| | | |  | | By Ali Bianco | | Presented by |  | | | |  | THE CATCH-UP | | | 
“The administration has made it clear to interim authorities in Venezuela that this is the Western Hemisphere, and American dominance will continue under this president,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters during a briefing. | Evan Vucci/AP | THE DON-ROE DOCTRINE: The Trump administration is doubling down on America’s stake on the Western Hemisphere. But the objective in Venezuela is shifting less toward security interest and more towards one thing: oil. “The administration has made it clear to interim authorities in Venezuela that this is the Western Hemisphere, and American dominance will continue under this president,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters during a briefing this morning. Shying away from echoing Trump’s claim that the U.S. “runs” Venezuela, Leavitt said the administration is “in close correspondence” with the interim authorities. On the Hill this morning, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other top officials led an all-senator briefing on the Venezuela operation. They laid out a detailed plan on next steps in the country and plans for oil acquisition, but both sides were split in their reaction, CNN’s Annie Grayer reports. Leaving the briefing, Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) repeated that Rubio is working with the country’s interim president, and that “the U.S. has a lot of levers to persuade her compliance.” Meanwhile, Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) had a blunt assessment for reporters: “This is an insane plan.” All about oil: Energy Secretary Chris Wright said this morning that the U.S. intends to maintain control over Venezuela’s oil industry “indefinitely,” POLITICO’s James Bikales reports. After weeks of chasing a Russian-flagged oil tanker, the U.S. captured the Bella-1 tanker this morning in the North Atlantic, POLITICO’s Paul McLeary reports. It shows the administration’s efforts expanding well beyond the Caribbean, with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth saying that the oil blockade “remains in FULL EFFECT.” The oil in Venezuela has been “basically sitting in barrels, sitting on ships because of the effective quarantine of the United States of America,” Leavitt told reporters. That oil will be arriving “very soon,” she said, as the U.S. selectively rolls back sanctions on the imports. The next front: Trump will meet with oil executives from Chevron, Exxon and others on Friday, per CBS’ Weijia Jiang. Oil companies are also in talks with the White House on how to restart drilling in Venezuela, with Wright running point on these conversations starting in Florida today, WaPo’s Evan Halper reports. “There is a lot of private sector engagement happening right now,” Leavitt said. MIXED SIGNALS: As Trump's turns toward a reshaping of the world order with his growing interventionist policy, it’s still at odds with some of the rhetoric from his administration. What the Hill is saying: Trump has increasingly floated Greenland as a target, but Speaker Mike Johnson played down the possibility of military action. “I don't think anybody's talking about using military force in Greenland. They're looking at diplomatic channels,” Johnson said, per POLITICO’s Meredith Lee Hill. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) told reporters she “hated” the rhetoric of “either acquiring Greenland by purchase or by force,” per Semafor. “And you know, I don't use the word ‘hate’ very often, but I think that it is very, very unsettling,” she said. But Rubio largely defended Trump’s push for Greenland today. “That’s always been the president's intent from the very beginning,” Rubio said about Trump buying Greenland, in a briefing with reporters on the Hill. “He talked about it in his first term, and he's not the first U.S. president that has examined or looked at how could we acquire Greenland,” Rubio said. Leavitt took a slightly different tack: Responding to Playbook’s own Dasha Burns during today’s briefing, asking why Trump needs to own Greenland rather than proceed diplomatically, Leavitt said: “Who said diplomacy isn’t taking place behind the scenes, Dasha?” She added: “The president keeps his options open, but diplomacy is always the first.” What Trump is saying: The president took to Truth Social to continue his broadside against the NATO alliance, writing that “I doubt NATO would be there for us if we really needed them,” while still reaffirming that the U.S. “will always be there for NATO.” The view from Denmark: The Danes have been in crisis mode, Axios’ Barak Ravid writes, as the behind-the-scenes conversations have been far less incursive. Top Danish officials will meet with Rubio to discuss the issue next week. Asked if the president recognizes Denmark’s ownership of Greenland, Leavitt said: “I have not heard him question it.” BIG READS: “What Will Become of Venezuela’s Political Prisoners?” by The New Yorker … “Hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans still face deportation from US after Maduro capture,” by CNN … “Maduro Is Gone, but Repression in Venezuela Has Intensified,” by NYT Good Wednesday afternoon. Thanks for reading Playbook PM. Send me your thoughts at abianco@politico.com.
| | 9 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW | | 1. ON THE HILL: Johnson and leadership told Republicans this morning they are moving forward with plans to pass the latest government funding package tomorrow as planned — but with the slim margins and a last-minute hardliner rebellion, it could come down to the wire, Meredith reports. The three-bill package advanced out of the Rules Committee this morning, but Reps. Chip Roy (R-Texas) and Andy Harris (R-Md.) raised concerns about earmarks in the Commerce-Justice-Science funding portion. GOP leadership is breaking up the votes, but will likely still merge the package back together before sending it to the Senate, per Meredith. Coming attractions: Johnson wasn’t specific in the meeting about whether the GOP will push forward another appropriations package (a minibus), though this has been a key target for the GOP in their effort to avoid another shutdown cliff. The ACA debate: A bipartisan group of senators is closing in on a potential deal for an extension of the ACA subsidies, which would include a two-year extension with income caps, ending zero-dollar premiums and extending open enrollment, POLITICO’s Jordain Carney reports. The draft legislation could land as soon as Monday. GOP leadership hits the road: Senate Majority Leader John Thune and several GOP senators are hitting the road on Friday and will join Senate candidates Mike Rogers and Michael Whatley, plus council members of National Border Patrol, to tout the “working families tax cuts” and border security in McAllen, Texas. … Johnson will travel to London to address Parliament on Jan. 20, becoming the first U.S. speaker to address the body, his office announced today. Mark your calendar: Johnson also said he expects Trump will deliver the State of the Union address on Tuesday, Feb. 24. 2. FOR YOUR RADAR: An Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer fatally shot a woman in Minneapolis today as Trump’s crackdown in Minnesota continues, ABC’s Jack Date and colleagues report. The shooting happened as ICE officers were conducting “targeted operations,” and a woman in a car who DHS said was “attempting to run over our law enforcement officers” was shot. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said he was aware of the incident and called on ICE to leave the city immediately. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz is gathering more information on the shooting as it develops. 3. THE LA FIRES, ONE YEAR IN: It’s been one year since the horrific wildfires that tore through L.A.’s Pacific Palisades and Altadena communities. And the failures to contain the fires last year are haunting the fire recovery agenda going into 2026, the LA Times writes. The community’s survivors are haunted by what-if’s, while the city is turning its focus beyond survival and toward rebuilding. But the political blame game continues: LAT’s Alene Tchekmedyian and Paul Pringle report that LA’s fire chief confirmed the after-action report on the fires had been edited to soften criticism of the fire department’s response. Indeed, one year in and accountability remains the top issue on everyone’s minds, POLITICO’s Liam Dillon writes. “The lack of clear answers has become a political liability for local elected officials, especially [Mayor Karen] Bass who is up for reelection this year and whose fire response is seen as her greatest vulnerability.” 4. FROM ZELENSKYY, WITH LOVE: Ukrainian negotiators and U.S. officials are homing in on the complicated issue of territory in today’s third round of peace talks in Paris, Reuters’ Dan Peleschuk and Yuliia Dysa report. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the group will discuss the fate of the contentious and Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, Europe’s largest nuclear facility, which has been a key sticking point. The officials will also discuss another possible meeting between Zelenskyy and Trump. That comes after Zelenskyy’s top adviser hailed yesterday’s talks as having “concrete results” on the land issue, per Reuters.
| | | | A message from United for Cures: The United States leads the world in lifesaving medical research, and Americans benefit from its advances daily. Diagnoses that were once death sentences are now treatable and even curable. And more progress comes every year. We can't lose our leadership now. Millions still need cures — which means they still need federally-funded medical research that leads to more treatments, more cures, and more lives saved. Support Cures. Increase federal funding for lifesaving medical research in FY26. | | | | 5. CUTTING DEEP: FEMA supervisors are warning staff that layoffs are coming: they’re preparing for 1,000 job cuts this month as part of DHS Secretary Kristi Noem’s overhaul of the agency, NYT’s Scott Dance scoops. The cuts will apply mostly to FEMA’s on-call contractors — or CORE workers — who have worked on disaster recovery across the U.S. “Emails sent to senior FEMA officials in recent weeks, and reviewed by The Times, show that as of the end of 2025, agency officials could no longer renew CORE workers’ employment without Ms. Noem’s approval.” 6. THE MAHA AGENDA: The Trump administration released new dietary guidelines today, encouraging Americans to eat more protein and less ultra-processed food in the latest MAHA push from the White House, POLITICO’s Ruth Reader and Marcia Brown report. HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. touted the new guidelines at the White House news conference, saying it “will revolutionize our nation’s food culture and make America healthy.” The vibe at the CDC: After the CDC announced sweeping changes to the childhood vaccination schedule this week, vaccine experts were stunned. The changes contradicted a presentation by career scientists on how the former vaccine policy was not an international outlier as Kennedy has claimed, WaPo’s Lena Sun writes. “That process to alter vaccine recommendations, they and several former health officials said, did not include extensive consultation with the agency’s subject matter experts or the CDC’s vaccine advisory panel that is usually done.” 7. AILING AMERICA: “America’s missing manufacturing renaissance,” by The Economist: “Overall production has flatlined for the best part of 20 years, even as services have ballooned … This, the president vowed, would change. The logic was simple: ‘If you want your tariff rate to be zero’, said Mr Trump, ‘build your product right here in America.’ … Nearly a year on, however, the Trumpian manufacturing renaissance is conspicuous by its absence. The two-year manufacturing contraction is now hitting its third, and factories have continued to shed jobs … And it is not just that Mr Trump’s moves are failing to revive American manufacturing. Under the hood, there are signs that they are actively hurting it.” 8. RULES FOR THEE: “Jeanine Pirro Is Investing In an E-Commerce Company Facing Legal Scrutiny,” by NOTUS’ Dave Levinthal: “About half the nation’s state attorneys general are pressuring online retail giant Shopify to curb ‘unlawful conduct’ and ‘pervasive illegality’ by e-cigarette sellers the company platforms. U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro appears to consider Shopify a buy. [Pirro] recently invested up to $15,000 of her own money in Shopify stock … It’s part of a flurry of stock trades Pirro has made during the five months since her Senate confirmation to one of the nation’s highest-profile prosecution posts.” A spokesperson for Pirro’s office said there are “no conflicts with any of the identified entities.” 9. LAND O’ LAKE: “Kari Lake buys Iowa condo as speculation swirls about her future,” by MS NOW’s Vaughn Hillyard and Soorin Kim: “Kari Lake, the State Department official who oversaw last year’s gutting of Voice of America after losing two separate bids for political office in Arizona, recently purchased a $60,000 condo in her home community of eastern Iowa. The property purchase comes after years of Lake flirting with GOP politics in the state and ahead of the potential retirement of longtime Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley.”
| | TALK OF THE TOWN | | WHAT TRUMP IS (APPARENTLY) WATCHING — The Baltimore Ravens fired head coach John Harbaugh after 18 seasons yesterday, news that rocked the DMV area just days after the Ravens narrowly missed the playoffs and capped off a disappointing season. Trump posted a ringing endorsement for Harbaugh, a Super Bowl winner who visited the White House with his brother Jim last year. “HIRE JOHN HARBAUGH, FAST,” Trump said on Truth Social today. “HE, AND HIS BROTHER, ARE TOTAL WINNERS!!!” DON’T BREATHE THE BALLROOM AIR — “Advocates sue Trump officials for answers on East Wing asbestos risks,” by WaPo’s Dan Diamond and Olivia George: “Public health advocates sued the Trump administration Wednesday to compel officials to disclose whether their rapid demolition of the White House’s East Wing annex exposed workers or the public to hazardous building materials. The Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization … is demanding that the White House explain whether it undertook asbestos inspections, air monitoring, waste disposal safeguards and other legally required steps as part of its demolition project.” PLAYBOOK METRO SECTION — “Why D.C.’s next council member will be chosen by lawmakers, not voters,” by WaPo’s Jenny Gathright: “The next new member of the D.C. Council won’t be elected by voters — but will instead be selected by the council itself as soon as this month … Council member Kenyan R. McDuffie (I-At Large) resigned from the council effective Monday to set up a mayoral run. D.C. law says it is up to the council to select an interim replacement … That has left council members to hash out a process among themselves — and opened the door to infighting.” MEDIAWATCH — “Warner Discovery Rejects Paramount’s Amended Hostile Bid,” by WSJ’s Joe Flint and Lauren Thomas: “Warner Bros. Discovery recommended its shareholders reject Paramount’s amended hostile bid for the company, saying its existing deal with Netflix is stronger. In a letter to shareholders made public on Wednesday, Warner said the amended Paramount offer wasn’t superior, ‘or even comparable,’ to the $72 billion Netflix deal for its movie and TV studios and the HBO Max streaming service.” MEDIA MOVES — Deadline’s co-editor-in-chief, Mike Fleming Jr., is transitioning to editor-at-large. Nellie Andreeva is taking over as the sole editor-in-chief. WELCOME TO THE WORLD — Cory Claussen, VP of federal affairs at FINRA, and Thomas Cluderay, general counsel at the National Wildlife Federation, welcomed Hannah Cluderay-Claussen on Dec. 21. Pic BONUS BIRTHDAY: Missy Deerin of Thorn Run Partners 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.
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