| | | | |  | | By Garrett Ross | | | TRAGEDY IN INDONESIA — "Strong quake topples houses in Indonesia's Java; 162 dead," by AP's Firman Taufiq and Edna Tarigan in Cianjur, Indonesia THE LATEST IN COLORADO SPRINGS — "Gay bar shooting suspect facing murder, hate crime charges," by AP's Thomas Peipert and Jesse Bedayn: "The man suspected of killing five people and injuring others at a gay bar in Colorado Springs is facing murder and hate crime charges, according to online court records obtained Monday. "ANDERSON LEE ALDRICH , 22, faces five murder charges and five charges of committing a bias-motivated crime causing bodily injury, the records show. A law enforcement official said the suspect used an AR-15-style semiautomatic weapon in Saturday night's attack, but a handgun and additional ammunition magazines also were recovered." — "Records indicate Colorado Springs shooting suspect purchased both guns himself, law enforcement sources says," by CNN's Evan Perez — "Reports: Accused Colorado nightclub gunman grandson of longtime East County politician," by the San Diego Union-Tribune's Teri Figueroa and David Hernandez: "[ANDERSON LEE] ALDRICH'S mother appears to be LAURA VOEPEL, according to media outlets including The Guardian, The Hill and The Gazette in Colorado Springs. … Laura Voepel is the daughter of [California] state Assemblymember RANDY VOEPEL , 71, who has represented the 71st District since 2016. He served on the Santee City Council as a council member and mayor for two decades." — "Anti-LGBTQ sentiment in Colorado Springs had some in the community anticipating tragedy," by NBC's Janelle Griffith and Jo Yurcaba BACK IN THE SPOTLIGHT — "Manhattan Prosecutors Again Consider a Path Toward Charging Trump," by NYT's Jonah Bromwich, Ben Protess and William Rashbaum: "The Manhattan district attorney's office has moved to jump-start its criminal investigation into DONALD J. TRUMP, according to people with knowledge of the matter, seeking to breathe new life into an inquiry that once seemed to have reached a dead end. "Under the new district attorney, ALVIN L. BRAGG , the prosecutors have returned to the long-running investigation's original focus: a hush-money payment to a porn star who said she had an affair with Mr. Trump. "The district attorney's office first examined the payment to the actress, STORMY DANIELS , years ago before changing direction to scrutinize Mr. Trump's broader business practices. But Mr. Bragg and some of his deputies have recently indicated to associates, supporters and at least one lawyer involved in the matter that they are newly optimistic about building a case against Mr. Trump, the people said." TALKING TURKEY — At the White House this morning, President JOE BIDEN continued the presidential tradition of pardoning the national Thanksgiving turkeys — this year named after Biden's favorite ice cream flavor. "Gobblers CHOCOLATE and CHIP, each weighing nearly 50 pounds (22.68 kilograms), arrived in Washington on Saturday night from North Carolina and checked into their room at the Willard hotel near the White House to await Monday's presidential decree," per AP's Darlene Superville .
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Biden holds the microphone up for Chocolate, one of the national Thanksgiving turkeys. | Andrew Harnik/AP Photo | | 
Chocolate and Chip walk around the South Lawn. | Andrew Harnik/AP Photo | "The votes are in. They've been counted and verified. There's no ballot 'stuffing.' There's no 'fowl' play," Biden said at the ceremony. "The only 'red wave' this season is going to be if our German Shepherd, COMMANDER, knocks over the cranberry sauce on our table." Video clip The White House Christmas tree also arrived at 1600 Penn this morning, per the AP. Good Monday afternoon. What would you name the national Thanksgiving turkeys? Let me know: gross@politico.com .
| | | | A message from The American Petroleum Institute (API): As American families and businesses continue to face high energy prices, we need to provide consumers with long-term relief. New Rystad analysis found that API's 10-Point Policy Plan could unleash American energy production in natural gas, oil, CCUS and hydrogen to spur nearly $200 billion in direct investment and generate over 225,000 jobs by 2035. Together with policymakers, producers can meet demand for affordable, reliable energy. | | | MORE MIDTERMS FALLOUT RUNOFF REPORT — "Georgia appeals ruling on Saturday early voting for runoff," by AP's Kate Brumback: "Georgia is appealing a judge's ruling that allows counties to offer early voting this coming Saturday in the U.S. Senate runoff election between Democratic Sen. RAPHAEL WARNOCK and Republican HERSCHEL WALKER. Warnock's campaign, along with the Democratic Party of Georgia and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, sued the state last week, arguing that early voting should be allowed that day. They were challenging guidance from Republican Secretary of State BRAD RAFFENSPERGER that said state law doesn't allow voting this Saturday because it's the day after a state holiday." — "Obama to hold Dec. 1 runoff rally for Warnock in Atlanta," by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Greg Bluestein THE ECONOMY FOR YOUR RADAR — "Rail union rejects contract as strike threatens U.S. economy before holidays," by WaPo's Lauren Kaori Gurley: "One of the largest railroad unions narrowly voted to reject a contract deal brokered by the White House, bringing the country once again closer to a rail strike that could paralyze much of the economy ahead of the holidays, union officials announced on Monday. … "A national rail strike, which could happen as early as Dec. 5 , could threaten the nation's coal shipments and its supply of drinking water and shut down passenger rail. The U.S. economy could lose $2 billion a day if railroad workers strike, according to the Association of American Railroads." AMERICA AND THE WORLD SUCH TIMING — "Saudi Arabia Eyes OPEC+ Output Increase Ahead of Restrictions on Russian Oil," by WSJ's Summer Said and Benoit Faucon: "Saudi Arabia and other OPEC oil producers are discussing an output increase, the group's delegates said, a move that could help heal a rift with the Biden administration and keep energy flowing amid new attempts to blunt Russia's oil industry over the Ukraine war. A production increase of up to 500,000 barrels a day is now under discussion for OPEC+'s Dec. 4 meeting, delegates said." WELL-OILED MACHINE — "Inside the Saudi Strategy to Keep the World Hooked on Oil," by NYT's Hiroko Tabuchi: "The kingdom's plan for keeping oil at the center of the global economy is playing out around the world in Saudi financial and diplomatic activities, as well as in the realms of research, technology and even education. It is a strategy at odds with the scientific consensus that the world must swiftly move away from fossil fuels, including oil and gas, to avoid the worst consequences of global warming. "The dissonance cuts to the heart of the Saudi kingdom. The government-controlled oil company, Saudi Aramco, already produces one out of every 10 of the world's barrels of oil and envisions a world where it will be selling even more. Yet climate change and rising temperatures are already threatening life in the desert kingdom like few other places in the world." DANCE OF THE SUPERPOWERS — "China Turns to Back-Channel Diplomacy to Shore Up U.S. Ties," by WSJ's Lingling Wei and Charles Hutzler: "China is turning to an old friend in corporate America to bolster communications with the U.S., as President XI JINPING tries to stabilize the bilateral relationship while gearing up for greater competition between the two powers. A few days before Mr. Xi's summit last week with President Biden, according to people with knowledge of the matter, Beijing dispatched a delegation of senior policy advisers and business executives to New York to meet with a U.S. counterpart group set up by insurance executive MAURICE 'HANK' GREENBERG, one of the most successful American businessmen in China."
| | | | POLITICO APP USERS: UPGRADE YOUR APP BY DECEMBER 19! We recently upgraded the POLITICO app with a fresh look and improved features for easier access to POLITICO's scoops and groundbreaking reporting. Starting December 19, users will no longer have access to the previous version of the app. Update your app today to stay on top of essential political news, insights, and analysis from the best journalists in the business. UPDATE iOS APP – UPDATE ANDROID APP . | | | | | POLICY CORNER THE LOAN LURCH — "Student-Loan Holders See New Path for Wiping Out Debt Through Bankruptcy," by WSJ's Gabriel Rubin: "The bankruptcy changes set specific requirements for borrowers to prove that they are experiencing economic distress. … The scope of its impact will depend on how the new rules are applied by judges, lawyers and student-loan borrowers across the country in individual bankruptcy cases. Over time, the handling of these cases could differ depending on which party controls the White House." WAR IN UKRAINE THE SANCTION SQUEEZE — "U.S. Presses Allies to Tighten Up Sanctions Enforcement on Russia," by WSJ's Ian Talley: "[S]o-called sanctions leakage — in which weak enforcement enables banned finance and trade to flow — is undermining the campaign, aiding Russia's economy and potentially prolonging the war, according to senior Western officials." ON THE GROUND — "Cold and dark: Kyiv readies for 'worst winter of our lives,'" by AP's Yuras Karmanau and John Leicester in Kyiv
| | | | LISTEN TO POLITICO'S ENERGY PODCAST: Check out our daily five-minute brief on the latest energy and environmental politics and policy news. Don't miss out on the must-know stories, candid insights, and analysis from POLITICO's energy team. Listen today . | | | | | BEYOND THE BELTWAY AID ARRIVING — "Biden sending federal aid as N.Y. digs out from huge snowstorm," AP ALEX JONES LATEST — "Sandy Hook families sued Alex Jones. Then he started moving money around," by WaPo's Jonathan O'Connell: "As the potential for damages mounted, Jones began moving millions of dollars out of his company, Free Speech Systems, and into companies controlled by himself, friends or relatives, according to a Washington Post review of financial statements, depositions and other court records. The transfers potentially put those funds out of reach of the Sandy Hook plaintiffs." PLAYBOOKERS STAFFING UP — Michael Hochman is now chief of staff for the White House Office of the National Cyber Director. He previously was deputy chief of staff and deputy general counsel. TRANSITIONS — Brooke Nethercott is now comms director for Rep. French Hill (R-Ark.). She previously was a senior consultant at FTI Consulting. … Caitlin Carroll is joining Powell Tate as a senior VP. She previously was comms director for Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.). … Andrew Guggenheim is now managing director and associate general counsel on SIFMA's state government relations team. He previously was a VP and senior counsel at the American Bankers Association. … Sarah Cartmell and Adam Carasso are joining Corning Incorporated's government relations team as directors. Cartmell most recently was director for global government relations for Ford Motor Company. Carasso most recently was senior tax and economic adviser for Senate Finance Chair Ron Wyden (D-Ore.). ENGAGED — Hailey Barringer, deputy chief of staff for Rep. Kathy Manning (D-N.C.), and Steve Brenner , a third-year law student at Georgetown University Law Center and a Nita Lowey alum, got engaged on Saturday at Fort Reno Park. WEDDINGS — Ziad Ojakli, executive VP of government operations at Boeing, and Devon Spurgeon, who runs her own comms shop called Spurgeon Strategies which represents several Silicon Valley founders/companies, recently got married on the Eastern Shore with no guests (except their dogs, Pepperoni and Macaroni). The couple met in 2014 at Ford, where Ziad ran government affairs and Devon was an outside comms advisor, but the two didn't start dating until 2017. Pic — Corinne Day, deputy comms director for Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), and Walter Smoloski, account executive at Athos PR, got married on Saturday at St. Mary's Church in Annapolis. The two met while attending Gettysburg College. SPOTTED: Mike Joyce, Alexa Henning, Caroline Anderegg, Kendyll Ferrall, Caeleigh Jennings, Anthony Lamorena, Harry Fones and Nadgey Louis-Charles, Kaleb and Sami Bennett, Pat MacDonnell and Bryn Woollacott, Olivia Coleman, Kiersten Pels, Robert Shultz, Chris Gustafson and Matt Middleton. Pic … Another pic
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