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By Eli Okun |
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THE CATCH-UP |
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President Donald Trump sounded unbothered by the prospect of a breakdown in negotiations in interviews today. | Jacquelyn Martin/AP |
Is the Iran war headed for a stalemate? A week after President Donald Trump signaled that a provisional peace deal with Iran was in the offing, the pendulum has swung back the other way — raising fresh questions about how quickly the global economic upheaval and ongoing paroxysms of Middle East violence might subside. Iranian semi-official state media reported today that Tehran has suspended talks with the U.S. in light of Israel’s burgeoning incursion into Lebanon. That hasn’t yet been confirmed. But top military adviser Mohsen Rezaei posted on X, “The patience of the armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran has its limits.” He cited both Lebanon and the U.S. naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz. Earlier today, an Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson bemoaned that U.S.-Iran talks were taking place in an environment of “severe suspicion and mistrust,” saying Iran had trouble dealing with a mercurial Washington. And the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned that it will step up fighting again, both “opening new fronts and maintaining the Strait of Hormuz equation,” in a statement Tasnim News Agency reported. The outlet also said Iran would consider entirely shutting down maritime traffic in the strait. Trump sounded unbothered by the prospect of a breakdown in negotiations. “We’ve been talking too much, if you want to know the truth,” he told NBC’s Garrett Haake in response to news of Iran’s pause, which he said Iran hadn’t communicated to the U.S. yet. “I think going silent would be very good, and that could be … for a long time.” “I really don’t care. I couldn’t care less,” Trump told CNBC’s Eamon Javers. He said the talks had become “very boring.” The president seems open to maintaining the status quo. “It doesn’t mean we’re going to go and start dropping bombs all over there,” Trump said. “We’ll keep the blockade.” The turn toward enmity followed not only overnight strikes volleyed by Iran and the U.S., but especially Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu’s order to restart attacks on suburbs of Beirut where Israel wants to go after Hezbollah. The escalation came despite Lebanese parliament speaker Nabih Berri telling the Trump administration yesterday that Hezbollah was prepared for a complete ceasefire with Israel, Berri’s top adviser relayed to Axios’ Barak Ravid. He said Israel’s proposal was for only a partial ceasefire. But but but: Trump says he’s stepping in to dial down the temperature in Lebanon. He just posted on Truth Social that he spoke with Netanyahu and (indirectly) with Hezbollah, and said both sides agreed to stop attacking, with Netanyahu turning back troops headed to Beirut. In the markets: The resumption of fighting and dimmed prospects for a peace had a predictable effect on oil prices and other markets today. Crude and bond yields jumped much higher, threatening to wipe out the U.S. gas price decreases of the past week. Political fallout: NYT’s Tim Balk and colleagues fanned out to gas stations across Maine, Michigan and Ohio to ask Trump voters for their thoughts on high gas prices. They found a mixture of supporters who are sticking with the president, saying the spike is temporary and worth it, and those who have grown more negative, considering sitting out or switching sides for the midterms. Good Monday afternoon. Thanks for reading Playbook PM. Drop me a line at eokun@politico.com.
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A message from Vapor Technology Association: The science is clear: Vaping saves lives, and youth vaping is at historic lows. Now Acting FDA Commissioner Diamantas must fix the broken system to save vaping: establish predictable scientific guidelines for PMTA review, enforce against illicit products that fail those standards, and protect adult Americans relying on flavored vapes to quit smoking. FDA policy must change to catch up to its own data. The window is open — act now. |
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7 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW |
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1. IMMIGRATION FILES: As the Trump administration works to dismantle most of the country’s asylum system, the next step may be a DHS rule that would green-light rejecting some asylum applications without an interview, CBS’ Camilo Montoya-Galvez scooped. The potential regulation would cover immigrants who apply after more than a year of being in the U.S., which the administration argues would help crack down on fraud and weed through an immense backlog. Immigrant advocates worry it would deport legitimate asylum-seekers before they can fairly plead their case. 2. RECONCILABLE DIFFERENCES: Speaker Mike Johnson went to the White House this morning to meet with Trump about the “Anti-Weaponization Fund,” which has threatened to derail Republicans’ immigration enforcement bill, ABC’s Lauren Peller and Katherine Faulders scooped. 3. SPY GAMES: With Congress moving nearer to clinching a bipartisan agreement on reauthorizing Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, one emerging provision is a reform to shrink the ranks of electronic communications service providers, Punchbowl’s John Bresnahan and colleagues report. The redefinition would be an olive branch to privacy hawks. 4. OUT OF THE FRYING PAN, INTO THE FIRE: New Jersey finally did away with its party-boss primary system. In its wake, tomorrow’s Democratic congressional primaries have gotten more crowded — and that’s opened the door for a deluge of outside super PAC spending, POLITICO’s Matt Friedman reports. In the 12th District’s open contest, for instance, Adam Hamawy, Sue Altman and others have been boosted and buffeted by big money, sometimes without even knowing its provenance.
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POLITICO Live June 10: POLITICO's Energy Summit will convene administration officials, lawmakers, industry executives and more for urgent conversations on what’s next for the nation's energy agenda – including energy investments, climate goals, and more. Register to attend now. |
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5. BRAVE NEW WORLD: Even though California thought its campaign laws could rein in AI election slop, this year’s primaries have proven the system outmatched, POLITICO’s Tyler Katzenberger reports from Sacramento. From deepfake ads to politicians secretly paying influencers, the state has seen a deluge of cutting-edge online campaign trickery. And experts warn that this is coming — big time — for the less-regulated rest of the country in 2028. Florida fights back: “OpenAI hit with lawsuit by Florida AG over AI risks,” by POLITICO’s Aaron Mak and Andrew Atterbury: “The suit contends that ChatGPT has provided assistance for mass shootings, and poses addiction and suicide risks to users. … It is the first such action against OpenAI and Altman by a state, and follows a slew of recent product liability lawsuits against Big Tech companies.” 6. SCOTUS WATCH: The Supreme Court today rejected a petition by former Trump White House aide Garrett Ziegler, who’d sought a high-court hearing stemming from a Hunter Biden laptop lawsuit. History lesson: “Once-confidential documents reveal Scalia’s role in Supreme Court taking up famous Dick Cheney case,” by CNN’s Joan Biskupic: “In late 2003, Supreme Court justices were prepared to reject a case involving then-Vice President Dick Cheney’s attempt to keep private politically sensitive records from his energy policy task force that had recommended opening more federal lands to oil and gas drilling. But then-Justice Antonin Scalia launched into action – in moves concealed from the public at the time.” 7. THE FUTURE OF WAR: “Seeking a $54 billion arsenal of killer drones, Pentagon turns to former hobbyists,” by WaPo’s Ian Duncan: “Officials are increasingly looking to private industry to develop new kinds of military gear and are prepared to pour money into the most promising products and avoid what they see as bloated contracts that have traditionally favored a handful of big players.”
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A message from Vapor Technology Association: Youth vaping is at its lowest level in over twelve years — a direct result of common-sense restrictions that the vapor industry championed. The FDA's own data tells a clear story. Yet policy has failed to keep pace with science.
With new leadership now in place, Acting Commissioner Diamantas has a narrow and consequential window to deliver real reform built on three pillars: transparent, evidence-based scientific standards for PMTA review so e-cigarette manufacturers know exactly what is required; consistent enforcement against bad actors failing those standards— the actual source of the problem; and surgical enforcement criteria that target predatory design and youth-facing marketing, not the compliant products millions of American smokers depend on.
Protecting youth and preserving adult consumer access are not competing goals. A real and well-designed regulatory framework achieves both. The science is clear. The leadership is in place. It's time to fix the system and save vaping. |
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TALK OF THE TOWN |
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SPOTTED: Michelle and Barack Obama having a private dinner last night at Balos. PLAYBOOK METRO SECTION — “Park Service officials raised alarms over Trump administration’s tennis center plan,” by WaPo’s Rick Maese: “Park Service employees objected to leasing property that stretched well beyond the Rock Creek Tennis Center, where the long-running DC Open is played … [Documents] also suggest the federal government steered a long-term lease of public parkland through an unusually fast process that limited potential bidders and positioned Washington businessman Mark Ein, who has a direct financial interest in the health of the site, to win the contract.” The Interior Department said everything was handled properly. ALL IN THE FAMILY — Albanian PM Edi Rama provided backup for a Jared Kushner luxury resort planned for the country’s coast, per Bloomberg’s Gresa Kraja. After the project drew protests, Rama said today it will be an “extraordinary investment.” COVER TO COVER — Second lady Usha Vance is kicking off the 2026 Summer Reading Challenge, which aims to promote childhood literacy. She told ABC’s Linsey Davis that this year’s contest expands beyond the 2025 rollout, seeking to motivate kids to read 12 books over the summer and win a trip to the White House. MEDIA MOVE — Will Hobson is now a reporter in the WSJ’s D.C. bureau, focusing on political and government investigations and enterprise. He previously worked at WaPo. TRANSITIONS — Abhishek (Abhi) Kambli is now a partner at Holtzman Vogel, per Bloomberg Government’s Tatyana Monnay. He previously was deputy associate AG at the Justice Department. … Sean Kelly is now a VP of public affairs at Monument Advocacy. He most recently worked at Atlas Air Worldwide, and is a House Energy and Commerce and Transportation Department alum. … Community Catalyst has added Shaina Goodman as VP of policy and government affairs, Amanda Ponzar as chief enterprise and comms officer and Valerie Rochester as chief program officer. … … Ballard Partners is launching an emerging technology and AI practice group, led by Amy Tong in the Sacramento office. She joins as a partner after previously working in California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office. … Michael Patrick Daly is joining Cravath, Swaine & Moore as a partner. He previously worked in DOJ’s National Security Division. … Tom Clancy is now senior director of federal affairs at the American Clean Power Association. He previously worked for Rep. Lateefah Simon (D-Calif.) and is an EPA and Rashida Tlaib alum. WEEKEND WEDDING — Kathryn Crenshaw, a senior legislative representative at the National Association of Realtors, and Taylor Miller, a data scientist at GDIT, got married this weekend at Maketto, with a karaoke after-party at Red Lantern. They met in 2012 as students at the University of Alabama. Pic … SPOTTED: Nick Beek, Anne-Marie Boisseau and Dan Miller, Tizzy Brown and Fleming Campbell, Cassie Brzezinski, Tara Murphy Dougherty, Jeremy Green, Bridgette Harrison, Mark Hickey, Kellie Karney, Noah Kowalski, Nicole Lindler, Hannah Lindow and Jackson Rees, Skyler Mansell, Bob Meteer, Jim Mitre, Gabriella Petroff, Ryan Rusbuldt, Arun Sankaran, Lauren Watt and Alec Birnbach. WELCOME TO THE WORLD — Olivia Perez-Cubas, director of corporate comms at Disney and a Marco Rubio alum, and Hooff Cooksey, SVP at Look Ahead Strategies and a U.S. Navy Reserve officer and NRSC alum, recently welcomed George. 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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Catch up on Season 1 of On the Road with Jonathan Martin POLITICO Politics Bureau Chief Jonathan Martin hits the road for candid conversations with key political players in the places they call home. Watch Season 1 for conversations with Govs. Josh Shapiro, Wes Moore, JB Pritzker and more on the issues shaping American politics — with plenty of local flavor along the way. Watch Season 1 now. |
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