— LOSER: The media. No formal plans have yet been announced, but it’s hard to see anything more than a small portion of the credentialed media being allowed in the room to personally witness the oath of office. Yes, it will be fully televised and thoroughly documented, but freezing your butt off at a presidential inauguration is a rite of passage for many junior Washington reporters. We’re also wondering — are we still gonna get one of those cool gigapixel photos? — WINNER: The olds. Yes, forecasted 24-degree highs with blustery winds weren’t going to be comfortable for anybody stuck outside for hours on Monday. But think especially of the gerontocracy! Besides the 78-year-old inauguree and 81-year-old departing president, lots of other aging public officials were expected to sit and freeze. No need for mittens now, BERNIE SANDERS! — LOSER: Just about everyone else. Set aside your politics for a moment (and try, at least, to set aside what happened on Jan. 6, 2021): Many, many thousands of ordinary Americans have been planning to come to Washington and participate in this democratic ritual. For the moment, if they aren’t able to score a Capital One Arena ticket or shell out hundreds of dollars to attend an inaugural ball, they’re out of luck: “The vast majority of ticketed guests will not be able to attend the ceremonies in person,” the congressional committee said, adding it will be “designating certain places to watch” — so stay tuned. MORE INAUGURATION READS …
Good Saturday morning. Thanks for reading Playbook. Drop me a line: Mike DeBonis. TALKER — “How Biden’s Inner Circle Protected a Faltering President,” by NYT’s Katie Rogers, Adam Entous, Maggie Haberman and Carl Hulse: “The president’s acknowledgment has put a new spotlight on his family and inner circle, all of whom dismissed concerns from voters and [President JOE] BIDEN’s own party that he was too old for the job. And yet they recognized his physical frailty to a greater degree than they have publicly acknowledged. Then they cooperated, according to interviews with more than two dozen aides, allies, lawmakers and donors, to manage his decline.” Biden’s six crucial protectors, per the story: first lady JILL BIDEN, HUNTER BIDEN, MIKE DONILON, STEVE RICCHETTI, ANNIE TOMASINI and ANTHONY BERNAL. FIRST IN PLAYBOOK — The incoming Trump White House is planning on changing the colors of White House badges for employees when it comes back Monday to make them platinum and gold, instead of the traditional blue and green, two people familiar with the change told our colleague Daniel Lippman. Platinum badges will be used to denote West Wing access, while gold badges will get you access to the Eisenhower Executive Office Building and the New Executive Office Building, according to the people, one of whom shared a picture of the new platinum badge. Coveted blue badges used to get you West Wing access, while green badges were for lower-ranking employees. The color scheme goes back to at least the George H.W. Bush White House, according to a former Clinton White House official who recalled starting on Day One in 1993 and inheriting those badge colors. See the platinum badge Spokespeople for the transition didn’t respond to a request for comment about why they made the change.
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9 THINGS THAT STUCK WITH US 1. TIKTOK ON THE CLOCK: TikTok warned last night that following the Supreme Court’s ruling upholding the ban, it expects to go dark for Americans tomorrow, per NBC’s Saba Hamedy. That could echo like a thunderclap for tens of millions of users (or more) hooked on its algorithms. Though the Biden administration has said it wouldn’t enforce the fines and would leave the decision to Trump, amid last-minute banner’s remorse in Washington this week, the company announced that federal assurances hadn’t been sufficient. Without “a definitive statement to satisfy the most critical service providers,” TikTok said, it goes down tomorrow. Now the question is whether the pressure on the White House pays off. 2. IMMIGRATION FILES: Trump’s mass deportations are almost here. His team plans to kick off a major raid in Chicago starting Tuesday, WSJ’s Michelle Hackman, Joe Barrett and Paul Kiernan scooped. Up to 200 ICE officers will descend on the city in a high-profile show of force, to be splashed across conservative media, targeting undocumented immigrants with criminal histories as minor as traffic violations (and others may get swept up in the process). The Trump team chose Chicago in part because of animus between Trump and Mayor BRANDON JOHNSON. And in another big setback for immigrants, an appeals court ruled yesterday that the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program to protect so-called Dreamers is illegal, per CNN’s Devan Cole, Priscilla Alvarez and Tierney Sneed. The program was largely allowed to stand for the time being, but this could head to the Supreme Court. On the Hill yesterday, Homeland Security Secretary-designate KRISTI NOEM said she backed Trump’s plans to end the CBP One app for migrants, despite Biden officials pointing to it as an aid in helping reduce illegal immigration, per WaPo’s David Nakamura and Maria Sacchetti. And the Laken Riley Act cleared a procedural hurdle on the Senate floor with 10 Democratic votes, presaging likely ultimate passage despite a lack of amendments to soften it, per Daniella Diaz and Ursula Perano. Immigrant advocates worry the bill could imperil victims of domestic violence, The 19th’s Mel Leonor Barclay reports. A new wrinkle: STEVE BANNON tells The New Republic’s Greg Sargent that a little-discussed provision of the Laken Riley Act would allow state AGs to file lawsuits to block H-1B visas, which Bannon hopes will be a backdoor victory against ELON MUSK in the intra-MAGA dispute. 3. CANNON FODDER: “Judge Cannon skeptical of Garland’s plan to show Smith report on classified docs case to lawmakers,” by Josh Gerstein in Fort Pierce, Florida: “U.S. District Judge AILEEN CANNON expressed serious doubts about nearly every argument a Justice Department attorney put forward for allowing the department to show four congressional leaders the portion of [special counsel JACK] SMITH’s report covering the classified-information probe.” 4. PAGING RUSSELL VOUGHT: Not so fast on the unbridled Trump mandate. A new WSJ poll finds voters backing Trump’s big-picture ideas but wanting “a tempered, less assertive set of policies” — “MAGA lite,” essentially, write Aaron Zitner and Xavier Martinez. Trump’s overall ratings are better than going into his first term, and better than Biden’s. But check out this list of policies that significant majorities of voters oppose: swapping out civil service workers for loyalists; making big cuts to the social safety net; impoundment; axing the Education Department; deporting undocumented immigrants without criminal records; ending birthright citizenship; pardoning Jan. 6 criminals; using force or coercion to take Greenland or the Panama Canal; and making Canada a state. But, but, but: As always, pay close attention to the wording of the survey questions. A new NYT-Ipsos poll finds stronger support for Trump’s policies, Jeremy Peters and Ruth Igielnik report. That includes majority backing for deporting all undocumented immigrants (though not Dreamers, a separate question finds), banning gender transition-related drugs/hormones for children, and being less engaged in international affairs. (But prosecuting Trump’s political enemies is highly unpopular.) 5. MAINSTREAM MEDIA ON ITS HEELS: Will another major network settle with Trump rather than fight his legal challenges in court? Future FCC Chair BRENDAN CARR warned Paramount that its Skydance merger would have a harder road because Trump is mad at CBS News, WSJ’s Jessica Toonkel and Drew FitzGerald report, and now Paramount executives are weighing settling his lawsuit against the network. And yesterday, a jury found CNN liable for defamation against veteran ZACHARY YOUNG, prompting the network to settle with him quickly for an undisclosed total, per WSJ’s Jacob Gershman and Isabella Simonetti. The 2021 story in question from ALEX MARQUARDT had already yielded a $5 million award for Young, but the jury hadn’t yet settled on punitive damages before the settlement was struck. 6. PARDON ME: Biden is still planning to issue more pardons before he leaves office, as late as Monday morning, NBC’s Peter Alexander, Carol Lee and Zoë Richards report. That could include preemptive moves to protect Trump’s political enemies who fear his retribution, but Biden hasn’t made the call on any of those yet. Then there are the Democrats who might look to Trump for some help. Indicted NYC Mayor ERIC ADAMS said his Mar-a-Lago meeting with the president-elect was about policy cooperation for New York, not his legal woes, Joe Anuta reports. But former Sen. BOB MENENDEZ (D-N.J.), who was convicted for corruption, is discussing the possibility of seeking a commutation from Trump, having failed to land a pardon from Biden as he stares down serious prison time, NBC’s Carol Lee, Julie Tsirkin and Kate Santaliz report.
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Donald Trump has an official meme now. Sheila Bridges’ designs for the VP’s residence can now be seen. Doug Emhoff, Ron Klain, Anthony Bernal, Jon Finer, Tom Perez and Susan Rice were named to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Council. SPOTTED: Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez at Osteria Mozza last night. Per NYT’s Ben Mullin, they were with Will Lewis and Matt Murray. SPOTTED separately at the Waldorf Astoria late last night: Kimberly Guilfoyle … Jeff Miller … Ryan Coyne … Michael Falcone, Kelly Love, Matt Beynon and Erin McPike. PLAYBOOK FASHION SECTION — “A Legacy in Biden Blue,” by NYT’s Vanessa Friedman PLAYBOOK METRO SECTION — “Elon Musk May Be the Latest Leader of D.C.’s Line Hotel,” by Eater’s Tierney Plumb … “As the Power Shifts, D.C. Restaurateurs Are Nervous, and Diplomatic,” by NYT’s Korsha Wilson OUT AND ABOUT — Donald Trump Jr. hosted an inauguration party with Pam Brewster, Michael Goldfarb, Jeff Miller, Vu Ritchie and Arthur Schwartz at the Conrad hotel last night. SPOTTED: Interior Secretary-designate Doug Burgum, Labor Secretary-designate Lori Chavez-DeRemer, Defense Secretary-designate Pete Hegseth, Commerce Secretary-designate Howard Lutnick, CIA Director-designate John Ratcliffe, Agriculture Secretary-designate Brooke Rollins, Secretary of State-designate Marco Rubio, U.S. Ambassador to the U.N.-designate Elise Stefanik, Energy Secretary-designate Chris Wright, EPA Administrator-designate Lee Zeldin, Treasury Secretary-designate Scott Bessent, Tom Homan, Vivek Ramaswamy, Susie Wiles, Taylor Budowich, James Blair, James Braid, Sergio Gor, Stephen Miller, Jacob Reses, Dan Scavino, Will Scharf, Speaker Mike Johnson, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, Indiana Gov. Mike Braun, Israeli Ambassador Michael Herzog, Canadian Ambassador Kirsten Hillman, Don Allan, Vicki Hollub, Tarek Mansour, Ross Perot Jr., Paul Singer, Warren Stephens, Hock Tan and Todd Walker. — The Crypto Ball at the Mellon Auditorium last night featured performances from Snoop Dogg, Rick Ross and Soulja Boy. Paul Manafort got a thank-you shout-out from the host for pitching crypto to President-elect Donald Trump. Patrick McHenry and Cory Gardner told each other, “I used to know you,” at the end of the event as they prepared to leave: Also SPOTTED: David Sacks, David Bailey, Donald Trump Jr., Commerce Secretary-designate Howard Lutnick, Treasury Secretary-designate Scott Bessent, Speaker Mike Johnson, Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.) and Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Reps. Ryan Zinke (R-Mont.) and Bryan Steil (R-Wis.), Reince and Sally Priebus, Jessica and Brandt Anderson, Kelly Love, Lindsey Curnutte and Jeff Naft, David Urban, Dennis Kucinich, Brian Morgenstern and Teresa Davis, George Santos, Justin Sayfie, Bryan Lanza, Jack Posobiec, Mike Sommers, Scott Sendek, Zac Moffatt, Julia Krieger, Dave Grimaldi, Peter Thiel, Brian Armstrong, Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss, Vivek Ramaswamy, Chris LaCivita, Travis Kalanick, Michael Saylor, Chamath Palihapitiya and Jason Calacanis. — SPOTTED at the Kentucky Society of Washington’s pre-inauguration Bluegrass Ball at the Washington Hilton yesterday: Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) and Kelley Paul, Rep. Hal Rogers (R-Ky.) and Cynthia Rogers, Rep. Andy Barr (R-Ky.) and Davis Barr, Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.) and TJ Comer, Elaine Chao, Kentucky Commissioner of Agriculture Jonathan Shell, Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg, Megan Spindel Jackson, Sophie Khanahmadi, Kaylee Price, Ryan Hambleton, Stephanie Penn, Tiffany Ge and Jen Beil. — SPOTTED at an inauguration cocktail party hosted by Cunningham Communications with The Washington Times and WMAL: Reps. Jason Smith (R-Mo.) and Joe Wilson (R-S.C.), Keith Kellogg, Chris Plante, Vince Coglianese, Larry O’Connor, Chris Dolan, Kelly Sadler, Guy Taylor, Grover Norquist, Sean Spicer, Mike Davis, Everett Alvarez, Jason Redman, Kenny Cunningham, Jorge Martinez, Alex Swoyer, Mike Paradiso, Russell Dye, Blake Kernen, Suhail Khan, Harold Lyons and Brigid Mary McDonnell. — SPOTTED at an inauguration kickoff party hosted by Meet the Future with the Association of Equipment Manufacturers at Cafe Milano: Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) and Ann Scott, Rep. Bill Huizenga (R-Mich.) and Natalie Huizenga, Rep. Aaron Bean (R-Fla.) and Abby Bean, Kevin Cirilli, Kip Eideberg, Jonathan Martin, Josh Dawsey, Carl Hulse, Juliegrace Brufke, Sam Feist, Sean Spicer, Tammy Haddad, Rodney Hood, Joe Hack, Derek Oden, Matthew Zacher, and Kate Fox Wood. — SPOTTED at Gunster Strategies’ “Stars & Stripes and Union Jack” party yesterday evening at the top of the Hay-Adams: Sen. Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), British Ambassador Karen Pierce, Nigel Farage, Steve Bannon, Matt and Mercedes Schlapp, Erik Prince, Grover Norquist, Phil Bryant, Jim Courtovich, Will Swenson, Lacey Christ, Katherine Doyle, Gerry Gunster, Liz Truss, Nick Candy, Reza Pahlavi, Zia Yusuf, Christopher Harborne, Raheem Kassam, Aaron Banks and Jonathan Landay. — SPOTTED in a private room at Il Piatto last night for a Trump DOE alumni gathering: Rick Perry, Brian McCormack, Wells Griffith, Ted Garrish, Kelly Love, Shaylyn Hynes, Robbie Myers, Luke Wallwork, Joe Uddo, Sarah Habansky, Dan Wilmot and Sam Buchan. — SPOTTED at a “manicure party” Thursday evening hosted by nailsaloon, which donated $10,000 to the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute: Andréa Vieira, Hannah Logan, Amanda Moreno, Kate McLean, Susan Neely and Susan Hirschmann. STAFFING UP — Trump announced several new administration picks: Robin Colwell, Nels Nordquist, Paige Willey, Ryan Baasch, Emory Cox, Cale Clingenpeel, Andrew Lyon, Jeff Wrase and Joel Zinberg are his National Economic Council staffers, per CNBC. Trump selected Penny Schwinn as deputy secretary of Education. And he picked Matthew Lohmeier for undersecretary of the Air Force — a controversial figure who was fired from the military for publicly decrying Marxism among the troops, Jack Detsch and Myah Ward report. Another name to watch: John Sakellariadis reports that Trump intends to nominate Michael Ellis for CIA general counsel, elevating a Devin Nunes acolyte who fought against Trump-Russia allegations. TRANSITIONS — Mary-Sumpter Lapinski is joining Juul as VP and head of U.S. government affairs. She previously was VP of global government affairs and public policy at Jazz Pharmaceuticals. … Third Way has added Hannah Woehrle as a congressional comms fellow for the New Democrat Coalition. She most recently was press assistant for Rep. Dan Kildee (D-Mich.). HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Martin O’Malley … Brett Horton of House Majority Leader Steve Scalise’s office … Keisha Lance Bottoms … former Reps. Kay Granger (R-Texas), Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (D-Fla.) and Mike Michaud (D-Maine) (7-0) … Josh Orton … Ben Jealous of the Sierra Club … Keith Schipper … POLITICO’s Evan Gaskin and Calder McHugh … Lindsay Monaghan … Yagmur Cosar of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation … Yudhijit Bhattacharjee … The Dispatch’s John McCormack … Adam Radman of Americans for Tax Reform … Charlotte Fox of the International Women’s Media Foundation … Ryan Taylor … Nan Powers Varoga … NBC’s Jane Timm … Samara Yudof Jones … Jonathan Serrie … former Sen. Paul Kirk (D-Mass.) … CNN’s Sam Waldenberg … Ben Nuckels … Gabrielle Mannino of Rep. Chellie Pingree’s (D-Maine) office … Dave Lucas … Gadi Dechter THE SHOWS (Full Sunday show listings here): NBC “Meet the Press”: Speaker Mike Johnson … House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries … Martin Luther King III. Panel: Peter Alexander, Mike Dubke, Amna Nawaz and Jen Psaki. CBS “Face the Nation”: Mike Waltz … Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) … Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) … Janti Soeripto … Brett McGurk. CNN “State of the Union”: Mike Waltz … Rahm Emanuel … Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) … Ronen and Orna Neutra and Yael and Adi Alexander. Panel: David Urban, Bakari Sellers, David Axelrod and Erin Perrine. ABC “This Week”: Jon Finer … Steve Bannon … Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) … Jonathan Dekel-Chen and Gillian Kaye. Panel: Mary Bruce, Rachel Scott and Jonathan Martin. MSNBC “Inside with Jen Psaki”: California Gov. Gavin Newsom … Jon Finer. NewsNation “The Hill Sunday”: Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) … Sen. Ted Budd (R-N.C.) … Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.). Panel: George Will and Julie Mason. FOX “Fox News Sunday”: Sen. Dave McCormick (R-Pa.) … Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.) … Israeli Ambassador Michael Herzog. Panel: Francesca Chambers, Karl Rove, Hans Nichols and Juan Williams. Sunday special: Juan Williams. 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. Correction: Yesterday’s Playbook mistakenly included NBC’s Gabe Gutierrez on the birthday list. His birthday is Jan. 16.
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