| | | | |  | | By Garrett Ross | | | MARK YOUR CALENDAR — @brianstelter: “Newsom-DeSantis has a date: Fox says ‘SEAN HANNITY will moderate a red vs. blue state debate between Florida Governor and Republican presidential candidate RON DeSANTIS and Democrat California Governor GAVIN NEWSOM on November 30th.’ Location TBD in Georgia.”
|  Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) said he will not resign from his seat as he faces federal bribery charges. | Andres Kudacki/AP Photo | WON’T BACK DOWN — Sen. BOB MENENDEZ mounted a defiant defense of himself in a news conference this morning, stating that he will not resign his seat in response to the federal indictment against the New Jersey Democrat on bribery charges. “The allegations leveled against me are just that: allegations,” Menendez said, vowing to fight the charges, which he acknowledged would likely be his “biggest fight yet.” “I firmly believe that when all the facts are presented, not only will I be exonerated, but I will still be New Jersey’s senior senator,” he added. In the days since the indictment was handed down, a deluge of Democrats and elected officials have called for the 69-year-old lawmaker to step down — including a raft of New Jersey figures both past and present. Read more from our colleague Daniel Han in Union City … Video of Menendez’s remarks The show of support: “Standing behind the senator, against a wall, were roughly two dozen people he called ‘everyday people and constituents who know me,’” NYT’s Tracey Tully writes. His wife, NADINE — who was also indicted — was not present at the news conference. What’s next: Menendez is scheduled to appear before a federal judge in Manhattan to respond to the charges on Wednesday. Return to sender: “Fetterman Plans to Give Back Menendez Donation In Cash-Filled Envelopes,” by The Messenger’s Dan Merica INDEPENDENT SINEMA — Since switching her party affiliation to independent, Arizona Sen. KYRSTEN SINEMA has been quiet about whether she plans to run for reelection as Democratic Rep. RUBEN GALLEGO mounts a challenge for her seat, hoping to keep it in his party’s hands. Privately, however, Sinema’s “political team has been mapping out a campaign strategy, pitching donors and potential supporters on how she can win the marquee Senate race,” NBC’s Sahil Kapur scoops. “In a two-page prospectus obtained by NBC News, Sinema charts out a path to victory as an independent candidate in Arizona, with a glimpse of her possible campaign message and new details about the unique cross-party coalition she would seek to build in the competitive state.” By the numbers: “Under the banner ‘Kyrsten’s Path to Victory,’ the document says Sinema can win by attracting 10% to 20% of Democrats, 60% to 70% of independents and 25% to 35% of Republicans.” It’s an extraordinary gambit — trying to appeal directly to voters from both parties while opponents on each side try to tear away that support. Spokespeople for Gallego and the NRSC both gave statements to NBC knocking Sinema’s standing among voters in their respective parties. HEADS UP — The Cuban Embassy was “the target of a terrorist attack” last night when the building was hit with two Molotov cocktails, though no staff suffered injuries, Cuban Foreign Affairs Minister BRUNO RODRÍGUEZ PARRILLA said in a statement posted to X. He also noted that Sunday’s attack marks the second such incident against the embassy since April 2020. “Back then, an individual shot several rounds against the embassy using an assault rifle,” he wrote. “The anti-Cuban groups resort to terrorism when feeling they enjoy impunity, something that Cuba has repeatedly warned the US authorities about.” More from ABC’s Lauren Minore Good Monday afternoon, and thanks for reading Playbook PM. Drop me a line at gross@politico.com.
| | | | A message from bp: bp added more than $70 billion to the US economy last year. We did it by making investments from coast to coast – like producing more sustainable aviation fuel in Washington State AND delivering a new oil & gas platform in the Gulf of Mexico. See how else bp is investing in America. | | | 2024 WATCH BEHIND THE SCENES — ROBERT F. KENNEDY JR. pops the hood on his presidential campaign for The Messenger’s Richard Leiby, who got exclusive access to the operation and candidate in an extensive interview. The picture painted is one of a candidate constantly fending off flak from his detractors as he tries to appeal to voters in both parties and lay the foundation for a challenge to Biden for the Democratic nomination (or make his run as an independent). “We could spend the next six weeks talking about stories about me that aren't true,” Kennedy told Leiby, who notes that this theme came up often in their conversation. Ask not: “One wonders how much faith Kennedy has in his chances of becoming president. Fifty percent? Ten percent? Realistically. He goes silent for 10 seconds. ‘I wouldn’t put a percentage on it,’ he says. ‘I’m not good at spinning things.’” Fun moment: “Why do celebs support him? ‘Why shouldn't they?’ Kennedy says proudly. Then, right at that moment, he reaches for his phone. ‘Oh, look who just called.’ He holds up the phone. The name on the screen is WOODY HARRELLSON.” THE GRAND NEW PARTY — Though candidacies of NIKKI HALEY and VIVEK RAMASWAMY mark the first time that two Indian Americans have waged serious presidential campaigns, their messages aren’t exactly resonating with voters who share their roots, NYT’s Jazmine Ulloa reports. “That disconnect, reflected in interviews with two dozen Indian American voters, donors and elected officials from across the political spectrum — in the early voting states of Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina and across the country — may complicate the G.O.P.’s efforts to appeal to the small but influential Indian American electorate.” A number worth remembering: “Indian Americans now make up about 2.1 million, or roughly 16 percent, of the estimated 13.4 million Asian Americans who are eligible to vote, the third largest population of Asian origin behind Chinese and Filipino Americans, according to a Pew Research Center analysis of the 2021 American Community Survey.” MORE POLITICS THE GOLDEN STATE TICKET — “The earmarks Adam Schiff delivered for donors,” by Chris Cadelago: “ADAM SCHIFF is unapologetically touting his commitment to earmarks for local causes — like homelessness and drug treatment programs — as he seeks the Senate seat long held by Dianne Feinstein. The 12-term House Democrat and darling of the anti-Trump left is even calling out his closest rival in the race, Rep. KATIE PORTER, for her opposition to pork-barrel spending. “But Schiff has offered an incomplete and potentially misleading account of his record on earmarks. A close examination of that record reveals that he secured generous earmarks for corporate beneficiaries early in his career, including at times for recipients who were also major donors to his political campaigns.” POWER PLAY — Republicans have long dominated at the state level, influencing legislatures and redistricting with far greater success than their Democratic counterparts. But Dem groups are going on offense now, including the States Project, “which was founded in 2017 and made a financial splash in state legislative elections last year, pouring $60 million into races in five competitive states: Arizona, Michigan, Maine, Nevada and Pennsylvania,” NYT’s Nick Corasaniti writes. “That investment reflects a broader recognition by Democrats that with Congress often deadlocked, many of the nation’s most urgent battles over abortion access, gun control and voting rights are now unfolding in state capitols.” DEMOGRAPHIC DIVIDE — “Both parties want to win South Florida. Here’s one Cuban activist’s view of the political fight,” by AP’s Adriana Gomez Licon in Miami
| | | | GROWING IN THE GOLDEN STATE: POLITICO California is growing, reinforcing our role as the indispensable insider source for reporting on politics, policy and power. From the corridors of power in Sacramento and Los Angeles to the players and innovation hubs in Silicon Valley, we're your go-to for navigating the political landscape across the state. Exclusive scoops, essential daily newsletters, unmatched policy reporting and insights — POLITICO California is your key to unlocking Golden State politics. LEARN MORE. | | | | | JUDICIARY SQUARE THE TRUMP TRIALS — “2 Looming Rulings Could Shape Trump’s Fraud Trial in New York,” by NYT’s Ben Protess, Jonah Bromwich and William Rashbaum: “After four years of investigating and litigating, LETITIA JAMES was finally due for her day in court against Donald J. Trump. But with that day fast approaching — a trial in her civil fraud lawsuit against him is scheduled to start on Oct. 2 — the former president’s lawyers threw a legal Hail Mary that could delay the case and seeks to gut it altogether.” Related read: “Past high-profile trials suggest stress and potential pitfalls for Georgia judge handling Trump case,” by AP’s Sudhin Thanawala COURTING CONTROVERSY — “Not just Clarence Thomas: Lower courts facing scrutiny over ethics, disclosures, too,” by USA Today’s John Fritze: “Fix the Court, a watchdog group that advocates for greater transparency in the judiciary, estimates that only about 17% of the court system’s disclosures for 2022 have been posted online, even though most of those reports were due months ago. About 21 of 155 active appeals court judges who were on the bench last year had their 2022 annual financial reports posted to the judiciary's online database as of Saturday, according to a USA TODAY review.” UNDER THE INFLUENCE — “A Trump-Era Lawsuit Over a Hack Was Going Nowhere. Then a Lobbyist Switched Sides,” by WSJ’s Aruna Viswanatha and C. Ryan Barber: “In 2018, [ELLIOTT] BROIDY sued Qatar and its lobbyists, accusing them of orchestrating the hack on him because of his public criticism of the country. “After years of grinding through the legal process with little momentum, Broidy last month found a potential toehold: One of the lobbyists he sued, JOEY ALLAHAM, settled the case and admitted that he had known about the hack — and handed over to Broidy his own set of emails Broidy never expected to get. Those emails are now making their way into public court filings, providing a rare peek inside how an army of Washington’s highest paid lawyers worked in the Trump era to manage a spiraling geopolitical crisis on behalf of Qatar and those it employed.” BEYOND THE BELTWAY ABORTION FALLOUT — More than a year after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, the variety of avenues that those seeking abortion are finding is still being patched together. With Mexico’s recent decision to decriminalize abortion procedures, a new lane is opening up. “Clinics in Tijuana and Mexico City, as well as activists in the northwestern city of Hermosillo, say they have seen women crossing the border from Texas, Louisiana and Arizona seeking access to abortion,” NYT’s Zolan Kanno-Youngs and Edyra Espriella write.
| | | | HAPPENING 9/28 — INSIDE THE CANCER MOONSHOT: Join POLITICO on Thursday, Sept. 28 for an in-depth discussion on the future of cancer treatment and innovation. Hear from experts including scientists, government officials and industry leaders as we explore the critical roles played by private industry, nonprofits, the National Cancer Institute and the new Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health in achieving the Biden administration's goal of cutting the cancer death rate in half over the next 25 years. Don't miss this opportunity to dive into the progress of cancer treatments and learn about the challenges patients encounter in accessing care. REGISTER HERE. | | | | | THE ECONOMY THE WELL-OILED MACHINE — “Wall Street Is Hoping $100 Oil Ain’t What It Used to Be,” by WSJ’s David Uberti: “Oil’s rise has inspired fresh fears from Washington to Wall Street that energy, which the Fed largely excludes in its policy calculus, could throw off central bankers’ attempted soft landing of the fuel-hungry American economy. Some investors and economists have compared the moment to previous periods in which booming oil prices have helped tip the country into recession.” VISUAL STORY — “Why America Has a Long-Term Labor Crisis, in Six Charts,” by WSJ’s Lauren Weber and Alana Pipe AMERICA AND THE WORLD FOR YOUR RADAR — “Taliban weighs using U.S. mass surveillance plan, met with China's Huawei,” by Reuters’ Mohammad Yunus Yawar and Charlotte Greenfield WHODUNNIT — “Who blew up the Nord Stream pipelines? What we know one year later,” by WaPo’s Niha Masih PLAYBOOKERS OUT AND ABOUT — The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation held its Phoenix Awards ceremony yesterday evening, where President Joe Biden and VP Kamala Harris delivered remarks and honorees included Karine Jean-Pierre, LA Mayor Karen Bass, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), Tennessee state Rep. Justin Jones, MC Lyte and LL Cool J. SPOTTED: Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Reps. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) and Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.), Dels. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.) and Stacey Plaskett (D-V.I.), Michigan Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist, Al Sharpton, Kevin Liles, Angela Rye, Jalen Rose, Susan Taylor, Roland Martin and April Ryan. TRANSITION — Kate Klimczak will return to NIH as associate director for legislative policy and analysis and director of the Office of Legislative Policy and Analysis. She most recently has been deputy and acting director of the FDA’s Office for Congressional Appropriations. WEDDINGS — Irvin McCullough, an investigator for the Senate Judiciary human rights subcommittee under Chair Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.), and Allegra Harpootlian, a comms strategist for the ACLU, got married Saturday at Castello di Petrata in Assisi, Italy, near where she was born. They met in 2018 at a roundtable Allegra moderated on endless war. Pic … Another pic — Harrison Fields, a senior adviser and comms director to Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.), and Caitlin McCoy, a senior director for digital at Plus Communications, got married in Arlington, Va. Both are from Wellington, Fla., and graduated from Florida State University. SPOTTED: Byron and Erika Donalds, Chris Georgia, Alexandria Smith, Karoline Leavitt, Chad Gilmartin, Jalen Drummond, Rebekah Gudeman, and Mason and Caroline Champion. 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 producer Bethany Irvine.
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