| | | | |  | | By Daniel Lippman | | Presented by |  | | | With help from Eli Okun, Garrett Ross and Bethany Irvine
|  | DRIVING THE DAY | | CALL IT THE 2028 BOWL — JD VANCE’s Ohio State Buckeyes will meet PETE BUTTIGIEG’s Notre Dame Fighting Irish in next Monday’s college football national championship game in New Orleans. (h/t Adam Wren) Vance last night: “Hopefully everyone is cool with me skipping the inauguration so I can go to the national title game,” he posted to X. (We’ll note the game is at 7:30 p.m.; he’ll have an airplane at his disposal shortly after noon.) WHAT JACK REED IS READING — “Key senators receive Pete Hegseth's FBI background check days out from confirmation hearing,” by NBC’s Julie Tsirkin, Sarah Fitzpatrick, Ryan Nobles, Scott Wong and Courtney Kube: “Democrats on the committee that NBC News spoke with have been frustrated by the delay, and suggest the FBI report may not be thorough, particularly for a Cabinet pick that has been entangled in controversy.”
|  VP Kamala Harris' presidential campaign's joint fundraising committee is still charging monthly recurring donors. | Pool photo by Stephanie Scarbrough | POST-ELECTION WITHDRAWAL — The “victory” part didn’t pan out for the Harris Victory Fund. But the funding part remains alive and well on the bank statements of some Democratic donors. Two months after VP KAMALA HARRIS’ defeat, the joint fundraising committee her campaign set up with the Democratic National Committee is still charging monthly recurring donors to the committee, according to screenshots shared with Playbook. And some donors are not happy. “It’s silly, out of touch, and needlessly takes advantage of our most loyal supporters,” said a Democratic operative who shared screenshots of their donations. The operative didn’t flinch at a December charge, given the wrap-up expenses associated with any campaign (though the Harris camp entered late November with more than $1.8 million in cash). But a January charge? The Harris donor said the committee solicited no explicit approval to continue the donations after the election, though it sent emails saying, “Thank you for your generous monthly commitment,” and that the donations will continue “until you contact us.” It’s the latest dust-up over the ethics of online fundraising — particularly when it comes to signing up small-dollar donors for recurring credit-card contributions that get set on autopilot. The 2020 Trump campaign, as NYT’s Shane Goldmacher reported in 2021, raised gobs of cash in part by making it increasingly difficult for donors to see that they were signing up for monthly automatic donations, including hiding it in pre-checked boxes buried in fine print. Those tactics helped result in more than a half million refunds totalling $64 million for the last two and a half months of 2020 from the Trump campaign, the RNC and joint committees — far outpacing their Democratic counterparts. The Harris Victory Fund situation is different: No one appears to be disputing that they signed up for monthly withdrawals. But should those contributions continue even after victory has slipped away? Harris herself told Democrats to “stay in the fight,” a DNC official told Playbook. And while a Harris Victory Fund donation page remains active on ActBlue, the fund itself is now defunct and any contributions go directly to the DNC. “Those HVF donations are going to help Democrats across the country as we rebuild the party,” the official said, adding that donors can cancel anytime. The fact that the funds are now being redirected, however, raises another ethical quandary: Is that fair to donors who contributed to an entity with Harris’ name on it? The soon-to-be-ex-VP won’t have any access to the money as she evaluates her political future and whether to run for president again, governor of California or stay out of politics. To many political pros, that is one of many reasons why it should be a best practice to cease drawing on donor bank accounts after Election Day. A senior digital staffer on MITT ROMNEY’s 2012 presidential campaign said all of their recurring donations ended within a few days after his loss. That person said the Harris fund’s decision to continue tapping small-dollar donors was “super shady” and tantamount to “grifting.” “These people didn’t sign up to be paying bills in January,” the Republican said. MIKE NELLIS, head of the Democratic online fundraising firm Authentic, said when his clients’ campaigns end in defeat, “there’s an expectation that they’re going to shut down the recurring donations because there’s no need.” But he said he was OK with the DNC continuing to pull donations from Harris donors. “If you’re rolling the committee into something that’s gonna continue to have an impact such as the DNC or another political campaign, I’m more than comfortable continuing the recurring donations so long as it’s transparent to the donor and compliant with ActBlue and the FEC,” he said. Good Saturday morning. Thanks for reading Playbook. Drop me a line: Daniel Lippman.
| | | | A message from Meta: Open source AI is available to all, not just the few.
Meta’s open source AI, Llama, is free to use – enabling startups like Zauron Labs to collaborate with universities to build an AI tool that’s like a spellchecker for radiologists.
Now, radiologists have more ways to reduce the 4% error rate in the 3 billion imaging exams done each year – potentially improving outcomes for millions of patients.
Learn more about how others are building with open source AI. | | | LATEST IN LA — As wildfires continue to ravage the Los Angeles area, the political sparks continue to fly. In a letter to DONALD TRUMP yesterday, California Gov. GAVIN NEWSOM urged the president-elect to visit the disaster area and not to “politicize human tragedy or spread disinformation,” Christopher Cadelago reports. As the fires continue to spread across Southern California, they’ve also “dramatically accelerated the feud between the incoming president and the ambitious California Democrat.” In a Truth Social post earlier this week Trump pointed fingers at Newsom and LA Mayor KAREN BASS' leadership for their "gross incompetence" that led to the destruction. Speaking of the blame game: “To be candid, I wasn’t getting straight answers” from local officials, Newsom said in a “Pod Save America” interview excerpt posted last night. “I watched the press conference, I met with some of those leaders. We had my team start talking to local leaders: ‘What’s going on?’ … I was getting different answers. When you start getting different answers, then I’m not getting the actual story.” On the ground: New evacuation orders were issued overnight for the Palisades fire, which now threatens neighborhoods to the east, per NBC News. So far 10 deaths have been attributed to the destructive blazes but the death toll is expected to rise as first responders and search teams comb through the evacuation zones, LA Times’ Grace Toohey reports. LA County Fire Chief ANTHONY MARRONE noted that crews are going to have to “go from house to house to house. … That might be upwards of 10,000 structures that need to be searched for human remains.”
| | | | A message from Meta:   | | | | | WHAT'S HAPPENING TODAY | | At the White House President JOE BIDEN and Harris have nothing on their public schedules.
| | | | | PLAYBOOK READS | | 9 THINGS THAT STUCK WITH US
| 
Donald Trump is holding meetings this weekend at his Mar-a-Lago estate. | Alex Brandon/AP | 1. TRUMP’S PALACE INTRIGUE: Trump is set to meet with GOP lawmakers and various high-profile politicos on his Floridia estate through the weekend as coalitions seek to lobby and strategize with the president-elect before he retakes the Oval Office. Among those many suitors: Meta CEO MARK ZUCKERBURG, who met with Trump yesterday just days after making widespread changes to company policies around fact checking and diversity and inclusion initiatives, Semafor’s Shelby Talcott scoops: “Meta is just one tech company that has moved quickly to build ties with Trump and his incoming administration, recently appointing Ultimate Fighting Championship CEO DANA WHITE (a close friend of Trump’s) to its board.” Outside of Trump’s Sunshine State compound, locals in Palm Beach are chafing against the increased security measures, blockades and regular motorcades that have taken over their barrier island city since Trump’s victory, WSJ’s Holly Peterson writes: “For blue-blood locals who have crafted an otherwise frictionless existence here, these daily disruptions are maddening. Hell hath no fury like a blue-haired lady in a magnolia Lilly Pulitzer dress insisting on order.” 2. ANNALS OF INFLUENCE: With Trump’s inauguration just around the corner, Megan Messerly and Dasha Burns take a look at the various GOP coalitions that are rolling out the red carpet for the president-elect’s inaugural events: “Some of the inaugural balls — long the playground of Washington’s establishment types — are being hosted by organizations that eight years ago were still at the fringes of the Republican Party … Sponsorship of many of the soirees publicly reflects what corporations are privately acknowledging: They need Trump on their side if they want to get anything done in Washington over the next four years.” 3. WHAT’S ON THE GOP’S ‘MENU’: “House GOP puts Medicaid, ACA, climate measures on chopping block,” by Ben Leonard, Meredith Lee Hill and Kelsey Tamborrino: “The early list of potential spending offsets obtained by POLITICO includes changes to Medicare and ending Biden administration climate programs, along with slashing welfare and ‘reimagining’ the Affordable Care Act. … The overall savings add up to as much as $5.7 trillion over 10 years, though the list is highly ambitious and unlikely to all become law given narrow margins for Republicans in the House and Senate. Cuts to Medicaid, the Affordable Care Act and the country’s largest anti-hunger program would spark massive opposition from Democrats and would also face some GOP resistance.” 4. PARDON, ME?: With just nine days left in office, Biden is still weighing preemptive pardons for high-profile Trump critics, but said he is waiting to see if “Trump broadcasts in the last couple days here as to what he’s going to do,” Adam Cancryn reports: “Biden did not specify who is under consideration for a pardon, calling it ‘outrageous’ that he even has to consider the possibility Trump would punish his political enemies. … But he did rule out pardoning one well-known Trump antagonist: himself. … ‘What would I pardon myself for?’ Biden said when asked if he’d thought about shielding himself. ‘I had no contemplation of pardoning myself. I didn’t do anything wrong.’ 5. TIKTOK ON THE CLOCK: "Trump has vowed to save TikTok. Lawmakers are wondering how,” by WaPo’s Cristiano Lima-Strong: “Some of the law’s strongest Republican supporters said they are still rooting for the Supreme Court to uphold it — including Sen. MARCO RUBIO (R-Florida), Trump’s pick for secretary of state. … But Rubio and other Republicans said they had not spoken to Trump about his plans, and several said they do not have a clear sense of what he might do. … Some expressed hope that Trump could be persuaded that selling the app remains the best course of action.” 6. THE INCREDIBLE SHRINKING DNC RACE: Wisconsin Democratic Party boss BEN WIKLER and Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Chair KEN MARTIN are facing off today at a virtual forum for the top spot at the DNC in an race “full of Midwestern niceness … but short on big ideas or disagreements over how to salvage their fortunes,” Adam Wren, Elena Schneider and Brakkton Booker report. Martin and Wikler both came up through the state party infrastructure and are leading among the eight declared candidates. But so far, there is a sense that the race “is missing both candidates and high-minded debates that could improve the party’s fortunes.” 7. GRUNT WORK: “They were once soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan. Now they may soon lead the nation’s national security team,” by the Boston Globe’s Sam Brodey: As Trump’s pick for national security adviser, Rep. MICHAEL WALTZ (R-Fla.) “embodies a new and significant aspect of the coming administration: For the first time, veterans who deployed as lower-level soldiers in the Global War on Terror are poised to hold top national security positions in Washington. If confirmed, these officials would be in a position to put worldviews forged by these conflicts at the forefront of American foreign and military policy. As with the broader community of veterans of these wars, however, Trump’s nominees did not all take away the same lessons from service. And that could fuel debates within the administration over how the US should conduct military involvement overseas — if at all.” 8. POSTPARTUM IS SUCH SWEET SORROW: “In Congress, a Push for Proxy Voting for New Parents Draws Bipartisan Support,” by NYT’s Annie Karni: “[The Proxy Voting for New Parents Resolution] would change House rules to allow new mothers and fathers in Congress to stay away from Washington immediately after the birth of a child and designate a colleague to cast votes on their behalf. …. The idea has been percolating on Capitol Hill for some time, but has become all the more pressing for the new Congress, its proponents argue, because the House is now so closely divided, with Republicans holding the majority by just one vote.” 9. MEDIA WATCH: “The Washington Post Is Limping Into Trump’s Second Term,” by WSJ’s Alexandra Bruell: “The Post’s loss in 2024 was roughly 30% greater than the loss a year earlier, according to people close to the company. Advertising revenue fell to $174 million from $190 million in 2023 … The changes inside the Post have left many staffers frustrated and confused about the future … National editor PHILIP RUCKER, investigations editor PETER WALLSTEN, and senior national investigations editor ROSALIND HELDERMAN are in the latest batch of newsroom leaders taking calls from other publications, according to people familiar with the discussions.”
| | | | A message from Meta:   | | | CLICKER — “The nation’s cartoonists on the week in politics,” edited by Matt Wuerker — 17 funnies
| 
Jack Ohman -Tribune Content Agency | GREAT WEEKEND READS: — “What Really Happened With the First Officer Suicide After Jan. 6,” by Luke Mullins for POLITICO Mag: “Howie Liebengood killed himself three days after Jan. 6. His family has no doubt about what really killed him.” — “I Saw the Beginning of Hell in the California Fires,” by Lucy Sheriff for The New Yorker: “When I woke up on Tuesday, I was already feeling nervous about the Santa Ana winds.” — “It’s Time to Evacuate. Wait, Never Mind,” by The Atlantic’s Nancy Walecki: “I have received 11 alerts. As far as I can tell, they were all sent in error.” — “How COVID-19 Reframed Freedom of Movement and Border Controls,” by Edward Alden for Foreign Policy: “Five years after the COVID-19 pandemic began, the ease with which governments shut borders offers worrisome lessons.” — “The Return of Havana Syndrome,” by The Atlantic’s Shane Harris: “After long denying the possibility, some intelligence agencies are no longer willing to rule out a mystery weapon.” — “‘All Our Future Money Is Gone’: The Impossible Task of Providing Child Care in Rural Illinois,” by Capitol News Illinois’ Molly Parker and ProPublica’s Julia Rendleman: “Over several months, Capitol News Illinois spoke with more than 50 parents, employers and child care experts to understand how the child care crisis has reshaped their lives.” — “New York’s Chinese Dissidents Thought He Was an Ally. He Was a Spy,” by Yudhijit Bhattacharjee for NYT Magazine: “Shujun Wang seemed to be a Chinese democracy activist, but an F.B.I. investigation showed just how far China will go to repress citizens abroad.”
| | | | | PLAYBOOKERS | | Trump’s hotel may be coming back to D.C. Rudy Giuliani was held in contempt for a second time. Eric Adams took questions while getting his eyebrows threaded. Mike Pence shared what he said to Trump at Jimmy Carter’s funeral. SPOTTED: Canadian PM Justin Trudeau ordering a rye and Coke at the Green Zone on Thursday night. WHITE HOUSE DEPARTURE LOUNGE — Gabriela “Gabi” Garcia is now comms director for Rep. Suhas Subramanyam (D-Va.). She previously was chief of staff for the White House Office of Communications. TRANSITIONS — Bill Cortese is now an SVP on Mercury’s government relations team. He previously was a senior adviser to House Republican Conference Chair Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.). … Noah Taicher is joining Rep. Russell Fry’s (R-S.C.) office as a legislative assistant. He most recently was legislative assistant for Rep. Anthony D’Esposito (R-N.Y.). … Peter Nelson will be senior EVP of member engagement at the Independent Community Bankers of America. He previously has been president of Glenwood State Bank. … … Rachel Kline is now legislative director for Rep. Hillary Scholten (D-Mich.). She previously was legislative director for Rep. Wiley Nickel (D-N.C.) and is a Stephanie Murphy and Bill Nelson alum. … Jesse Poon is now director of federal relations for Northeastern University. He previously was assistant director of federal relations at Brown University. … Chris Kelly is joining BGR Group’s health and life science practice as a VP. He previously was health policy director for Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.). HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Rep. Mike Turner (R-Ohio) … MSNBC’s Rashida Jones … Steven Law … NOTUS’ Reese Gorman … Uber’s C.R. Wooters … Humana’s Ashley Czin … Jonathan Kott … John Milne … Daria Grastara of Direct Persuasion … Jennifer Higgins of Guardant Health … Joe Lai of BGR Group … Jessica Bartlett … Kevin Mooney … Chris Beauregard … Ron Phillips … Jim Hightower … Frederic Mishkin … Ben Barrett of the Aspen Institute … Richard Posner … Gerald Rafshoon … Yahoo’s Caragh Fisher O’Connor … Melissa Miller … NBCUniversal’s Rose Wallace … John Emerson … Christine Ravold … Hannah Goldberg of Trident DMG … Emma Ernst ... Thorn Run Partners’ Jason Rosenstock and Gary Palmquist. THE SHOWS (Full Sunday show listings here): FOX “Fox News Sunday”: VP-elect JD Vance … FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell … Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) … Ken Martin. Sunday panel: Mollie Hemingway, Josh Kraushaar, Susan Page and Juan Williams. Legal panel: Jonathan Turley and Andy McCarthy. ABC “This Week”: FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell … Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) … Rep. Tom Emmer (R-Minn.) … Rep. Mike Waltz (R-Fla.). Panel: Donna Brazile, Reince Priebus, Rick Klein and Rachael Bade. NBC “Meet the Press”: Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.) … Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.). Panel: Eugene Daniels, Sara Fagen, Jennifer Palmieri and Keir Simmons. CBS “Face the Nation”: FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell … Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) … Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) … Rep. Judy Chu (D-Calif.) … Newt Gingrich. CNN “State of the Union”: Sen. Katie Britt (R-Ala.). … Jake Sullivan … FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell. Panel: Brad Todd, Kristen Soltis Anderson, Kate Bedingfield and Mo Elleithee. MSNBC “Inside with Jen Psaki”: Canadian PM Justin Trudeau … Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.). NewsNation “The Hill Sunday”: Rep. Dave Min (D-Calif.) … Rep. Erin Houchin (R-Ind). Panel: Josh Barro, Tia Mitchell, Jessica Taylor and David Drucker. 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 deputy editor Zack Stanton and Playbook Daily Briefing producer Callan Tansill-Suddath.
| | | | A message from Meta: Open source AI is available to all, not just the few.
Meta’s open source AI, Llama, is free to use – enabling startups like WriteSea to build an AI tool that helps job seekers write resumes, practice mock interviews and learn salary negotiation tactics. It's like a personal career coach.
Now, people have more help finding their dream job.
Learn more about how others are building with open source AI. | | | | | | | 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 | | | | |
