| | | |  | | By Ali Bianco | | Presented by |  | | | With help from Rachel Umansky-Castro
|  | THE CATCH-UP | | TED TALK: “Ted Cruz Plays the Long Game by Defending Jimmy Kimmel,” by POLITICO’s Jonathan Martin: “By likening the intimidation tactics of President Donald Trump’s FCC to the mafia in the case of The Government v. Jimmy Kimmel, Cruz imparted a valuable lesson his colleagues, and everyone in public life, should mind: This is still America, and you can speak up about your principles.” And yet: “Nexstar Stations Will Join Sinclair In Preempting Jimmy Kimmel When Host Returns To ABC Tonight,” by Deadline’s Ted Johnson
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President Donald Trump speaks during the 80th session of the UN’s General Assembly (UNGA) at the United Nations headquarters on Sept. 23, 2025 in New York City. | Spencer Platt/Getty Images | ‘GOING TO HELL’: Diplomats and global heads of state at the United Nations are warning of a world on the brink of crises and an institution “under seige.” But President Donald Trump told a different story this morning. In a wide-ranging, nearly hourlong — and at times seemingly off-the-cuff — speech addressing the leaders gathered for the U.N. General Assembly in New York, Trump blasted the U.N. as a feckless institution that’s unable to address global conflicts. In a stark moment, Trump warned: “Your countries are going to hell.” “What is the purpose of the United Nations?” Trump said. “It’s not even coming close to living up to that potential.” Trump’s remarks provided a remarkable split screen: World leaders in New York this week are sounding the alarm over an erosion of globalist institutions, human suffering in spiraling conflicts, human rights violations, the threat of climate change and more. But Trump this morning — touting a laundry list of his accomplishments from the dais — took shots at nearly every issue that U.N. leaders have identified as a focus for this week’s meeting. At the top of his speech, Trump noted that he was proceeding with a broken teleprompter. He later lamented that he wasn’t chosen years ago to remodel the U.N. building and pointed to a faulty escalator on his way into the conference. “These are the two things I got from the United Nations: a bad escalator and a bad teleprompter,” Trump said. But it launched him to a broader point. As Trump brands himself as “dealmaker-in-chief,” lobbies publicly for a Nobel Peace Prize (which he also mentioned this morning) and takes a central role in negotiations on conflicts abroad, he claimed that the U.N. has been absent from his negotiations. “I ended seven wars, dealt with the leaders of each and every one of these countries and never even received a phone call from the United Nations offering to help in finalizing the deal,” Trump said. Trump’s remarks at times sounded like a stump speech at one of his MAGA rallies, selling his idea of a golden age of America to a markedly different audience. He repeatedly railed against immigration, criticizing countries with “open borders” as destroying their heritage and lobbing attacks at his predecessors Barack Obama and Joe Biden. He slammed climate change as “the greatest con job ever perpetrated on the world” — which is bound to stir consternation among a U.N. body that was already on pins and needles waiting for the White House’s latest climate moves, per POLITICO’s Sara Schonhardt. The one-sentence summary: Trump “made clear that, on many subjects, America is now far apart from the broader global consensus,” POLITICO’s Eli Stokols writes from New York. But Trump’s turn at the U.N. is not yet over. He has meetings scheduled throughout the afternoon, but none more high profile than his bilateral with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy — who is also set to address the assembly later today. Ahead of the meeting, Zelenskyy said he hopes to “gauge how close we are to understanding that security guarantees will meet our needs,” per NYT. Trump said he’s prepared to place more tariffs on Russia, but only if Europe does the same and cuts off Russian oil exports. It all comes after the U.N. Security Council yesterday blasted Russian President Vladimir Putin’s incursions into EU airspace, and as the Russian military pummeled Ukraine overnight. On the Middle East: As more and more leaders embrace the recognition of Palestine as a state, Trump again rejected the calls as a “reward for Hamas,” calling instead for the release of all of the hostages in Hamas’ custody, per Reuters’ Gram Slattery. It was one of the few moments during Trump’s speech that garnered widespread applause in the assembly. But he didn’t touch Israel’s incursion into Gaza City, or the humanitarian aid crisis in Gaza, as NYT’s David Sanger notes. Both the war in Gaza and the war in Ukraine will be the central focus of back-to-back sessions of the security council this afternoon, per NYT. Coming attractions: Trump said he briefly spoke with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who had just come off a speech blasting Trump’s attacks on the Brazilian judiciary and saying “our democracy and our sovereignty are non-negotiable,” Bloomberg’s Augusta Saraiva and Daniel Carvalho write. Trump laughed at what he said was a pleasant encounter and said he agreed to meet with the Brazilian leader next week. “He seemed like a very nice man,” Trump noted. Course of events: Trump’s first bilateral meeting this morning was with UN Secretary-General António Guterres, where they spoke about the U.N.’s potential and Trump said, “I am so behind it.” Trump is also meeting Argentinian President Javier Milei this afternoon to discuss Argentina’s economy. Yowza: “A massive telecom threat was stopped right as world leaders gathered at UN headquarters in New York,” by AP’s Mike Balsamo: “The cache, made up of more than 300 SIM servers packed with over 100,000 SIM cards and clustered within 35 miles of the United Nations, represents one of the most sweeping communications threats uncovered on U.S. soil.” Good Tuesday afternoon — and happy Rosh Hashanah to all who celebrate. Thanks for reading Playbook PM. Send me your thoughts and tips to abianco@politico.com.
| | | | A message from Solana Policy Institute: The next generation of U.S. financial infrastructure is open-source and blockchain-based—built by developers creating transparent systems that empower consumer choice. As Congress crafts digital asset legislation, we must preserve historical protections for open-source developers. The future of American financial innovation depends on protecting those building it today. Learn more. | | | | | | 8 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW | | | 
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., left, hold a news conference on June 11, 2025. | J. Scott Applewhite/AP | 1. THE HUBBUB ON THE HILL: Trump is canceling his previously scheduled meeting with Democratic leaders Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries, he announced on Truth Social this morning, saying that he didn’t think any meeting “could possibly be productive.” Trump slammed Democrats over the funding negotiations and said the leaders have to “get serious” about the potential for a shutdown. “I look forward to meeting with you when you become realistic about the things that our Country stands for,” the president wrote. Behind the scenes: Trump’s decision, delivered just before his UNGA speech, came after House GOP leaders raised concerns to the White House, specifically that Trump might have struck a deal with Democrats on ACA tax credits that many Republicans oppose, POLITICO’s Ben Johansen and Meredith Lee Hill report. There were also concerns that a meeting could erode the GOP’s leverage, since Speaker Mike Johnson isn’t planning to bring the House back until after the deadline passes in a bid to up the pressure on the Senate. Reactions pour in: “Trump Always Chickens Out,” Jeffries posted on X — invoking the TACO acronym that was originally deployed to slam Trump on his tariff agenda. “When you’re finished ranting, we can sit down and discuss health care,” Schumer wrote on X. 2. IMMIGRATION FILES: A new AP-NORC poll finds that Trump’s new immigration policies are more likely to be seen as beneficial for Americans than last year due to economic growth, per AP’s Adriana Gomez Licon and Amelia Thomson-Deveaux. “The survey also shows that Americans are less likely than they were in January to say the number of legal immigrants to the U.S. should be reduced. Slightly fewer than half of Americans say the number should remain the same, a similar percentage from earlier this year.” More polls: A WaPo-Ipsos survey “measuring Americans’ opinions of the presidency and found a public mostly critical of his handling of crime, tariffs, immigration and other top issues.” But Trump’s immigration agenda stands out. “A 55 percent majority of Trump supporters named immigration-related topics when asked what they liked best about his presidency.” The next closest category is Government cuts/Musk/DOGE with 7 percent. Still, some supporters “voiced reservations about the way his administration has carried out deportations. Related read: “Why African Countries Keep Making Deals to Accept U.S. Deportees,” by NYT’s Matthew Mpoke Bigg 3. HARRIS ON THE RECORD: Former VP Kamala Harris dropped into a pair of morning shows today as she continues to trumpet the release of her backward-looking memoir, “107 Days,” recounting the presidential campaign sprint last year. On ABC’s “Good Morning America,” she attempted to play down the perception that her book is a score-settling account with her Democratic rivals, instead saying it’s a critique of Trump. And later on “The View” — where she gave a viral and damaging comment during the campaign — Harris said she “didn’t fully appreciate” how much people wanted to know there was a difference between me and President Biden,” per POLITICO’s Gregory Svirnovskiy. She added: “I thought it was obvious.” 4. CALIFORNIA DREAMIN’: California Gov. Gavin Newsom has enlisted Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) to help promote Golden State Democrats’ effort to get voters to approve the state’s redrawn congressional map this November, POLITICO’s Melanie Mason reports. AOC blasts Trump in a video ad, saying he’s using redistricting to keep Congress under his control. “If he gets away with it, all bets are off — for our health care, our paychecks and our freedoms,” she says. Watch the 30-second spot The flip side: Arnold Schwarzenegger is lending his celebrity to the GOP-led redistricting resistance campaign in California, per NYT’s Shane Goldmacher. Watch the ad
| | | | Introducing Global Security: POLITICO’s weekly briefing on the policies, regulatory battles and industrial shifts shaping defense and security across continents. We connect what happens in Washington, Brussels and beyond to what gets funded, what gets built and who benefits. Subscribe now to access the free preview edition. | | | | | 5. THE KIRK LEGACY: “Charlie Kirk left young followers all over Trump’s government,” by WaPo’s Kara Voght and Jesús Rodríguez: “They’re in the Departments of Justice, Labor, and Health and Human Services. They work for the Republican Party and its related fundraising and messaging apparatuses, as well as for conservative media outlets such as Newsmax and the Daily Caller. … A few dozen congressional staffers have Turning Point on their résumés, including at least a half-dozen press secretaries and communications directors — something one senior House Republican aide attributed to Kirk’s penchant for debate.” 6. MAHA FALLOUT: Trump and HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s announcement that pregnant women should limit the use of Tylenol over what they claim is a link to autism landed with a thud among many health officials worldwide, NBC’s Mahalia Dobson reports. “Australian health officials were among the first to reject the claims, labeling them ‘a misrepresentation of the science.’” And EU and UK health agencies countered, saying paracetamol use during pregnancy is safe, per Reuters. “The World Health Organization said that evidence of a link remained inconsistent and urged caution in drawing conclusions.” 7. DANCE OF THE SUPERPOWERS: A delegation of House lawmakers visited China this week for the first time in six years, where they met with top officials as the push for diplomatic ties grows ahead of an anticipated summit between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, WSJ’s Yoko Kubota reports. The bipartisan group called for more consistent dialogue between the two countries’ militaries. “[It’s] time to start having a conversation about it, to make sure we understand each other and that we don’t stumble into any sort of conflict,” Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.) said. Smith was joined by Reps. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), Chrissy Houlahan (D-Pa.) and Michael Baumgartner (R-Wash.). 8. SPORTS BLINK: “FIFA alerted to 145 human rights concerns at Club World Cup,” by The Athletic’s Adam Crafton: “These included 37 complaints categorized as being related to federal policies or enforcement. Some of these included fans raising concerns as to whether the tournament and next summer’s World Cup should be held in the U.S., citing the actions, policies and words of the administration under President Trump. Other complaints centred on alleged sightings of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials at stadiums during the tournament.” DHS said “neither ICE nor CPB conducted enforcement, describing it as ‘another case of fear-mongering.’”
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| | | | | | TALK OF THE TOWN | | CUTTING COSTCO — Iranian diplomats in New York this week have been barred from “from visiting wholesale shopping outlets like Costco, Sam’s Club or BJ’s Wholesale Club this week, marking an unusual act of pressure on diplomats during annual high-level meetings at the United Nations,” per WaPo. PLAYBOOK METRO SECTION: “Maryland federal job losses worst in the nation since Trump took office,” by WaPo’s Dana Munro and Lateshia Beachum: “Maryland has lost more than 15,000 federal jobs since the start of the year, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics … Monthly employment data shows the loss isn’t leveling off anytime soon.” WHITE HOUSE ARRIVAL LOUNGE — Alexandra Seymour is now principal deputy assistant national cyber director for policy at the ONCD. She most recently worked on the House Homeland Security Committee and is an NSC and DOD alum. TRANSITIONS — New America is bringing on five new Future of Work & Innovation Economy initiative fellows: V. Celeste Carter, Phillip Singerman, Francie Genz, Adam Fagen and Jeffrey Alexander. … Alex Wong is joining Hanwha Group as global chief strategy officer. He previously served in the Trump White House. … Christen Linke Young is nominated to be the next secretary of the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services. She previously worked in the Biden White House. WEEKEND WEDDING — Katie Hendrickson, a principal at The Vogel Group, and Drew Cockram, a technology project manager at Prince William Water, got married this weekend at The Church of the Good Shepherd in Raleigh, North Carolina. They met at DCA. Pic, via JP Pratt Photography … Another pic … SPOTTED: Roy Cooper, Morgan Jackson, Stephen Bryant, Bob Etheridge, John Arrowood, L.T. McCrimmon, Maya Humes, Katy Ann Searcy, Ellie Warner, Amanda Finney, Amanda Bailey, Sterling Elmore, Dylan Hewitt, Delegate Joe Vogel, Amy Littleton, Austin Connor Brown, Tucker Middleton, Mally Smith, Connie Coopersmith, Mark Erwin, Heather Hurlburt, Shantanu Tata, Ethan Holmes, Samuel Negatu, Allison Smith, Amanda Kules and Tien Nguyen. — Sarah Geary, comms director for Rep. Steve Womack (R-Ark.), and Kerry Tomasetti, a data center project manager at Amazon Web Services, got married on Saturday in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Pic 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.
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