With help from Eli Okun, Ali Bianco, Irie Sentner and Makayla Gray Good Wednesday morning. This is Jack Blanchard, still chuckling at King Charles’ real estate gag at the White House banquet last night. What do you mean, too soon? In today’s Playbook … — Five things to watch as Pete Hegseth finally appears in Congress. — Why Zohran Mamdani doesn’t want a piece of the royal action. — The boldfaces: Jason Crow, Chris Deluzio, Mike Rogers, Kevin Warsh, Thom Tillis, Jerome Powell, Ron DeSantis, Todd Blanche, James Comey, Rory McIlroy and more.
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BACK TO REALITY: The glitzy royal sideshow departs D.C. today, and attention will turn back to war as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chair Dan Caine are set to make their first public appearance on the Hill this morning in many months. Five big themes will stand out: 1) THE DEPARTMENT OF WAR: Hegseth is both pugnacious and famously thin-skinned. He’s also a frequent sparring partner for Democrats, not least the two members of the committee — Reps. Jason Crow (Colo.) and Chris Deluzio (Pa.) — who he repeatedly attacked over the so-called “Seditious Six” video last year. Which means this hearing could get ugly. Think Pam Bondi at House Judiciary in February, but with a backdrop of war. From the horses’ mouths: “Pete Hegseth’s got a lot to answer to from this disastrous war,” Crow told Playbook’s Eli Okun. “How much is this costing? What's the end game?” Deluzio said Hegseth has been “dodging congressional questions about the Iran war since Day One.” 2) IRAN WILL DOMINATE: Hegseth and Caine have given press conferences and classified briefings since the war began — but today is the first time members have had the chance to grill them in public, and under oath. Expect questions about the U.S.-Israeli bombing campaigns’ effectiveness and its impact on America’s own weapons stockpile, following suggestions (via The Atlantic) that the Pentagon isn’t giving the full picture. And expect to hear plenty about the Strait of Hormuz, with WSJ reporting last night Trump decided to press ahead with a long-term blockade. And don’t forget: It’s been two full months since the notorious missile strike on an Iranian school that killed around 175 people, most of them children. Will the Pentagon chiefs provide an update in the investigation? 3) MORE HEAT THAN LIGHT: The truth is neither man is going to spill many secrets on America’s war strategy today, nor admit to many critical mistakes. Instead, expect bold claims and lavish praise about “warfighters” from one side, and headshaking and disbelief from the other. But we will hear lobbying from Hegseth about the need for a record-busting $1.5 trillion defense budget in fiscal 2027, up $500 billion from this year. GOP discussions will focus on the Golden Dome missile shield and new ship- and aircraft-building. Dems will want to talk about the costs, and Hegseth’s helicopter ride with Kid Rock. 4) PETE’S PEOPLE SKILLS: Does the rapid turnover of senior officials at Hegseth’s Pentagon tell us something about the way he operates? The latest to go — abruptly, and midway through a war — were long-serving Army Chief of Staff Randy George and Navy Secretary John Phelan. George’s firing upset Republicans and Democrats, and it’ll be no surprise if Hegseth is taken to task by both sides. Worth noting: House Armed Services Chair Mike Rogers (R-Ala.) was one of many top Republicans paying warm tribute to George after his sacking, hailing his “selfless service to America.” Let’s see if he presses Hegseth on the decision. 5) DON’T FORGET THE OTHER INCURSIONS: The deadly boat strikes in the Caribbean, the stunning extraction of Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro and the ongoing war in Ukraine are also likely to come up. And that’s before the Hegseth culture war controversies, including the removal of mandatory flu shots for military service personnel. It’s going to be a busy morning. And this is only part one: Both men are due before the Senate Armed Services Committee tomorrow.
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THE DOMESTIC IMPACT: For most Americans, the main concern from the war remains the effect on gas prices. (Check out these expected increases in the midwest.) And we’ll get some split-screen action in that regard today: Just as Hegseth is answering questions about the Strait of Hormuz in the House, the Senate Banking Committee will be voting to confirm Kevin Warsh, President Donald Trump’s Fed chair nominee. Warsh’s path to confirmation should be clear, with Sen. Thom Tillis on board after Trump’s Justice Department dropped its investigation of Fed Chair Jerome Powell. The expectation is Warsh’s nomination will make it out of committee on a party-line vote and be confirmed by the full Senate early next month. He should take up his new role on May 15. And it’s all downhill from there, POLITICO’s Victoria Guida writes this morning. The challenges will mount fast for Warsh. Top of mind will be the pressure he’ll instantly face from Trump to cut interest rates — but with an economic backdrop entirely different from when he came up for the job last fall. And that’s not all: “The Fed faces crucial dilemmas on everything from the war’s economic fallout to the potential tectonic effect that artificial intelligence will have on jobs,” Victoria writes. Warsh “is poised to be the one who will have to see them through.” Good luck! Gratefully waving adieu to all of that will be Powell, whose final interest rates decision as Fed chair will be announced this afternoon. Powell will hold the last of his press conferences at 2:30 p.m. What are the chances he goes full “YOLO” and tells us what he’s really thought about Trump this whole time? There’s more in today’s Playbook Podcast, where Jack and Megan Messerly discuss what they expect to hear from Hegseth … and highlights from last night’s royal state banquet.
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MAMDANI MEETS THE MONARCHS: King Charles III and Queen Camilla arrive in NYC today fresh off a White House state dinner fit for, well, royalty. But Mayor Zohran Mamdani is giving them a much cooler reception — bolstering his democratic socialist and anti-colonial bona fides by joining them briefly for a wreath laying at the 9/11 memorial, then blowing them off, POLITICO’s Joe Anuta reports this morning.
- Brits are meanwhile breathing a sigh of relief after Charles’ strikingly political speech to Congress — complete with pointed remarks about NATO, Ukraine and the need for checks and balances in American politics — was endorsed by Trump. It was a “fantastic speech,” Trump told guests at last night’s state dinner, joking: “He got the Democrats to stand. I’ve never been able to do that.” Read POLITICO’s Annabelle Dickson on all the hidden messages in Charles’ address.
HELL ON THE HILL: It’s another busy day for Speaker Mike Johnson. We’ll find out if he can “cross off something — anything — from his long to-do list this week,” POLITICO’s Inside Congress team writes. “The House meets this morning to vote on a procedural step to advance three legislative priorities: government spy powers that expire Thursday, the farm bill, and a budget resolution for immigration enforcement funding.”
- How it’s setting up: Despite the weekslong standoff over how to proceed on all three priorities, House GOP leadership doesn’t appear to have the votes to advance anything. And some House and Senate Republicans want Trump to get involved to break the stalemates, POLITICO’s Jordain Carney, Meredith Lee Hill and Myah Ward report.
ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER: In the latest front on the redistricting wars, Florida GOP Gov. Ron DeSantis’ gerrymandered map advanced yesterday in the state’s Republican-controlled legislature — but not without some defections from DeSantis’ own party stemming from questions over its legality, reports POLITICO’s Gary Fineout and Kylie Williams.
- The latest state of play: The Florida House expects to spend “only a couple of hours” on the map today before heading home, Gary tells us. As of last night, the expectation was the state Senate’s final vote would come Thursday — though that could change.
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1. SCOTUS WATCH: The Supreme Court today will hear oral arguments in a blockbuster immigration case over whether the Trump administration can strip Temporary Protected Status from Haitian and Syrian nationals.
- But but but: TPS holders are unlikely to be deported en masse even if the high court rules against them, although they would lose their work authorization, POLITICO’s legal ace Josh Gerstein writes in. Many have applied for other protections like asylum or green cards through marriage. And its ultimate ruling in June is unlikely to address another issue raised in many of the cases: whether Kristi Noem’s decisions to terminate these programs were unconstitutional because they were imbued with racial discrimination.
2. CARTE BLANCHE: James Comey’s indictment is the latest Trump-pleasing move from acting AG Todd Blanche. Comey was charged over the photo he posted on social media spelling out “86 47” using seashells — which the DOJ argues was a threat on the 47th president’s life, CNN scooped. The attempt comes after a federal judge threw out a previous case it brought against Comey in November.
- Blanche’s job application: Blanche has certainly come storming out of the gate in the acting AG role and is winning the enthusiasm of many MAGA types, Josh writes in. In less than a month on the job, he’s launched a prosecution of the Southern Poverty Law Center, indicted a former aide to Anthony Fauci and brought fresh charges against Comey. But it’s unclear whether the sugar high of the recent indictments can be sustained — or whether Trump will sour on Blanche if the cases ultimately go off the rails, as did the earlier prosecutions of Comey and New York AG Letitia James.
3. TEXAS TWO-STEP: Two Texas Democrats in the 33rd Congressional District — Colin Allred and Julie Johnson — are fighting for political survival after the state’s GOP legislature redrew its congressional maps, forcing them into a head-to-head primary runoff, POLITICO’s Samuel Benson reports. 4. IMMIGRATION FILES: The Trump administration is stepping up its security screening process for visa, asylum and citizenship applicants — and pausing some cases while the changes are implemented, CBS scoops. 5. CHECKMATE: Former Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) may be entering hospice care — but he told POLITICO’s Jasper Goodman he has one last move up his sleeve: A book bashing members of his own party, which he says has been overtaken by the left’s “agenda that goes beyond what’s politically acceptable.”
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HOTTEST (MAGA) TICKET IN TOWN — It was an exclusive bunch at last night’s royal state dinner, most all of whom have Trump ties. All six conservative Supreme Court justices attended, as well as no fewer than six Fox News hosts — Bret Baier, Maria Bartiromo, Ainsley Earhardt, Greg Gutfeld, Laura Ingraham, Jesse Watters and Lara Trump, the president’s daughter-in-law, along with Fox News CEO Suzanne Scott. Also spotted: Tim Cook, David Ellison, Robert Kraft, Rory McIlroy and more. The NYT has the full list For those interested: The royal guests dined on spring herb ravioli with ricotta and morels, followed by dover sole meunière in a “nutty brown butter” served with layered potatoes pavé. (NOT) A POOL PARTY — “Trump’s reflecting pool spruce-up fails to charm preservationists,” by POLITICO’s E&E News’ Heather Richards and Rylan DiGiacomo-Rapp: “The move has drawn critical reactions from historic preservation experts, who question both the aesthetic choice and the administration’s penchant for bypassing federal laws and procedures that are intended to preserve the look of the nation’s capital.” IN MEMORIAM — Asal Sayas, who worked on former President Joe Biden’s Cancer Moonshot Initiative and was an Amy Klobuchar and Andre Carson alum, died on Tuesday, April 21, after a six-year battle with young-onset colorectal cancer. She was 42 years old. Read the obituary TRANSITIONS — Nick Elliott is joining CampaignHQ as VP of strategic growth. He most recently worked at L2 and is a RumbleUp alum. … Robert Puentes has been named the next president and CEO of the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy. He previously worked at the Brookings Institution. ENGAGED — Thomas Hochman, director of energy and infrastructure policy at the Foundation for American Innovation, and Katherine Hall, a research assistant at Paragon Health Institute, got engaged last week. They met at a “Barbienheimer” themed party in D.C. the weekend the movies came out. WEEKEND WEDDING — Gates McGavick, who most recently worked in communications at the Justice Department, and Jacki Kotkiewicz, policy comms director at the White House, got married on Saturday in Naples, Florida. The couple met at the RNC. Pic ... Another pic … SPOTTED: Natalie Baldassarre, Charlie Homan, Johanna Persing, Danielle Avarez, Zach Parkinson, Jake Schneider, Kiersten Pels, Chad Gilmartin, Matt Middleton, Mike Joyce, Emma Hall, Nick Ballas, Robert Schultz, Catharine Cypher, Jaxon Croy, Patrick McManus, Victoria LaCivita, Chris Gustafson, Kevin Cline and Abby Salter. WELCOME TO THE WORLD — Jack Little, a policy adviser at the National Energy Dominance Council at the White House, and Maggie Little, a journalist for the Herzog Foundation’s The Lion, welcomed William Little on April 14. Pic … Another pic OUT AND ABOUT — The Responsible Battery Coalition hosted a reception honoring the U.S. Export-Import Bank at the Kennedy Center yesterday night. SPOTTED: John Jovanovic, Ben Black, CMS Administrator Mehmet Oz, José Cunningham, William Kimmitt, Michael DeSantis, Jay Shidler, David Copley, Leland Smith, Courtney Krupp, Victoria Coleman, Alyssa Pettus, Kevin Taheri, Thad Brock, Brian Greeley, Kaily Grabemann, Grace Owens, Andy Eich, Katherine Kurata, Lucy Sadler, Andrew Blackwell, Charles Morrison, Adam Muellerweiss, Steve Christensen, John Kyte, Larry Keith, Kim Medford, Elizabeth Tate, John Gazzini, Reed Brown, Micah Mahnke and Kathie Campbell. HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Reps. Steven Horsford (D-Nev.) and Joe Morelle (D-N.Y.) … NBC’s Hallie Jackson … Lynne Weil of Perceptual Advisors and Citrus Strategies … Vincent Evans of the Congressional Black Caucus … Peter Kiley of C-SPAN … Akin Gump’s Ed Pagano … Anne Brachman of the Smithsonian Institution … Allison Zelman … Emily Graeter … Gentry Collins … Nadeam Elshami of Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck … Quinn Bradlee … Melody Barnes … Ari Isaacman D’Angelo … Richard Goodstein … David Gaidamak ... WaPo’s Melina Mara ... Geng Ngarmboonanant … Rob Bassin … Bracewell’s Scott Segal … Cara Morris Stern … former Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) … former Reps. Jim Ryun (R-Kan.), Mo Brooks (R-Ala.) and Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-N.J.) … Geoff Earle of the N.Y. Post … Matt Frendewey … Jasleen Vig of Rep. Ilhan Omar’s (D-Minn.) office … Nolen Bivens … Graham Griffin … Natalie Hartman of Capitol Point Group … Holly Morris … Rick Rosen … Dan Bayens of Content Creative Media and Medium Buying … Stef Webb of the National Association of Manufacturers 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. |
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