| | | | |  | | By Garrett Ross | | | BREAKING — Rep. ANGIE CRAIG (D-Minn.) released a statement this morning detailing an attack she suffered in the elevator of her D.C. apartment building. Craig “defended herself from the attacker and suffered bruising, but is otherwise physically okay,” the statement said. FETTERMAN UPDATE — Sen. JOHN FETTERMAN (D-Pa.) is expected to be released from the hospital where he was taken overnight after experiencing a lightheaded feeling, Sen. DEBBIE STABENOW (D-Mich.) said at today’s Senate Agriculture Committee hearing. More from Meredith Lee Hill
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Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.) sharply criticized the Biden administration over its handling of the Chinese spy balloon. | Francis Chung/POLITICO | FLOAT ON — Republicans and Democrats on the Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee hauled in senior Pentagon officials this morning and let loose their frustration over the administration’s response to China’s spy balloon, shot down off the South Carolina coast Saturday after floating over the U.S. mainland for several days. Subcommittee Chair JON TESTER (D-Mont.), whose state was among the first that encountered the balloon last week, said the administration “owes America answers” about how the situation unfolded. “We think we know what they were trying to collect, but we don’t know. That scares the hell out of me.” Sen. LISA MURKOWSKI (R-Alaska) indicated her frustration over the lack of coordinated response and the lack of support her home state feels. “As an Alaskan, I am so angry. I want to use other words. But I’m not going to,” Murkowski said. “It seems to me the clear message to China is: ‘We got free range in Alaska, because they’re going to let us cruise over that until it gets to more sensitive areas.’” And Sen. BRIAN SCHATZ (D-Hawaii) called into question the motivations for the administration not publicly sharing more information given the national security implications. “I respect the need to keep some of this classified,” he said. “But we all understand that some of the desire to keep things classified has to do with not wanting to disclose to the public things that might be inconvenient politically for the department.” (h/t Andrew Desiderio, who collected some of the reactions in the hearing.) Over in the House, in an impressive display of bipartisanship, the chamber passed a resolution condemning China for its spy balloon, by a vote of 419-0. More from Daniella Diaz and Connor O’Brien The State Department, meanwhile, did release some details about the balloon, “declassifying information collected by U.S. U-2 spy planes and other sources to expose what it’s calling a sophisticated effort to surveil ‘more than 40 countries across 5 continents,’” WaPo’s John Hudson and Ellen Nakashima write. Some of the info wasn’t entirely new, given that The Post earlier this week reported on it, but Hudson and Nakashima write that “its wider publication to the media suggests an effort by the U.S. government to name and shame Chinese surveillance tactics following Beijing’s breach of American airspace last week.” — A State Department official this morning also said that the administration would “explore” punitive actions against Chinese entities involved in the balloon operation. More from Alexander Ward Related reads: “China wants to dominate the ‘near space’ battlefield. Balloons are a key asset,” by CNN’s Simone McCarthy, Nectar Gan and Wayne Chang … “In Its Push for an Intelligence Edge, China’s Military Turned to Balloons,” by NYT’s Chris Buckley and Amy Chang Chien in Taipei, Taiwan
| | | | A message from Airlines for America: Did you know? 90 percent of Americans have flown at least once. More than half of Americans have flown before their 16th birthday. Two million people choose to fly each day in the U.S. This is possible because robust competition among U.S. airlines generates enormous options for consumers, which is why Americans from a range of economic, cultural and racial backgrounds have flown. In 2021, one-third of Americans who flew had family incomes under $75,000. Learn more: www.airlines.org. | | | DEPT. OF FAILING UP — @haleytalbotnbc: “Speaker Emerita NANCY PELOSI has been making calls on behalf of former NY Rep SEAN PATRICK MALONEY, urging the White House and labor leaders to support him as the next secretary [of] labor, according to two sources familiar with the calls.” ON THE HUNT — “House Republicans ask Hunter Biden for records on his business dealings,” by NBC’s Alana Satlin CHEERS TO THE NEW CONGRESS — See some photos from the Washington Press Club Foundation’s 77th annual congressional dinner, which was co-sponsored by POLITICO: Senate Majority Leader CHUCK SCHUMER posing with his Matt Wuerker caricature cutout … Featured speaker Rep. NANCY MACE (R-S.C.) with her staff … Read our extensive recap in this morning’s Playbook Good Thursday afternoon, and thanks for reading Playbook PM. Drop me a line at gross@politico.com.
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New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu. | Scott Olson/Getty Images | ’ELLO GUVNAS — This morning, POLITICO convened a handful of high-profile governors for “The Fifty: Governors,” putting six state execs on the hot seat. New Hampshire GOP Gov. CHRIS SUNUNU had harsh words for President JOE BIDEN, calling him “disconnected from reality” after his State of the Union address (though he also said Republicans’ behavior in the chamber was “rude”). He continued, deeming Biden “too old, too white, too out of touch” to represent the Democratic Party. And he sharply critiqued Biden and Dems’ decision to move the first state on the nominating calendar, predicting that it would entice a Dem challenger: “You think no Democrat is going to step up and come to New Hampshire? Biden has opened up his flank.” As for his own 2024 aspirations, Sununu was expectedly noncommittal. “Maybe I run, maybe I don’t,” Sununu said. But he also offered a message for the Republican Party, with a thinly veiled shot at former President DONALD TRUMP’s reelection effort: “Extreme candidates lose.” More from Kelly Hooper Some more highlights:
- North Dakota GOP Gov. DOUG BURGAM said Trump is “very welcome” in his state, but “there are people who want to look to the future, not the past. So it’s an open debate.”
- North Carolina Dem Gov. ROY COOPER on climate change: “You gotta do whatever it takes to get the job done. Climate change is still a word a lot of Rs want to stay away from. But we all agree that economic development and good-paying jobs are good for North Carolina.”
- Illinois Dem Gov. J.B. PRITZKER on protecting abortion rights: “If it were up to me, I would write it in the Constitution.”
Washington Gov. JAY INSLEE just wrapped up a chat with our colleague Ryan Heath. Still to come: Minnesota Gov. TIM WALTZ. Follow along here
| | | | 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. | | | | | ALL POLITICS HALEY’S PRECARIOUS PATH — “Why Donald Trump may not be Nikki Haley's biggest obstacle,” by Natalie Allison in Columbia, S.C.: “Trump has already swallowed up a handful of prominent endorsements from South Carolina political royalty. Florida Gov. RON DeSANTIS is generating his own buzz. But the possibility that Sen. TIM SCOTT, a fellow South Carolinian, could launch a campaign is perhaps the trickiest hurdle for [NIKKI] HALEY to navigate. The senator is actively making calls to allies as he weighs his own run for president, according to three people familiar with those conversations.” THE HOT TOPIC RIGHT NOW — “GOP hopefuls’ past positions on Social Security loom over 2024 primary,” by WaPo’s Isaac Arnsdorf: “The emphasis reflects potential vulnerability for Republican rivals who were elected to powerful posts in the pre-Trump tea party era, embracing austerity in the last showdown over raising the federal debt limit.” JUDICIARY SQUARE SPEAKING IN CODE — “Supreme Court justices discussed, but did not agree on, code of conduct,” by WaPo’s Robert Barnes and Ann Marimow: “The Supreme Court has failed to reach consensus on an ethics code of conduct specific to the nine justices despite internal discussion dating back at least four years, according to people familiar with the matter. It remains an active topic at the court, these people said, and the court’s legal counsel ETHAN TORREY prepared a working document of issues for them to consider. There is no timeline for the justices to act, however.” POLICY CORNER ABORTION FALLOUT — “Abortion Rights Supporters See Biden Address as Missed Opportunity,” by NYT’s Lisa Lerer: “During the midterm campaigns, Democrats spent months focused on the demise of federal abortion rights and the danger they said it posed to all Americans. In his State of the Union speech, President Biden spent roughly 42 seconds.” CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE — “Biden’s fentanyl position sparks criticism from 2 sides,” by AP’s Geoff Mulvihill FROM FROSTY TO FRIENDS — “Christopher Wray Tries to Thaw FBI’s Frosty Relationship With Business,” by WSJ’s Aruna Viswanatha: FBI Director CHRISTOPHER WRAY’s “new message to the private sector: The biggest national-security threats are from the Chinese government and the cyber arena. You are often the target, and to protect you we need your help.” THE ECONOMY MAKING SENSE OF THE MARKET — “Mass Layoffs or Hiring Boom? What’s Actually Happening in the Jobs Market,” by WSJ’s Sarah Chaney Cambon and Ray Smith: “The hiring spree in everyday services shows that the sectors hardest hit in the pandemic’s first months, when 22 million jobs were lost, are continuing to recover. Those gains may prop up the broader economy enough to avoid a recession.” TRUMP CARDS MISINFORMATION MANIFEST — “Steve Bannon’s Podcast Is Top Misinformation Spreader, Study Says,” by NYT’s Stuart Thompson: Per Brookings Institution researchers, “nearly 20 percent of [STEVE] BANNON’s ‘War Room’ episodes contained a false, misleading or unsubstantiated statement, more than shows by other conservatives like GLENN BECK and CHARLIE KIRK.”
| | | | DOWNLOAD THE POLITICO MOBILE APP: Stay up to speed with the newly updated POLITICO mobile app, featuring timely political news, insights and analysis from the best journalists in the business. The sleek and navigable design offers a convenient way to access POLITICO's scoops and groundbreaking reporting. Don’t miss out on the app you can rely on for the news you need, reimagined. DOWNLOAD FOR iOS– DOWNLOAD FOR ANDROID. | | | | | AMERICA AND THE WORLD EARTHQUAKE LATEST — “U.N. aid convoy enters Syria from Turkey, as toll from quakes passes 19,000,” by WaPo’s Sarah Dadouch, Ellen Francis, Rachel Pannett and Kareem Fahim DANCE OF THE SUPERPOWERS — “U.S. Aims to Curtail Investment in Advanced Military Technology in China,” by NYT’s Ana Swanson and Lauren Hirsch: “For months, the Biden administration has been preparing curbs on the investments that U.S. firms can make in China, particularly in areas like advanced computing. Those measures are now largely complete and could be issued within two months. The Treasury Department has been reaching out to other governments, including the European Union, to try to ensure that they do not rush in to provide similar financing to China after the United States cuts it off, according to people familiar with the discussions.” BOOK CLUB — “Shinzo Abe Book Criticizes Trump as Weak on North Korea,” by WSJ’s Peter Landers and Chieko Tsuneoka in Tokyo WAR IN UKRAINE ZELENSKYY’S PLEA — “Zelenskyy seeks to place Ukraine at home in the EU,” by Eddy Wax, Lili Bayer, Suzanne Lynch and Cory Bennett THE VIEW FROM MOSCOW — “Russian diplomat says ties with U.S. in ‘unprecedented crisis,’” by AP’s Vladimir Isachenkov: “Deputy Foreign Minister SERGEI RYABKOV argued that the White House’s emphasis on increasing weapons supplies to Ukraine to ensure Russia’s defeat leaves no room for diplomacy. ‘I don’t see any prospect for a productive political and diplomatic process,’ Ryabkov said at a briefing. ‘We have a very deep and unprecedented crisis in Russia-U.S. relations. The Biden administration has driven them into a deadlock.’” ON THE GROUND — “Ukraine readies along all fronts for Russia’s next big attack,” by WaPo’s Steve Hendrix and Serhii Korolchuk PLAYBOOKERS OUT AND ABOUT — The Center for American Progress and the Center for Innovative Policy hosted a summit yesterday examining how governors and mayors will implement federal investments from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, CHIPS and Science Act and Inflation Reduction Act. SPOTTED: North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, Colorado Gov. Jared Polis and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, Richmond, Va., Mayor Levar Stoney, Rep. Valerie Foushee (D-N.C.), Jonathan Capehart, Jamal Simmons, Julie Rodriguez, Patrick Gaspard, Daniella Gibbs Léger, Mara Rudman and Navin Nayak. — Kidsave and the U.S. Ukraine Business Council hosted a cocktail event at Ukraine House last night to launch the “Flat Sasha” campaign, which aims to bring attention to children without families caught in the war in Ukraine. SPOTTED: Ukrainian Ambassador Oksana Markarova, Randi Thompson, Aurélie Bonal, Morgan Williams, Eli Stokols, Heath Bumgardner, Jennifer Clinton, Keri Hope Richmond, Anita Siegfriedt, Brett Bruen, Johanna Maska, Tracy Wilkinson and Amanda Macias. Pic — Tennessee business and political leaders gathered at Ford Motor Co.’s office in D.C. for the Tennessee Business Forum’s biannual congressional kickoff reception yesterday evening, as Ford breaks ground on an electric vehicle manufacturing facility in the state. SPOTTED: Chris Smith, Reps. Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.), Chuck Fleischmann (R-Tenn.), David Kustoff (R-Tenn.), Diana Harshbarger (R-Tenn.), John Rose (R-Tenn.), Scott DesJarlais (R-Tenn.) and Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.), Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris, John Bozzella, Tom Ingram, Jared Brewster, Charley Poe and Kandace Stewart. TRANSITION — Steven Pfrang will be a VP at BGR Group. He most recently was chief of staff to Rep. Darin LaHood (R-Ill.). WELCOME TO THE WORLD — Hillary Vaughn, a reporter for Fox Business, and Peter Doocy, a White House correspondent for Fox News, welcomed Bridget Blake Doocy on Feb. 1. She came in at 8 lbs, 1 oz and 21 inches. Hillary told People magazine that her water broke on the way to the Capitol. Peter tweets: “Asked @joebiden for tips about being a new dad, at the WH holiday reception. His advice: ‘hold her tight.’ Will do!” More details and pics from People 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. Correction: Wednesday’s Playbook PM misspelled the name of Laura Friedel.
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