| | | | |  | | By Garrett Ross | Presented by The U.S. Chamber of Commerce | |  Ron DeSantis could be the primary target of attacks at the first RNC debate. | Scott Olson/Getty Images | BREAKING — “Special counsel obtained search warrant for Donald Trump’s Twitter account,” by Kyle Cheney HEADS UP — Sen. DIANNE FEINSTEIN (D-Calif.) fell in her San Francisco home yesterday and went to the hospital, her office noticed earlier today — the latest in a string of health-related concerns for the 90-year-old Democrat, who is not seeking reelection in 2024. The office statement: “Senator Feinstein briefly went to the hospital yesterday afternoon as a precaution after a minor fall in her home. All of her scans were clear and she returned home.” Read more from Jennifer Haberkorn DeSANTIS DOWNLOAD — As the run-up to the first RNC debate hits a crescendo, the debate prep stories are starting to pop. For Florida Gov. RON DeSANTIS, much of the prep work has involved bracing for “a potential onslaught of attacks from his rivals,” ABC’s Rachel Scott and Will Steakin report. With the prospect of DONALD TRUMP skipping the event entirely, DeSantis would be the de facto frontrunner in attendance, which would make him a ripe target for the remaining field to try to tear down. To train for the challenge, DeSantis has “enlisted the help of seasoned debate coach BRETT O'DONNELL and has been holding regular Q&A sessions at least once a week,” per ABC. Interesting nugget: “If Trump ultimately skips the debate, sources told ABC News that the DeSantis campaign believes the move could hurt the former president with primary voters who want to see him on the stage. DeSantis' campaign has been conducting polling on the issue with Republican voters in Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada.” Meanwhile: Back in his home state, DeSantis once again suspended an elected Florida prosecutor from office, this time removing State Attorney MONIQUE WORRELL, a central Florida Democrat that the governor claimed was too lenient with criminals and was endangering the public, our colleague Gary Fineout writes. The move is, of course, drawing sharp criticism from Democrats, who are claiming that the move was designed to counter bad campaign news — it comes just one day after he reshuffled his top campaign leadership once again. Worrell responds: “This is simply a smokescreen for Ron DeSantis’ failing and disastrous presidential campaign,” Worrell said. “He needed to get back in the media in some positive way that would be red meat for his base.” MORE ON THE DEBATE — One of the key figures opening up the way for the first GOP debate is something of an unlikely ally for the Republican hopefuls: CAVALIER JOHNSON, a Democrat who, as mayor of host city Milwaukee, is rolling out the welcome mat. “We’re going to be gracious hosts because that’s what you should be,” Johnson said in an interview with our colleague Shia Kapos. “We’re asking everyone to be on their best behavior.” Republicans have been on the attack for months against “crime-ridden” cities run by Democrats, Shia writes, but it’s kumbaya when it comes to putting on big events like this month’s debate and next year’s GOP nominating convention, which will also be held in the Cream City. The logistics prep work: “Top of mind for both Republicans and Democrats in Milwaukee ahead of the debate is security. Johnson and Republican National Committee Chair RONNA McDANIEL are paying attention to where debate protesters might gather and how traffic patterns play out at the debate, something that will inform planning for next year’s convention.” Good Wednesday afternoon. Thanks for reading Playbook PM. Aside from “Cream City,” what are your favorite municipal nicknames? Drop me a line: gross@politico.com.
| | | | A message from The U.S. Chamber of Commerce: Concerns about policy risks for public companies — changes in taxes, regulations, and enforcement — increased 27% over the last decade, according to a report from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Rising public policy risks threaten business growth, innovation, and our country’s global competitiveness. In Washington, the polarization, gridlock, regulatory overreach, and inability to act smartly and strategically are making it harder for businesses to do their jobs and move this country forward. | | | TRUMP CARDS GEORGIA ON MY MIND — It appears Fulton County DA FANI WILLIS is likely to present her case against Trump to a grand jury next week, NBC’s Blayne Alexander, Charlie Gile and Michael Mitsanas report. “NBC News spoke to two individuals who have been subpoenaed to testify before a grand jury as part of the Georgia prosecutor's investigation. The subpoenas noted that each witness will receive at least 48 hours’ notice to appear before the grand jury. Former state Sen. JEN JORDAN and former Lt. Gov. GEOFF DUNCAN, who have both received subpoenas, told NBC News that they have not received a 48-hour notice to appear, indicating the case will not be presented to the jurors this week.” CONGRESS SELLING THE FARM — There’s something of a scramble among senior House Republicans even with Congress away on recess, as leaders ramp up outreach sessions with far-right members of their caucus with one goal in mind: avoiding a last-minute farm bill catastrophe on the House floor, Meredith Lee Hill reports. “In private meetings, House Agriculture Chair G.T. THOMPSON (R-Pa.) has been pushing a bipartisan approach to the bill and trying to calm concerns about the price tag — which is expected to top $1 trillion for the first time. “Other senior Republicans are trying to convince their colleagues, and even some GOP leaders, that the hardline, partisan approaches Speaker KEVIN McCARTHY deployed in the debt limit and government spending fights won’t fly for the farm bill — must-pass legislation that supports the agricultural economy and provides food aid for more than 40 million low-income Americans.” MORE POLITICS THE NEXT MOVE ON ABORTION — Fresh off a win in Ohio last night, abortion rights activists are moving on to their next targets. Indivisible, a progressive organizing group, is out with a memo to donors today setting Arizona as the next stage in the fight, pushing for a ballot initiative to protect access to reproductive care in the purple state, our colleague Zach Montellaro scoops. “A ballot initiative in Arizona would increase the ‘likelihood that pro-choice voters turn out to vote, boosting Democratic candidates up and down the ticket in a state with numerous, must-win competitive races at the Presidential, Senate, House, and state legislative level,’” the memo states. Read the full memo ABOUT LAST NIGHT — “Ohio Vote Shows Abortion’s Potency to Reshape Elections,” news analysis by NYT’s Lisa Lerer: “For decades, a majority of Americans supported some form of legalized abortion. But the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision overturning Roe v. Wade has shifted the political intensity on the issue, reshaping a once mostly-silent coalition of liberal, swing and moderate Republican voters into a political force.” Related read: “Why Ohio Voters Said No to Ballot Measure,” by NYT’s Campbell Robertson, Rachel Richardson and Daniel McGraw: “In addition to their views on abortion, many who cast ballots in Ohio’s referendum on Tuesday said they felt the measure’s backers weren’t honest about its purpose.” AIPAC VS. THE SQUAD, ROUND 2 — “AIPAC steps up efforts to oust anti-Israel lawmakers,” by Jewish Insider’s Matthew Kassel: “The bipartisan pro-Israel group has been actively courting a slate of House candidates to oppose marquee members of the ‘Squad,’ including Reps. JAMAAL BOWMAN (D-NY) and ILHAN OMAR (D-MN), according to multiple sources familiar with AIPAC’s outreach who spoke with Jewish Insider on Tuesday. The recruitment efforts have come amid a surprise shake-up at a leading progressive group, Justice Democrats, which laid off nearly half of its staff last month.”
| | | | ATTENTION PLAYBOOKERS! You need to keep up with the latest political news and nuggets, so here’s a juicy tip: You need to add California Playbook to your daily reading. We have a new team at the helm who are eager to take you inside the political arena in California, from Sacramento and Los Angeles to Silicon Valley and throughout the Golden State! Get the latest exclusive news and buzzy scoops from the fourth largest economy in the world sent straight to your inbox. SUBSCRIBE TODAY. | | | | | THE WHITE HOUSE WHAT JOE IS SELLING — “Biden is pitching his economic policies as a key to a manufacturing jobs revival,” by AP’s Chris Megerian and Josh Boak in Albuquerque, N.M.: “On Wednesday, President Joe Biden will make the case in a New Mexico speech that his policies of financial and tax incentives have revived U.S. manufacturing. His claim is supported by a rise in construction spending on new factories. But factory hiring has begun to slow in recent months, a sign that the promised boom has yet to fully materialize. That hasn’t stopped the White House from telling voters ahead of the 2024 election that the Democratic president’s agenda has triggered a ‘renaissance’ in factory work.” THE HEAT IS ON — “White House to unveil a system for tracking heat-related illnesses nationwide,” by NBC’s Monica Alba and Peter Nicholas: “The new national dashboard, which will be overseen by the Health and Human Services Department, maps emergency services responding to heat-related illness calls across the country, officials said. The ‘EMS HeatTracker’ is intended to help ensure sufficient medical aid gets to Americans who need it most during severe heat, officials said.” CLIMATE FILES — “Biden says ‘practically speaking’ he’s already declared a climate emergency,” by WaPo’s John Wagner POLICY CORNER THE LOAN LURCH — “Discharging Student Debt in Bankruptcy Is Supposed to Be Easier Than Before,” by NYT’s Tara Siegel Bernard: “Last year, the Biden administration provided a new path to make it easier to discharge student loans in bankruptcy. The results appear promising, but success has been limited.”
| | | | HITTING YOUR INBOX AUGUST 14—CALIFORNIA CLIMATE: Climate change isn’t just about the weather. It's also about how we do business and create new policies, especially in California. So we have something cool for you: A brand-new California Climate newsletter. It's not just climate or science chat, it's your daily cheat sheet to understanding how the legislative landscape around climate change is shaking up industries across the Golden State. Cut through the jargon and get the latest developments in California as lawmakers and industry leaders adapt to the changing climate. Subscribe now to California Climate to keep up with the changes. | | | | | BEYOND THE BELTWAY CAUSE AND EFFECT — “First Scorched, Then Soaked: Weather Whiplash Confounds Farmers,” by NYT’s Mitch Smith: “As the war in Ukraine disrupts the global grain market, a volatile climate leaves Kansas on track to harvest its smallest wheat crop in decades.” AMERICA AND THE WORLD WHAT’S THE DEAL? — “U.S.-Saudi Deal Sets Path to Normalize Kingdom’s Ties With Israel,” by WSJ’s Dion Nissenbaum: “U.S. and Saudi Arabia have agreed on the broad contours of a deal for Saudi Arabia to recognize Israel in exchange for concessions to the Palestinians, U.S. security guarantees and civilian nuclear help, according to U.S. officials. U.S. officials expressed cautious optimism that, in the next nine-to-12 months, they can hammer out the finer details of what would be the most momentous Middle East peace deal in a generation. But they warn that they face long odds.” COUP-DE-WHO’S-WHO — “At Center of Niger’s Coup Is One of America’s Favorite Generals,” by WSJ’s Michael Phillips: “American military commanders were dismayed last month when a clique of top army officers seized power in Niger, the U.S.’s main ally in the fight against Islamist militants in West Africa. What stung perhaps most sharply were televised images of one particular man, Brig. Gen. MOUSSA SALAOU BARMOU, among the coup plotters. Barmou is a guy the U.S. military has courted for almost 30 years.” FOR YOUR RADAR — “Top U.S. and EU lawmakers say West is too soft on Serbia when it comes to easing Kosovo tensions,” by AP’s Lorne Cook in Brussels PLAYBOOKERS IN MEMORIAM — “Kensington Woman Who Served Under 3 Presidents Dies,” by Montgomery Community Media’s Suzanne Pollak: “Since 1976, [Katja] Bullock had been a volunteer or staff member under former Presidents Ronald Reagan, George H. W Bush and Donald Trump. She was a Montgomery County coordinator and transition staff member for Mitt Romney and a county coordinator for Robert Ehrlich’s successful bid for Maryland governor.” 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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