| | | | |  | | By Eli Okun | | | |  Despite his criminal indictment, Donald Trump is acting unbowed. | Steven Hirsch via Pool/AP Photo | The earth-shaking criminal indictment of former President DONALD TRUMP in Manhattan yesterday may yet prove to be far from the greatest legal threat to the 2024 GOP frontrunner. CNN’s Zachary Cohen scooped that CHAD WOLF and KEN CUCCINELLI have testified before a federal grand jury about their efforts to tell Trump that he could not seize voting machines after the 2020 election, when he was trying to overturn the results and hold onto power. Wolf and Cuccinelli, formerly the top two officials in the Department of Homeland Security, told the jury earlier this year that they repeatedly said no to Trump allies on the issue. And ROBERT O’BRIEN told prosecutors in an interview of Oval Office conversations about seizing machines. “That line of questioning goes to the heart of [special counsel JACK] SMITH’s challenge in any criminal case he might bring — to prove that Trump and his allies pursued their efforts despite knowing their fraud claims were false or their gambits weren’t lawful,” Cohen writes. But for now, most of the world is focused on the fallout from the hush money payments indictment — and the contrast between Democrats’ public and private reaction is instructive for the politics of this moment. — In public, congressional Democrats are treading lightly, figuring that Trump needs not be hoist on their petard, Axios’ Andrew Solender reports. House Dem leadership has told members that they should either not weigh in or keep things generic with a message that “nobody is above the law.” And many Democrats are concerned that excessive partisan reaction could rally GOP support for Trump or make him look like a victim of a political prosecution. — In private, Democratic strategists are thrilled with the contrast between President JOE BIDEN’s positioning in the White House and the arraignment of his leading opponent, WaPo’s Michael Scherer and Tyler Pager report: “Trump’s legal troubles have helped him raise millions for his presidential campaign and boosted his polling in the GOP primary battle, but many Democrats believe the ultimate impact of the legal travails will ultimately damage Trump if he once again wins the Republican nomination.” Trump, of course, is unbowed. He’s heading to an RNC donor retreat in Nashville next week, per WaPo’s Josh Dawsey. And he continued to lash out at law enforcement today, posting on Truth Social that congressional Republicans “SHOULD DEFUND THE DOJ AND FBI UNTIL THEY COME TO THEIR SENSES.” Senate Appropriations Chair SUSAN COLLINS (R-Maine) tells NBC’s Sahil Kapur that’s a non-starter. Trump does have some bulldogs in Congress, though: Rep. JIM JORDAN (R-Ohio) said on Fox News this morning that he’ll discuss with Speaker KEVIN McCARTHY and House Oversight Chair JAMES COMER (R-Ky.) this week how best to move forward in their fight with Manhattan DA ALVIN BRAGG. Unbothered: KAREN McDOUGAL, the former Playboy model who alleged an affair with Trump and whom Bragg cited as having received hush money, posted several photos on Instagram with a smiley face and this caption: “I’ve been out and about enjoying Gods country... I hope I didn’t miss anything.” Georgia on my mind: While Trump’s New York indictment is unlikely to affect Fulton County DA FANI WILLIS’ announcement whether to file charges against the former president for alleged election interference in 2020, Georgia officials will have to navigate intense public scrutiny, WaPo’s Holly Bailey reports: “However she decides to proceed, Willis will have to sell her case not only to Atlanta-area voters but to the broader American public at a volatile moment when public sentiment about a potential Trump prosecution could be shaped by the Manhattan legal proceedings.” Good Wednesday afternoon. Thanks for reading Playbook PM. Drop me a line at eokun@politico.com.
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Explore 30+ tools. | | | 2024 WATCH CASH DASH — NIKKI HALEY pulled in a sizable haul of more than $11 million across the first six weeks of her presidential campaign, Fox News’ Paul Steinhauser scoops. 67,000 of her 70,000 donations were under $200. She began this month with $7.8 million on hand. The Haley campaign is touting her sum as higher than Trump’s in the first six weeks of his 2024 campaign (though donations to Trump have surged lately, according to his campaign). To wit, Haley snags a Trump donor: Former Trump donor HAROLD HAMM, the CEO of oil and gas company Continental Resources who spoke at the 2016 GOP convention, has decided to max out to Haley’s campaign. “Nikki Haley is a proven leader who has demonstrated she can deliver results at the highest levels of government,” he said in a statement to Playbook. “Nikki also understands the importance of American energy independence and how impactful energy development is to our country’s security.” MORE POLITICS BATTLE FOR THE SENATE — Sen. JACKY ROSEN (D-Nev.) officially announced her reelection bid today, a boost (though not a surprise) for Democrats to have an incumbent in place in what could be among the top competitive races in the Senate next year. Her launch video spans her biography, her record on infrastructure and prescription drug prices, and her focus for the future on issues like high costs and abortion. FROM 30,000 FEET — The Cook Political Report’s Dave Wasserman has a new analysis examining why the number of swing House districts has plummeted in the past few decades. With historical data going back to 1997, he concludes that the majority of the change in American politics — 58% — is attributable to geographic partisan self-sorting in urban and rural areas, as Democrats and Republicans increasingly live in separate places. The other 42% is the result of redistricting. But the realignment has mostly benefited Democrats, while gerrymandering has mostly benefited Republicans. PRIMARY COLORS — The race to replace Rep. RUBEN GALLEGO (D-Ariz.) is already getting crowded: State Sen. RAQUEL TERÁN jumped into the Democratic primary today, on the heels of Phoenix Vice Mayor YASSAMIN ANSARI yesterday. Several other high-profile candidates could yet make a play in the heavily Democratic district; Gallego isn’t endorsing just yet.
| | | | GO INSIDE THE 2023 MILKEN INSTITUTE GLOBAL CONFERENCE: POLITICO is proud to partner with the Milken Institute to produce a special edition "Global Insider" newsletter featuring exclusive coverage, insider nuggets and unparalleled insights from the 2023 Global Conference, which will convene leaders in health, finance, politics, philanthropy and entertainment from April 30-May 3. This year’s theme, Advancing a Thriving World, will challenge and inspire attendees to lean into building an optimistic coalition capable of tackling the issues and inequities we collectively face. Don’t miss a thing — subscribe today for a front row seat. | | | | | JUDICIARY SQUARE MASS SHOOTING FALLOUT — The U.S. has reached a $145 million settlement with the victims of the 2017 Sutherland Springs, Texas, mass shooting, though the agreement still needs final sign-off from DOJ. The Air Force has been faulted for not sending a domestic violence alert that would have prevented the ultimate shooter from buying a gun. More from ABC THE WHITE HOUSE CUE THE SEAMUS HEANEY QUOTES — The White House announced this morning that Biden will travel to the U.K. and Ireland across three days next week, with stops in Belfast, Dublin, County Louth and County Mayo. TOP-ED — As Passover begins, Biden penned a piece for CNN about the fight against antisemitism and the growing threat of hate in America. “Passover teaches that remembering is not enough; we must also speak out,” he writes. “The word ‘Haggadah’ means ‘telling’ — and it reminds us of our moral obligation to state clearly and forcefully that this scourge of antisemitism must stop.” BEYOND THE BELTWAY NC GOP GETS A SUPERMAJORITY — “Switching parties, Rep. Tricia Cotham is formally welcomed to NC House GOP caucus,” by The Charlotte Observer’s Avi Bajpai and Danielle Battaglia THE MOST VALUABLE ENDORSEMENT — Rep. JIM CLYBURN (D-S.C.) today backed CHRISTALE SPAIN to be South Carolina Democratic Party chair, AP’s Meg Kinnard reports from Columbia. She’s one of three candidates in the race. MICHIGAN DEMS ROLLING — “Whitmer repeals Michigan’s 1931 abortion ban,” by the Detroit Free Press’ Clara Hendrickson ICYMI — “Move by Tennessee Republicans to oust 3 Dem lawmakers startles state,” by Liz Crampton
| | | | A message from Instagram:   | | | AMERICA AND THE WORLD DANCE OF THE SUPERPOWERS — Taiwan has been losing diplomatic ground in Latin America, and the U.S. is worried that Paraguay may be the next country to stop recognizing it, Reuters’ Michael Martina, Matt Spetalnick and Daniela Desantis report. That “would be another blow to the U.S., which has had little success stemming the tide of Taipei’s diplomatic losses, and a fresh sign of China’s growing footprint in Washington’s neighborhood.” EVAN GERSHKOVICH LATEST — Secretary of State ANTONY BLINKEN told reporters today that he has “no doubt” that the WSJ reporter has been wrongfully detained by Russian officials, WSJ’s Vivian Salama reports from Brussels. POLICY CORNER CLIMATE FILES — “E.P.A. to Tighten Limits on Mercury and Other Pollutants From Power Plants,” by NYT’s Lisa Friedman: “The proposed rule from the Environmental Protection Agency has two broad policy aims: Reduce dangerous toxins in the environment, while also encouraging the transition away from coal-burning power plants and toward cleaner energy sources like solar and wind. The proposal sets up a likely legal battle with the coal industry and several Republican-led states, which fought to block a previous effort to regulate mercury under the Obama administration.” MEDIAWATCH NO LEMONADE FROM THIS LEMON — “Don Lemon’s Misogyny at CNN, Exposed: Malicious Texts, Mocking Female Co-Workers and ‘Diva-Like Behavior,’” by Variety’s Tatiana Siegel: “When [KYRA PHILLIPS] returned from Iraq [around 2008], things only got weirder. One night while dining with members of the news team, she received the first of two threatening text messages from an unknown number on her flip phone that warned, ‘Now you’ve crossed the line, and you’re going to pay for it.’ Phillips was visibly rattled and quickly enlisted CNN’s higher ups to identify the sender. Remarkably, the texts were traced back to [DON] LEMON.” (CNN responds that Lemon says this never happened.)
| | | | 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. | | | | | PLAYBOOKERS PLAYBOOK REAL ESTATE SECTION — “Peter Jennings’s Central Park West Apartment Lists for $10.45 Million,” by WSJ’s Libertina Brandt: “The three-bedroom co-op overlooking Central Park is being sold by Mr. Jennings’s widow, former ABC News producer Kayce Freed Jennings. … Located in a prewar building, the corner unit spans around 3,600 square feet and has views to the west from the dining room.” OUT AND ABOUT — The Colin Powell School for Civic and Global Leadership of The City College of New York on Monday night honored NBCUniversal News Group Chair Cesar Conde with the inaugural Colin L. Powell Distinguished Leadership Award. Linda Powell, chair of the Colin Powell School’s Board of Visitors and the daughter of the late general, presented Conde with the award, and Andrea Mitchell led a conversation with Conde. SPOTTED: Michael Powell, Hillary Clinton, Dina Powell, Almar Latour, Adrienne Arsht, Rebecca Blumenstein, Rashida Jones, Yvette Miley, Emma Carrasco, Stephen Labaton, Vincent Boudreau and Andrew Rich. MEDIA MOVE — Former CNN anchor Ana Cabrera will host a new show, “Ana Cabrera Reports,” on MSNBC beginning Monday, per the WSJ. TRANSITIONS — Former two-time Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams will be the inaugural Ronald W. Walters Endowed Chair for Race and Black Politics at Howard University, WaPo’s Susan Svrluga reports. … Donald Walker is joining the Raben Group as COO. He previously was COO for DC Green Bank. … Gabe Sehr is now director for legislative affairs at the NSC. He previously was a congressional liaison at the Columbia Class Submarine Program Office in the Navy. … … Chris Hayes is now head of U.S. government relations at Sorare, a Web3 sports entertainment company. He previously was head of government relations at the Celo Foundation. … Bishop Garrison is now VP for policy at the Intelligence and National Security Alliance. He previously was VP for government affairs and public policy at Paravision. … Rich Buckley is now a managing director at Rational360. He previously was chief corporate affairs officer at EQRx. ENGAGED — Elise Wirkus, legislative director for Issue One, and Michael Martone, a project manager at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, got engaged Sunday afternoon while hiking with their dog, Bingley, on their favorite trail in Potomac. They met four years ago on Hinge. Pic WELCOME TO THE WORLD — Lane Lofton, chief of staff for Rep. David Trone (D-Md.), and Anna Lofton, general counsel of the Central Pension Fund for the International Union of Operating Engineers, welcomed Colette (Coco) Lydia Lofton on Monday. Pic … Another pic 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.
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