| | | |  | | By Jack Blanchard with Dasha Burns | | Presented by |  | | | With help from Eli Okun and Bethany Irvine
| | | Good Thursday morning. This is Jack Blanchard, heavy with regret after foolishly suggesting this was shaping up to be a “quiet week.” I’m happy to say normal service has resumed. Let’s get at it. SO LONG, AND THANKS FOR ALL THE EFFICIENCY: You can almost hear the champagne corks popping around D.C. Elon Musk formally departed the White House last night as his brief but drama-packed stint at the heart of government draws to a close. Signing off via X after 128 days of Donald Trump’s second term — that’s nearly 12 whole Scaramuccis — Musk insisted his personal legacy lives on. “The @DOGE mission will only strengthen over time as it becomes a way of life throughout the government,” Musk said. But if you believe that, I have a rocketship to sell you. Because let’s face it: This is an inglorious end to what had initially looked to be one of the most consequential White House appointments in generations. Musk obliterated USAID over a single weekend and sent a wrecking ball through numerous other agencies — but while GOP hardliners were delighted by some of his activities, others were so poorly conceived they looked like sheer vandalism — and the damage will be felt for years to come. Many cuts were swiftly reversed, either by dawning reality or the courts. Crucially, Musk failed on his own terms, getting nowhere near his much-vaunted $1 trillion savings target and making little impact on America’s debt and deficit crises. It seems likely DOGE will be remembered more as a chaotic missed opportunity than as a transformation of the federal government, and it’s telling that Musk exits complaining about the “uphill battle” of reform. As my colleague Dasha Burns puts it on the Playbook Podcast this morning: “He came in with a chainsaw; he went out with a tweet.” It’s got to hurt. And then there’s the politics. Polls showed Musk was a disaster with the public, including millions of Trump’s own fans. He was swiftly removed from view after his hubris helped blow up the GOP’s chances in a judicial election in Wisconsin. The final straw was the impact on his own business interests, with Tesla suffering a collapse in popularity among the rich coastal liberals at the core of its customer base. After bleak Q1 sales stats were made public, Musk began shuffling back to the day job. “I probably did spend a bit too much time on politics,” he reflected this week. 128 DAYS LATER … We’ll always have the memories. Who can forget the chainsaw … the cheesehead … the gloating about wood chippers … the oddball presser with “Lil X” in tow … the Tesla sales show outside the White House … the “tech support” T-shirt … the “legion of babies” … “Big Balls”… all those despairing tweets from former lovers … and so much more. FURTHER READING: “A Disillusioned Musk, Distanced From Trump, Says He’s Exiting Washington,” by the NYT’s Tyler Pager, Maggie Haberman, Teddy Schleifer, Jonathan Swan and Ryan Mac, is well worth your time. In today’s Playbook … — A court rules some of Trump’s tariffs illegal. Now brace for the Truth Social meltdown. — More courtroom drama this morning, as Harvard fights for its life. — How can the GOP win in 2026? We get the inside track.
| | | |  | DRIVING THE DAY | | | 
The U.S. Court of International Trade issued a crushing defeat for President Donald Trump, striking down the vast majority of tariffs issued since Jan. 20. | Bill Pugliano/Getty Images | TRUMP’S TARIFF BOMBSHELL: Markets are surging. America’s trade partners are gleeful. Millions of U.S. businesses can’t believe their luck. Yep — Trump’s flagship economic policy was ruled illegal last night, in a bombshell court verdict with potentially seismic repercussions for the rest of his presidency and the entire global economy. ICYMI: Just before 7 p.m. last night, a three-judge panel at the U.S. Court of International Trade struck down the vast majority of Trump’s tariffs issued since Jan. 20, and said cash must be repaid to those firms who have already paid. The judges — appointed by Ronald Reagan, Barack Obama and Trump himself, since you ask — unanimously agreed that the president exceeded his authority by claiming America’s long-standing trade deficit was a “national emergency” which gave him tariff powers normally left to Congress. Make no mistake: This is a crushing defeat for Trump, who has repeatedly said he wants to build a new economic model based on his trade tariffs. Instead, the court has struck them down right in the middle of tense negotiations with the EU, China and other key trading partners who had only been forced to the negotiating table by the tariff threat. It’s unclear if those talks will even continue. What will definitely continue: Unadulterated rage from the White House, likely starting with Trump’s own social media feed in the coming hours. White House spokesman Kush Desai gave us a flavor last night, insisting: “It is not for unelected judges to decide how to properly address a national emergency.” White House policy chief Stephen Miller sounded even grumpier, stating: “The judicial coup is out of control.” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt has a televised briefing at 1 p.m., and surely won’t be holding back. On the flip side: At least there can be no more jokes about TACOS (a Wall Street-coined term for “Trump always chickens out”) if the tariffs are gone. And a contrarian might argue that Trump being handed a politically acceptable off-ramp for a policy that shook the U.S. economy and tanked his approval rating — at least until it was paused — might not actually be the worst thing in the world. But back in the real world: The Trump administration has already appealed the decision, and we can safely assume this one is headed all the way to the Supreme Court. Important caveats: AP writes that Trump retains the power to impose a 15 percent tariff on nations with which America has a significant trade deficit. And some of Trump’s tariffs — the 25 percent levies on metal and automobile imports — were issued under different legislation, and should be unaffected. But all his country-specific tariffs — the “Liberation Day” list unveiled in the White House Rose Garden — have gone. (It’s a good day for the penguins, at least.)
| | | | A message from The National Association of REALTORS®: The House-passed One Big Beautiful Bill Act is positive for homeownership and the middle class, with strong bipartisan voter backing. Key provisions—like lower tax rates, SALT relief, and incentives for small businesses and community investment—make housing more affordable and strengthen communities and the American Dream. While this bill brings real benefits, more bipartisan action is needed to reduce housing costs. Learn more. | | | | And there’s more to come: Last night’s judgment was just one part of what’s shaping up to be a huge 24 hours of legal news. Here in D.C., we’re expecting at least one Supreme Court opinion at 10 a.m, although we don’t know on which subject at this stage. And up in Massachusetts, the next chapter of Trump’s battle with Harvard University will be opening in court at around the same time. The talk of Harvard Yard: The issue before Boston District Judge Allison Burroughs today is whether to extend the temporary restraining order she slapped on Trump’s efforts to block international students from attending Harvard. Trump’s order — issued last Friday via DHS — was in place for less than 24 hours before the courts intervened with an emergency two-week TRO. Both sides will argue the merits today, and Burroughs will decide whether Trump’s order should be allowed to proceed. Always a China angle: Interestingly, some of the plaintiffs in the Harvard case are pushing the angle that attacking Harvard in this way actually benefits China, which is already seeking to lure away some of its top talent, my ace POLITICO colleague Josh Gerstein emails in ahead of the hearing. This sounds like a politically calibrated argument as well as one designed for the courts. Looking for an off-ramp? Josh also notes Trump’s language on Harvard was notably softer yesterday, with the president insisting: “I want Harvard to do well … The last thing I want to do is hurt them. They're hurting themselves.” … On the flip side, Fox News reports the State Department is now reviewing all visa holders associated with Harvard — in other words, not just the students — as it seeks to put further pressure on the university. And there’s still more: This all follows another raucous day of legal maneuvering which saw Trump appoint controversy-magnet Emil Bove — one of Trump’s top criminal defense attorneys — as a judge on a federal appeals court … issue another round of often jaw-dropping pardons, including for disgraced Republican politicians John Rowland and Michael Grimm, and for Louisiana rap artist NBA YoungBoy (per ABC News) … and even toy with the idea of pardoning the men convicted of plotting to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in 2020. It’s a lot. Regular reminder: We’re barely four months into this presidency.
| | | | A message from The National Association of REALTORS®:  
The House-passed One Big Beautiful Bill Act supports the middle class with broad voter support for provisions that boost housing affordability, community investment, and small businesses. Learn more. | | | | AMERICA AND THE WORLD TWO WEEKS? OR TOO WEAK? In a further signal of the White House’s growing frustrations with the Kremlin, Trump yesterday gave Russian President Vladimir Putin two weeks to show he’s serious about ending the war in Ukraine, POLITICO’s Joe Stanley-Smith writes. “We’ll find out whether or not he’s tapping us along or not — and if he is, we’ll respond a little bit differently. But it will take about a week and a half to two weeks,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. Heard it all before: The problem, as CNN’s Kevin Liptak notes, is that this is the third time Trump has put Putin on two weeks’ notice to change course. And given Trump took no action on the previous occasions, it’s hard to be confident anything’s going to change. Or as NYT’s Zolan Kanno-Youngs writes, after “four months of empty threats against Mr. Putin, it remained to be seen whether Mr. Trump’s latest harsh comments were an indicator of a new aggressive phase against Russia or another fakeout.” Do they eat TACOs in Russia? MIDDLE EAST LATEST: The Trump administration may be one step closer to securing a nuclear deal with Iran, which is open to pausing uranium enrichment “if the U.S. releases frozen Iranian funds and recognises Tehran's right to refine uranium for civilian,” Reuters’ Parisa Hafezi and John Irish report. One potential hurdle: How will Israel handle the possibility of some sort of thawing of relations between Iran and the U.S.? Trump told reporters yesterday that he cautioned Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu not to disrupt nuclear talks. “It’s not a warning — I said I don’t think it’s appropriate,” Trump said, per CNN’s Betsy Klein. “Because we’re very close to a solution.” Elsewhere in the region: Aid groups say that Israel’s new aid program, designed to bypass both the United Nations and Hamas, is “dangerously inadequate,” per NYT’s Aaron Boxerman. And around the world: New State Department records show that the violence and instability many warned could come with Trump’s sudden withdrawal of U.S. foreign aid is playing out around the world, ProPublica’s Brett Murphy and Anna Maria Barry-Jester report. Cuts to U.S. support for food programs have led to increased sexual violence, human trafficking and violent demonstrations. UP IN THE AIR: “Trump’s Air Force One deal with Qatar not final despite U.S. claims,” per WaPo: “Legal teams representing the U.S. and Qatari governments have not finalized an agreement for transferring the luxury Boeing 747-8 jetliner that President Donald Trump wants for Air Force One amid outstanding requests by Qatar for Washington to clarify the transaction’s terms.” COMING ATTRACTIONS: At a security forum in Singapore this Saturday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth hopes to convince Asia’s defense leaders that the U.S. is a “more trusted partner” for the region than China, Reuters’ Idrees Ali reports from Singapore. The visit marks one of Hegseth’s first major overseas speeches.
| | | | Did you know Playbook goes beyond the newsletter—with powerhouse new co-hosts at the mic? Tune in to The Playbook Podcast every weekday for exclusive intel and sharp analysis on Trump’s Washington, straight from Jack Blanchard and Dasha Burns. Start listening now. | | | | | BEST OF THE REST FIRST IN PLAYBOOK — GET OUT THE VOTE: Motivating low-energy Trump supporters will be the key to Republican success in 2026, per new polling and analysis shared with POLITICO by J.L. Partners. The firm has identified a politically fluid bunch who turned out for Trump last year but are currently lacking motivation to get out and vote GOP in the midterms — potentially tipping marginal seats blue. “Most (64 percent) would still vote GOP if the election were held tomorrow, but lack a clear reason to do so,” said pollster James Johnson. “We believe they are the critical difference that will settle the House and Senate.” The key message: “Compared to overall Trump voters, these voters skew younger (18–29) and [are] more likely to be Black,” Johnson said. “What motivates these voters is not arguments about Trump, judicial appointments or even the 2027-9 agenda. It is instead the argument that by voting for a Republican-controlled Congress in 2026, they will help the Republicans win the presidency in 2028. … They are thinking through a presidential election prism.” JD Vance, among others, will be reading with great interest. IMMIGRATION FILES: DHS agents have been showing up unannounced at schools, homes and migrant shelters to interview unaccompanied children across the country, in visits they claim are “wellness checks.” But the administration’s “use of criminal investigators for these checks has stirred anxiety among immigrants and has alarmed educators, advocates and lawyers, who see the visits as a tactic to accelerate deportations,” NYT’s Miriam Jordan and Christina Jewett report. And more visa fears: The White House is ramping up its rhetoric against both academia and China, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio announcing that the U.S. will “aggressively revoke” the visas of Chinese students, POLITICO’s Gregory Svirnovskiy and Phelim Kine report. Even if the threat does not amount to action, “Rubio’s announcement is likely to decisively end the popularity of U.S. universities and colleges for Chinese students.” Around 277,000 Chinese students studied in the U.S. in 2024.
| | | | A message from The National Association of REALTORS®:  
The House-passed One Big Beautiful Bill Act is positive for homeownership and the middle class. Learn more. | | | | BUT AT WHAT COST?: The House GOP’s marquee tax package could cost more than $4 trillion over the next decade, per fresh estimates — up from the $3.8 trillion price tag Republicans previously claimed. The eye-popping number is partly a result of changes made to win over the House’s SALT-centric hard-liners. The number could also complicate the bill's future in the Senate, which “has not yet settled on how much it intends to spend on tax cuts,” with the potential for the package to still grow, POLITICO’s Brian Faler reports. Still, House GOP leaders are projecting optimism. House Ways and Means Chair Jason Smith (R-Mo.) touted his team's “hand-in-glove” efforts to work with Senate leaders on the final version, arguing the House version of the bill will pass the Senate largely intact, The Washington Examiner’s Zach Halaschak reports. TERMS OF ENGAGEMENT: Paramount and Trump remain far apart on terms to settle the president’s lawsuit against CBS News. “Paramount Global in recent days has offered $15 million to settle,” but “Trump’s team wants more than $25 million and is also seeking an apology from CBS News,” WSJ’s Jessica Toonkel and Josh Dawsey scoop. Trump has also threatened another bias lawsuit against the network, they report. STANDING ALONE: “El Salvador’s Leader Went All In on Trump. One Democrat Still Wants to Work With Him,” by Ben Jacobs for POLITICO Magazine: “In the current political moment, Democrats for El Salvador are about as common as coal miners for green energy. But there’s at least one: Rep. Vicente Gonzalez of Texas, a Blue Dog Democrat and ally to the Central American country’s strongman leader and MAGA darling, Nayib Bukele.”
| | | | Policy moves fast—stay ahead with POLITICO’s Policy Intelligence Assistant. Effortlessly search POLITICO's archive of 1M+ news articles, analysis documents, and legislative text. Track legislation, showcase your impact, and generate custom reports in seconds. Designed for POLITICO Pro subscribers, this tool helps you make faster, smarter decisions. Start exploring now. | | | | | | | TALK OF THE TOWN | | PLAYBOOK METRO SECTION — D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser’s proposed budget plan would legalize poker and blackjack in D.C. if enacted in July, per the Washington Business Journal’s Michael Neibauer. AND THE AWARD GOES TO: POLITICO has officially been ranked the top-most influential EU media, according to the latest 2025 EU Media Poll by Burson/Savanta. The poll found that 86% of the members of the European Parliament surveyed consider POLITICO influential, the highest of any outlet surveyed. See the full report FIRST IN PLAYBOOK — Emmy Ruiz is joining Somos Votantes as senior adviser. She previously was senior adviser to the president and director of the office of political strategy and outreach in the Biden White House. — NewDEAL is adding Natasha Dabrowski as chief of staff, Christian Hall as press secretary and Alex Chanen as leader services manager. TRANSITIONS — Vedant Patel is now an SVP in SKDK’s public affairs practice. He previously was principal deputy spokesperson at the State Department. … Preeya Noronha Pinto is joining DLA Piper as a partner in its health care practice. She previously was at King & Spalding, and is a Bush HHS alum. … Linda Goler Blount is now president and CEO of Community Catalyst. She previously was president and CEO of the Black Women’s Health Imperative. … … Kameryn Stanhouse is now VP of sports and entertainment partnerships at IBM. She most recently was head of corporate partnerships at POLITICO. … Melanie Fonder Kaye has joined the National League of Cities as senior executive and director of digital engagement, marketing and comms. She previously was deputy assistant to the secretary of Defense for Strategic Engagement and is a Jill Biden alum. ENGAGED — Zach Roberts, deputy chief of staff for Rep. Austin Scott (R-Ga.), and Elise Krekorian, executive branch and federal regulatory affairs director at the Williams Companies and a House Energy & Commerce and Jeff Duncan alum, got engaged Saturday in Constitution Gardens. They met briefly at Clemson and started dating in February 2020 after being friends for a few years. Pic … Another pic HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) … USA Today’s Francesca Chambers … Philip Klein … Lee Satterfield … FP1 Strategies and Plus Communications’ Jon Conradi … Matthew Dowd … Axios’ Reilly Knecht … Todd Flournoy … Meta’s Dayna Geldwert … The Forward’s Jacob Kornbluh … Bri Gillis … Alex Ford … POLITICO’s Mojgan Mehrabi and Samuel Skove … Annette Guarisco Fildes … Roll Call’s Chris Johnson … Nucor’s Eileen Bradner … Mary Ryan Douglass … Jacob Alderman … former Reps. Jeb Hensarling (R-Texas) and Tom Coleman (R-Mo.) … Birmingham, Alabama, Mayor Randall Woodfin … Hailey Lernihan … Pete Seat … Charlotte Ueland … Terence Samuel 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, deputy editor Garrett Ross and Playbook Podcast producer Callan Tansill-Suddath.
| | | | A message from The National Association of REALTORS®: The House-passed One Big Beautiful Bill Act is positive for homeownership and the middle class. A recent survey commissioned by the National Association of REALTORS® shows strong, bipartisan voter support for key provisions in the bill that make housing more affordable. From extending lower tax rates and SALT relief to incentives for small businesses and community investment, this bill delivers real benefits that will strengthen the American Dream and help build resilient communities. However, there is still more bipartisan work to be done to bring down the cost of housing. Learn more. | | | | | | | | Follow us on X | | | | Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook family Playbook | Playbook PM | California Playbook | Florida Playbook | Illinois Playbook | Massachusetts Playbook | New Jersey Playbook | New York Playbook | Canada Playbook | Brussels Playbook | London Playbook View all our political and policy newsletters | | Follow us | | | |
No comments:
Post a Comment