| | | |  | | By Garrett Ross | | Presented by |  | | | |  | THE CATCH-UP | | MARK YOUR CALENDAR: “Conclave to elect next pope will start May 7,” by POLITICO’s Elena Giordano
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Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.) is stepping down from his slot as top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee and forgoing a reelection bid. | Francis Chung/POLITICO | THE WHEELS OF CHANGE KEEP TURNING: The generational churn continues for Democrats, with longtime Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.) announcing this morning that he will step down as the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee and forgo a reelection bid, paving the way for a fresh face atop the influential panel. Connolly cited the return of his esophageal cancer — first diagnosed in late 2024 — as the reason for his planned departure. “With no rancor and a full heart, I move into this final chapter full of pride in what we’ve accomplished together over 30 years,” Connolly said in a statement Monday, saying he would pull back from his ranking member position “soon.” Next up: At one point last year, it looked like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) would be the Oversight heir apparent, but after Connolly beat her out in a hotly contested race for the top slot on the committee last fall, AOC left the panel in favor of a perch on the Energy and Commerce Committee. It’s unclear if she is interested in mounting a comeback bid to Oversight. Others who might step up to the plate include California Rep. Ro Khanna of California and Texas Rep. Jasmine Crockett. In the meantime: Connolly has tasked Massachusetts Rep. Stephen Lynch — the second in line in seniority among Democrats behind D.C. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton — with covering for him on the dais until a permanent replacement is elected, beginning with Wednesday’s markup of the panel’s portion of the GOP’s megabill, POLITICO’s Hailey Fuchs and Nicholas Wu report. HAPPENING TODAY: Speaking of that megabill, the so-called Big Six budget negotiators are convening on the Hill for a 4 p.m. meeting to get their marching orders together as Republicans put pen to paper on their megabill to kickstart President Donald Trump’s domestic agenda this week, POLITICO’s Meredith Lee Hill and Michael Stratford report. Who’s who: Speaker Mike Johnson, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, Senate Finance Chair Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), House Ways and Means Chair Jason Smith (R-Mo.), Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and NEC Director Kevin Hassett will be in attendance. Digging into the details: “House education committee Republicans release plans for GOP megabill,” by POLITICO’s Mackenzie Wilkes … “Energy and Commerce Republicans to huddle Monday amid Medicaid debate,” by POLITICO’s Ben Leonard O, CANADA: Trump had a fresh taunt for Canadians heading to the polls today to decide the direction of the country’s leadership. “Elect the man who has the strength and wisdom to cut your taxes in half, increase your military power, for free, to the highest level in the World, have your Car, Steel, Aluminum, Lumber, Energy, and all other businesses, QUADRUPLE in size, WITH ZERO TARIFFS OR TAXES, if Canada becomes the cherished 51st. State of the United States of America,” Trump posted on Truth Social this morning. “No more artificially drawn line from many years ago. Look how beautiful this land mass would be. Free access with NO BORDER. ALL POSITIVES WITH NO NEGATIVES. IT WAS MEANT TO BE!” So … who’s he talking about? Beats us! No credible candidate for prime minister supports the annexation of Canada. Liberal PM Mark Carney has adamantly pushed back on Trump’s statehood comments, saying it “will never happen,” and has largely turned the Canadian election into a referendum on Trump. Meanwhile, as POLITICO’s Mike Blanchfield notes, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has argued that Trump’s talk of a 51st state is meant to prop up Carney “so the president can face what Conservatives say will be a weak Liberal government going forward.” COMING SOON TO A TRUTH SOCIAL RANT: “UK and EU to defy Trump with ‘free and open trade’ declaration,” by POLITICO’s Camille Gijs and Jon Stone Good Monday afternoon. Thanks for reading Playbook PM. Drop me a line at gross@politico.com.
| | | | A message from Planned Parenthood Federation of America: 1 in 4 people have visited a Planned Parenthood health center for expert, affordable care, including birth control, wellness visits, cancer screenings and more.
But lawmakers who oppose reproductive health are targeting Planned Parenthood. They want to take away the health care millions of patients rely on — especially those with low incomes.
Planned Parenthood won't stop fighting for the care people need and deserve.
We need you in this fight. Visit http://ImForPP.org to learn more. | | | | | | 8 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW | | 1. THE IMMIGRATION AGENDA: At this morning’s special White House briefing, border czar Tom Homan “warned undocumented immigrants that they ‘cannot hide’ and will be prosecuted if they remain in the U.S. illegally — the latest effort from the Trump administration to push self-deportation,” POLITICO’s Myah Ward reports. More action: White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt also noticed two forthcoming executive orders on immigration that Trump plans to sign later today: One designed to “unleash America’s law enforcement,” and another on sanctuary cities, which will direct AG Pam Bondi and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem to publish “a list of state and local jurisdictions that obstruct the enforcement of federal immigration laws.” WSJ’s Michelle Hackman reports that “cities and states on the list could face a cutoff in federal funding and possible criminal and civil suits if they refuse to change their laws or practices.” 2. COMING ATTRACTIONS: On Wednesday (Trump’s 101st day in office), Kamala Harris will pop her head back up in San Francisco, attending and delivering the keynote address to mark the 20th anniversary of Emerge, a candidate training program that backs Democratic women. You can expect to hear some sharp barbs directed at Trump. Harris “plans to urge voters to push back on Trump’s economic policies and what she will cast as ongoing threats to American institutions and global leadership,” in what will be her “most extensive” remarks since losing the election, POLITICO’s Elena Schneider reports. Other notable speakers: Abigail Spanberger, Mallory McMorrow, DNC Chair Ken Martin and more. 3. TRUMP ISSUES VETO THREAT: Trump is threatening a veto of the bipartisan Senate resolution intended to cancel out his sweeping global “Liberation Day” tariffs, POLITICO’s Jordain Carney reports. The Office of Management and Budget sent a statement of administration policy to congressional offices this morning, vowing a veto and saying the resolution “would undermine the administration’s efforts to address the unusual and extraordinary threats to national security and economic stability, posed by the conditions reflected in the large and persistent annual U.S. goods trade deficit.” The chamber is expected this week to vote on the measure, led by Sens. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Rand Paul (R-Ky.). The Daily Caller’s Adam Peck was first to report the news of the statement. 4. WHO YA GONNA CALL … for help navigating Trump’s tariffs? Goldman Sachs, apparently. “Countries big and small are turning to Wall Street banks for guidance on how to navigate Trump’s global trade war. Bankers have advised that negotiations with the Trump administration could be affected by issues that have nothing to do with trade and might require political or symbolic concessions to the White House,” WSJ’s Alexander Saeedy and AnnaMaria Andriotis report. “France and Saudi Arabia are among the other governments that have spoken with Goldman on negotiating with the Trump administration … Japan has also consulted with Goldman on how to address Trump’s allegations that its tax system effectively subsidizes exports to the disadvantage of U.S. manufacturers.”
| | | | POLITICO IS BACK AT THE 2025 MILKEN GLOBAL CONFERENCE:
From May 4–7, California Playbook will deliver exclusive, on-the-ground coverage from the 28th Annual Milken Institute Global Conference. Get behind-the-scenes buzz, standout moments, and insights from leaders in AI, finance, health, philanthropy, geopolitics, and more. Subscribe now for your front-row seat to the conversations shaping our world. | | | | | 5. WAR IN UKRAINE: As the Trump administration gears up for what Secretary of State Marco Rubio tabbed as a big week for the U.S. involvement in striking a negotiated end to Russia’s war in Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin “declared a unilateral 72-hour ceasefire next week in Ukraine to mark Victory Day in World War II,” per AP’s Illia Novikov. In Kyiv, Ukrainian leaders “insisted on a longer and immediate truce,” and “dismissed Putin’s move as window dressing.” The truce proposed by Moscow is set to last from May 8-10. Ukraine, meanwhile, has previously expressed support for a full 30-day cease-fire, which Trump has backed. The view from Kyiv: “Amid Uncertainty About U.S. Support, Ukraine Pins Its Hopes on Innovation,” by NYT’s Andrew Kramer 6. THE CALLS OF JUSTICE: Justice Democrats are getting back to their roots, capitalizing on a movement that is sweeping across the Democratic Party as the up-and-comers target incumbents with challenging primaries on their left flank. The progressive group that made its mark in 2018 targeting moderate Dems is endorsing Michigan state Rep. Donavan McKinney in his primary bid against Rep. Shri Thanedar, POLITICO’s Nick Wu reports. “Democratic voters in the face of unprecedented attacks on our livelihoods and liberties are fed up with a Democratic Party overrun by do-nothing career politicians who are totally unequipped to lead in this moment,” Justice Democrats said in a statement announcing the support for McKinney and underlining his “working class” bonafides. 7. A TALE OF TWO HAWLEYS: “Josh Hawley and the Republican Populists, at War With Their Party,” by NYT’s Robert Draper: “Since his arrival to the Senate in 2019 at the age of 39 as its youngest member, [Missouri Sen. Josh] Hawley has charted two seemingly parallel courses: as a full-throttle champion of socially conservative causes and, somewhat less noisily, as a populist who aligns himself with Senator Bernie Sanders, a Vermont independent, on many populist issues. … Mr. Hawley may be a lonely voice, but he underscores a central question of the second Trump term: What will the president do to improve the lives of the working-class Americans who voted him back into office?” 8. A NEW DEMOCRATIC DIVIDE: “Albuquerque Has a Crime Problem. Is the National Guard the Answer?” by NYT’s Jack Healy: “Few residents of Albuquerque would deny the scourge of violence in a neighborhood bisected by Route 66 and home to dense blocks of auto shops, immigrant-run businesses and working-class families. Officially, it is the International District. But many call it the War Zone. [Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s] move to deploy Guard troops more commonly seen at wildfires, hurricanes and tornadoes has divided locals, reflecting the broader civil war within the Democratic Party over crime and disorder. It is already emerging as an issue among the Democrats who seek to succeed her in the governor’s office in Santa Fe.”
| | | | Cut through policy complexity and turn intelligence into action with POLITICO’s Policy Intelligence Assistant—a new suite of tools designed to save you time and demonstrate your impact more easily than ever—available only to Pro subscribers. Save hours, uncover critical insights instantly, and stay ahead of the next big shift. Power your strategy today—learn more. | | | | | | | TALK OF THE TOWN | | OUT AND ABOUT — The US-Philippines Society held an event on Saturday night at The Army & Navy Club in honor of Jonathan Horn’s new book, “The Fate of the Generals: MacArthur, Wainwright, and the Epic Battle for the Philippines” ($30.99). SPOTTED: Filipino Ambassador Jose Manuel Romualdez, John Negroponte, John Maisto, Thomas Hubbard, Hank Hendrickson, Chris Decker, Patrick Realiza and Erwin Tiongson. TRANSITIONS — Ashley Callen is joining Jenner & Block as a partner in the Washington, D.C. office where she will serve as co-chair of the congressional investigations practice and as a member of the government controversies and public policy litigation practice. She previously was general counsel to Speaker Mike Johnson. … Emma Peters is now manager of government affairs at the National Venture Capital Association. She previously was a grassroots manager at Engine. … … Asad Ramzanali is joining the Vanderbilt Policy Accelerator as director of ai and tech policy. He previously was special assistant to the president and chief of staff and deputy director of strategy for the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy in the Biden White House. … Samantha Heyrich is now policy comms manager at Capital One. She previously was VP at Black Rock Group and is a Trump Treasury and Pat Toomey alum. Did someone forward this email to you? Sign up here. Send Playbookers tips to playbook@politico.com or text us on Signal here. Playbook couldn’t happen without our editor Zack Stanton and Playbook Daily Briefing producer Callan Tansill-Suddath. Correction: Friday’s Playbook PM misstated the country Kilmar Abrego Garcia is in. It is El Salvador.
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