. TED CRUZ’s attempted delegate mutiny at the 2016 convention — has become. And it exposes how Trump’s aides have been running circles around his rivals, with only one of them — RON DeSANTIS and his allies at the Never Back Down super PAC — even putting up a fight. “He who controls the rules controls the process. You control process, you win,” Trump campaign senior adviser CHRIS LaCIVITA, a longtime political operative steeped in convention and party procedures, told Playbook. “We’re basically guarding our flanks. We’re stopping any monkey business if they want to do it like Cruz did in 2016.” Unsurprisingly, Trump’s rivals see it differently. “They’re looking to rig the system in their favor,” Never Back Down founder KEN CUCCINELLI told Playbook of Trump’s efforts. “They’re going in and strong-arming the [GOP] committees.” THE VIEW FROM DeSANTIS WORLD: Cuccinelli, who helped orchestrate the Cruz 2016 convention effort, says he might have seen this coming. When he served in the Trump administration, he recalled, the president would rib him about how he leveraged state party rules to yield delegates for Cruz in states Trump had won. “Where the hell are my delegates? Cuccinelli took them from me!” Trump would joke. At one point, Cuccinelli offered to help Trump “fix” the system so that wouldn’t happen. But by then, Trump was realizing that he could play the same games Cruz had played — maybe even better: "Well, maybe I want them rigged now,” he told Cuccinelli. “He is against rigged elections when they hurt him,” Cuccinelli told Playbook. “He doesn't appear to be against rigging elections to help him.” LaCivita said Cuccinelli — whom he helped elect Virginia attorney general — might as well be the pot calling the kettle black. And to be sure, DeSantis allies advocated for California’s original proposal, which would likely advantage their own campaign by awarding delegates to the top two vote-getters in each congressional district. “What’s so laughable about that is they were doing the same thing. ‘Smoke-filled backrooms?’” LaCivita said, mocking what Cuccinelli said of the California situation. “What the hell are they doing? … They’re just mad that they lost!” Good Friday morning. Thanks for reading Playbook. Drop us a line: Rachael Bade, Eugene Daniels, Ryan Lizza.
| | | | A message from The American Petroleum Institute (API): U.S. Oil and Natural Gas = American Security: Oil and natural gas made, moved and improved in America is the foundation of our nation’s energy security – today and for decades to come. Sadly, some in Washington muddle efforts to strengthen new production through bad policies and negative rhetoric. Let’s be clear: America’s energy security benefits from consistent policy support for oil and natural gas over coming decades. | | | INSIDE TRUMP’S PRESSURE CAMPAIGN: Run by well-seasoned rules gurus LaCivita, SUSIE WILES, BRIAN JACK and CLAYTON HENSEN, the Trump campaign’s efforts have borne fruit across the country. In Louisiana, they’ve bound delegates to support the state’s nominee for two ballots at the convention, a policy they’re also pushing in Massachusetts and Colorado — the latter of which will vote on the rules this weekend. In Idaho and Nevada, they convinced Republicans to ditch the states’ primary systems in favor of caucuses, which tend to advantage candidates (like you-know-who) who have the most support from hardcore base activists. The Trump team appears to be employing a carrot-and-stick approach. We’re reliably told that Trump has personally been very active in the effort, cultivating relationships by congratulating chairs on victories, inviting them to rallies and inviting state party leaders who vote on the rules to Mar-a-Lago and Bedminster, where he wines and dines them. In the California situation, McCarthy’s close alliance with Patterson was a huge factor in the shift. “This was Kevin McCarthy’s rule — which in turn was dictated by the Trump campaign,” one California official said. “He’s basically Jessica [Patterson]’s boss.” At the same time, Trump allies have made clear to state GOP officials that if newly adopted rules have an adverse impact on him, their parties could get a cold shoulder. During the California debate, a question about whether Trump — a major draw — would speak at the state’s Anaheim convention next month was left open — that is, until the GOP adopted his preferred rules. (The state announced Trump’s attendance days after the vote.) And Trump’s followers do the rest for him. During the California vote last weekend, more than 50 Trump protesters swarmed the meeting and tried to break in, forcing officials to call the cops, according to the LA Times. “They’re just stirring people up and scaring the members of the committee,” Cuccinelli complained to Playbook. “They're pulling out all the stops,” On the other side, the DeSantis campaign and Never Back Down have been fighting many of these changes. They’ve also been monitoring states like Alabama, according to Reuters, fearful that Trump allies will convince local leaders to hike the minimum threshold needed to secure delegates. But one GOP official not associated with either campaign said the DeSantis world’s efforts have been too little, too late: “They’re always a step behind.” THE PLAYBOOK INTERVIEW: BEN JUDAH — In 2023, there are two Europes: the Europe of the museums and the beaches, and the real Europe as lived by its people. And that Europe has changed dramatically in recent decades — from the end of the Cold War to the ongoing boom in migration to the war in Ukraine, which has both created more solidarity among European nations and rattled the foundation of its economy.
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| On this episode of Playbook Deep Dive, Ryan talks with Ben Judah, author of “This is Europe,” about why you probably need to update your assumptions about Europe — and why it is that many American policymakers simply don’t understand the realities that leaders like EMMANUEL MACRON, RISHI SUNAK and GIORGIA MELONI have to live with. Listen to the full episode on Apple Podcasts or Spotify
| | | | A message from The American Petroleum Institute (API): Ensure Access to America’s Oil and Natural Gas Resources: Did you know the Biden administration approved fewer than 2,900 permits for oil and natural gas energy development onshore last year – down from more than 4,900 permits in 2021? Washington must remove barriers to developing American energy to meet growing demand. | | | | | PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN’S FRIDAY — The president and first lady JILL BIDEN will depart Rehoboth Beach en route to New Castle, Del. at 8:45 a.m.
THE HOUSE and THE SENATE are out. | | | | | | STOP SCROLLING (for just a minute!). Introducing a revamped California Playbook newsletter with an all-new team and a sharpened mission! Join Lara Korte and Dustin Gardiner as they take you on an extraordinary journey through California's political landscape. From inside the Capitol in Sacramento to the mayor’s office in Los Angeles, and from the tech hub of Silicon Valley to even further beyond, we're your front-row ticket to the action. Subscribe for access to exclusive news, buzzworthy scoops and never-before-revealed behind-the-scenes details straight from the heart of California's political arena. Don't miss out — SUBSCRIBE TODAY and stay in the know! | | | | | | | PLAYBOOK READS | | THE TRUMP ARRAIGNMENT
|  This artist sketch depicts Donald Trump conferring with defense lawyer Todd Blanche during his appearance at the Federal Courthouse. | Dana Verkouteren via AP | INSIDE THE COURTROOM — Trump appeared in court yesterday, where he was arraigned on charges accusing him of orchestrating a criminal conspiracy to try to derail the transfer of power after the 2020 election. Our colleagues Kyle Cheney and Betsy Woodruff Swan have the details from inside the room: “With hundreds of eyes fixed on him — including from several federal judges who lined the back of the wood-paneled courtroom — Trump stood and declared himself ‘not guilty’ of the sweeping four-count case prosecutors have leveled against him.”
|  Special Counsel Jack Smith arrives to make a statement to the press after former President Donald Trump was indicted by a federal grand jury. | Francis Chung/POLITICO | “During the tense, 27-minute proceeding, Trump was seated just 20 feet from special counsel JACK SMITH, the man attempting to convict him in two federal prosecutions that could result in lengthy prison sentences. For a moment as they awaited the start of the arraignment, the two appeared to make eye contact.” Working the crowd: Trump’s arrival in D.C. yesterday brought along a new iteration of the Trump show, with his trusted aides trying to spin the appearance to their political advantage, our colleague Alex Isenstadt writes. “Aides shot video footage of the arrival from the plane, while his operation blasted screen grabs of the cable news networks, all of them hyper focused on Trump’s arrival and motorcade ride through downtown D.C. “The portrayal they sought to convey was akin to that of a gladiator being summoned before the angry hordes in the coliseum. When the accompanying press corp got into the motorcade’s vans, Trump’s handlers gave them single-page pamphlets that described Special Counsel Jack Smith’s indictment of Trump for his efforts to overturn the election as part of the ‘Biden Playbook.’” The decision to even make the trip and appear in person was made “in an attempt to drum up more media attention regarding the latest charges,” CNN’s Alayna Treene reports. “The strategy, according to a source familiar with the plans, is to play into their broader narrative that special counsel Jack Smith is interfering with the 2024 presidential election by taking him off the campaign trail.” Look no further than Trump’s post-arraignment message on Truth Social for evidence of the strategy in play. What comes next: “Depending on whom you ask, Trump’s trial on charges that he sought to subvert the 2020 election could happen in 70 days. Or in three years. Those are the implicit opening bids from both prosecutors and defense lawyers as the weightiest and most complicated of the former president’s three criminal cases so far reaches the scheduling phase,” Kyle writes. JUDICIARY SQUARE KAGAN VS. ALITO ON SCOTUS ETHICS — Supreme Court Justice ELENA KAGAN is the latest member of the high court to jump into the heated ethics debate that has loomed over the justices, arguing at a judicial conference that Congress has broad powers to regulate the court, Josh Gerstein reports from Portland, Ore., placing her in direct opposition to fellow Justice SAMUEL ALITO. What Kagan said: “It just can’t be that the court is the only institution that somehow is not subject to checks and balances from anybody else. We’re not imperial,” Kagan told the audience of judges and lawyers attending the Ninth Circuit Judicial Conference. “Can Congress do various things to regulate the Supreme Court? I think the answer is: yes.” Related read: “Senate Democrats ask for Alito to be recused from Supreme Court ethics and tax cases,” by CNN’s Ariane de Vogue ONE TO WATCH — “The Next Affirmative Action Battle May Be at West Point,” by NYT’s Anemona Hartocollis: “Affirmative action at U.S. military academies was not addressed by the Supreme Court ruling in June, because Chief Justice JOHN ROBERTS wrote, in a footnote, that they had ‘potentially distinct interests.’” 2024 WATCH SCOTT FACES SCRUTINY OVER CHINA — Like every Republican presidential candidate, TIM SCOTT loves to talk tough on China. But his record in Washington tells a more complex story. “Since taking the top Republican slot on the powerful Senate Banking Committee this year, the South Carolina lawmaker has been one of the biggest roadblocks to new rules restricting U.S.-China trade — everything from TikTok bans to reviews of high-tech investment,” Gavin Bade writes this morning. The dichotomy “reflects just how much pressure GOP candidates are now under to take an aggressive line with Beijing, in the mold of Trump, even when their positions hew closer to traditional Republican stances favoring free trade and unfettered American investment overseas.” Related read: DeSantis is turning the screws on Scott, calling his “conservative bona fides into question, part of an uptick in sparring between the GOP presidential hopefuls over abortion and how slavery is taught in Florida schools,” The Post and Courier’s Caitlin Byrd writes. DeSantis accused Scott of buying into a “false narrative” over Florida school curriculum in a conference call with reporters yesterday. “You have a decision to make as a Republican,” DeSantis said: “Do you side with Kamala and do you side with a phony narrative against Florida? Or do you recognize this for what it is?” MR. ELECTABILITY — “DeSantis calls for ‘slitting throats’ in government, escalating rhetoric,” by WaPo’s Hannah Knowles and Lisa Rein UP FOR DEBATE — Here are some updates from the various GOP presidential campaigns on where they stand in meeting the RNC’s debate qualifications … — MIKE PENCE closes in: “Pence adviser confirms he received 7,400 donations yesterday — most of it through direct mail, meaning it’s not entirely related to the indictment,” per our colleague Adam Wren. “The campaign long forecasted his direct mail would take more time to show ROI. He’s closing in on 40,000 donations.” — Livin’ on a prayer: Former Arkansas Gov. ASA HUTCHINSON told CBS he’s “close to halfway there” in reaching the threshold, vowing that he is “going to get there.” VIDEO BREAKDOWN — “Where GOP hopefuls stand on transgender issues,” by Lara Priluck and Renee Klahr
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| | | | | A message from The American Petroleum Institute (API):   Policies Matter: To increase energy supplies, our leaders must remove leasing bans and permit delays. | | | MORE POLITICS LEFT BEHIND — “A Progressive Powerhouse’s Surprise Layoffs Fuel Concerns About The Left’s Future,” by HuffPost’s Daniel Marans: “Faced with a shortage of funds, [Justice Democrats] laid off nine of its 20 staff members in mid-July, a move that took many prominent progressives by surprise. On Capitol Hill and elsewhere, those progressives are anxious about what a smaller ‘JD,’ as the group is affectionately known, could mean for the left as a whole.” COMING SOON TO THE CULTURE WARS — “Medical Group Backs Youth Gender Treatments, but Calls for Research Review,” by NYT’s Azeen Ghorayshi THE WHITE HOUSE NIGHT OF THE HUNTER — The transcript of closed-door testimony by DEVON ARCHER, a former business associate of HUNTER BIDEN, was released by the House Oversight Committee yesterday. And while the 141-page transcript contains some instances of Hunter Biden leveraging his proximity to the then-VP, it “also includes multiple occasions in which Archer, who founded Rosemont Seneca Partners with Hunter Biden, testified in definitive terms that Hunter Biden was not able to influence his father’s actions or policy decisions and that ‘nothing of material’ was ever discussed” with Joe Biden, WaPo’s Jacqueline Alemany writes. TALK OF THIS TOWN — Michael Schaffer’s latest column: “Joe Biden Has a Dog Problem: Stop judging Commander, the White House pooch. But maybe judge the guy whose German Shepherd bites his employees?” CONGRESS WHAT THEY’RE READING IN SOUTH FLORIDA — “Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, other progressives to visit left-ruled Latin American nations,” by L.A. Times’ Tracy Wilkinson: “An 11-member group of lawmakers and staff plan to leave Aug. 14 to meet with officials and civil society groups in the region’s three largest leftist-ruled democracies: Brazil, Chile and Colombia. The weeklong trip to the countries’ capitals is being sponsored by a progressive research group based in Washington and won’t use taxpayer funds, the organizers said.” TRUMP CARDS GEORGIA ON MY MIND — “Security upped near Fulton courthouse as possible Trump indictment nears,” by The Atlanta Journal Constitution’s Jozsef Papp and Tamar Hallerman AMERICA AND THE WORLD TOP-ED — Niger President MOHAMED BAZOUM writes for WaPo: “My country is under attack and I’ve been taken hostage” DANCE OF THE SUPERPOWERS — “Two U.S. Navy Sailors Charged With Helping Chinese,” by NYT’s Adam Goldman and Jill Cowan: “The charges appear to reflect the Chinese government’s deep interest in the Navy’s Pacific Fleet and other aspects of the American military’s operations in that region, part of a broader effort by China to steal American corporate and national security secrets.” FOR YOUR RADAR — “U.S. to Place Armed Sailors, Marines on Tankers to Stop Iran’s Attacks,” by WSJ’s Gordon Lubold and Vivian Salama ISIS VIP DOA — “Islamic State Confirms Top Leader Is Dead,” by WSJ’s Jared Malsin THE NEW CLIMATE REALITY — “The world just got its first real taste of what life is like at 1.5 degrees Celsius,” by WaPo’s Shannon Osaka BEYOND THE BELTWAY BACK IN ACTION — “Justin Jones, Justin Pearson win reelection following Tennessee Three expulsion vote,” by The Nashville Tennessean’s Vivian Jones CAUGHT UP IN THE CULTURE WARS — “AP Psychology ‘effectively banned’ in Florida over sexuality lessons, College Board says,” by Juan Perez Jr. and Andrew Atterbury TV TONIGHT — PBS’ “Washington Week”: Francesca Chambers, Carrie Johnson, Hugo Lowell and Jeff Mason. SUNDAY SO FAR … CNN “State of the Union”: Mike Pence … John Lauro. Panel: Catherine Lucey, Kristen Holmes, Ramesh Ponnuru and Alex Isenstadt. NBC “Meet the Press”: John Lauro … Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.). Panel: Peter Baker, Al Cardenas, Hallie Jackson and Kimberly Atkins Stohr FOX “Fox News Sunday”: John Lauro ... Panel: Horace Cooper, Doug Heye, Josh Kraushaar and Elizabeth Wydra Legal panel: Jonathan Turley and Tom Dupree. ABC “This Week”: Gov. Doug Burgum (R-N.D.) … Rep. Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.) … John Lauro Panel: Donna Brazile, Reince Priebus, Marianna Sotomayor and Julie Pace. CBS “Face the Nation”: Bill Barr … Mike Pence … Will Hurd … Rep. Dean Phillips (D-Minn.). MSNBC “Inside with Jen Psaki”: Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) … Ron Klain.
| | | | HITTING YOUR INBOX AUGUST 14—CALIFORNIA CLIMATE: Climate change isn’t just about the weather. It's also about how we do business and create new policies, especially in California. So we have something cool for you: A brand-new California Climate newsletter. It's not just climate or science chat, it's your daily cheat sheet to understanding how the legislative landscape around climate change is shaking up industries across the Golden State. Cut through the jargon and get the latest developments in California as lawmakers and industry leaders adapt to the changing climate. Subscribe now to California Climate to keep up with the changes. | | | | | | | PLAYBOOKERS | | Joe Biden is leaning into the Dark Brandon meme again. Caroline Kennedy and her son swam in the Solomon Islands to honor JFK. WHITE HOUSE DEPARTURE LOUNGE — Abdullah Hasan is leaving his assistant press secretary role at the White House. He will be starting law school at Georgetown University this fall. More from HuffPost TRANSITIONS — Andrew Whitaker is joining Public Sq. as chief of staff. He most recently was at AFPI and is a DHS, Deloitte and Trump administration alum. … Salena Jegede is now chief of donor advising at Way to Win. She previously was chief advancement officer at the Sierra Club. ENGAGED — Cassidy Flood, law clerk at the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, and Charles Hinson, legislative analyst at DHS Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction and a Rob Portman alum, got engaged on July 22 in front of the U.S. Capitol Building. The two met through mutual friends at a Fourth of July party in D.C. in 2018. Pic … Another pic HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Former President Barack Obama … House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) … AP’s Seung Min Kim … Bret Baier … Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds … The Hill’s Bob Cusack … WaPo’s Joby Warrick and Mike Madden …… Alex Mallin of ABC … CBS’ Katie Watson … AARP’s Deirdre Shesgreen … Caren Auchman of Lewis … Joel Bailey of BGR Group … Andrea Hechavarria of Terumo BCT Inc. … CNN’s Greg Krieg … Pete Brodnitz … POLITICO’s Michael Schaffer … Brett Loper ... Kate Michelman … Reagan Anderson ... Emil Hill … Claire Berry of Rep. Judy Chu’s (D-CA) office … former A.G. Alberto Gonzales … Amelia Irvine … Minnesota A.G. Keith Ellison (6-0) … former Reps. Rob Andrews (D-N.J.) and Tom Rice (R-S.C.) … former U.S. Treasurer Rosario Marin … former Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland … Rokk Solutions’ Varuna Bhatia … American Conservation Coalition’s Logan Lus … Ron Bodinson (77) … Andrei Cherny … Harry Harris … former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot … Something Major’s Randi Braun 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 The American Petroleum Institute (API): Plan for Production: Geopolitical events remind us that American oil and natural gas are critical to U.S. energy security.
Today oil and natural gas supply 68% of America’s energy. To continue meeting demand as population grows, America requires sound policy and planning – supported by Washington’s acknowledgement that oil and natural gas are strategic assets that take years to develop. Decreasing reliance on foreign suppliers while increasing our self-sufficiency provides immediate economic benefits and American jobs in communities from coast to coast.
America needs:
• More access to federal onshore resources through increased leasing. The administration’s record in onshore leasing runs counter to America’s energy security needs.
• A new offshore leasing plan. To date the Biden administration has leased the fewest offshore acreage than any president in recent history.
• Permitting reforms to allow energy infrastructure to move forward in a timely manner.
• Regulatory policies that encourage U.S. oil and natural gas investment. | | | | | | | 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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