| | | |  | | By Jack Blanchard with Dasha Burns | | Presented by |  | | | With help from Eli Okun, Bethany Irvine and Ali Bianco On today’s Playbook Podcast: Jack and POLITICO’s White House correspondent Megan Messerly discuss last night’s Middle East peace deal, and what it means for the MAGA movement.
| 
| Good Tuesday morning. This is Jack Blanchard. Is everyone surviving this heat? In today’s Playbook … — Trump heads to NATO summit after stunning Middle East ceasefire deal. — … but still finds time to attack Jerome Powell ahead of House committee session today. — Plus: A Cuomo comeback? New Yorkers hit the polls in dramatic Dem primary.
|  | DRIVING THE DAY | | | 
President Donald Trump heads to a NATO summit today with what he believes is a comprehensive win in brokering a ceasefire between Israel and Iran. | Win McNamee/Getty Images | VICTORY LAP: Donald Trump departs for the NATO summit in a triumphant mood this morning after brokering a stunning end to the Iran-Israeli conflict. The U.S. president should be speaking to journos on the South Lawn any moment now as he departs the White House for a seven-hour flight to the Netherlands, where he’ll attend a summit dinner with NATO leaders this afternoon. Expect plenty of grandstanding from the president as he lauds last night’s dramatic Middle East ceasefire deal — and a display of U.S. military aggression he can now sell as an unequivocal success. How the deal was done: My Playbook colleague Dasha Burns got the juice last night on how the deal was done. She emails from the Netherlands to say that after Trump spoke with Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss the terms of a ceasefire, he called the emir of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, to serve as a broker with Iran. VP JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio also got involved on that side and the deal was done in the late afternoon. Expect plenty more colorful details to drip out through the day. It’s really happening: “THE CEASEFIRE IS NOW IN EFFECT,” Trump wrote on Truth Social at 1.08 a.m. “PLEASE DO NOT VIOLATE IT!” Latest from the ground: Netanyahu said this morning he accepted the ceasefire, as Israel’s war aims had been met. Iranian state television also confirmed it was in effect — although not before the regime launched a final barrage of missiles at Israel. Most were intercepted, but one hit home at astonishing speed, smashing into an apartment block and killing four Israelis. It remains to be seen if the ceasefire holds throughout the day. Trump is in no doubt: The president believes — with some justification — that he has proved his critics wrong. America has asserted its military dominance in the region. Iran’s nuclear program has taken a severe blow. The pushback has been almost nonexistent. And that much-feared “forever war” lasted less than 12 days. Trump is chalking this up as a comprehensive win. But is he right? The remarkable U.S. bombing raids, the muted Iranian response and the subsequent rush to a ceasefire certainly mark just about the best-case scenario Trump could have hoped for when he green-lit the attack over the weekend. The doomsday scenarios painted by MAGA critics like Tucker Carlson — who’d warned “the first week of a war with Iran could easily kill thousands of Americans” — now look a little far-fetched. Die-hard supporters like Laura Loomer, who backed the president throughout, are in full gloat mode. Even Joe Biden’s Middle East guru Brett McGurk was hailing the win last night. Dig a little deeper … and the long-term picture for Iran remains unclear. This Economist article, published just ahead of the ceasefire deal, reports the internal political impact of Israeli and U.S. bombing raids has been to strengthen the grip of military hard-liners within the Iranian regime. Moderate voices who‘d been pushing for a deal with the U.S. were humiliated by Trump’s sudden show of military force. They may not be listened to again. And what comes next? We know Iran still has a lot of enriched uranium. It likely still has the centrifuges to enrich it further. It certainly has other nuclear equipment it was hiding from the International Atomic Energy Agency. Plenty of experts fear the Iranian regime will conclude its only hope of long-term security now is a secretive, headlong rush for a bomb. Which means we won’t know the real success — or otherwise — of this operation for a long time to come.
| | | | A message from AHIP: Outdated manual processes, such as faxes, are holding back the health care system, adding costs and complexity, and causing frustration for patients. As part of health plans' new series of voluntary actions to support patients and providers, we are committing to real-time responses when routine coverage requests are submitted electronically. Let's work together to modernize the system. Learn more. | | | | But whatever: You won’t hear any of that talk today from Trump world, which is already out on the airwaves claiming a famous victory. Vance was first out of the traps last night, telling Fox News: “The president, without … a single American casualty, obliterated the Iranian nuclear program.” Trump, of course, has his eyes on a bigger prize: “Israel & Iran came to me, almost simultaneously, and said, ‘PEACE!’ I knew the time was NOW,” he wrote on Truth Social. “The World, and the Middle East, are the real WINNERS! Both Nations will see tremendous LOVE, PEACE, AND PROSPERITY in their futures.” Translation: Yes, he’s still obsessed with winning the Nobel Peace Prize. All of which sets the scene rather neatly for Trump to come strolling into the NATO leaders’ summit this afternoon and claim his second big security win of the week — this time on defense spending. Unlike last night’s ceasefire announcement, this one has been carefully choreographed over the past few weeks. But that doesn’t make it any less significant. Spend, spend, spend: When Trump’s transition team first told European allies back before Christmas (per the FT) that the president-elect wanted NATO members to raise their defense spending from 2 percent of GDP to 5 percent, it came like a bolt from the blue. But fast-forward six months, and Europe now has a long-term plan for its own self-defense, as mapped out by defense ministers last month. To make that a reality, NATO leaders will this week agree to meet Trump’s 5 percent target. It’s genuinely world-changing stuff, as this New Yorker big read explores. Caveat klaxon: Of course, the reality beneath the headline is a little more blurred. The target being agreed is 3.5 percent of GDP on traditional defense, plus 1.5 percent on related infrastructure investment, as WSJ reports here. And this increase is due to take place over the course of an entire decade. Plus — Spain’s socialist government is refusing even to sign up to what has been agreed by other member states. Might Trump pick a fight with Spanish PM Pedro Sánchez this week? We shall see. But these are minor details, in the end. The U.S. president has been banging the NATO spending drum for well over a decade, and this is the week he gets big results. Europe is about to become a much more active player in its own defense — and presumably, a much more active voice at the NATO table — in the years ahead. POLITICO’S NATO TAKEOVER: Our team of over a dozen journalists is at the center of the action at the NATO summit today, hosting exclusive panels and networking inside the POLITICO Lounge in partnership with McKinsey & Company. We kicked things off this morning with a discussion with industry leaders on the alliance’s new spending goal. All agreed: EU and U.S. defense firms have to work closer together if they want to rearm Europe and the U.S. In the afternoon, we’ll be discussing defense budgets and big security challenges with Sens. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) and Chris Coons (D-Del.). More details here Mood music: NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte had a message for leaders assembled at The Hague for the alliance's annual summit: Chill. He said his European colleagues should “stop worrying so much,” POLITICO’s Felicia Schwartz writes in. The U.S. is sending an American officer to run Supreme Allied Command Europe and Washington remains with the alliance.
| | | | A message from AHIP: Health plans are making voluntary commitments to support patients and providers. As these commitments take effect, patients will have faster access to evidence-based care and fewer challenges navigating the health system. Providers will have streamlined workflows and reduced administrative burdens. Learn more. | | | | MEANWHILE ON THE HILL JAW, JAW: The Iran ceasefire will dominate conversations on the Hill today, too, where senators will receive a high-level briefing on the latest developments. And they’re not all happy. As the NYT’s Robert Jimison reports, Trump’s decision to strike Iran without congressional authorization has triggered “a searing debate over how much power the legislative branch should wield over the use of American forces.” But it’s far from clear whether proposed House and Senate votes on U.S. military strikes will now go ahead, given how quickly events have moved on. What to watch: Confirmation hearings for two crucial military roles — including Vice Adm. Charles Cooper to be commander of U.S. Central Command, replacing the much-lauded Gen. Erik Kurilla — kick off at the Senate Armed Forces committee at 9:30 a.m. But today’s biggest hearings are over in the House, with Fed Chair Jerome Powell and HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. up at separate hearings at 10 a.m. Expect fireworks in both. Fed up: Given Trump’s repeated public attacks on Powell — he was at it again early this morning — we’ll surely see loyal Republicans on the Financial Services Committee demanding answers on why the Fed is refusing to cut interest rates, as Bloomberg’s Maria Eloisa Capurro previews. Expect Powell to give no quarter whatsoever. (He’s due for a Senate Banking grilling tomorrow, too.) Vax not: Kennedy will face tough questioning from Dems on a Energy and Commerce subcommittee about his recent decision to fire every member of the CDC vaccine advisory committee. Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), who famously confirmed Kennedy despite concerns about his stance on vaccines, sounded the alarm last night and called for tomorrow’s ACIP meeting to be postponed. It’s a bit late now, Bill. RECONCILABLE DIFFERENCES: For all the committee noise today, the most consequential Hill action will still be Senate Republicans’ jostling over their reconciliation megabill. “Byrd bath” arguments over what can be included in the bill are ongoing (expect more meetings and advisory rulings today), and we’re still waiting for full bill text. Majority Leader John Thune hasn’t yet given up on his hope to start floor votes Thursday, as POLITICO’s Inside Congress notes, but senators said last night there’s still a lot to iron out. Parliamentarian updates: After Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough knocked out a big portion of Republicans’ SNAP cuts, senators are trying to alter the language to get the green light, POLITICO’s Grace Yarrow and Meredith Lee Hill scooped. MacDonough has also now ruled out the REINS Act, which could have unleashed radical deregulatory changes, per Axios’ Stephen Neukam and Stef Kight. And she’s said no to a plan that could sell lots of federal land, Punchbowl’s Andrew Desiderio scooped. ALSO HAPPENING TODAY: House Democrats will vote to choose their new Oversight ranking member. Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.) goes in as the favorite after winning last night’s vote on the caucus’ steering committee, per POLITICO’s Nick Wu and Hailey Fuchs. … VA Secretary Doug Collins will testify before a Senate Appropriations subcommittee at 10:30 a.m. … And Dems in both chambers will highlight the third anniversary of the Supreme Court’s Dobbs ruling, including with a Senate “shadow hearing” at 2:30 p.m. First in Playbook — Campaigns in the age of TikTok: Priorities USA and Reproductive Freedom for All Foundation are putting $2 million into a “creator program” that will see dozens of digital content creators highlight the anniversary of Dobbs, the impact of abortion bans after Roe v. Wade and the stakes for upcoming elections.
| | | | Playbook, the unofficial guide to official Washington, isn’t just a newsletter — it’s a podcast, too. With new co-hosts who bring unmatched Trump world reporting and analysis, The Playbook Podcast dives deeper into the power plays shaping Washington. Get the insider edge—start listening now. | | | | | NEW YORK, NEW YORK FROM A TO Z: Democratic voters head to the polls today in NYC to select their next mayoral nominee — at least, those who aren’t put off by 100-degree weather. Plenty of analysts expect a tight race between frontrunners Andrew Cuomo and Zohran Mamdani, which could make turnout crucial. Keep in mind: We likely won’t know the results, including several rounds of ranked-choice redistribution, for a while. (The 2021 race was called two weeks later.) Down to the wire: Lakshya Jain’s polling average has Cuomo up in the final round, thanks to a late Yale Poll/YouGov survey that gave him a big 14-point lead. Betting markets were up and down. In the final sprint, Cuomo emphasized his résumé and ability to take on Trump, dismissing Mamdani as inexperienced and too far left, NYT’s Emma Fitzsimmons reports. His comeback has been embraced by parts of the Democratic establishment, as WaPo’s Sarah Ellison details. But Mamdani said he had the big ideas to make the city more affordable, heralding a movement of generational change. All in the family: Former California Gov. Jerry Brown sat down with POLITICO’s Sasha Issenberg for a must-read interview to offer his unique perspective on today’s primary: what it’s like to be an inveterate political animal who successfully followed an iconic liberal father into his state’s governor’s office and then, facing irrelevance and boredom in middle age, sought to resuscitate his career by seeking the mayoralty of a city where he has barely lived as an adult. Not the last word? Even if they lose today, Cuomo and Mamdani could still choose to run in November, either as independents or with third parties. Yes, that means there’s potential for a four-way race with incumbent Eric Adams (who’s still running as an independent) and GOP nominee Curtis Sliwa. Beyond NYC: There’s good reason this election is being closely watched on the national stage. A Mayor Cuomo could become a prominent face of the Trump resistance, a guiding light for Democrats to turn to the center — or an emblem of a sclerotic establishment willing to reembrace a disgraced politician. A Mayor Mamdani could become a galvanizing progressive leader in the mold of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), leading a new-media strategy that shows Dems how to energize young people — or the next Fox News boogeyman who epitomizes a party gone too far left. More on Mamdani from POLITICO's Jason Beeferman
| | | | A message from AHIP:  
| | | | BEST OF THE REST IMMIGRATION FILES: DHS Secretary Kristi Noem will promote her immigration crackdown as she heads to Panama to kick off a Central America tour, including watching a repatriation flight today, NewsNation’s Jackie Koppell scooped. SCOTUS watch: The justices yesterday lifted a nationwide injunction that had barred the Trump administration from rapidly deporting migrants to third-party countries without giving them an opportunity to object, POLITICO’s Josh Gerstein and Kyle Cheney report. The three liberal justices dissented sharply. The ruling left many questions unanswered — and the lower-court judge, Brian Murphy, determined last night the eight men in question still can’t be sent to South Sudan. The next flashpoint: Noem also announced that FEMA will fund Florida’s effort to create an “Alligator Alcatraz” in the Everglades and other migrant detention centers, CBS’ Camilo Montoya-Galvez reports. 2026 WATCH: Republicans’ effort to unseat Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio) heated up as 2024 nominee Derek Merrin and state Rep. Josh Williams both jumped into the GOP primary, The Toledo Blade reports. … South Carolina AG Alan Wilson launched a GOP gubernatorial bid, telling AP’s Meg Kinnard that he’ll “DOGE all of South Carolina government.” … And Arkansas state Sen. Fredrick Love kicked off a Democratic gubernatorial campaign, per the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. First in Playbook: The super PAC Security Is Strength, which supports Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), will report it has $2 million on hand. Graham’s allies are working to make sure he can stave off any primary challenge (and Trump’s endorsement could be key).
| | | | Curious how policy pros are staying ahead? Meet our Policy Intelligence Assistant—only available with a POLITICO Pro subscription. It combines POLITICO’s trusted reporting with advanced AI to deliver sharper insights, faster answers, and two powerful new report builders that help you turn intelligence into action. Ready to experience it for yourself? Sign up for a demo and get 30 days free—no strings attached. | | | | | | | TALK OF THE TOWN | | Doug Emhoff has lined up his next gig, teaching law at USC. But he’s not leaving Willkie Farr & Gallagher, despite disagreeing with its decision to capitulate to Trump. Ed Martin openly petitioned to be tapped as the next interim U.S. attorney for New Jersey if Alina Habba serves only in an acting capacity: “Put me in, Coach!” Barry Diller and Michael Bloomberg aren’t contributing big money to the DNC like they have before, at least for now, amid concerns about the Democratic Party’s efficacy, per the NY Post. PLAYBOOK ARTS SECTION — Sens. John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) hosted a Kennedy Center gay pride performance last night, per the NYT. Drawing a contrast with the Trump administration’s takeover of the theater, the Broadway concert-cum-protest included songs and performers from “Hamilton,” “Falsettos” and more. Richard Grenell fired back that the organizers were “refusing to perform for audience members who don't share their personal politics, and cosplay[ing] as victims of intolerance.” HILL NEWS — The Senate Press Secretaries Association elected its new executive board, which will be led by president Kaily Grabemann of Majority Leader John Thune’s office. The other board members will be Stephen DeLeo, Rachel Dumke, Hannah Eddins, Eric Fejer, Blake Kernen, Valeria Rivadeneira, Elisabeth St. Onge and Brennan Sullivan. OUT AND ABOUT — Supporters of Winning For Women Action Fund hosted a Capitol Hill fundraiser last night, bringing in almost $400,000 in hard dollars for Republican female members of Congress. SPOTTED: House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.), Sens. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Reps. Erin Houchin (R-Ind.), Stephanie Bice (R-Okla.), Sheri Biggs (R-S.C.), Kat Cammack (R-Fla.), Monica De La Cruz (R-Texas), Michelle Fischbach (R-Minn.), Craig Goldman (R-Texas), Diana Harshbarger (R-Tenn.), Ashley Hinson (R-Iowa), Jen Kiggans (R-Va.), Young Kim (R-Calif.), Nicole Malliotakis (R-N.Y.), Carol Miller (R-W.Va.), Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-Iowa), John McGuire (R-Va.), August Pfluger (R-Texas), Jefferson Shreve (R-Ind.) and Beth Van Duyne (R-Texas), Annie Dickerson, Danielle Barrow, Meredith Allen Dellinger, Caroline Lampen, Brenda Becker, Jessica Furst Johnson, Lauren Bryan, Parker Poling, Brian Baker, Michael Ahrens, Dan Conston, Domenic Re, Marie Sanderson, Elliott Husbands, Torunn Sinclair and Theresa Vaccaro. FIRST IN PLAYBOOK — Shelby Wilt will be political director at the DNC. She most recently was Nevada state director for the Harris campaign and Dems’ coordinated campaign. WHITE HOUSE ARRIVAL LOUNGE — Elena Hernandez is now chief of staff at the Office of Science and Technology Policy. She previously worked in policy and corporate comms at YouTube and is an OSTP alum from Trump’s first term. TRANSITIONS — Danielle Melfi will be the new CEO of Resolve: The National Infertility Association. She previously was the first chief people officer in the Biden White House, and is an AmeriCorps and Building Back Together alum. … Julia Trent is now director in Ervin Graves Strategy Group’s defense, aerospace and cybersecurity practice group. She most recently was deputy director of member services and chief clerk for the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee. … David Berrios is now VP of organizing and campaigns for Reproductive Freedom for All. He previously was North Carolina campaign manager for the Harris campaign and is a DOE alum. … … Ramón Correa-Colón is now legislative director for Rep. Kweisi Mfume (D-Md.). He most recently was director of oversight at USDA. … Ariella Camera is joining the Healthcare Distribution Alliance as senior director of policy. She previously was deputy director of primary health care at USAID. … Sydney Maingot is now comms director for Rep. Glenn Grothman (R-Wis.). She most recently was a comms associate for Bullpen Strategy Group. ENGAGED — John D’Adamo, D.C. chief of events media company BizBash, proposed to Courtney Boemmel, clinical coordinator at Center for Social Change, on June 6 on the Queen Mary in Long Beach. They met on Hinge last fall. Pic via Amanda Doskocil (DOSKOFOTO) — Alasdair Coleman, an associate at Brunswick Group, and Trish Drees, an incoming associate at Kirkland and Ellis, got engaged Sunday in her hometown of Charlotte, North Carolina. They met at Lost and Found. Pic — Sam Lupas, a senior professional staff member on the House Financial Services Committee, and Anne Pearson Fox, a tax senior at Deloitte, got engaged Friday during a trip to Kiawah Island, South Carolina. They met at the 9:30 Club in 2022. Pic … Another pic WEDDINGS — Christie Boyden, an associate in the antitrust and competition group at Dechert, and John Burton, a manager at Deloitte, got married Saturday at the Army Navy Country Club. They met on Hinge but both went to U.Va. and graduated the same year, and she’d met his dad networking years earlier. Pic … Another pic — Matthew Ide, policy adviser at the Senate Steering Committee, and Kendall Chapman, a partner relations associate at the Conservative Partnership Institute, got married June 7 at the Salamander Resort in Middleburg, Virginia. They met attending the same Bible study through Kings Church DC. Pic via Eloise Photography … Another pic WELCOME TO THE WORLD — David Weinman, an SVP at CGCN Group and a Larry Hogan and RGA alum, and Martha Macon Smith, a teacher at Holton-Arms School, welcomed Sybil Elizabeth Weinman on Sunday. Pic HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Rep. Haley Stevens (D-Mich.) … Heritage’s Kevin Roberts … Ralph Reed … U.S. Chamber’s Suzanne Clark … Matthew Continetti … Judge Loren AliKhan … Robert Reich … Jeff Prescott … Ben Tomchik … POLITICO’s Megan Messerly, Nana Yeboah, Fikreamlak Tafesse and Nirmal Mulaikal … Anna Massoglia … Jon Yuan of Rational 360 … Alejandra Soto … Jason Johnson … Jennifer Millerwise Dyck … former New York Gov. George Pataki (8-0) … Heather Hurlburt … Gretchen Reiter … NYT’s Zach Seward and Adrienne Hurst … Amelia Makin … Paul DiNino 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 AHIP: Health plans play a critical role in advocating for affordability and ensuring patient care follows clinical guidelines. At the same time, we understand patients are often frustrated when their doctors' recommendations are not promptly approved following prior authorization review. Health plans also recognize providers are frustrated by administrative burdens that take time away from caring for patients. We embrace our responsibility to help make health care work better for everyone.
That's why health plans are making a series of voluntary commitments to improve prior authorization for patients and providers. As these commitments take effect, patients will have faster access to evidence-based care and fewer challenges navigating the health system. Providers will have streamlined workflows and reduced administrative burdens. 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