| | | |  | | 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 Dasha discuss Donald Trump’s ill-fated efforts to focus on affordability. Plus — meet the least likely musical double-act in U.S. politics.
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| Good Monday morning. This is Jack Blanchard. Get in touch. In today’s Playbook … — Big moment for MAGA as Trump U-turns on Epstein and backs Tucker Carlson. — Trump says talks with Maduro could yet be on the cards. — Indiana GOP faces the White House music after redistricting fiasco.
|  | DRIVING THE DAY | | | 
President Donald Trump speaks to reporters before boarding Air Force One in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Sunday, Nov. 16. | Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP Photo | HOT ON THE RIGHT: During a seismic journey back from Mar-a-Lago to Washington last night, Donald Trump weighed in decisively on two of the most controversial issues dividing his MAGA movement. The implications of both statements may be profound. Grabbing all the headlines this morning is Trump’s sudden shift on the Epstein files, the issue that first triggered all the MAGA heartache back in July. Trump changed his position last night less than 48 hours before tomorrow’s vote on Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) bipartisan effort to release the files, in which dozens of Republicans were expected to defy the president and vote with Democrats. It’s important to remember just how hard Trump and the GOP leadership battled to block this vote. Speaker Mike Johnson kept the House shuttered for almost two months and refused to swear in Rep. Adelita Grijalva (D-Ariz.), since her signature was the one that forced the discharge petition to the House floor. Then Trump personally intervened last week in a (failed) eleventh-hour effort to convince two Republican rebels to withdraw their support. But with the vote looming tomorrow, the president last night changed tack, as POLITICO’s Inside Congress writes. “House Republicans should vote to release the Epstein files,” he wrote on Truth Social. “We have nothing to hide.” Not bothered, honest: Indeed, Trump claimed indifference to the release of the documents stating: “The House Oversight Committee can have whatever they are legally entitled to, I DON’T CARE! All I do care about is that Republicans get BACK ON POINT.” Trump also framed the U-turn as a non-story, insisting he was only repeating what he’d said on Air Force One last Friday night. (This is … half-true. He’d told reporters: “I don't care about [the files], released or not ... They can have whatever they want.”) But make no mistake — last night’s U-turn is significant.
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Explore Phil's story. | | | | Firstly — we have just witnessed Trump U-turn under congressional pressure, a rarity indeed in 2025. Trump shifted position because he was going to lose anyway and wants to salvage the situation as best he can. That sound you could hear was the president’s extraordinary authority over his party slipping away … though now he can at least try to own the result. But it’s definitely a moment. Secondly — hopes will grow among campaigners that we’ll actually see these files. Tomorrow’s result was already a near-certainty, but the assumption had always been that the bill would die in the Senate. But if the president’s position is that House Republicans should vote to release the files, then why should it be different for senators? Indeed, why not just release them himself? That debate becomes a live one today. Thirdly — Trump’s about-face has big implications within the MAGA rank-and-file, where the failure to release the files back in July had caused widespread disenchantment. Supporters on social media sounded pleased and relieved last night, with Trump potentially on a path to redemption with the angriest corners of his base if he presses ahead. But where this goes next is far from clear. SPEAKING OF THE BASE: Just as significantly for those on the right, Trump weighed in on the other issue causing huge ructions within MAGA — media star Tucker Carlson’s decision to offer a friendly platform to white nationalist Nick Fuentes, who has voiced admiration for Hitler and Stalin. The conservative movement has been tearing itself apart for weeks over the Carlson-Fuentes interview, with prominent figures like Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and podcaster Ben Shapiro demanding both men be condemned. Last night, Trump broke his silence … and was unequivocal in his support for Carlson: “I think he's good,” Trump said of Carlson. “We've had some good interviews … If he wants to interview Nick Fuentes — I don’t know much about him, but if he wants to do it, get the word out. You know, people have to decide. Ultimately, people have to decide.” Trump was also pressed on a dinner he had with Fuentes back in 2022, and said only (as he did at the time) that he hadn’t known Fuentes and hadn’t known he was coming to the event. Needless to say, Trump’s support is a big deal in conservative circles, where supporting or condemning Carlson for platforming Fuentes has become a huge dividing line. It seems pretty clear Trump has no interest in condemning figures to the right, no matter how extreme. “Thank you Mr. President!” a gleeful Fuentes wrote on X, and plenty of his far-right supporters were celebrating too. Keep a close eye on how Cruz, Shapiro and other conservative voices respond today.
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| | | | The irony of all this is that Trump’s chief aim this week was to get back on the front foot with the public, via an all-out blitz on “affordability.” The president and his team want to put a difficult start to November behind them with a blizzard of policy and PR announcements designed to help Americans with the cost of living, and show disenchanted voters the president is relentlessly focused on the issues they care about. Nope: Instead the mainstream media will spend half the week talking about Epstein (again) while conservatives obsess (also again) over Carlson, Fuentes and the future of the right. And Trump has the added distraction of a two-day visit from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman starting tomorrow, as POLITICO’s Eli Stokols and Sam Sutton report. Still, Trump is trying to stay focused. His gaggle on the tarmac with reporters last night kicked off with a pre-prepared statement on how (some) supermarket prices are coming down. His long Truth Social post on the Epstein files quickly moved on to how Republicans should be talking about affordability instead. And tonight Trump will make a speech at a McDonald’s event where — Dasha is told — affordability will again be central to his message. And it’s not just words. Trump’s announcement of reduced tariffs on coffee, bananas and other supermarket staples last week was meant to be the start of the pocketbook push. Plenty of other big-ticket ideas are being floated, including Trump’s $2,000 rebate checks from tariffs, and the launch of 50-year mortgages to reduce monthly payments. It’s far from clear if either will become reality. More pressingly, GOP leaders are still discussing some sort of move on health care costs, with Obamacare subsidies due to expire at the end of the year. But the clock is ticking on that one. Any bill would need bipartisan support, and Congress has just about a month to get something done. Time is running out.
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| | | | AMERICA AND THE WORLD ROCKING THE BOAT: Trump said yesterday he “may be having some discussions” with Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro as the U.S. military ramps up its presence in the region, Reuters’ Joseph Tanfani and Matt Spetalnick report. “We'll see how that turns out,” Trump told reporters. “Asked what it means that Maduro was interested in talking, Trump, who had called off diplomatic engagement with Venezuela in early October, said he didn't know, but added: ‘I talk to anybody,’” Reuters writes. Trump last week reportedly received briefings on further military action and on Friday said he had “sort of” made up his mind on dealing with Venezuela. The president’s comments came just hours after the USS Gerald R. Ford — the world's largest aircraft carrier — arrived in the Caribbean, as America continues to amass “its biggest military presence in the Caribbean in decades,” per WaPo’s Ishaan Tharoor. “Its arrival takes the number of U.S. troops in the region to about 15,000, a deployment that suggests far more ambition than undermining criminal networks or launching isolated strikes on small boats.” MIDDLE EAST LATEST: The U.N. Security Council is set to vote today on a U.S.-drafted resolution on Gaza that leaves the door open to Palestinian statehood — but Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu emphasized Israel’s opposition to an independent Palestinian state, AP’s Melanie Lidman reports from Tel Aviv, Israel. “Gaza will be demilitarised and Hamas will be disarmed, the easy way or the hard way. I do not need affirmations, tweets or lectures from anyone,” Netanyahu said in a statement, per Reuters. WATCHING BRIEF: Jose Antonio Kast, the far-right Chilean presidential candidate is expected to win a runoff election next month, despite trailing governing coalition rival Jeannette Jara in the first round of presidential voting yesterday, per Reuters. “An eventual win for Kast would put in place an administration that is further to the right than any other since the Pinochet dictatorship.”
| | | | POLITICO Policy Outlook: Combating Financial Cybercrime: From identity theft to phishing scams, financial cybercrimes have skyrocketed in recent years. But catching perpetrators and preventing future scams remains a challenge. Join Rep. Jim Himes (D-Conn.) and Rep. David Schweikert (R-Ariz.) for discussions on the latest strategies for confronting these crimes and empowering consumers. Register to attend or watch online. | | | | | TRAIL MIX FIRST IN PLAYBOOK — Hoosier hoopla: Indiana Senate GOP leader Rodric Bray might have all-but killed off plans for redistricting last week, but the White House isn't taking no for an answer. Trump has invited Hoosier Republican redistricting holdouts to one-on-one Oval Office meetings starting as early as this week, Playbook’s Adam Wren reports. Expect significant pressure to be brought to bear. Bray, though, is the rare Republican who may have the upper hand over Trump. He's insulated from a primary until 2028, when his term is up. The White House could consider instigating a leadership coup, but if there aren't votes in the Senate for redistricting, then there aren't likely votes for his ouster. The White House did not respond to a request for comment about the timing or agenda of those meetings, though at least one senator shared with Playbook news of their invite, delivered by phone last Friday. The lawmakers will gather tomorrow at the Indiana Statehouse for a day of ceremonial activities, where protests are now expected. All eyes will be on Speaker Todd Huston, who has not yet said whether the House, which has the votes to pass new maps, will convene on Dec. 1 to take up the matter. “It’s going to get real painful,” said Marty Obst, the Trump and VP JD Vance ally who is heading up Fair Maps Indiana, the dark money group backing redistricting alongside Chris LaCivita and other Trump campaign veterans. Already getting ugly: Trump yesterday called for the ousting of Bray and Indiana state Sen. Greg Goode, accusing them in a post on Truth Social of “depriving Republicans of a Majority in the House.” Several hours later, Goode was targeted in what local law enforcement described as a “swatting” incident at his Indiana home, Adam reports. FIRST IN PLAYBOOK — GOP battle for New Hampshire: Twenty-seven Republican senators have joined NRSC Chair Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) as co-chairs of a D.C. fundraiser for former Sen. John E. Sununu’s high-profile comeback bid in the New Hampshire Senate race, according to an updated invitation for the Wednesday reception and dinner that was shared with POLITICO. That’s more than half the Senate GOP conference, POLITICO’s Lisa Kashinsky writes in. The show of institutional force for Sununu comes as he faces off against another former senator, Scott Brown, in the GOP primary for New Hampshire’s open Senate seat. Some of the senators, like Whip John Barrasso, have already endorsed Sununu. But 18 are new (see the full list here), and several — including Barrasso, Susan Collins, John Cornyn, Lisa Murkowski and Lindsey Graham — served with both Sununu and Brown. Response: Brown said in a statement that Sununu “can have the status quo Beltway crew, I’m running a grassroots campaign focused on earning the support of people who live in New Hampshire.” To that end, Brown’s campaign touted a Sunday endorsement from the conservative activist group We The People NH. But Sununu has picked up grassroots support of his own, and has the backing of the powerful Koch-aligned conservative group Americans for Prosperity Action. FIRST IN PLAYBOOK — Survey says: Plymouth Union Public Advocacy, a conservative nonprofit organization, is out with two new polls today showing that extensions of the contested Enhanced Advance Premium Tax Credits are popular among voters in both Maine and Alaska.
- In Maine: If Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) were to vote to extend the credits, she would gain a net +6 on the ballot, moving her race to a statistical toss‑up, according to a poll conducted by Cygnal. In total, 73 percent of Maine general election voters surveyed said they are worried about the tax credit expiration, and 69 percent want Congress to extend the credits. See the full polling memo
- In Alaska: 43 percent of undecided voters said they are more likely to back Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) if he extends the credits, while 48 percent are less likely to support him if he lets them expire, according to a poll conducted by The Tyson Group. Overall, 63 percent of the general election voters surveyed said they “want action and say Congress should extend the credits,” including 78 percent of moderates and 68 percent of independents. See the full polling memo
BEEHIVE STATE BUZZ: In Utah, Democrats were delivered something of a gift when a judge handed down a new map that will see a safe blue seat for the first time in decades in the deep-red state, where Democrats haven’t sent one of their own to Washington since 2021. “Now comes the circus primary,” POLITICO’s Samuel Benson reports. Former Rep. Ben McAdams, the last Democrat to represent Utah in Congress, “has built a career off of his ability to appeal to moderate voters. With the new map, McAdams now faces challengers to his left, and political moderation will not be as necessary to win the deep-blue seat.”
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Explore Phil's story. | | | | BEST OF THE REST CLEAR SKIES: The Federal Aviation Administration announced the emergency order demanding nationwide flight reductions would be lifted at 6 a.m this morning, ending a slew of cancellations and delays brought on by the government shutdown, POLITICO’s Sam Ogozalek reports. “The department last week froze its cuts at 6 percent, then lowered them to 3 percent, citing an increase in air traffic controllers coming to work.” SURROUND SOUND: The “Refuse Fascism” movement is planning another “Surround the White House” campaign today with the stated goal to “create such a profound political crisis that Trump cannot impose his fascist program or maintain his hold on power.” ON THE HILL: After a weekend spent feuding with Trump, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) posted on X yesterday that her house and family members were the recipients of “hoax pizza deliveries” and that her family’s construction company also “received a pipe bomb threat.” Trump fired back that he did not believe she was in danger and that “nobody cares.” FOR YOUR RADAR: Rev. Jesse Jackson remains in the hospital and “has been receiving care to manage his blood pressure,” CNN’s Abby Phillip reports. “In a statement released late Sunday afternoon, the family said he is breathing on his own without the assistance of machines and not on life support. A separate source added that earlier he had been receiving medication to raise his blood pressure, which is a form of life support.”
| | | | Global Security is POLITICO’s new weekly briefing on the policies and industrial forces reshaping transatlantic defense. From Washington to Brussels and beyond, we track how decisions ripple across borders — redefining the future of security and industry. Sign up for the free preview edition. | | | | | | | TALK OF THE TOWN | | MUST-SEE TV — The first part of Ken Burns’ new documentary on the American Revolution debuted on PBS last night, and if you didn’t see it you’ll need to find two hours to get up to speed before the second episode screens tonight. (Alternatively — take the day off work and binge-watch the entire series in about 12 hours, with a large bottle of Madeira.) The reviews are in: NYT TV critic James Poniewozik writes that in its treatment, particularly, of slavery, “‘The American Revolution’ feels urgent, necessary and maybe even risky.” The Wrap’s Matthew Creith writes drily that “the series’ pacing will test some viewers” (12 hours!) but finds important lessons for today: “In many ways, Burns’ version of events is an exploration of how the moral fault lines of 1776 became the fractures of 1861 during the Civil War,” he writes, “and how the lessons learned persist in 2025.” And there’s more: If political history is your thing — and given you’re reading this newsletter, I’m going to assume it is — then keep an eye out too for “Death by Lightning”, Netflix’s new four-part drama on the 1881 assassination of President James Garfield. The New Yorker’s Inkoo Kang says this, too, feels highly relevant. “The most satisfying period dramas evoke a bygone era even as they speak to the current moment, and ‘Death by Lightning’ is no exception, recalling another epoch when hollowed-out political parties could be co-opted, for good or for ill, by canny outsiders.” MEDIA MOVE — Sam Baker is joining POLITICO as senior legal editor. He previously was a senior editor at Axios, where he also covered the Supreme Court. FIRST IN PLAYBOOK — Climate Power has added Josh Peck as executive director, Sheila O'Connell as chief program officer and Lizz Gramling as chief operating officer. TRANSITIONS — Sara Spain is now director on Sunshine Sach’s entertainment advocacy team. She previously worked for EMILY’s List. … Pablo Sierra-Carmona is joining FTI Consulting as a director of public affairs. He previously worked for Resident Commissioner Pablo José Hernández (D-P.R.) and is a Kyrsten Sinema alum. HAPPY BIRTHDAY: AG Pam Bondi … John Boehner … Jarrod Agen of the White House … Chris Stirewalt … former Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) … Susan Rice … former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf … Terry Branstad … Brian Jones of Black Rock Group … Howard Dean … Linda Moore of TechNet … Diana Aviv … Helena Bottemiller Evich of Food Fix … Mike Ricci … Tyler Burger of HHS … Charmaine Yoest … Arielle Brown of the Freedom Foundation … Jonathan Cousimano … Sonja Thrasher of Sen. Elissa Slotkin’s (D-Mich.) office … Carly Montoya … Camryn Anderson of Dcode … Erika Compart … Halie Soifer of the Jewish Democratic Council of America … Ralph Posner … Intuit’s Paul Lindsay … Harry Jaffe … Jeff Watters of the Ocean Conservancy … Isaac Baker … S-3 Group’s Marty Reiser … Alex Gallo … Talking Points Memo’s David Kurtz … Mike DeFilippis of Rep. Jeff Hurd’s (R-Colo.) office … Mike Maloof … POLITICO’s Felicia Schwartz and Blair Guild … Sarah Gibbens … National Public Affairs’ Joey Rodriguez … Carlie Tianello of Rep. Julie Johnson’s (D-Texas) office … Kellie Boyle … Benji Easter of Sen. Ted Budd’s (R-N.C.) office … Noah Oppenheim … MS NOW’s Lily Corvo 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. Correction: Yesterday’s Playbook misquoted Samson Signori. Signori said Virginia Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger’s campaign “was only invoking Trump when it was having a direct impact on Virginia’s economy.”
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