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By Adam Wren with Dasha Burns |
Presented by |
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With help from Eli Okun, Ali Bianco, Irie Sentner and Makayla Gray Happy Friday, this is Adam Wren. We made it through another monumental week. Get in touch. In today’s Playbook … — What is the White House’s midterm message? Does it even have one? — Barack Obama takes some heat in wine country. — The Boldfaces: Tom Barrett, Lisa McClain, John McLaughlin, Jamieson Greer, Leon Panetta, Pete Hegseth, Tom Steyer, James Comey, Kash Patel and more.
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DRIVING THE DAY |
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The White House is riding a high this week after President Donald Trump's retribution campaign in Indiana gave red-state lawmakers a bloody reminder of his iron grip on the party. But Republicans are publicly and privately fretting about their case for keeping power in November. That’s raising questions like: Has traditional battleground barnstorming by the president been replaced by backroom arm-twisting for more favorable maps? And perhaps more urgently: What is the White House’s midterm message? Does it even have one? “No,” said Jason Roe, the GOP strategist and former executive director of the Michigan GOP. Roe is advising candidates like Rep. Tom Barrett, one of the most vulnerable Republicans on the map running in Michigan’s 7th Congressional District. “I think everyone is struggling to find a message, because our political fortunes are tied to what's happening in Iran, and until that is resolved, there's not really any message that's going to penetrate the electorate,” Roe said. David Kochel, an adviser to several presidential campaigns in Iowa, said the White House’s political minds know what the message should be. “The problem is there are a lot of other things that get in the way of that message,” he said. “It could be redistricting, it could be Iran, it could be intraparty infighting. … The question is, can we get the principals to be disciplined on talking about affordability and talking about ensuring the strongest economy for voters that they possibly can?” For as much as Trump appears focused at times on keeping the House and fending off a third impeachment and wave of subpoenas, it’s less clear how he plans to win that case outright at the ballot box. While he’s made a handful of trips to get in front of voters, including to Las Vegas last month to play up his “no tax on tips” policy, such trips appear to have fallen off the schedule as the president’s attention shifts elsewhere. “I think we always need to make sure that we play offense on the messaging,” said House GOP Conference Chair Lisa McClain (R-Mich.), who pitched a midterm messaging memo to her colleagues last month around four main policy areas: Border security; energy independence; eliminating waste, fraud, and abuse; and tax relief for working families. So far, those messages haven’t been emanating from the White House. “I think the messaging has to catch up with their actual success,” longtime Trump pollster John McLaughlin said. “They’re in the process of that. I think that will make a big difference between now and the midterms.” The president and his congressional allies could be talking up the White House’s “Great Healthcare Plan” or leaning into the Working Families Tax Cuts. Americans for Health Excellence, which released a poll touting political benefits of various healthcare reforms, is up on air this morning in D.C. on Fox News with an ad using Iran as the hook to encourage Trump to tackle so-called “foreign freeloading” of pharmaceuticals. The issue could play in the midterms. But much of the president’s focus in recent weeks has centered on the war, the Strait of Hormuz and the White House ballroom. So what does the White House say? “The message is simple: if Republicans hold Congress and keep delivering on President Trump’s agenda, American families will have more money in their pockets, secure borders, lower prescription drug prices, better economic growth, and energy dominance,” White House spokesperson Kush Desai told Playbook. But there’s simpler framing White House and allies are falling in behind: Democrats are worse. “The Democrats are woke, weak, and way too liberal,” a Republican close to the White House told Playbook. “We’ll make sure every voter in America remembers that.” This person denied the White House search for a message. “Contrast is necessary,” they said. “The Democrats aren’t popular. They have no vision or agenda. We have to highlight that. And it will be contrasted with things we have accomplished, and things we are aiming to still accomplish and need a Republican majority for.” On today’s Playbook Podcast: Adam and Megan Messerly discuss Republicans’ midterm messaging confusion and the tension between immigration hard-liners and the White House.
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A message from The Alzheimer's Association: A simple blood test can detect Alzheimer’s before symptoms appear, enabling significantly more effective treatment. The bipartisan Alzheimer’s Screening and Prevention (ASAP) Act ensures people benefit from this scientific milestone. Congress has acted to allow Medicare coverage for mammograms and other pivotal screening tests. Now Congress has the same generational opportunity to redefine Alzheimer’s care: Unlock early detection to enable early treatment. Congress must pass the ASAP Act. |
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THE DOWNLOAD |
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TRUMP TO THE ROSE GARDEN: Trump will deliver remarks at noon in the Rose Garden with the Iran war surely top of mind. The president is chasing a deal to end the conflict and reopen the strait — but the picture was complicated yesterday after U.S. and Iranian forces exchanged strikes both on land and sea in what Trump referred to as a “love tap.” POLITICO’s Aaron Pellish has more IT’S THE ECONOMY, STUPID: The Bureau of Labor Statistics releases the April jobs report today, offering an early indicator of the war’s impact on the economy. (The stats won’t reflect the shuttering of Spirit Airlines last weekend, which the company estimates led to about 17,000 direct and indirect job losses.) ROSY OUTLOOK: The GOP faces major headwinds in keeping the House, but the NRCC insists it’s still on offense. New polling from the group shows Republicans are well-positioned in five Democratic-held battleground districts Trump won in 2024, POLITICO’s Andrew Howard reports: ME-02, WA-03, TX-34, NM-02 and NC-01.
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A message from The Alzheimer's Association:  
More than 9 in 10 Americans say they would want a simple test for Alzheimer’s. Learn more. |
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THE FRONT PAGE |
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REVERSE/REVERSE: The White House is distancing itself from policies targeting more AI regulation amid industry pushback, POLITICO’s John Sakellariadis and colleagues report. The turn comes after POLITICO reported the White House was considering a vetting regime to examine national security risks. BEGGERS CAN’T BE CHOOSERS: Congressional Republicans are clashing over policy wish lists as they aim to boost affordability messaging ahead of a dire-looking midterm cycle, POLITICO’s Meredith Lee Hill, Mia McCarthy and Jennifer Scholtes report. Differing perspectives and a dwindling timeline threaten progress ahead of campaign season. ON NEWSSTANDS NOW: POLITICO Magazine is out today with a package of stories including a must-read profile by Daniel Desrochers of USTR Jamieson Greer, the man tasked with saving Trump’s tariffs after the Supreme Court struck them down. More in the Mag:
LISTEN TO THIS: Leon Panetta joins Dasha for this week’s episode of “The Conversation,” where he discusses Pete Hegseth’s tenure, the war, what former President Joe Biden should’ve done to help Ukraine and more.
- On Hegseth: “Every time you use that kind of language, whether the president is threatening to wipe out their civilization or the other day he said we're gonna blow the hell out of them — I mean, that kind of language, frankly, nobody listens to anymore because it’s not real.” Listen and subscribe on Apple or Spotify
- And we want to hear from you: “The Conversation” is almost one year old! To celebrate, Dasha wants to answer your questions: What do you want to know about the show, how it comes together or covering politics right now? Text or leave a voicemail at 202-643-1536 for a chance to be featured on the show.
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POLITICO Security Summit On May 12, POLITICO's Security Summit will convene administration officials, policymakers and industry leaders for urgent conversations on the most pressing issues in defense and cybersecurity – including global defense cooperation, intelligence sharing, investments in new weapons systems, defense tech, and more. Register to attend. |
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5 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW |
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1. CLEANUP ON AISLE 1600: Top Trump administration officials are on a messaging blitz to beat back criticism from the MAGA base that the White House has gone soft on Trump’s mass deportation promises, POLITICO’s Myah Ward, Eric Bazail-Eimil and Megan Messerly report. Core GOP hard-liners warn backing down could alienate MAGA voters ahead of midterms. 2. STEY’S TIES: Tom Steyer is Silicon Valley’s most outspoken critic in the race for California governor. But as POLITICO’s Tyler Katzenberger and Chase DiFeliciantonio report, some industry watchdogs are questioning whether Steyer’s relationship with his brother Jim and ties to tech giants may sway his approach to regulation. 3. BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD: A federal trade court ruled Trump’s justification to impose a 10 percent global tariff after the Supreme Court struck down his tariff authority is illegal, POLITICO’s Ari Hawkins reports. It didn’t issue nationwide relief for importers, but the ruling set a precedent that companies can point to in any legal effort to avoid paying the tariffs. 4. FOR YOUR RADAR: Former FBI Director James Comey asked to cancel an upcoming court appearance in North Carolina because he already surrendered in his home state of Virginia, AP reports. The DOJ supports the request. 5. STRAP IN: FBI Director Kash Patel is cracking down on leakers by avoiding some senior staffers and ordering more than two dozen of his current and former employees to take polygraphs, MS NOW’s Carol Leonnig and Ken Dilanian scoop.
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THE WEEKEND AHEAD FRIDAY PROGRAMS … POLITICO “The Conversation”: Leon Panetta. C-SPAN “Ceasefire”: Tom Daschle and Roy Blunt … Faiz Shakir and Ron Bonjean. PBS “Washington Week”: Peter Baker, Jonathan Lemire, Amna Nawaz and Vivian Salama. SUNDAY SO FAR … NBC “Meet the Press”: Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) … Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders (R-Ark.) … Gov. Wes Moore (D-Md.) … Olivia Walton. Panel: Ashley Etienne, Matt Gorman, Jonathan Martin and Tyler Pager. Fox News “Sunday Morning Futures”: Sen. Dave McCormick (R-Pa.) … Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio). FOX “Fox News Sunday”: Grace and Bill Drexel … Candace Cameron Bure. Panel: Josh Holmes, John Ashbrook and Michael Duncan. Panel: Dasha Burns, Richard Fowler, Josh Kraushaar and Marc Thiessen. MS NOW “The Weekend”: Rep. Kevin Kiley (I-Calif.) ... Katie Porter … Dan Osborn. CNN “State of the Union”: Scott Jennings … Brad Todd … Ashley Allison … Kate Bedingfield. NewsNation “The Hill Sunday”: Rep. Marlin Stutzman (R-Ind.) … Bennett Rea. Panel: Julie Mason, Ken Thomas and Naomi Lim. PBS “Compass Points”: Mark Kelton.
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POLITICO Pro As policy challenges grow more complex, POLITICO Pro delivers authoritative reporting, expert analysis, and powerful tools to help professionals understand what is happening, why it matters, and what comes next. Learn More about POLITICO Pro. |
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TALK OF THE TOWN |
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FIRST IN PLAYBOOK — A minor controversy is bubbling up over former President Barack Obama’s upcoming speech in Napa Valley, California, that’s centered on Declan Kelly, the founder of the firm organizing the event, POLITICO’s Daniel Lippman reports. Kelly, described by the Wall Street Journal as a “jet-setting public relations professional” with ties to the Clintons, faced a major scandal in 2021 when he resigned as chair and chief executive of the consulting firm Teneo after reports surfaced that he was drunk and acted inappropriately at a charity event. The Financial Times at the time reported that Kelly engaged in “the non-consensual touching of a number of women.” Kelly will not be on stage with Obama, who’s talking to an audience of CEOs, according to two people familiar with the event who spoke on condition of anonymity to share details about a private event. But Obama’s participation in event, organized by Kelly’s firm Consello, rankled some former employees who worked with Kelly at Teneo, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were worried about professional retaliation. “It’s disgusting to have a president who has championed women speak at an event hosted by someone with this type of track record of treating women,” said one former female employee. Added another former employee of Teneo: “President Obama should not be in the business of rehabbing the reputation and accepting money from someone accused of groping multiple people at a charity event. Some red lines are not meant to be crossed.” A spokesperson for Obama declined to comment. Kelly also declined to comment. But a person who has worked with both Consello and Teneo said, “Declan is capable of bringing together an incredible caliber of business and political leaders in one room.” SEE YOU AT THE SUMMIT — POLITICO’s Security Summit will convene Washington leaders on May 12 to dissect pressing issues in defense and national security, from the battle over the budget to tensions with China and Iran. Join us for live conversations with Iran’s exiled crown prince, Reza Pahlavi, the Pentagon’s Emil Michael, former DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, Sens. Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) and Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), Reps. Adam Smith (D-Wash.), Mike Turner (R-Ohio) and Jim Himes (D-Conn.) and more.Register now to attend in person or watch online OUT FOR A SPIN — Trump’s motorcade took a drive over the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool yesterday to inspect the renovations he’s ordered for the landmark. Watch the video SNOWCRETE COST — D.C. spent a whopping $67 million when it tried (to varying degrees of success) to clean up the “snowcrete” that descended on the District for weeks in January, The 51st’s Martin Austermuhle reports. The Department of Public Works alone spent $50.4 million — seven times the budget for the entire winter. THE LITERAL METRO SECTION — “The last bit of track, finally, is laid for the Purple Line,” by WaPo’s Sophia Solano: “The Maryland transit project is nearly $5 billion over initial estimates and five-and-a-half years behind schedule. It will open in late 2027.” OUT AND ABOUT — The Washington AI Network hosted a live podcast recording at PubKey last night featuring a conversation with NVIDIA's Nader Khalil and Carter Abdallah, moderated by Tammy Haddad. SPOTTED: Craig Burkhardt, Conner Prochaska, James Van der Berg, Spencer Silverman, Rev Lebaredian, Austen Alexander, Meg King, Sophie Goguichvili, Angela Krasnick, Katelyn Bledsoe, Jonathan Couismano, TW Arrighi, Matt Gorman, Kaly McKenna, Michael Petricone, Tim Ryder, Kevin Cirilli, Deniz Houston, Jaisha Wray, Allie Newsome, Harry Knight, Anthony Polcari, Juan Rios, Steven Morales, Rob Danegger, Lisa Grimes and Blake Mueller. WELCOME TO THE WORLD — Jon Conradi, a partner at PLUS Communications, and Kelsey Conradi, senior director of government relations for Samsung Electronics America, on Wednesday welcomed Mary Evelyn Conradi, who came in at 9 lbs, 2 ounces and 22 inches and joints big brothers Christopher and George. Pic … Another pic TRANSITIONS — Francie Harris has joined Democratic Majority for Israel as chief of staff. She is an alum of EMILY's List and the departments of Energy, Commerce and State. … Richard Chalkey has joined Farragut Partners as partner. He most recently served in the White House as special assistant to the president for legislative affairs. HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Reps. Vern Buchanan (R-Fla.), John Moolenaar (R-Mich.) and Dale Strong (R-Ala.) … Bill de Blasio … AP’s Chris Megerian … John Martin … Dave Catanese … CNN’s Ed Meagher … John Stirrup … Herald Group’s Ashley Pratte Oates … Melissa Moss of Moss Advisors … Stephen Peters … Elevation Capital’s Meghan DiMuzio … Qorvis’ Grace Fenstermaker … GMMB’s Anson Kaye … Guidehouse’s Cooper Smith … Association of the U.S. Army’s Tom McCuin … former Sen. Dennis DeConcini (D-Ariz.) … Cathy Duvall 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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A message from The Alzheimer's Association: The ASAP Act is a “mammogram moment” for Alzheimer’s — an opportunity to make early detection the standard of care. When Congress enabled Medicare coverage for routine mammograms, screening rates soared and breast cancer deaths dropped significantly. That early investment led to earlier detection, better outcomes and improved quality of life.
Congress can deliver this same breakthrough for those with Alzheimer’s through the bipartisan ASAP Act, which would allow Medicare to cover a simple blood test to detect Alzheimer’s before symptoms appear. Until Congress acts, Medicare cannot cover dementia screening tests. But fewer than 10% of people receive a diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment when today’s FDA-approved treatments are significantly more effective. Expanding access to blood-based screening will help more patients receive an early diagnosis, and the opportunity for earlier, more effective treatment. Congress must support the ASAP Act and appropriate Alzheimer’s care. |
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