| | | | |  | | By Eli Okun | Presented by The U.S. Chamber of Commerce | ALL EYES ON SCOTUS — The Supreme Court has a deadline of 11:59 p.m. tonight to act on the mifepristone/FDA approval case, with potentially major ramifications for access to abortion across the country and for federal approvals of other drugs. Of course, Justice SAMUEL ALITO has already extended the deadline once this week, and another delay is possible. But in a matter of hours, we could have the highest-profile decision on abortion since last year’s historic overturning of Roe v. Wade. The Biden administration has asked the high court on an emergency basis to extend the FDA’s approval of the abortion drug, after a federal judge in Texas struck it down. The justices could restore access to mifepristone completely, block it completely or something in between. It’s a slow news day otherwise in American politics, but while we wait, here’s what else has been happening.
|  Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin today tried to reassure global allies after the recent leak of classified intelligence documents. | Matthias Schrader/AP Photo | THAT WAS FAST — The U.S. is announcing today that it will start training about 250 Ukrainian troops on Abrams tanks in Germany in June — a much-accelerated timeline compared to initial Pentagon predictions months ago, AP’s Lolita Baldor reports. It will likely take a few more months to get the tanks onto the battlefield, but they could have a significant impact on the course of the war once they arrive. “The goal has been to have the troops trained by the time the refurbished tanks are ready so they can then immediately move to combat. The tanks are being refitted to meet Ukraine’s needs.” In other developments out of Germany, Defense Secretary LLOYD AUSTIN sought to reassure global allies at the meeting on aid to Ukraine that he is taking the recent megaleak of classified intelligence documents “very seriously,” Baldor reports. Addressing defense leaders from Ramstein Air Base this morning, “Austin said he’d spoken to allies and partners about the matter, and ‘I’ve been struck by your solidarity and your commitment to reject efforts to divide us. And we will not let anything fracture our unity.’” THE INVESTIGATIONS — Federal investigators are continuing their interview with BORIS EPSHTEYN for a second day today, primarily focused on the attempt to overturn the 2020 election, ABC’s Katherine Faulders reports. Special counsel JACK SMITH himself sat in on part of the questioning yesterday, though he didn’t take part directly. Faulders reports that prosecutors asked Ephsteyn about his communications with DONALD TRUMP, KENNETH CHESEBRO, JOHN EASTMAN and RUDY GIULIANI. It wasn’t just 2020: CNN’s Zachary Cohen just broke the story that after a Coffee County, Ga., voting machine was breached, Republican operatives hired by Trump’s legal team talked about trying to use it to decertify the 2021 Georgia Senate runoff elections. FIRST IN PLAYBOOK — The Biden administration is stepping up its offense against Speaker KEVIN McCARTHY’s plan to pair a debt limit increase with spending cuts — highlighting the reality that while Americans broadly like the idea of less government spending, getting into the specifics can become much more politically perilous. A new fact sheet from the VA runs down how a 22% cut to its budget would affect services for veterans, from 30 million fewer outpatient visits for veterans to 134,000 more disability claims in the backlog. The VA also emphasizes how cuts to other departments’ budgets would affect veterans. Read the fact sheet here Related read: “Food Insecurity Hits Hard With Veterans and Uniformed Troops,” by WSJ’s Ben Kesling in Hines, Ill.: “For military families, lack of knowledge of available resources and reluctance to accept help can exacerbate problems with hunger.” Happy Friday afternoon. Thanks for reading Playbook PM. Drop me a line at eokun@politico.com.
| | | | A message from The U.S. Chamber of Commerce: The U.S. Chamber of Commerce fights for pro-growth policies that benefit small businesses. The Chamber represents members across the country and in every sector, and 90% of the Chambers’ members are small businesses and state and local Chambers of Commerce – the backbone of the American economy.
Hear from Main Street businesses on how the Chamber advocates for them during challenging times. The U.S. Chamber is big on small business. | | | BEYOND THE BELTWAY AMERICAN TRAGEDY — Mass killings in the U.S. this year have happened at a record clip — 17 times so far, or slightly more than one a week, leaving 88 people dead, AP’s Stefanie Dazio and Larry Fenn report. 2009 is the only other comparable year for mass killings, defined as incidents in which at least four people die (not including the killer). And “there’s little indication at either the state or federal level — with a handful of exceptions — that many major policy changes are on the horizon” to try to prevent them from happening. DeSANTIS’ IMMIGRATION MOVES — “A Cruise Ship for Florida’s Migrant Crisis Had Nowhere to Dock,” by NYT’s Frances Robles in Key West: “The ship was among the largest in a series of some $20 million in emergency purchases authorized by [Florida Gov.] RON DeSANTIS … [T]he hasty state emergency program, including the ill-fated cruise ship contract, highlights the problems that can develop when state officials intervene to help manage the borders, a role traditionally reserved for the federal government.” 2024 WATCH DON’T SAY ‘HEY’ — The interpersonal hits against DeSantis keep coming. One sitting GOP congressman told our colleague Daniel Lippman that the Republican Study Committee (of which DeSantis was a member) tried to get him in front of RSC for a few years, and his team never even responded to their multiple invitations. “He held a fundraiser in my district and they didn’t even invite me,” the member said. A spokesperson for DeSantis didn’t respond to a request for comment. YOU’VE GOT A FRIEND IN ME — While former South Carolina GOP allies Sen. TIM SCOTT and NIKKI HALEY prepare to face off for the presidential nomination, Scott has dismissed any fears of long-term damage to his lengthy political camaraderie with Haley, AP’s Meg Kinnard reports: “‘You put your uniform on, you shake hands, and you go on the field. You fight for good. You fight to win the game,’ Scott said. ‘You take your uniform off, you shake hands and you continue down the road.’ … ‘We were friends before,’ he added. ‘We’ll be friends after.’” THE WHITE HOUSE HAPPENING TODAY — “Biden to sign order prioritizing ‘environmental justice,’” by AP’s Josh Boak: “The order tells executive branch agencies to use data and scientific research to understand how pollution hurts people’s health, so that work can be done to limit any damage. It also establishes the White House Office of Environmental Justice, which will help coordinate efforts across the government.” ON THE MENU — EDWARD LEE will be the guest chef for next week’s state dinner for South Korean President YOON SUK YEOL, AP’s Darlene Superville scoops. Though the details won’t come out until Monday, the Louisville- and D.C.-based chef says presenting food to first lady JILL BIDEN was scarier than being on “Top Chef.” After dinner, NORM LEWIS, LEA SALONGA and JESSICA VOSK will provide entertainment. CONGRESS HEADS UP — “CIA in Congress’ crosshairs over alleged mishandling of sex assault cases,” by Daniel Lippman: “At least three female CIA employees have approached the [House Intelligence Committee] since January to tell them that the agency is discouraging women from making sexual misconduct complaints … The allegations led committee chair Rep. MIKE TURNER (R-Ohio) and ranking member Rep. JIM HIMES (D-Conn.) to send a letter last week to CIA director BILL BURNS to ask for the agency’s help looking into the issues … Burns responded within 24 hours and pledged full cooperation.” THE TALENTED MR. SANTOS — The campaign treasurer and former business partner of Rep. GEORGE SANTOS (R-N.Y.), NANCY MARKS, is coming under scrutiny as investigators probe Santos’ finances and dealings, NYT’s Grace Ashford and Nicholas Fandos report. Santos and Marks have each sought to cast blame on the other in recent months. But the Times’ deep dive into Marks’ history in Long Island GOP politics finds that “while the kind of egregious irregularities in Mr. Santos’s reports do not appear in other campaigns she worked on … Ms. Marks’s accounting and business practices repeatedly drew suspicion.” Prosecutors have investigated her — without bringing charges — at least twice before.
| | | | 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. | | | | | MORE POLITICS AD WARS — The Senate Majority PAC-affiliated nonprofit Duty and Honor is launching TV ads tomorrow in the West Virginia Senate race. Democrats are looking to shore up vulnerable Sen. JOE MANCHIN — who’s still undecided on reelection — right after Republicans went on the air against him. POLICY CORNER WATCH YOUR SIX — The next generation of wireless will be 6G, and the White House is convening a new initiative today to start making plans for the technology, WSJ’s John McKinnon reports. The U.S. wants to take a leading role in developing the futuristic telecoms, especially in competition with China. Though 6G is still years in the future, it could significantly expand internet access around the world. BANK ON IT — In the wake of Silicon Valley Bank’s implosion, the Fed is thinking about ending a loophole for midsize banks, tightening the rules once again to prevent them from hiding certain losses, WSJ’s Andrew Ackerman and Rachel Louise Ensign scooped. “All told, regulators are considering extending toughened restrictions to about 30 companies with between $100 billion and $700 billion in assets,” though it might take years to implement fully. KNOWING MATT STOLLER — “Washington’s Angriest Progressive Is Winning Over Conservatives – and Baffling Old Allies,” by Nancy Scola in POLITICO Magazine: “Stoller is known for his dogmatic belief that taking on corporate power by breaking up companies that have gotten too big is the goal — so central and so urgent that nearly any other cause or political relationship should be sacrificed in service of it. … Stoller also holds remarkable sway in [President JOE] BIDEN’s Washington. … But Stoller isn’t content to keep converting Democrats to the cause.” VALLEY TALK THE ELON ERA — NPR’s @BobbyAllyn: “NEW: ELON MUSK tells me Twitter has now dropped all media labels. Asked why, Musk says: ‘This was WALTER ISAACSON’s suggestion.’”
| | | | 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 OUT AND ABOUT — SPOTTED at the first Senate GOP Communications Directors Alumni reunion last night at Bobby Van’s: Ryan Taylor, Meg Baglien, Kristina Baum, Lindsay Bednar, Leigh Claffey, Alex Conant, Caitlin Conant, Lauren Culbertson Grieco, John Cummins, Frederick Hill, Shana Marchio, Katherine Patterson, Katie Rosborough, Michael Tadeo, Caroline Vanvick, Megan Whittemore and Jahan Wilcox. — SPOTTED at Union Pub last night celebrating the first anniversary of the Competitiveness Coalition: Scott Brown, Pete Sepp, Brandon Arnold, Nick Johns, Kevin Glass, Ryan Nabil and Joe Bishop-Henchman, Ed Longe, Luke Hogg, Adam Millsap, Colin Reed, Samantha Heyrich, Gretchen Andersen and Lily Bandola. — Abby Rapoport hosted a reception last night at the Roosevelt House in celebration of Stranger’s Guide. SPOTTED: Patsy Thomasson, Kimball Stroud, Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb, Lyndon Boozer, Natalie Jones, Larry Cohen, Eve and Peter O’Toole, Kevin McDonald, Patricia and Ron Rapoport, Jay Newton-Small, Mark Paustenbauch, Tonya Williams, Tyler Beardsley, Daren Thomas, Gerry Harrington and Jackson Dunn. — SPOTTED at the Healthcare Distribution Alliance’s open house Wednesday night at its new headquarters in downtown D.C.: Scott Melville, Gabriel Weissman, Beth Mitchell, Rebecca McGrath, Amy Efantis and Jade West. — SPOTTED at Rokk Solutions’ launch of its latest ESG research at Dear Irving in NYC last night: Tessa Recendes, Shannon O’Shea, Marta Tinda, Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, Zoe Brogden, Taegan Reiasman, Abigail Cuthbertson, Patrick Temple-West, Sergio Rodriguera, Jewelle Yamada, Zheng Qian, Francois Servranckx, Craig Gordon, Bryan Solomon, Alejandra Ramos, Rodell Mollineau, Kristen Hawn, Ron Bonjean, Lindsay Singleton, Erickson Foster and Tom Shaw. COMMERCE DEPARTMENT MOVES — Brittany Caplin is moving to become deputy chief of staff overseeing external affairs. She previously was director of public affairs. Luis Jimenez is moving to become senior counselor. He previously was deputy chief of staff and acting chief of staff. TRANSITION — Tracy Falon King is now director of outreach comms at the DNC. She previously was with The Collective PAC. WELCOME TO THE WORLD — Christina Strogis, manager of public policy at the ERISA Industry Committee, and Derek Strogis, senior government account manager at Grainger, welcomed Elizabeth Gemma Strogis on Sunday. 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. Correction: Yesterday’s Playbook PM misspelled Janice Williams’ name.
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