| | | |  | | By Jack Blanchard with Dasha Burns | | Presented by |  | | | With help from Eli Okun, Bethany Irvine, Ali Bianco and Rachel Umansky-Castro On today’s Playbook Podcast: Jack and POLITICO White House reporter Megan Messerly preview next week’s elections, plus Thursday’s meeting between Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. And Megan reveals the best Halloween costume in America.
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| Good Monday morning. This is Jack Blanchard. Get in touch. A YEAR AGO TODAY: Donald Trump took to the stage for that pre-election rally at Madison Square Garden. It already feels like a million years ago. After the dire “jokes” about Puerto Rico from Tony Hinchcliffe — the ones that were definitely going to drag Trump’s election effort — Trump made a bunch of promises to the New York crowd. So let’s rate ’em: Trump said he’d “stop” illegal migration — and now border crossings are indeed a fraction of their former size. Trump said he’d use the 1798 Alien Enemies Act to help deliver “the largest deportation program in history” — and he’s certainly trying on both counts. He said he’d cut taxes, including on tips, and has done so. And he promised big trade tariffs, which he’s delivered in spades … Supreme Court case pending, of course. But but but: Trump also pledged (twice) to “end inflation” … and yet the rate is higher today (3 percent) than it was when he gave the speech. He also said he’d halve people’s energy bills after a year in power — which looks almost impossible with less than three months to go. And the less said about Elon Musk’s onstage pledge to cut the federal budget by *checks notes* $2 trillion, the better. But it’s the lack of progress on those cost of living measures that should be worrying White House strategists as we approach the election anniversary.
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President Donald Trump speaks to reporters aboard Air Force One while traveling from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to Tokyo, Japan, on Monday, Oct. 27. | Mark Schiefelbein/AP Photo | BREAKING THIS MORNING: Trump, however, already has one eye on 2028, telling reporters on Air Force One this morning that he’d “love to” stand again for a third term. But he insisted that “I haven’t really thought about it” and — with his next breath — was casting the 2028 Republican primary as a fascinating two-horse race between two of his closest allies. “We have JD [Vance] obviously — the vice president is great,” Trump said. “Marco [Rubio]’s great. I’m not sure if anybody would run against those two. I think if they formed a group it would be unstoppable.” Then Trump added: “I would love to do it — I have the best numbers ever! … Am I not ruling it out? You’ll have to tell me. All I can tell you is that we have a great group of people, which they [the Democrats] don’t.” Trump did rule out a convoluted plan floated by some allies whereby he would run as vice president in 2028 and then take over the presidency when the victor stepped aside. “I’d be allowed to do that,” Trump said. “But I wouldn’t do it. It’s too cute. I think the people wouldn’t like that. It wouldn’t be right.” In today’s Playbook … — Eight days to go until November's elections. So what happens when Zohran Mamdani wins? — Trump lands in Japan — and still wants a summit with Kim Jong Un. — And you’ll never guess what Chris LaCivita just had for lunch.
| | | |  | DRIVING THE DAY | | EIGHT DAYS TO GO: The Nov. 4 elections are almost upon us — and while the gubernatorial races in Virginia and New Jersey offer more useful barometers of how the parties are faring, it’s the mayoral contest in New York City that is grabbing all the headlines. Rock star politics: Frontrunner Zohran Mamdani packed out the iconic Forest Hills Stadium last night at an extraordinary rally alongside fellow socialist stars Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Nearly 13,000 people turned out to see the trio take the stage in Queens, POLITICO’s Jeff Coltin reports from the scene, further cementing Mamdani’s reputation as a genuine superstar of the left. Mayoral rallies do not normally look like this.
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Sen. Bernie Sanders, Zohran Mamdani and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez stand together at Mamdani's "New York is Not for Sale" rally at Forest Hills Stadium in Queens on Oct. 26, 2025. | Jeff Coltin/POLITICO | The Fab Four? “Six decades after the Beatles played the same venue, Zohranmania came to Queens,” Jeff writes. “And the stadium was a big tent. Along with Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez, Mamdani’s rally also featured Gov. Kathy Hochul, a more moderate, business-friendly Democrat who campaigned for him Sunday night for the first time.” As Jeff notes: “Hochul would have been an unlikely sight at a Sanders presidential rally in 2016 or 2020, but she was there Sunday urging New Yorkers to vote for Mamdani.” Funny old game, politics. Read the full story here
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Learn how Optum is redefining pharmacy care at optum.com/redefineRX. | | | | Pretty much everyone — including Trump himself, per the WSJ — reckons Mamdani is certain to win next week. The fascinating question for our national politics is what happens next. Even as Republicans issue dire warnings about what they believe New York’s first self-described socialist mayor would do to the city, some will privately admit that — whisper it — they kinda want him to win. Zohran the Boogeyman: That’s because GOP strategists believe Mamdani represents a major opportunity for their party — a politician they can, bluntly, demonize in the eyes of Americans as the sort of terrifying far-left figure that the Democratic Party now represents. And if you thought Trump vs. Gov. Gavin Newsom in Los Angeles or Trump vs. Gov. JB Pritzker in Chicago was something … just wait until the president turns his attention to a new-look New York next year. Speaking of Newsom … California’s Proposition 50 redistricting vote is also now eight days away, with a Democratic victory now widely expected following a series of polls like this. The view from 1600 Penn: The White House “has been backing away from campaigning against Democrats’ efforts to redraw California’s House map, appearing largely resigned to the idea it will pass given Democrats’ strong polling advantage,” POLITICO’s Alex Gangitano reports this morning. “Trump still thinks he has the upper hand on Gavin Newsom on more salient issues, allies told POLITICO.” Dems are already casting their eyes elsewhere: Today members of the House of Delegates in Virginia will be called to a special 4 p.m session to discuss redrawing their own congressional map. Redistricting could bring in two or three additional seats for the Dems, per 13News Now. And there’s more: House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries will visit Illinois in person today to discuss redistricting with state Democrats, per Mary Ann Ahern of NBC5 Chicago. And with Republican efforts to redistrict ongoing in multiple states across the country, 2026 is already shaping up to be the political version of the 1986 Olympics men’s 100-meter final — AKA: “The Dirtiest Race in History.” Dems are paranoid that redistricting will only be the tip of the iceberg. Newsom has claimed the deployment of election observers to New Jersey and California next week will be used by the Trump administration to suggest that “these elections were rigged,” adding: “This is a preview of 2026.” Pritzker has said he fears troops will be deployed in 2026 “to intimidate people from going to the voting booth.” Trump certainly spooked Dems yesterday with his Truth Social post suggesting Republicans “GET SMART” over election integrity “BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE.” We can only wait and see what he has in mind. FIRST IN PLAYBOOK — Rule of law rankings: The latest edition of the global “Rule of Law” table will be published tomorrow, and an advance copy shared with Playbook shows the U.S. has fallen further down the rankings due to “a weakening of checks and balances on the executive branch” and “a lack of protection for fundamental rights.” Only Russia, Mexico, Sudan, Mozambique and Togo posted bigger falls over the past 12 months, according to World Justice Project criteria — not exactly the greatest company for America to be keeping. The U.S. now sits in 27th place in the overall ranking, alongside Costa Rica. The Scandinavian countries retain the top spots.
| | | | A message from Optum: Optum is redefining pharmacy care, providing real-time pricing, personalized support, and over $1 billion in savings last year alone. Learn more at optum.com/redefineRX. | | | | TRUMP ON TOUR POTUS ABROAD: Fresh off a weekend in Malaysia, Trump has this morning touched down in Japan on the second leg of his weeklong Asian tour. He’ll meet with newly elected Japanese PM Sanae Takaichi later tonight. Speaking on board Air Force One in the early hours of this morning, Trump said again that he’d like to meet North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un this week, if possible. “I haven't said anything [to Pyongyang] but I’d love to meet with him if he’d like to meet,” Trump told reporters during a 34-minute gaggle. “I get along great with Kim Jong Un. I like him, he likes me. If he wants to meet, I’ll be in South Korea.” Trump said he could extend his trip if need be. In the meantime Trump is being courted by world leaders, who are pulling out all the stops to impress the president, per WSJ. Japan will be no exception. Today Trump “will sit for a courtesy call with Emperor Naruhito” and tomorrow will attend “a grand dinner with prominent business leaders.” And Takaichi may employ “an idea floated by Japan’s government to buy a fleet of Ford F-150 trucks” as a way to ingratiate Japan with Trump, AP’s Josh Boak and Mari Yamaguchi write. “She has good taste,” Trump told reporters. “That’s a hot truck.” Zooming out: Takaichi’s first summit with Trump serves as an early test of her leadership and could ultimately determine “the tenor of U.S. Japan relations for the next three years,” POLITICO's Phelim Kine and Sophia Cai report. But while the pair have already bonded over their respective friendships with the late Japanese PM Shinzo Abe — and despite a soon-to-be-inked deal for Japan to buy U.S. trucks, liquefied gas and soybeans — “there are still plenty of areas where the two leaders could clash.”
| | | | Join POLITICO and FICO for a policy briefing that delves into the latest obstacles to preventing financial fraud, and the new technologies aimed at protecting consumers. Gain insights from government leaders and industry experts from Aspen Institute, Identity Theft Resource Center, Microsoft Security and more! Register to attend or watch online. | | | | | Mark your calendars: Following his Japan trip, Trump will meet with Xi on Thursday during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in South Korea, per Reuters. Administration officials confirmed yesterday the U.S. reached a tentative framework agreement with Beijing to avoid imposing an additional 100% tariff on Chinese imports. U.S. stock futures quickly rose in response to the announcement, with relieved investors boosting oil markets as they wait for Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping to finalize a deal, per Bloomberg. Things are looking much frostier with Canada, even though Trump said this morning the Canadian government had “apologized” for the anti-tariff advert featuring former President Ronald Reagan that so upset him over the weekend. “They did it very late,” Trump complained. “They let it run another two nights.” Trump said he’s “not gonna be meeting with” Canadian PM Mark Carney “for a while.” There’s also little sign of him inking a deal with South Korea ahead of a meeting with President Lee Jae Myung this week, per Bloomberg’s Soo-Hyang Choi and colleagues. HALLOWEEN COSTUMES IN 2025: You too can head to your party Friday night dressed up as Trump’s reciprocal tariffs. Sadly, the costume’s already sold out.
| | | BEST OF THE REST FOR YOUR RADAR: “Navy loses two aircraft from USS Nimitz aircraft carrier within 30 minutes,” by AP’s Konstantin Toropin. “The three crew members of the MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopter were rescued, and the two aviators in the F/A-18F Super Hornet fighter jet ejected and were recovered safely, and all five ‘are safe and in stable condition,’ the [Navy’s Pacific Fleet] said in a statement. The causes of the two crashes were under investigation.” DEMOCRACY DIGEST: Argentine President Javier Milei secured significant victories in the country’s key districts in yesterday’s closely watched midterm elections, “clinching a crucial vote of confidence that strengthens his ability to carry out his radical free-market experiment with billions of dollars in backing from the Trump administration,” AP’s Isabel Debre reports from Buenos Aires. “I want to congratulate the big victor,” a delighted Trump said this morning. “And he had a lot of help from us … That was a great thing.” ONE TO WATCH TODAY: On Saturday, Trump delivered a warning to Israel and Hamas, telling reporters that if “both sides” want to be “treated fairly,” they have to comply with the terms of the ceasefire he helped land. “Let's see what they do over the next 48 hours. I am watching this very closely,” Trump said on Saturday afternoon. That timeline is set to run out today. Keep an eye on Trump’s Truth Social feed for any updates. SHUTDOWN DAY 27: Still no end in sight. POLITICO’s Jennifer Scholtes is up this morning with a helpful explainer of the looming federal deadlines on and around Nov. 1, when funding is set to lapse for several critical programs like “nutrition assistance, early childhood education and air service to rural communities.” Meanwhile, some lawmakers are working to mitigate the shutdown’s effects “on select services with piecemeal bills. But none of those measures are on the fast track to final passage.” More from POLITICO’s Inside Congress More shutdown impacts: Yesterday, flights to Los Angeles were halted due to an air traffic controller shortage at a Southern California facility, per AP. “The FAA issued a temporary ground stop at one of the world’s busiest airports soon after U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy predicted that travelers would see more flights delayed and canceled in the coming days as the nation’s air traffic controllers work without pay.” RUSSIA-UKRAINE LATEST: Just a week after plans for a new U.S.-Russia summit collapsed, President Vladimir Putin announced Russia has successfully tested its nuclear-powered and nuclear-capable Burevestnik missile, per NYT’s Valerie Hopkins. “Because the weapon runs on nuclear power, it can fly for much longer than other missiles can, and, the Kremlin says, is capable of evading missile defense systems. … Putin’s announcement constitutes his first serious nuclear saber rattling since Mr. Trump returned to office in January.” Not impressed: Trump shot back this morning that America doesn’t need such long-range missiles. “They know that we have a nuclear submarine — the best in the world — right off their shores,” he said. “So we don’t need a missile to fly 8,000 miles.” The Trump-Putin love-in really is over … for now, at least. LOOMER STRIKES AGAIN: “ICE detains British journalist after criticism of Israel on US tour,” by The Guardian’s Michael Sainato: “British journalist Sami Hamdi was reportedly detained on Sunday morning by federal immigration authorities at San Francisco international airport, and the Council on American-Islamic Relations (Cair) says that action is apparent retaliation for the Muslim political commentator’s criticism of Israel while touring the US. … Trump administration ally Laura Loomer … took credit for his being taken into custody.” JAN. 6 AND ITS AFTERMATH: Jon Karl’s new book, “Retribution: Donald Trump and the Campaign that Changed America,” ($32) includes fresh details about handwritten notes that former VP Mike Pence took during a phone call with Trump on Jan. 6, 2021, just hours before the Capitol attack, WaPo’s Amy Wang reports. “‘You’ll go down as a wimp,’ Trump told Pence … Other messages Pence scrawled in his day planner indicate Trump continued to pressure Pence on the call, at one point suggesting Trump told him he had ‘made a big mistake 5 years ago’ in choosing Pence to be his vice president. ‘You listen to the wrong people,’ Trump also told Pence, as written elsewhere on the page beneath a scribble of an angry face.”
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➡️ Sign up for West Wing Playbook | | | | | | | TALK OF THE TOWN | | WHAT CHRIS LaCIVITA HAD FOR LUNCH: A mouthful of raw buffalo’s heart, per an unbelievable hunting video filmed in rural New Mexico at the weekend, which shows the Republican strategist picking up the bloodied organ in his hands and taking a bite. Yes, he really did it. Luckily for those with a weaker stomach, his Insta videos are private — but these pictures on X with a dead stag give you half an idea. Asked for comment by Playbook’s Adam Wren, LaCivita said via text: “I was honoring an ancient tradition. Washington can interpret as they wish.” LaCivita also sent us a link to this famous scene from “Dances with Wolves.” You may wish to wait until you’ve finished your breakfast before clicking. GETTING THE GANG BACK TOGETHER — SPOTTED at the Edward M. Kennedy Institute 10th anniversary in Boston last night: President Joe Biden and Jill Biden, James Biden, Marty Walsh, Mike Donilon, Annie Tomasini, Lisa Franchetti, Bob Kerrey, Joe Kennedy III, Patrick Kennedy, Vicki Kennedy and Massachusetts Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll. OUT AND ABOUT — Adam Green hosted his fourth “Politics & Puns” Halloween costume contest on Saturday night, with guest judges Ron Klain, Juleanna Glover, Glenn Ivey, Christina Henderson, Emily Wilkins, Brittany Gibson and Elizabeth Ralph. The top winner was Erin Covey and Mini Racker, who were Bell and Weather. Karen and Douglas Sloan were the runners-up with Log and Jam costumes. SPOTTED: Brad Miller, Adriana Brassart, Adele Smith, David Lunderquist, Maxence Peroteau, Riikka Hietajärvi, Hero Barzani, Amirah Sequeira, Mika Hyer, Maria Langholz, Zoe Stein, Caroline Motley, Santiago Mayer, Grace Haley, Lauren Windsor, Sara Guerrero, Maralyn O’Brien, Julie Bloom, Elizabeth Kennedy, Elaine Godfrey, Heidi Przybyla, Jackie Koppell, Jesús Rodríguez, Kara Voght, Katie Tarrant, Molly Ball, Rebecca Beitsch, Ryan Lizza, Sasha Pezenik, Shadi Hamid, Francesca Chambers, Sahil Kapur, Leila Fadel, David Segal, Christina Sevilla and Steve Rochlin. TRANSITIONS — Former White House principal deputy national security adviser Jon Finer is joining the Center for American Progress as a distinguished senior fellow on the National Security and International Policy team. … Pasha Majdi is now chief advocacy officer and coalitions lead at Nature Is Nonpartisan. He previously worked at Conservation International and is a Senate Energy and Natural Resources alum. … Tony Wen is now senior comms adviser for the Ohio Democratic Party. He previously worked for Rep. Josh Gottheimer’s (D-N.J.) office and is a Harris-Walz campaign alum. WEDDING — Erika Appel, deputy staff director for House Budget Committee Democrats, and Brian Cooke, senior program officer for DOD programs at the Institute of International Education, got married at the Riggs Hotel on Saturday in a ceremony officiated by Stephen Spaulding. The couple met as undergrads at Georgetown University, but reconnected years later when Brian moved into the building next to Erika's in Logan Circle. Brian admits he knew she lived there when he moved in next door. Pic via Ken Pak Photography WELCOME TO THE WORLD — Zachary Cikanek, senior managing director at PLUS Communications, and Jolyn Cikanek, government relations and PAC director at Enact Mortgage Insurance, welcomed Benjamin William Cikanek III on Friday. He joins big siblings Tabitha (6), Rosemary (4), and Zachary Jr. (2). Pic … Another pic. HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Rep. Lori Trahan (D-Mass.) … Matt Drudge … former Sen. George Helmy (D-N.J.) … TheWrap’s Michael Calderone … Judy Smith of Smith & Co. … Zoe Chace of “This American Life” … Richard Clarke … Stuart Roy of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce … Phil Anderson of Navigators Global … Mike McCurry of Public Strategies Washington and Wesley Theological Seminary … Clark Reid of Commerce … Henry Olsen … Lora Ries of the Heritage Foundation … Emily Vander Weele of Weber Shandwick … George Landrith … Jack Kalavritinos of JK Strategies … Nina Easton … Bryan Wells of the Stanton Park Group … Ora Rosenbaum of the Indivisible Project … Annika Olsons of Americans for Responsible Innovation … Ali Watkins … John Seibels of Rainmaker … Christian Stellakis … POLITICO’s A.J. Camacho and Elaina Tenfelde 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 deputy editor Garrett Ross and Playbook Podcast producer Callan Tansill-Suddath.
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