| | | |  | | By Jack Blanchard with Dasha Burns | | Presented by |  | | | With help from Eli Okun, Ali Bianco, Irie Sentner and Makayla Gray On today’s Playbook Podcast: Jack and Megan Messerly discuss the holy trinity of war, peace and Marjorie Taylor Greene.
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| Good Thursday morning. This is Jack Blanchard. Get in touch. TUNE IN THIS MORNING: POLITICO’s 2026 Governors Summit kicks off at 9 a.m. and will feature can’t-miss conversations with big hitters, including Maryland’s Wes Moore, Utah’s Spencer Cox, Ohio’s Mike DeWine, North Dakota’s Kelly Armstrong, Colorado’s Jared Polis and Oklahoma’s Kevin Stitt — as well as former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan and former DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano.Register here to attend or watch the livestream Moore seems to be everywhere this week, which has Playbook’s 2028-Watch spidey sense tingling … despite his repeated insistence that he’s not running for president. His ambitious Kentucky counterpart Andy Beshear all but gave the game away yesterday by announcing a book coming out later this year — just like (deep breath) Kamala Harris, Gavin Newsom, Josh Shapiro, Cory Booker, Chris Murphy and Raphael Warnock. How much longer can Pete Buttigieg hold out? Speaking of Beshear: The Kentucky governor will be speaking at the Center for American Progress this morning, vowing to reclaim the religious mantle from the right. “Christianity is being hijacked by those celebrating ICE raids, undercutting diversity, cutting SNAP and rural health care, and bullying and demonizing our LGTBQ community in order to win elections,” Beshear will say, per remarks shared in advance with Playbook. “Faith is being used to justify doing harm when it should be used to be doing good. And we should be calling this out and reclaiming it as a force for kindness.” In today’s Playbook … — Trump gathers his Board of Peace … to the drumbeat of war. — The president returns to the campaign trail with a stop in Georgia. — And does Stephen Miller secretly love the Deep State? Read on.
|  | DRIVING THE DAY | | THE DUALITY OF MAN: Donald Trump convenes his Gaza “Board of Peace” for the first time in D.C. this morning — as a massive U.S. war machine takes shape in the Middle East. There are layers of irony here. First — where better to host a peace summit than the “Donald J. Trump U.S. Institute for Peace,” a building forcibly seized by the administration and renamed in the president’s honor following a bitter power struggle last year? (A federal judge deemed the takeover illegal, though that ruling was stayed pending appeal.) Layer two: Trump’s comrades on the Board of Peace are not the great Western democracies who normally form a united front when the U.S. makes a diplomatic push. Traditional allies like Britain, Canada, Australia and Japan haven’t signed up. EU big hitters like France, Germany and Italy are all out too. The only EU nations attending as actual board members will be Hungary and Bulgaria, two fringe (and in Hungary’s case, pro-Russian) outliers on Europe’s eastern tip. Pope Leo XIV also said no. Which means the lineup will be largely as it was at the formation ceremony in Davos last month — a “Board of Peace” that includes few traditional allies but plenty of autocracies, dictatorships and nations accused of human rights abuses. (An invitation to Russian President Vladimir Putin is still on the table.) The broader list of attendees put out by the White House looks extensive, but includes lots of nations attending purely as observers — often at ambassador level. AND THAT’S STILL JUST THE SMALL STUFF: Because the real backdrop is the growing drumbeat of war. As Playbook wrote on Tuesday morning, Iran is shaping up to be the story that dominates the coming weeks. U.S. officials yesterday confirmed to multiple outlets that when the USS Gerald R. Ford — the largest warship ever built — joins America’s existing Middle East fleet in the coming days, the U.S. will be ready to strike if Trump gives the order. Now ask yourself this: Has America ever built up a military force like this and not done something? Has anyone? Because it’s not just a second aircraft carrier. “The number of fighter planes, aerial refuelers and surveillance planes that have arrived over the past three to four days is immense,” POLITICO’s Pentagon reporter Paul McLeary emails in. “Dozens of F-35s, F-16s and F-15Es have moved from the U.S. to the Middle East and the U.K. Several F-22s used in Venezuela last month have also been moved to the U.K., putting them in range for strikes inside Iran. We also sent RC-135 Rivet Joint intelligence aircraft, E-3 Sentry Airborne Early Warning and Control systems and E-11 Battlefield Airborne Communications Node aircraft. It's staggering.” Read the runes: The WSJ frames it as the biggest air-power military buildup in the Middle East since Iraq in 2003, which gives you an indication of the scale of what could come.
| | | | A message from American Beverage: No spin. No judgments. Just the facts from the experts.
When it's time to decide what goes on your table, you know facts are the first ingredient. That's why America's beverage companies are sharing clear information about the ingredients in our beverages at GoodToKnowFacts.org.
For over 140 ingredients, you can find common uses, alternative names and safety assessments from food safety authorities at GoodToKnowFacts.org. | | | | Trump has plenty of options. His preference in the military theater thus far has been for short, sharp, bold strikes. The bombing mission in Iran last summer and the extraction of Nicolás Maduro from Venezuela last month were both wrapped up in a few short hours. Trump could try something similar to show Iran he’s serious when they return to the negotiating table. But but but: The NYT hears a whiff of something longer, likely lasting several days. “In Israel, two defense officials said that significant preparations were underway for the possibility of a joint strike with the United States, even though no decision has been made about whether to carry out such an attack. They said the planning envisions delivering a severe blow over a number of days with the goal of forcing Iran into concessions at the negotiating table.” And how about something even bigger than that? “Plans have been made for a long campaign, per one U.S. official,” Paul tells Playbook, “but I don't think a final decision has been made.” However: “Moving this much equipment with aircrews, maintainers and spare parts etc. would indicate that only a major agreement would stop it. This already has a huge price tag.” The WSJ maps out three possible aims for military action. “To halt Iran’s already-battered nuclear program, wipe out its missile force or try to topple the regime.” It’s hard to see how the final option could be achieved by air power alone — or who exactly would be expected to take control in the aftermath. But naturally, the mere mention of a “regime change” war in the Middle East has Trump’s critics invoking Iraq. The ructions in MAGA world could be significant, given Trump’s past comments on forever wars. Meanwhile on the Hill. Declarations of war are, of course, a matter for Congress, where plenty of members still feel blindsided by this rapid escalation. Trump’s Epstein bêtes noires — Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) — will put forward a war powers resolution next week to try and force a vote on staying the president’s hand, Khanna announced last night. Expectations are high that we could also get the Supreme Court ruling on tariffs either tomorrow or early next week — potentially crippling Trump’s signature economic policy and the cornerstone of many of his international relationships. And then there’s the small matter of Trump’s first State of the Union speech since returning to office on Tuesday night. Gaza talks are meant to be the focus of this morning’s event. The ceasefire remains a genuine diplomatic achievement for Trump, rocky though the past few months have been — and the president says more than $5 billion and thousands of peacekeeping troops will be pledged by regional powers today. Binding large, majority-Muslim nations like Indonesia, Saudi Arabia and Turkey to a long-term reconstruction and peacekeeping plan would be quite something, if it actually happens. But of course: It’s far from clear how realistic Trump’s vision for postwar Gaza actually is. The presentation given by Jared Kushner in Davos last month was big on shiny tower blocks and glitzy high-rise tourism — but short on detail regarding the complex political and socio-economic problems Gaza faces. So the underlying question remains: Will any of this actually work? Finally: The domestic politics of today’s event are also tricky for Trump, given the criticism he’s received for appearing too focused on foreign affairs. The White House has quietly tried to change the optics since the turn of the year, keeping all visits from overseas politicians behind closed doors … until today. It’s no surprise to learn aides will whisk the president away after this morning’s event, and get him out on the campaign trail.
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America's beverage companies are making it easier than ever to find clear information about the ingredients in your favorite beverages. Learn more at GoodToKnowFacts.org. | | | | IT’S THE AFFORDABILITY, STUPID WHEN IN ROME: Which brings us to … Rome, Georgia, where Trump this afternoon will visit a steel facility and local business on the latest leg of his “affordability tour.” Rome is located in the heart of Marjorie Taylor Greene’s former district — an industrialized seat of Floyd County. Trump’s main event at the Coosa Steel Corporation is open to ticketed attendees, but there’s one prominent Rome denizen who won’t be there: MTG herself. A person familiar tells Playbook she’s expected to be out of state all day. The race to replace Greene will be one component to watch. Trump already endorsed Republican Clay Fuller two weeks ago in the crowded special congressional election. But the president stirred up confusion this week when he told reporters: “I have to choose one, and they say whoever I endorse is going to win, but we have a lot of good candidates.” Perhaps we’ll get some clarity today. The bigger picture, of course, is that Trump — or at least his team of political advisers — is struggling to refocus attention on domestic issues, with the economy top of mind. Trump will arrive with a new $600 million industrial diamonds plant in Georgia, funded by Japan, to celebrate — another move to shift supply chains away from China. And he’ll have plenty to say about the recent positive run of macro economic news. Trump’s agenda includes a local business stop at 1:50 p.m., a podcast interview at 2:30 p.m., a factory tour at 3:30 p.m. and the speech itself at 4 p.m. Eastern. The view from the 14th District: Trump will address a region whose fortunes reflect the mixed — and sometimes contradictory — bag that is the national economy in 2026. By some measures, business remains strong; the local chamber of commerce undertook more than 60 ribbon-cuttings last year. “We watch the national news just like everyone else and we start getting concerned about cost of living,” chamber president Pam Powers-Smith told Playbook, but “when we get up in the morning and drive to work, we see our businesses thriving.” But affordability remains a major challenge, especially for the area’s low-income residents. “It’s a lot of need,” said Bobbie Jean Daniel, who coordinates the food pantry at the Metropolitan Methodist Church of Rome. She’s loosened restrictions on how often people can get food at the pantry: “These people are coming in telling us that they’re not being able to buy groceries,” Daniel said. And “it has gotten worse.” An hour away in Dalton, high costs are showing up in a different way at the DEO Clinic, which provides health care to uninsured patients. Though it’s still early in the year, “we have spoken with several individuals who want to become patients here who told us that they lost their [enhanced Obamacare] subsidy,” director Heather Donahue told Playbook, “and that’s why they’re coming to us.”
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➡️ Subscribe Now | | | | | TRAIL MIX PRIMARY COLORS: The Democratic Majority for Israel PAC is backing 11 pro-Israel Democrats running for the House, from safe seats to swing seats, POLITICO’s Elena Schneider scoops this morning. The list includes Shannon Bird, Cait Conley, Johnny Garcia and Jen Kiggans. ENDORSEMENT WATCH: Rep. Summer Lee (D-Pa.) is endorsing Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan’s three-way Democratic Senate primary, giving him more backing from members of Congress than any other candidate in the race, Playbook’s Adam Wren reports. “Too many in Washington want to tell us what we can’t have or shouldn’t fight for. Not Abdul,” Lee said in a statement. MORE BITS AND BOBS: Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) landed the backing of Sen. Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), the first senator to endorse her Senate bid. … Colorado Draws the Line, a group pushing for a Democratic gerrymander in the state, has pulled in $700,000. … An internal poll for Nebraska independent Senate candidate Dan Osborn shows him trailing GOP Sen. Pete Ricketts by just 1 point, per the Omaha World Herald. BIG MONEY: Is this what the future of campaign spending will look like? Meta plans to drop a whopping $65 million to bolster pro-AI candidates in both parties at the state level this year, starting with Texas Republicans and Illinois Democrats, NYT’s Teddy Schleifer and Matt Zdun report. The goal is to fend off strict regulation of artificial intelligence. THE BATTLE FOR THE BALLOT: ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations has stepped up an initiative to root out instances of naturalized citizens who voted before they became citizens, NYT’s Glenn Thrush and colleagues scooped. It’s “part of an extraordinary all-fronts effort to insert federal law enforcement into the machinery of American elections.” And in the Sunshine State: While Congress debates the SAVE America Act, Florida Republicans are charging forward on sweeping new voting restrictions, POLITICO’s Gary Fineout reports from Tallahassee. The legislation could include new proof-of-citizenship requirements, an end to recounts and changes that might undermine thousands’ eligibility.
| | | | A message from American Beverage:  
America's beverage companies are sharing clear info on beverage ingredients at GoodToKnowFacts.org. | | | | BEST OF THE REST BREAKING THIS MORNING: “Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor arrested and in custody on suspicion of misconduct in public office,” by BBC: “It comes after Thames Valley Police said they were assessing a complaint over the alleged sharing of confidential material by the former prince with late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Andrew, who turns 66 today, has consistently and strenuously denied any wrongdoing.” DOES STEPHEN MILLER ❤️ THE DEEP STATE? “Some of Donald Trump’s biggest loyalists in Congress are itching to rein in federal surveillance powers,” POLITICO’s Jordain Carney and colleagues reveal this morning. But “so far his administration isn’t biting. Instead, the White House is quietly pushing for a key spy authority [FISA Section 702] to be extended as is, into 2027.” And guess what? “Stephen Miller, the influential senior White House domestic policy adviser, is a leading advocate.” BILL OF HEALTH: In another big public-health shakeup, NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya will add acting CDC director to his job duties, NYT’s Sheryl Gay Stolberg scooped — despite the fact that each is a massive job and the agencies are several hundred miles apart. MERCURY RISING: The EPA tomorrow will unveil its latest move to slash climate regulations — giving coal plants more leeway to put mercury and other pollutants in the air, NYT’s Lisa Friedman and Maxine Joselow report. Meanwhile, California sued over Trump’s cuts to billions of dollars in clean energy funding, per the LA Times’ Hayley Smith. VOICE OF AMERICA, RUBIO-STYLE: “US plans online portal to bypass content bans in Europe and elsewhere,” by Reuters’ Simon Lewis and colleagues: “The U.S. State Department is developing an online portal that will enable people in Europe and elsewhere to see content banned by their governments including alleged hate speech and terrorist propaganda, a move Washington views as a way to counter censorship.” CARR CRASHES OUT: FCC Chair Brendan Carr slammed Stephen Colbert’s and Texas state Rep. James Talarico’s claims that the administration censored their interview. “You had a Democrat candidate who understood the way the news media works and he took advantage of all the viewers’ prior conceptions to run a hoax,” Carr said. He added that the “equal time” rule for political candidates’ appearances should generally apply to most talk shows. The upshot: “Say goodbye to most appearances by political candidates on daytime and late night talk shows,” The Hollywood Reporter’s Winston Cho writes.
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➡️ Get on the Invite List | | | | | | | TALK OF THE TOWN | | SPOTTED: Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and California Gov. Gavin Newsom together at the San Francisco Fairmont lobby restaurant. … Liz Truss at the Farragut Square Tatte. Pic POOP IN THE POTOMAC: Trump turned to toilet talk this week in his feud with Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, with the president blaming the rising Democratic star for a disastrous sewage spill in the Potomac River. But Trump, who now worries the spill could foul the air during his July 4 celebration of America’s 250th birthday, actually has a history of fixation with sewage pollution problems, POLITICO’s Miranda Willson and Annie Snider report. PLAYBOOK REAL ESTATE CORNER: “Donald Trump Jr. and Kimberly Guilfoyle are quietly shopping the Florida home they shared for $30M,” by NY Post’s Jennifer Gould: The mansion is “not far from Mar-a-Lago — just a 30-minute drive away. And it’s even closer to Trump National Golf Club.” HAPPENING TODAY: Jurors are set to begin deliberations in the federal tax evasion case against prominent attorney and SCOTUSBlog co-founder Thomas Goldstein, per AP’s Michael Kunzelman. Arguments wrapped up yesterday in Greenbelt, Maryland, where the witnesses included Tobey Maguire. A federal prosecutor called Goldstein a “willful tax cheat” who skirted taxes on his massive gambling habit; the defense insisted on his innocence and said he didn’t intend to break the law. AND THE AWARD GOES TO: Among the winners of this year’s George Polk Awards, one of American journalism’s highest honors, were stories from: ProPublica on how dismantling USAID created mass suffering among the world’s most vulnerable people; NYT on the Trump White House’s expansion of presidential power; the Boston Globe on Rumeysa Öztürk’s detention; Stat on chaos at the FDA and in scientific research funding; ProPublica/The New Yorker on OMB Director Russ Vought; The Atlantic on Kilmar Abrego Garcia; and CBS’ “60 Minutes” on Venezuelans deported to CECOT. See all the winners — and read/watch their work BONO WEIGHS IN: U2 put out a new song, “American Obituary,” that mourns the killing of Renee Good in Minneapolis, as part of a surprise EP yesterday. “America will rise against the people of the lie,” the band sings. More from NBC TRAGIC NEWS: “Colleagues Remember Hope Cartwright, a Virginia Journalist Who Was Killed in Richmond This Week,” by Washingtonian’s Andrew Beaujon: “Cartwright, 23, worked at Washingtonian before she joined Virginia Living magazine. ‘Everything she touched was superior,’ her editor there says.” FIRST IN PLAYBOOK — Democracy Forward is adding Lara Finkbeiner as deputy managing attorney (previously at the International Refugee Assistance Project) and Sean Ouellette as senior counsel (previously at Public Justice). It is also launching a new project, Red Line for Civil Rights, to cover changes at the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. Regan Rush and Megan Marks are joining as director/editor-in-chief and deputy director/managing editor, respectively. Both previously worked in the division at DOJ. MEDIA MOVES — Jacob Bogage is joining Reuters to cover the White House and economic policy. He previously worked at WaPo. … Ian Prasad Philbrick is joining Slate as a politics writer. He previously worked at the Boston Globe and is a NYT alum. TRANSITIONS — Ben Rodriguez is joining Gozzo Strategy & Campaigns as a consultant. He previously was chief of staff for Rep. Adam Gray (D-Calif.). … David Bell is now president of the American Truck Dealers, a division of the National Automobile Dealers Association. He previously worked at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. … … Austen Jensen will join Best Buy as VP of federal affairs to lead its D.C. office, replacing Parker Brugge, who will retire in June after 16 years at the company. Jensen is joining from the Retail Industry Leaders Association. … Benjamin Haas is now VP of government affairs at the Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International. He is a former chief of staff at Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security. ENGAGED — Anna Laudiero, a senior booker at Newsmax, and Andrew Snell got engaged in Arlington on Tuesday evening. HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Gary Andres … Andrew Ross Sorkin … John Gentzel … Justin Rouse … Stewart McLaurin of the White House Historical Association … Tamara Hinton … Olga Ramirez Kornacki … Judy Kurtz … Sean Conner of Lowe’s … Tucker Warren … POLITICO’s Eric Walters … Stripe’s Noah Deich … Nick Solheim … Sarah Stillman … Capital One’s Joe Vidulich … Chase Kroll … AEI’s Jason Bertsch ... Kaitlyn Martin … Labor Department’s Hunter Lovell … Jill Lawrence … former Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.) … Alexis Covey-Brandt … Bryce Taylor Rudow … Daria Dieguts Maitland … Alicia Rose … Guneev Sharma of the CFP Board … Kevin Bishop … John J. Miller … Andy Abboud of the Las Vegas Sands Corp. 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 Giuseppe Macri and deputy editor Garrett Ross. Correction: Yesterday’s Playbook misstated James Talarico's title. He is a Texas state representative.
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