| | | |  | | By Adam Wren | | Presented by |  | | | With help from Eli Okun, Bethany Irvine and Ali Bianco On today’s episode of the Playbook Podcast, Adam Wren and Dasha Burns dissect why the Jeffrey Epstein story cuts to the heart of Donald Trump’s political persona.
| 
| Good Monday morning. It’s Adam Wren in the seat on what is shaping up to be a newsy week. Let’s get to it. Get in touch. In today’s Playbook … — Why the “Epstein files” story isn’t going away — and why that should worry Trump. — Trump prepares a “major statement” today on Russia and Ukraine as the NATO chief is in town. — Joe Biden reenters the news cycle at a strange moment.
|  | DRIVING THE DAY | | | 
President Donald Trump appears to have limited and conflicting options to address the Epstein drama that is splitting the Republican Party. | Jacquelyn Martin/AP Photo | HERE TO STAY: At what should be the height of his political powers — having racked up signature wins in enacting his sprawling GOP megabill, bending U.S. allies to his will on defense spending, launching a successful and limited attack on Iran with no meaningful reprisals on U.S. forces — President Donald Trump is instead facing a fast-metastasizing MAGA rebellion over his administration’s handling of the files from the criminal investigation into Jeffrey Epstein. First in Playbook: This morning, we have three threads of new reporting suggesting that this isn’t likely to go away any time soon. 1) A special counsel?: In an interview last night with Playbook, MAGA influencer and far-right activist Laura Loomer said “there should be a special counsel appointed to do an independent investigation of the handling of the Epstein files so that people can feel like this issue is being investigated, and perhaps take it out of [AG Pam Bondi’s] hands, because I don’t think that she has been transparent or done a good job handling this issue.” 2) MAGA allies press for presser: Playbook has also learned that at least one key figure in the extended MAGA universe, an ally supportive of the Trump DOJ’s handling of the Epstein case, has pitched senior White House officials on the idea of Bondi and Deputy AG Todd Blanche doing an all-questions-addressed news conference in an attempt to exhaust the press and put the story to bed. 3) Dems sense an opening: Rep. Marc Veasey (D-Texas), who is introducing legislation today that calls for the release of the Epstein files, shows Playbook how he’ll tie the “corruption and cronyism” of the handling of the Epstein case into a broader critique of Trump’s priorities. “I think he’s trying to protect some billionaire friend of his,” Veasey tells Playbook. “That’s what he lives for more than anything else in the world: protecting billionaires. Look at what he did with the so-called ‘big, beautiful bill.’” WHAT MAKES THIS TIME DIFFERENT?: To a degree we have truly not seen over the past decade of Trump as a national political figure, his movement seems genuinely fractured. The Epstein case is fundamentally different from past divisions inside MAGA because it undercuts Trump’s self-styled brand as a speaker of uncomfortable truths, a slayer of sacred cows and a tribune of the people. This isn’t just a policy or ideological disagreement like, say, the MAGA unease over the Iran strikes; this cuts to the heart of his very political identity. This is a problem partly of Trump’s own making. For years, many on the MAGA right alleged a massive governmental cover-up aimed at protecting Epstein, the convicted child sex offender and wealthy financier who circulated among the highest echelons of the rich and powerful. Trump and his allies were happy to amplify those whispers to their own political benefit. These weren’t just allegations coming from anonymous cranks on the internet. JD Vance spoke publicly about an Epstein “client list” being kept secret by the government. Kash Patel did the same. Ditto Dan Bongino. Earlier this year, asked about “releasing the list of Jeffrey Epstein’s clients,” Bondi told Fox News “it’s sitting on my desk right now to review.” Now? It’s a huge credibility problem. Vance, Patel, Bongino and Bondi — among others — effectively have to either acknowledge that they were not just wrong about the government covering up for Epstein, but actually making stuff up, or they come off like they’re part of a cover-up themselves. To wit: In a new interview this morning, Tucker Carlson told NBC’s Allan Smith he now believes DOJ doesn’t actually have “much relevant information about Jeffrey Epstein’s sex crimes.” And therein lies a problem: “Rather than just admit that, Pam Bondi made a bunch of ludicrous claims on cable news shows that she couldn’t back up, and this current outrage is the result,” Carlson says.
| | | | A message from The Vapor Technology Association: The U.S. vaping industry and tens of thousands of small businesses are at risk. A Biden-era task force and rogue FDA and CBP bureaucrats are blocking all flavored vapes from entering the U.S. These bureaucrats are undermining President Trump's promises to protect our children from illicit vapes and save flavored vaping.
President Trump: Tell the FDA and CBP to stop banning vapes – vaping voters and small businesses are counting on you.
Learn more. | | | | WHAT’S TRUMP TO DO? The president has limited and conflicting options. The political reality: “When people voted for President Trump, releasing the Epstein files was something that was promised to the base,” Loomer tells Playbook. “The base is unhappy, and I think that this issue isn't going to go away.” But any attempt to address that political problem runs head-on into a legal one. The legal reality: “The Justice Department, including the FBI, does not have evidence that many people thought it had,” Mike Davis, the MAGA legal brawler and occasional Oval Office denizen, tells Playbook. As for why DOJ cannot simply release the Epstein files as many MAGA supporters want, Davis notes that there is grand jury material involved, court records under seal, graphic documentation of child sexual assault and the need to protect victims of heinous crimes. Moreover, says Davis, there are “unsubstantiated bogus claims like we saw during the [2018 Brett] Kavanaugh proceedings, where you had double and even triple hearsay.” The Bondi question: At the moment, Trump does not seem interested in parting with Bondi. Yesterday, she appeared in the small clutch of figures invited to join him in his box at the FIFA Club World Cup in New Jersey — an unsubtle show of her continued standing in his orbit. And CNN’s Kristen Holmes reported last night that Trump had been in touch with MAGA influencer Charlie Kirk about his public siding with Bongino, the FBI’s deputy director, over Bondi after he informally pitted the two of them against one another during remarks at this weekend’s Turning Point conference. What about Bongino? After disembarking Air Force One last night at Joint Base Andrews, Trump was asked about Bongino, who skipped work Friday. Is he still deputy director of the FBI? “Oh, I think so,” Trump said. “I spoke to him today. Dan Bongino, very good guy. … He sounded terrific, actually. No, I think he's in good shape.” But in her interview with Playbook last night, Loomer — who remains influential in Trump world and has proven to be ahead of the curve on delivering administration gossip, goings on and guttings these last six months — wasn’t so confident. “I don’t see how there can be a situation where Bongino can coexist with Blondi [Loomer’s derisive moniker for Bondi] as attorney general, and so I wouldn’t be surprised if we see a resignation from Bongino,” Loomer told Playbook. “Perhaps I'm wrong, but it would not shock me if Bongino resigns in the next week.” DEMS ARE MAKING HAY: Today, Veasey is introducing legislation calling for the release of the Epstein files. In doing so, he’s aiming to not only force House Republicans into an uncomfortable vote vis-à-vis Trump, but also keep a story in the news that the president would prefer to disappear. Catching fire: In this, Veasey joins a growing number of Democrats making similar efforts on the Epstein files. That group spans a wide breadth of the party’s membership, from Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in a deep-blue New York district, to Sen. Jon Ossoff in Trump-won Georgia; from relative backbenchers to members of the Senate leadership, like Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii). Good question: But if calls to release the Epstein files become associated with Democrats, will negative partisanship mean that the MAGA right calms down about the issue? (h/t The Hill’s Emily Brooks) WHAT TO WATCH FOR FROM TRUMP: When he's on the ropes, Trump often tends to kick up stories he’d rather talk about instead. Will he get one this week? Today, look for him to latch on to two stories: one about Russia and Ukraine, the other about former President Joe Biden. More on those below.
| | | | A message from The Vapor Technology Association: President Trump understands what voters want – flavored vapes to quit smoking.
That's why VTA supports a crackdown on illicit vapes targeting youth while encouraging him to keep his promise to save flavored vaping.
President Trump: Stop bureaucrats blocking Americans' freedom to vape and killing small businesses.
Learn more. | | | | WAR AND PEACE BIG DAY FOR UKRAINE: Trump’s promise of a “major announcement” on Russia is due today, and questions abound about whether there’s more to the announcement than has already been reported, and if it will arrive as the president meets with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in the Oval at 10 a.m. “We’re gonna see what we will see tomorrow,” Trump told reporters last night. Two things are abundantly clear: 1) Trump’s frustration with Vladimir Putin: “I am very disappointed with President Putin,” he said last night at Joint Base Andrews. “I thought he was somebody that meant what he said. And he’ll talk so beautifully and then he'll bomb people at night. We don’t like that.” 2) The U.S. is sending defensive missiles to Ukraine: “We're going to send them Patriots, which they desperately need,” Trump said last night, referencing the Patriot air defense batteries. “We’re not paying anything for it, but we will send it.” But the administration is also sending offensive missiles, Axios’ Barak Ravid and Marc Caputo report. They cite two sources with “reason to believe the plan was likely to include long-range missiles that could reach targets deep inside Russian territory, including Moscow. However, neither was aware of any final decision.” Who is likely paying for it: NATO, as Rutte comes to town for a two-day visit. He’s planning to meet with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and will have dinner tonight with Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.). On the Hill: Graham and Blumenthal have been pushing for passage of their sanctions bill, which would levy a 500 percent duty on imports from any country buying Russian uranium, gas and oil, AP’s Aamer Madhani writes. MIDDLE EAST LATEST: Trump told reporters last night that talks over the war in Gaza are ongoing, and that “hopefully we're going to get that straightened out over the next week.” Still no deal: Nothing has emerged in terms of a definite ceasefire, despite Trump and special envoy Steve Witkoff’s repeated claims that a resolution would come by the end of last week. In the meantime: At least 10 children were killed yesterday morning near a water distribution site in Gaza as Israel moves forward with its air strikes, NYT’s Aaron Boxerman reports. The Israeli military described the strike as a “technical error,” per WaPo’s Miriam Berger and colleagues.
| | | | 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. | | | | | FROM THE WILDERNESS BIDEN SPEAKS: In a rare interview — his first with the NYT since he became president — Biden pushed back on allegations from Trump allies who’ve suggested that there was something nefarious in his use of an autopen to sign pardons and clemency orders late in his term in the White House. Biden told NYT’s Charlie Savage and Tyler Pager that he made “every single one” of the clemency decisions, and the autopen was used “because there were a lot of them.” Excerpts from the interview But his remarks are unlikely to quell anything. What has Republicans salivating: “Mr. Biden did not individually approve each name for the categorical pardons that applied to large numbers of people … Rather, after extensive discussion of different possible criteria, he signed off on the standards he wanted to be used … Rather than ask Mr. Biden to keep signing revised versions, his staff waited and then ran the final version through the autopen, which they saw as a routine procedure.” (As GOP strategist Matt Whitlock posted last night, trying to manifest it: “Every Democrat in Washington better get asked about this tomorrow.”) Thought bubble: The timing of this strikes us as somewhat odd. Trump has had some not-so-great news cycles recently, especially with the Epstein story. We can scarcely imagine that Democrats would want Biden or anyone else to say anything at all that could risk detracting from those negative headlines or occupy any space in media coverage. 2026 WATCH: Janelle Stelson is officially launching another bid for Pennsylvania’s 10th Congressional District, AP’s Marc Levy scoops this morning. Stelson will once again face off against incumbent Rep. Scott Perry (R-Pa.), whom she lost to in 2024 by just over 5,000 votes. First in Playbook: New polling from the Dem-aligned House Majority PAC shared exclusively with Playbook puts her ahead of Perry, 46 percent to 43 percent. One potential warning sign for Perry: He has a 49 percent disapproval rating, which is higher than you want if you’re an incumbent in a front-line House race. See the poll results THE PATH FORWARD: While the GOP megabill’s Medicaid cuts will inevitably be a staple of Democratic attack ads next year, there’s a slight wrinkle in that plan, POLITICO’s Nick Wu and colleagues report: Because the cuts won’t fully go into effect until 2028, some strategists worry that the Medicaid messaging won’t resonate. FIRST IN PLAYBOOK — Town hall fever: On Friday, the DNC and the ASDC organized a “People’s Town Hall” in Utah, rounding out 138 town halls in all 50 states, POLITICO’s Shia Kapos writes in. The goal was “to hold Republicans accountable for cutting health care coverage from 17 million people, and being too cowardly to meet with their constituents about it,” organizers tell Playbook. Next up is what the DNC has dubbed “Organizing Summer” to boost voter registration in battleground districts and states.
| | | | A message from The Vapor Technology Association:  
| | | | BEST OF THE REST TODAY IN LA: The Justice Department is appealing the temporary restraining order limiting arrests on immigrants in Los Angeles, and will request an administrative stay today. The TRO is due to expire in less than 10 days. Mark Rosenbaum, the lead attorney for the immigrants who were arrested, tells Playbook that after that time elapses, they’ll seek a preliminary injunction. “The stakes could not be any bigger,” Rosenbaum said. This case is the first big test of how the Trump administration will be allowed to make arrests — and the final ruling will ripple out nationally. “It’s going to be a template — because the tactics, the strategies, the objectives of what's going on in Los Angeles are pretty much going to be the same in Chicago or New York City,” he said. TRADING PLACES: The European Union is delaying its retaliatory tariffs against the U.S. that were set to go into effect today. “This is now the time for negotiations,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said, per AP’s Angela Charlton. The tariffs will be on hold until Aug. 1. The push for continued negotiations comes as Trump is reportedly losing patience with trade talks, Bloomberg’s Josh Wingrove writes. Countdown to Aug. 1: Asked about the potential tariffs, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said yesterday that the levy “would interfere with everything and hit the German export industry to the core,” per Reuters’ Julia Payne. … But the EU is preparing to talk more seriously with Canada and Japan if the U.S. trade outlook stays grim, Bloomberg’s Jorge Valero and colleagues report. … The anti-coercion instrument (or the EU’s big red button on trade) is off the table for now, von der Leyen said, though French President Emmanuel Macron seems more open to it. … This could all be part of a larger plan to redraw the global trade map — with the EU at its center, NYT’s Jeanna Smialek writes. CROSSING THE POND: Trump will visit the United Kingdom for an “unprecedented” second state visit from Sept. 17-19, Buckingham Palace announced yesterday. He and first lady Melania Trump will be hosted by King Charles III at Windsor Castle. But the big trip overlaps with the U.K. parliament’s recess, meaning Trump won’t have the usual access to Britain’s MPs, London Playbook author Sam Blewett notes. IMMIGRATION FILES: Immigrants at ICE detention centers in seven states say they are suffering food shortages and being fed spoiled food, NBC’s Didi Martinez and colleagues scooped this morning. … More than 700 people are set to be housed at the detention site known as “Alligator Alcatraz,” and the Miami Herald’s Ana Ceballos and colleagues have the list of names. LET THE LOBBYING BEGIN: “How hospitals could still escape the megabill’s Medicaid cuts,” by POLITICO’s Robert King, Amanda Chu and David Lim: “Congress delayed implementation of the most devastating of those cuts till 2028, and hospitals … are already gearing up to use the next two and a half years to persuade lawmakers to rescind them. … If the lobbyists are successful in undoing the cuts … it’ll mean the One Big Beautiful Bill Act will be even more expensive than the Congressional Budget Office expects.” FOR YOUR RADAR: “Wildfire destroys a historic Grand Canyon lodge and other structures,” by AP’s Felicia Fonseca and Jaimie Ding
| | | | 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 | | Andy Beshear sounded an awful lot like a 2028 candidate on “Meet the Press” yesterday: “I will not leave a broken country to my kids or to anyone else’s,” the Kentucky governor said. “And so if I’m somebody that at that point, that I believe that I can heal the country, then I’ll take a look at it.” Ken Martin got candid about his job as DNC chair in an interview with The Bulwark: “I did not take this job for any joy, to be honest with you.” PLAYBOOK METRO SECTION — “Maryland aims to help former fed workers find jobs — and ease teacher shortages,” by WaPo’s Nicole Asbury: “The federal government typically has been the state’s largest employer, but data shows that over 1,000 former federal workers filed for unemployment … The Maryland State Department of Education began working to develop a tool to help people search for teacher preparation programs. … Enough people were interested in the Montgomery College teaching certification program that it was expanded to offer two cohorts; another group of former federal employees will start in August.” — The Key Bridge Marriott in Rosslyn, the second ever Marriott hotel, is now being demolished. SPOTTED in Donald Trump’s box at the FIFA Club World Cup: Pam Bondi, Sean Duffy, Kristi Noem, Tom Brady, Rupert Murdoch and Gianni Infantino. OUT AND ABOUT — SPOTTED at the Wicked Game concert at Marx Cafe on Sunday night: Iceland Ambassador Svanhildur Hólm Valsdóttir, Oman Ambassador Talal Al Rahbi, Yemen Ambassador Abdulwahab Alhajjri, Sébastien Fagart, Steve Rochlin, Christina Sevilla, Jack Doll, Shadi Hamid, Neil Grace, Raquel Krähenbühl, Tim Noviello, Mark Paustenbach, Nihal Krishan, Philippa Hughes, Adam Ruben, Ana Harvey, Josef Palermo, Amirah Sequeira and Marisela Ramirez. TRANSITIONS — Brad Lipton is joining the think tank at the Roosevelt Institute as director of corporate power and financial regulation. He previously was senior legal counsel at the CFPB. … Brett Meeks is returning to Jeffrey J. Kimbell & Associates as VP of government affairs for AI and health technology. He previously was executive director of the Health Innovation Alliance and VP at Horizon Government Affairs. … John Provenzano is now the CEO of NENA. He previously was VP of public affairs at Publix. ENGAGED — Avery Walker, PAC manager for Oncor Electric Delivery, and Chet Beene, a financial advisor at Beene Wealth Management Group, got engaged July 3 in Crested Butte, Colorado. Their first date was at AT&T Stadium for a Dallas Cowboys vs. Philadelphia Eagles game. Pic via @mountainmagicmedia … Another pic WEDDING — Katherine Amy Doyle and Alex Francis deGrasse, via the NYT: “When Katherine Amy Doyle, a White House reporter for NBC News, was contacted by the office of Representative Elise Stefanik in November 2023, she wasn’t expecting to find love. … She received a call from Alex Francis deGrasse, a political strategist and a longtime senior adviser and executive director for Ms. Stefanik … On June 28, they were wed at St. Elizabeth’s Church in Edgartown, Mass., on Martha’s Vineyard.” WELCOME TO THE WORLD — Annaliese Van Saun, chief public information officer for the Maryland Department of Transportation and a Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) alum, and William Van Saun, most recently counsel for the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs, welcomed Maude June Van Saun on Friday at Sibley hospital. Pic HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick … The Washington Free Beacon’s Eliana Johnson … National Retail Federation’s Matthew Shay … U.S. Ambassador to South Africa-designate Brent Bozell (7-0) … ABC’s Devin Dwyer … Gail Ross … Daniel Strauss … Air Mail’s Graydon Carter … Mary Lee … Chicago Sun-Times’ Tina Sfondeles … Ammon Simon … Mike Panetta of the Beekeeper Group … James Davis … Meta’s Nkechi Nneji … Ted Goodman … Axios’ Caitlin Owens … NCPA’s David Weissman … Tigercomm’s Mike Casey … POLITICO’s Rosie Perper … Corey Solow … Punchbowl’s Mark Cavanagh … Tony Hanagan … former Reps. Patrick Kennedy (D-R.I.) and Tom Latham (R-Iowa) … Jordan Sekulow … WSJ’s Nicole Friedman … former New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez … Martha Coakley … Dana Youngentob of Sen. Angus King’s (I-Maine) office … Caroline Kelly 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 Vapor Technology Association: Nearly 500,000 Americans die annually from smoking cigarettes. 67% of Trump voters say government should promote vapes to help Americans quit smoking – and all Americans need President Trump to save flavored vaping now.
VTA stands with President Trump in cracking down on the bad actors who sell vapes targeting youth. However, a Biden-era FDA task force is out of control – wasting CBP resources on vapes, rather than human traffickers – banning vapes from the market. The vape blockade is a de facto ban on flavored vapor products nationwide, which is already shutting down small businesses.
It's time to protect this multibillion-dollar American industry and stand up for American adults' freedom to vape.
President Trump, stop the bureaucrats from undermining your promise to save flavored vaping. Don't let Biden's task force fulfill his plan to destroy legitimate businesses and hurt American consumers. American vapers are counting on you.
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