| | | |  | | By Adam Wren | | Presented by |  | | | With help from Eli Okun, Ali Bianco, Irie Sentner and Makayla Gray On today’s Playbook Podcast: Adam and Megan discuss President Donald Trump’s imminent decision on the next Fed chair — and the big clue he gave about who it might be.
| 
| Happy Friday. This is Adam Wren. Some have called this a newsletter. It is not. It is a “creative experience that offers perspectives, insights and moments.” Or, exactly how first lady Melania Trump described the documentary — er, experience, “Melania,” at its premiere last night. Get in touch. TILLIS TEES OFF: Sen. Thom Tillis is Dasha’s guest on this week’s episode of “The Conversation.” The retiring North Carolina Republican discussed the block he’s said he will put on any Fed chair nominee until the investigation into Jerome Powell is completed. On Trump’s effort to exert control over the Fed: “I don’t have any problem with him trying to do it. I have a problem with people being quiet on our side when we definitely can stand in the breach and prevent it from happening. And that’s what I’m doing. That’s a typical tug and pull.” On how far he’ll go to stand in the way: “Look, I grew up in a trailer park and I like a good scrap, and if these people want to be unprofessional, I’ll match them. If they want to be professional, show some respect for the co-equal branches, then we can resolve this fairly quickly.” On Kristi Noem and Stephen Miller: “I’ve continued to tell the president you’ve got to get the amateurs out of the Oval Office for his own sake, for his legacy, but for the sake of Republicans. These people are adding up to what will most likely be a wave against Republicans in next year’s election because they’re so lousy on execution. Now there are many people in the administration I have the utmost confidence in. These two people happen not to be on that list.” Watch the full episode … Listen and subscribe on Apple and Spotify In today’s Playbook … — Differing accounts of a story JD Vance heard in Minnesota show the stakes of the administration’s crackdown. — Trump says his Fed chair pick is coming today. — Happy birthday Mike Johnson! Congress is about to trigger another government shutdown.
|  | DRIVING THE DAY | | VP JD Vance relayed a “crazy” story on X about protesters mobbing immigration and Border Patrol officers at a Minneapolis restaurant following Alex Pretti's killing. But Minneapolis police and the restaurant manager both disputed key parts of the vice president's account to Playbook, which they say was incomplete at best. The conflicting versions have come to light amid a deescalation in tensions between local and federal officials in the city and mixed messaging within the Trump administration over Pretti’s death. Two agents have been placed on leave and the administration said it’s investigating the shooting. The retellings of the incidents as reported here underscore the Rashomon-like nature of documenting an immigration enforcement operation unfolding in a major American city — one that partisans are eager to weaponize in almost real time. On Sunday, hours after Pretti was shot by federal agents, Vance took to X, saying that on his visit to the city the week before he “heard a number of crazy stories,” then highlighted one that included two “off duty Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection officers” who “were going to dinner in Minneapolis.” Vance said they “were doxed and their location revealed, and the restaurant was then mobbed.” The officers, Vance said, “were locked in the restaurant, and local police refused to respond to their pleas for help (as they've been directed by local authorities). Eventually, their fellow federal agents came to their aid.” An administration official familiar with the incident told Playbook Vance heard about it from federal agents at a roundtable discussion on the ground in Minneapolis on Jan. 22 and his team confirmed the details. In an audio recording of that roundtable, a DHS official is heard telling Vance that 30-50 agitators “locked them inside the restaurant,” referring to two off-duty officers. The administration official played a portion of the audio recording for Playbook and identified the speaker as a DHS official. But a public information officer for the Minneapolis Police Department said “MPD monitored the situation and determined that the federal agents had sufficient resources available to manage the incident,” which he said occurred on Jan. 19, at an address that matched the location of the restaurant — Darbar India Grill & Bar — in the southwest corner of the city. “Records indicate the two individuals, and the assisting federal resources were able to leave the area within approximately 15 minutes of the initial 911 call. MPD was later notified that one of their vehicles had been left behind,” Sgt. Garrett Parten said in a statement. “MPD monitored the vehicle until the agents were able to return and recover it.” The MPD said the incident report was recorded at 9:22 p.m. Parten did not respond Thursday to additional questions about whether MPD initially visited the scene. It’s not clear how MPD determined the agents had “sufficient resources.” A DHS report obtained by Playbook includes additional information about the incident. It says that outside Darbar, “a young adult male wearing a black mask was seen walking around their rental vehicle, a white Ford Expedition, before entering the restaurant and approaching the agents.” At that point, “the subject accused agents of being ICE personnel, referencing the Ford Expedition as a known ICE vehicle and claiming access to a database of such vehicles,” according to the DHS report. Outside, by this point, 30 individuals had gathered, according to the report, and “a female subject behind the agents locked the restaurant doors, preventing exit.” The whole encounter lasted nine minutes: At 9:30 p.m. local time, according to the report, the agents were “extracted.” The DHS report notes that local law enforcement weren’t notified until 9:38 p.m. — after the agents had departed. Of local law enforcement, the report notes “no response reported.” The internal document concludes: “No injuries or use of force reported.” Vance’s spokesperson declined to comment but DHS said the vice president’s statement was accurate.
| | | | A message from AHIP: 35 Million Seniors Could See Reduced Benefits and Higher Costs. Health plans welcome reforms to strengthen Medicare Advantage. However, a proposal for flat program funding at a time of sharply rising medical costs and high utilization of care will directly impact seniors' coverage. If finalized, this proposal could result in benefit reductions and higher costs for 35 million seniors and people with disabilities when they renew their Medicare Advantage coverage in October 2026. Learn more. | | | | Parten said the presence of protestors alone is not sufficient reason for MPD to respond where ICE activity is occurring. In an interview with Playbook, Balli Singh, the manager of the restaurant who was working on Jan. 19, said he did not witness anyone lock the doors. Singh — who said he first realized his restaurant was the subject of an X post when contacted by Playbook on Thursday — said Vance’s post did not accurately describe events that night. Singh said the officers were in the middle of their meal when a few people came into the restaurant and told Singh they suspected ICE was there. Singh said more people arrived outside and began congregating around the car. Meanwhile, the two agents told their server they were being harassed, he said. “One guy actually told me, ‘Brother, don’t come between this,’” he said, referring to one of the federal officers in his restaurant. “‘We’ll teach them a lesson.’” Minutes later, Singh said more uniformed officers arrived outside and the two men left shortly after. Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin provided a statement in response to questions about the discrepancies. “We can confirm VP’s post is accurate,” McLaughlin said. “Here are the facts: On January 19, off-duty DHS law enforcement were dining at a restaurant in Minneapolis when agitators began to harass them.” McLaughlin’s account matched the DHS report, and included the reference to approximately “30 agitators.” “The officers called for more Border Patrol reinforcement and the Sheriff’s Department for assistance,” the DHS spokesperson continued. “As the additional Border Patrol agents arrived, they were unable to enter the restaurant because the doors were locked. Thankfully, once more agents arrived, the door was unlocked, agents cleared the scene and eventually the law enforcement vehicle was later recovered.” McLaughlin said, “this type of behavior is un-American and disgraceful.” Asked about what it was like to have Vance share the story on X, in a post that has so far garnered more than 22 million views, Singh said: “They are the authority, they are the administration. They can say whatever they want.”
| | | | A message from AHIP:  
| | | | BANK ON IT FED UP: Trump plans to announce his choice for the next Fed chair this morning, he told reporters yesterday evening — one of the most consequential personnel choices for the national economy that he’ll make in his second term. More from POLITICO’s Victoria Guida So who will that be, exactly? Well, Trump dropped a big clue as he spoke at the premiere of “Melania” at the Kennedy Center last night. He told reporters that the pick is someone who is “very respected, somebody that’s known to everybody in the financial world.” He added: “A lot of people think that this is somebody that could’ve been there a few years ago.” That would point to … Kevin Warsh. As Victoria points out, Warsh is the only name in the mix who was on the shortlist for the post during Trump’s first term. Bloomberg’s Saleha Mohsin and colleagues report that the admin is preparing for the choice to be Warsh, though it’s not final until it’s final. The road ahead: Trump’s selection will have to walk a difficult tightrope — both in the Senate confirmation process and at the central bank — between heeding Trump’s demands for lower interest rates and maintaining the Fed independence Trump has tried to erode. IN OTHER ECON NEWS: Trump yesterday escalated his tariff threats tied to both Cuba and Canada. He signed a new executive order that would slap levies on countries that provide oil to the island nation, though it didn’t go into many specifics, per Reuters. As Trump seeks to squeeze Cuba’s leadership, the country — already in the midst of economic crisis — could soon face even more dire straits. One estimate says Cuba may run out of oil in 15 to 20 days without any new deliveries, FT’s Jude Webber and colleagues report. “I think Cuba will not be able to survive,” Trump told reporters last night. North of the border: Trump’s tensions with Canada took a new turn as he announced that he’s decertifying Bombardier’s Global Express jet and all other Canadian-made aircraft — along with 50 percent tariffs on them unless Ottawa certifies American Gulfstream products. “No president has ever decertified jets directly,” CNN’s Ramishah Maruf and Chris Isidore report. and it isn’t clear whether Trump has the legal authority to do so. PERSONAL MATTERS: Trump and his family/business filed a $10 billion lawsuit yesterday against Treasury and the IRS over the leak of his tax returns in 2020. “The lawsuit by a sitting president against the government he leads puts Trump in a highly unusual position,” Bloomberg’s Erik Larson notes. “Loyal administration officials at the Justice Department could ultimately decide whether to move to settle the case, and for how much,” possibly “putting American taxpayers on the hook for a massive payout.”
| | | | New from POLITICO Introducing POLITICO Forecast: Tomorrow’s conversations about global power, tonight. Forecast brings forward-looking insight from POLITICO’s global newsroom, including coverage tied to major international gatherings like Davos, to help you understand where politics, policy and power are headed.
➡️ Subscribe Now | | | | | ON THE HILL DOWN TO THE WIRE: The Senate will convene at 11 a.m. to try to push through a government funding deal that’s on the precipice of managing to avert another lengthy shutdown — but last-minute roadblocks could yet yield a short one. While you were sleeping: Senators intended to pass the deal late last night, after Trump and Democrats hammered out an agreement to fully fund all agencies except DHS, which would get a two-week stopgap for both parties to try to hash out policy changes, per POLITICO’s Jordain Carney and colleagues. The deal was hailed by Trump, who encouraged both parties to pass it and avoid a shutdown. It was also a win for Democrats who wanted the Homeland Security bill to be separated from other funding, amid intense anger over immigration operations. But but but: Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) prevented a rapid vote on the package, because it includes the House’s reversal of a law that could give senators monetary payments if Jack Smith got their phone records, as Jordain and Hailey Fuchs scooped. It wasn’t clear if other senators had objected to the deal; Senate Majority Leader John Thune cited trouble in both parties. And even if the Senate does pass the deal today, the House isn’t (currently) due back until Monday, which could mean a weekend shutdown. House Republicans will have a conference call late this morning to figure out a plan. More from POLITICO’s Inside Congress MORE FROM CONGRESS: The House Ethics Committee determined there was “substantial evidence” to back up the federal fraud indictment against Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-Fla.) — and “more extensive misconduct,” per POLITICO’s Hailey Fuchs. Cherfilus-McCormick’s lawyer said she “disputes and refutes” their findings. But Rep. Greg Steube (R-Fla.) said he’ll call up his resolution to vote on her expulsion from Congress when the House returns. … Meanwhile, the House will bring contempt of Congress resolutions against Bill and Hillary Clinton to the floor Wednesday, POLITICO’s Meredith Lee Hill reports.
| | | | A message from AHIP:  
| | | | BEST OF THE REST HAPPENING TODAY: DNI Tulsi Gabbard is expected to join the National Association of Secretaries of State meeting today, which forced the group to reconsider its agenda, Axios’ Hans Nichols reports. AG Pam Bondi and Noem were also expected to attend, but Bondi no longer plans to and it’s unclear if Noem will either. Gabbard’s appearance comes two days after she was unexpectedly spotted on the scene of the FBI raid of an election office in Georgia that has been at the center of Trump’s debunked claims that the 2020 election was stolen. Gabbard’s new mission: The spy chief is “leading the administration’s effort to re-examine the election and look for potential crimes” in the 2020 election, WSJ’s Josh Dawsey and colleagues report. Democrats, election experts and even some Trump officials expressed bewilderment over Gabbard’s presence, given that she carries no domestic law enforcement authority and is not typically involved in criminal investigations, POLITICO’s John Sakellariadis and Gregory Svirnovskiy write. FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas is the next president of the Democratic Mayors Association, your author reports. “It’s a hell of a time to be in charge,” Lucas told Playbook in a brief interview. “For a lot of mayors, step one is standing up for cities in a way that when I was first elected mayor in 2019 you really didn’t have to,” Lucas continued. “Standing up meant sharing your accomplishments and getting infrastructure money. It didn't mean trying to preserve the constitutional Republic.” AD IT UP: Maine Gov. Janet Mills is going up with the first TV ad of her Senate campaign, a six-figure buy that rebukes Trump’s immigration enforcement surge as “ridiculous, outrageous and unconstitutional,” POLITICO’s Jessica Piper scoops this morning. INCHING TOWARD IRAN: Three U.S. missile-equipped warships and an aircraft carrier are now stationed near Iran, NYT’s Christoph Koettl and colleagues report. Though no military action has been authorized yet, the U.S. has also sent at least a dozen attack planes to the region as Trump continues to rattle his interventionist saber amid the country’s subsiding government protests. The military options presented to Trump “even includes the potential for American forces to carry out raids on sites inside Iran,” NYT’s Tyler Pager and colleagues report. The options Trump is weighing include “targeted strikes on security forces and leaders to inspire protesters” and “create conditions for ‘regime change,’” Reuters’ Samia Nakhoul and colleagues report. Trump is still open to negotiations with Iranian officials, and he indicated last night that he’s held talks in the past few days. He’s telling them two things: “Number one, no nuclear. And number two, stop killing protesters,” he told CBS’ Jennifer Jacobs. BACK IN BUSINESS: Trump announced yesterday that flights to Venezuela are resuming for the first time in seven years, with American Airlines already announcing plans to soon restart flights — the first airline to do so, POLITICO’s Pavan Acharya reports. Meanwhile, Venezuelan acting President Delcy Rodríguez opened the nation’s oil sector to privatization, per AP’s Regina Garcia Cano. And the U.S. issued a general license to expand oil companies’ ability to operate in the country, Bloomberg’s Jennifer Dlouhy and colleagues report. ONE TO WATCH: The next hearing in Trump’s lawsuit against pollster J. Ann Selzer is slated for 10 a.m. Eastern in Iowa state court today. HEADS UP: Half a dozen Cabinet members and senior staffers held a two-hour meeting yesterday at the White House to discuss the threat of the New World screwworm fly to livestock, per CBS’ Jennifer Jacobs. THE WEEKEND AHEAD FRIDAY PROGRAMS … POLITICO “The Conversation”: Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.). C-SPAN “Ceasefire”: Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt and San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria … Joseph Lockhart and Matt Gorman. PBS “Washington Week”: Susan Glasser, Stephen Hayes, Zolan Kanno-Youngs and Toluse Olorunnipa. SUNDAY SO FAR … Fox News “Sunday Morning Futures”: White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt … Texas Gov. Greg Abbott … Mexican Ambassador Esteban Moctezuma Barragán … Victoria Coates. ABC “This Week”: House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. Panel: Donna Brazile, Chris Christie, Michelle Cottle and Doug Heye. FOX “Fox News Sunday”: Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) … Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.). Panel: Olivia Beavers, Richard Fowler, Susan Page and Karl Rove. CBS “Face the Nation”: María Corina Machado … Gary Cohn. Mayors panel: Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt, Mesa, Arizona, Mayor Mark Freeman, Miami Mayor Eileen Higgins and Kansas City, Missouri, Mayor Quinton Lucas. MS NOW “The Weekend: Primetime”: Graham Platner. PBS “Compass Points”: Behnam Ben Taleblu … Vali Nasr … Firas Maksad … Robin Wright. NBC “Meet the Press”: Ken Burns. Panel: Lanhee Chen, Adrienne Elrod and Jonathan Martin. CNN “State of the Union”: Panel: Bill Stepien, Bill de Blasio, Shermichael Singleton and Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.).
| | | | POLITICO Pro POLITICO Pro Briefings give subscribers direct access to in-depth conversations on the policy issues shaping government. Led by POLITICO reporters, these interactive sessions go beyond the headlines to explain what’s happening, why it matters, and what’s coming next.
➡️ Get on the Invite List | | | | | | | TALK OF THE TOWN | | MELANIA FOREVER — First lady Melania Trump premiered the new documentary about her, “Melania,” at the Kennedy Center last night, and this is just the beginning. After the film runs in theaters, a related docuseries will come later this year on Amazon Prime. Star-studded: Mainstream reporters were largely not allowed in, so the Kennedy Center had plenty of room for D.C.’s Republican glitterati. Beyond the first couple, attendees reportedly included Speaker Mike Johnson, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, CMS Administrator Mehmet Oz, U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Mike Waltz, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, Education Secretary Linda McMahon, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, Steve Witkoff, Alina Habba, Donald Trump Jr. and Bettina Anderson, Dr. Phil, Maria Bartiromo, Kellyanne Conway, Nicki Minaj, Waka Flocka Flame and director Brett Ratner. “The piece of work seemed almost beside the point,” NYT’s Shawn McCreesh writes from outside the premiere. “The night was not about film, it was about power. The whole spectacle was a vivid manifestation of the grip Mr. Trump has on his party and this town.” IN MEMORIAM — “Michael Beck, 65, Dies; First to Report Symptoms of ‘Havana Syndrome,’” by NYT’s Clay Risen: “As an employee with the N.S.A., he claimed he was exposed to a direct-energy device that led to a diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease at the age of 45.” OUT AND ABOUT — SPOTTED at Meridian International Center’s inaugural Sports Diplomacy Forum yesterday: Gianni Infantino, Amy Hopfinger, Alex Lasry, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, Kansas City, Missouri, Mayor Quinton Lucas, Mark Tatum, Zachary Leonsis, Michelle Freeman, Jason Wright, Rick Wade, Marjorie Harris, Aba Kwawu, Bahraini Ambassador Shaikh Abdulla Rashed Al Khalifa, Monaco Ambassador Maguy Maccario Doyle, Slovenian Ambassador Iztok Mirošič, Fred Hochberg, Randi Levine, Deborah Lehr, Lisa Osborne Ross, TK Harvey, Dan Mickelson, Stefanie Williams and Rob Placek. — Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.) hosted a private dinner in the Mansfield Room of the Capitol yesterday evening ahead of the Alfalfa Club dinner this weekend. SPOTTED: Justice Brett Kavanaugh, Glenn Youngkin, SEC Chair Paul Atkins, Sens. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) and Dave McCormick (R-Pa.), Indian Ambassador Vinay Mohan Kwatra, South Korean Ambassador Kang Kyung-wha, Jordanian Ambassador Dina Kawar, Irish Ambassador Geraldine Byrne Nason, Japanese Ambassador Shigeo Yamada, U.S. Ambassador to Sweden Christine Toretti, Robert Mondavi Jr., Ross Perot Jr., Fred Ryan, David Solomon and Ray Washburne. TRANSITIONS — Michael Grimes is departing the Commerce Department, where he led the investment accelerator, per Semafor’s Liz Hoffman. He’s going back to Silicon Valley. … Jim O’Connell will be EVP at the American Made Media Company. He previously worked for CPAC, and is a Trump campaign and White House alum. … Kathryn Mitchell is joining DLA Piper’s government affairs and public policy team. She previously worked at the Commerce Department’s CHIPS Research & Development Office. … … Liam Buckley is joining the DCCC as deputy national spokesperson. He previously worked for New York Gov. Kathy Hochul. … Joey Mott is joining Aflac as federal relations manager. He most recently was chief of staff for Rep. Ralph Norman (R-S.C.). … Veronica Penales will be comms assistant for the House Democratic Policy and Communications Committee. She previously worked for Rep. Emily Randall (D-Wash.). WELCOME TO THE WORLD — Lauren Claffey Tomlinson, principal at Cornerstone Government Affairs and a Trump DHS and Saxby Chambliss alum, and Brock Tomlinson, SVP for data center development at Panattoni Development Company, welcomed Blair Elizabeth Tomlinson, their fourth child, on Jan. 21. Pic … Another pic — Jirair Ratevosian, a senior fellow at the Duke Global Health Institute and a Barbara Lee and State Department alum, and Micheal Ighodaro, executive director of Global Black Gay Men Connect, welcomed Paris Queen Ratevosian-Ighodaro yesterday. BIRTHWEEK (was yesterday): Lisa Desjardins of PBS NewsHour HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Speaker Mike Johnson … EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin … Reps. Kevin Kiley (R-Calif.) and Herb Conaway (D-N.J.) … Rohit Chopra … Steven Portnoy … NBC’s Natasha Korecki and Sarah Mimms … American Petroleum Institute’s Mike Sommers … POLITICO’s Bob Hillman and John Sakellariadis … WaPo’s Maeve Reston … former Rep. Frank Wolf (R-Va.) … Drew Bond … former Del. Michael San Nicolas (D-Guam) … Ashley Therien … MS NOW’s Chris Jansing … Nels Olson and Peter Lauria of Korn Ferry … Jeff Naft of Senate Banking … Todd Sloves … Len Bickwit … Josh Kram … Nathan Leamer … Hastie Afkhami of S-3 Public Affairs … Alexis Serfaty … Marcela Sanchez of the World Bank … Alfred C. Liggins III 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.
| | | | A message from AHIP: 35 Million Seniors Could See Reduced Benefits and Higher Costs
Health plans welcome reforms to strengthen Medicare Advantage. However, a proposal for flat program funding at a time of sharply rising medical costs and high utilization of care will directly impact seniors' coverage. If finalized, this proposal could result in benefit reductions and higher costs for 35 million seniors and people with disabilities when they renew their Medicare Advantage coverage in October 2026. 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