| | | |  | | By Ali Bianco | | Presented by |  | | | With help from Rachel Umansky-Castro
|  | THE CATCH-UP | | 2026 WATCH? “Bruce Pearl to retire as Auburn hoops coach after 11 seasons,” ESPN
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The summit is awaiting the arrival of President Donald Trump, who will set much of the tone and agenda for the biggest international negotiations on the table this week. | Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images | DIPLOMACY’S BIG WEEK BEGINS: The United Nations General Assembly kicks off today with a flurry of world leaders flocking to New York, gridlocking traffic in much of midtown Manhattan for the 80th installment — as its founding principles of global cooperation and diplomacy are “under assault like never before,” as U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres said in his opening speech this morning. But the summit is still awaiting the arrival of President Donald Trump, who will set much of the tone and agenda for the biggest international negotiations on the table this week. What Trump is walking into: The U.N. is facing a number of expanding global crises. There’s plenty of skepticism about whether the meeting can actually yield results, as AP’s Edith Lederer writes. On top of Trump’s slash-and-burn approach to global funds, he’s also joining the gathering as the biggest debtor. “Washington owes more than $3 billion — $826 million owed as part of the 2025 regular budget assessment and the rest arrears for past years or unpaid peacekeeping commitments,” Bloomberg’s Magdalena Del Valle notes. That’s all compounded as many U.N. members stand diametrically opposed on the way forward in the name of peace. In the next four days, leaders will confront a raging humanitarian crisis and famine in Gaza, calls and criticisms of the recognition of Palestinian statehood, an increasingly aggressive Russia as its war in Ukraine continues, the ongoing question of denuclearization for Iran. The list goes on. Top of mind today: the recognition of a Palestinian state and the calls for a two-state solution, an issue on which Trump has openly disagreed. It’s created a chasm between Trump and Europe — as leaders walk a tightrope to avoid too big a break with the U.S. French President Emmanuel Macron’s announcement to recognize Palestinian statehood is due this afternoon. Singapore, another U.S. ally, said this morning that its recognition of a Palestinian state is a matter of when, not if, per Reuters. More world leaders are set to throw support behind a two-state solution this week, even as Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu has said multiple times he has no intention to back a Palestinian state. But the bigger question facing Europe, as NYT’s Jeanna Smialek writes, is whether the rhetoric will produce any concrete actions like tariffs and taking in refugees. "Frankly, [Trump] believes it is a reward to Hamas, so he believes these decisions are just more talk and not enough action from some of our friends and allies," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said at her briefing when asked about the recognition of a Palestinian state. On the ground: Hamas has drafted a letter to Trump pledging to immediately return half of the hostages in their custody in exchange for a 60-day ceasefire, Fox News’ Trey Yingst and Alex Nitzberg report, citing a senior administration official and a second source involved in negotiations. Israel’s expanded effort to take control of Gaza City is costing an additional $7.5 billion, per Bloomberg’s Galit Altstein. Hospitals in Gaza are closing because of damage from Israel’s ground offensive, Reuters’ Nidal Al-Mughrab reports. On Russia: The U.N. Security Council held an emergency meeting this afternoon to discuss Russian jets entering neighboring airspaces beyond Ukraine, condemning the Kremlin for the latest incursion into Estonia, per CNN. “I want to be very clear,” Polish PM Donald Tusk told reporters today, POLITICO’s Wojciech Kość reports from Warsaw. “We will make a decision to shoot down flying objects without discussion when they violate our territory and fly over Poland. There is no room for debate here.” In his first speech as U.S. ambassador to the U.N., Mike Waltz said the U.S. expects Russia to “seek ways to deescalate,” per PBS’ Nick Schifrin. On the sidelines: Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said today that “all options for stabilization” are on the table to support Argentine President Javier Milei, who will talk with Trump tomorrow, per Bloomberg. In the background: Russian President Vladimir Putin said today that the Kremlin is prepared to limit its number of deployed nuclear warheads for one more year if the U.S. does the same, saying he has no desire to “provoke a strategic arms race” with Trump, NYT’s Ivan Nechepurenko and Paul Sonne report. Incoming: Trump heads to New York at 5:30 p.m., following his much-anticipated announcement on new guidelines on autism at 4 p.m. Good Monday afternoon. 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. | | | | | | 7 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW | | | 
The U.S. Supreme Court is seen on April 7, 2025 in Washington, DC. | Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images | 1. COURT IN THE ACT: Trump’s expansive approach to wielding his executive power has largely gotten the green light from the Supreme Court, winning 18 cases in part because the administration has been picking its legal battles and priming them to pass through the conservative majority, NBC’s Lawrence Hurley and Katherine Doyle report. The last time the White House lost at the Supreme Court came in May. “So far, the Trump administration has asked the Supreme Court to weigh in on an emergency basis 28 times, according to an NBC News tally. It has lost only two.” By the numbers: “Five cases are pending, although the court issued temporary wins to the government in two of them while it decides what next steps to take. Three others resulted in no decision. The limited number of emergency requests compared with the total number of cases indicates the administration has been wary of rushing to the justices on issues where even a conservative majority receptive to some of its aggressive assertions of executive power may push back.” 2. REDISTRICTING RODEO: In California, Republicans are rallying against Gov. Gavin Newsom’s redistricting campaign, drawing on a coalition similar to the one that defended independent districting a decade ago, POLITICO’s Jeremy White reports. But the real twist in this debate is the unexpected shift by good government groups, like the California Common Cause, which once fought to strip gerrymandering powers from lawmakers. After initially gearing up to oppose Newsom’s redistricting, California Common Cause reversed its trajectory, giving the effort the green light. Meanwhile in Texas: The Republican gerrymandering of congressional districts has created significant confusion in Houston, especially of the 18th District, which has scheduled a special election to fill the seat left vacant by late Democratic Rep. Sylvester Turner for November, per NYT’s J. David Goodman. “The bang-your-head-against-the-wall part for voters, candidates and election officials is that Mr. Turner’s replacement will serve the constituents of the old 18th district. Right after voters select that representative, they will have to return to the polls in March for the 2026 midterm election primary — using the completely redrawn congressional map.” 3. 2025 WATCH: Zohran Mamdani has walked back much of his rhetoric railing against the NYPD, after pushing to defund the police department in frustration over a “racist police system” in the wake of George Floyd’s death in 2020. But in 2022, Mamdani called for cutting 1,300 officers from the force, ending overtime and freezing hiring — singling him out as other progressives moved away from the idea, NYT’s Ben Oreskes writes. Meanwhile, Andrew Cuomo’s aides and allies believe there’s still a narrow path to victory for him, N.Y. Mag’s David Freedlander reports. But it mostly hinges on Mayor Eric Adams dropping out of the race — a much-teased move that has yet to materialize. About last night: Democratic Rep. Mikie Sherrill and Republican Jack Ciattarelli went head-to-head last night in a New Jersey gubernatorial debate — one that was really all about Trump, with the race set to offer an early bellwether for the president’s second term. More takeaways from NBC’s Bridget Bowman
| | | | 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. | | | | | 4. 2026 WATCH: Republican Rep. John James is running for governor in Michigan, but some in his own party wish he wasn’t. Rep. Lisa McClain (R-Mich.), the number four House Republican, told the Washington Examiner’s David Sivak that it’s “100% not ideal” that James’ bid opens up his swingy House seat in battleground Michigan. “I mean, if we’re going to be honest, we spent $40 million to keep that seat for him over the two cycles, right? … It stings us to have him leave that seat, there’s no question,” McClain said, adding it’ll take extra resources to keep the seat in GOP hands. Down in the Tar Heel State: Republicans in North Carolina are slamming former Gov. Roy Cooper over the death of a Ukrainian woman on a Charlotte commuter train in August, saying Cooper bears “direct responsibility” and painting Cooper as soft on crime ahead of a heated Senate race next year, AP’s Gary Robertson reports. Cooper’s campaign says Republican candidate Michael Whatley’s attacks against him are lies. Deep in the heart: Texas Democratic Senate candidate Colin Allred is “releasing his policy platform for his 2026 campaign, seeking to draw a contrast in the Democratic primary and against the Republicans he may face in the general election,” NBC’s Sahil Kapur reports. The primary focus is on cost-cutting. “It begins with calls to repeal Trump’s tariffs, with Allred making clear his election would mean one extra Senate vote to undo the president’s taxes on imports.” Whiskey tango foxtrot: “GOP guv candidate Bill Berrien scrubs links to sexually explicit social media accounts,” by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s Daniel Bice 5. INSIDE THE ADMINISTRATION: N.Y. Mag’s Ben Terris is up with a must-read look at DHS leadership under Kristi Noem, who as secretary is the face of Trump’s immigration crackdown, and Corey Lewandowski, who as a special government employee has emerged as the muscle. “Lewandowski has long served as Noem’s gatekeeper, described to me by DHS staff as her ‘handler,’ her ‘bulldog,’ and the ‘shadow secretary.’ They are also widely understood by those who work with them to be romantically attached. (Noem and Lewandowski have both denied this.) … Noem’s belligerent approach is reflected within the department, where she is an isolated and isolating figure. … A very tight circle of aides runs day-to-day operations.” 6. FOR YOUR RADAR: A number of tech companies are upset with Trump’s new visa fees for foreign workers with only a few outliers, “as many saw it as a major blow to a sector that contributed millions to his re-election campaign,” per Reuters’ Chris Prentice and Shurbhi Misra. “Technology executives and investors said the new fees could add millions of dollars in costs for companies and disproportionately hurt startups, which may not be able to afford visas as part of their strategy.” The view from New Delhi: India, however, does not agree with Trump’s visa moves, which create a new barrier for a speedy trade deal, Bloomberg’s Ruchi Bhatia, and colleagues report. “Trump’s $100,000 fee for new H-1B applications will predominantly affect Indians, who’ve made up more than 70% of the visas in the past.” Reality bites: “$100,000 Visa Fee Risks Worsening Doctor Shortage,” by Bloomberg’s John Tozzi and colleagues 7. TRUMP INC.: “Here’s How Much the Trump Kids Have Made Because Of The Presidency,” by Forbes’ Dan Alexander and Kyle Khan-Mullins: “It’s not that the Trumps are the first to leverage the presidency for profit. … But no first family has used the office to make as much money as Donald Trump’s. … Family members who never had significant fortunes of their own — Eric, Don Jr., Barron and Melania — have accumulated tens, then hundreds of millions of dollars. All told, the family (including the president’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner) is now worth an estimated $10 billion, having nearly doubled its net worth since last year’s election.” | | | | A message from Solana Policy Institute:  
| | | | | | TALK OF THE TOWN | | MEDIAWATCH: “‘Look at the charts’: Democrats desert legacy media for new outlets,” by Semafor’s Max Tani: “Establishment media corporations’ capitulation to the Trump administration has alienated Democrats — and opened the door for a new crop of independent partisan outlets hoping to capitalize on left-of-center audiences’ discontent.” FIRST IN PLAYBOOK — George Bogden is joining Continental Strategy as a senior counsel for trade and tariff matters. He previously led the Office of Trade Relations at DHS. MEDIA MOVES — Status is adding Brian Lowry and Natalie Korach to their ranks. Lowry joins from The Wrap and Korach joins from Vanity Fair. … Jordan Wolman is now at CommonWealth Beacon as a senior reporter covering climate. He previously worked at POLITICO. TRANSITIONS — Jay Cho is joining the Broadband Association as director of government affairs. He previously worked at VMware. … Kate Bernard has joined YouTube as head of strategic initiatives. She previously worked at JPMorganChase. … Seth Barsky has joined Bracewell LLP as a partner in the firm’s environment, lands and resources department. He previously worked in the DOJ’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. WEEKEND WEDDING — Christopher Gahan, VP of government relations at Northwestern Mutual, and Francesca Fabiani, an attorney at Tarpine, Heller & Pendergrass, got married Sunday in Pikesville, Maryland. Pic — Stephanie Couser, assistant VP at the National Pork Producers Council, and Tim Couser, a family farmer and ag leader in Story County Cattlemen, celebrated their marriage on Saturday at Couser’s family farm’s pasture in Stratford, Iowa. Pic … Another pic … SPOTTED: Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Jennifer and Nick Davis, Devin Mogler, Lillie and Michael Dolch, Emily and Jason Covey, Amanda Dejong, Kelsey Barnes, Trenton Hoekstra, Josie Wagler, Dan Breitbarth and Devan Hanna, Ben Nuelle, Daniel Heady, Kathy Barton, Emma Connell, Ashlynne Beninga, Lauren Pagett and Allison Slagell. 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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