California Today: A Conversation with Cal State’s Next Chancellor

Mildred García will face a range of challenges when she takes the reins of the country's largest four-year public university system this fall.

View in browser|nytimes.com Continue reading the main story July 21, 2023 By Jill Cowan It's Friday. Mildred García talks about taking on a higher education system in turmoil. Plus, Silicon Valley chips the size of dinner plates. Mildred García, who has led the American Association of State Colleges and Universities in Washington, D.C., since 2018, will assume her new role in October.GDA via AP Images Last year was a tough one for California State University, the nation's largest four-year higher education system. In February 2022, less than two years after Joseph Castro took over as the system's leader, he resigned after reports said that he had mishandled sexual harassment claims against an administrator while he was president of the university's Fresno campus. After an initial investigation by USA Today, many more reports surfaced. They stated that the university had ignored or mishandled claims of sexual misconduct, and they revealed cultures of abuse that had proliferated on some of the system's campuses. This week, the university released a sprawling assessment of its human resources policies and its compliance with Title IX, the federal law prohibiting gender-based discrimination in education. The assessment, which the university's board of trustees commissioned in March 2022, found widespread problems. It recommended, among other things, establishing clearer reporting processes for claims of misconduct, investigating those claims more quickly and hiring more employees dedicated to that work. A state auditor's report also released this week found similar issues. All this represents just one of the many challenges facing Mildred García, whom the board appointed this month to become the system's next chancellor. García has served as the president of Cal State, Dominguez Hills, and the president of Cal State, Fullerton. Since 2018, she has led the American Association of State Colleges and Universities in Washington, D.C. She will assume her new role in October. Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT I talked with García about the issues facing Cal State, as well as about affirmation action, the challenges of artificial intelligence and how she plans to ensure that college is financially sustainable, including for Cal State's thousands of diverse first-generation students. Here is our conversation, edited for length and clarity: Of course, there's the big question: How will you address the handling of sexual misconduct? What will you do differently? I read the report from the Title IX assessment, and that's going to be implemented. It's one of the most powerful reports that I've seen, and it has to be followed to the law. Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT I can't give you the details, because I'm not there yet. But I know that report gave some very specific ways to make policies so strong that C.S.U. will be the model for the nation. This report didn't pull any punches. It was clear about what has to be fixed and on what timetable. Now, we'll jump into it: Tell me a little bit about yourself. I'm a first-generation college student. I'm one of seven in my family. My parents came from Puerto Rico to Brooklyn, so I'm a Nuyorican. My parents worked in the factories in what is now the Dumbo area. At that time, it was tenements. My father died when I was 12, and my mother raised us on a factory salary, but we never felt poor. When I was 14, my mother allowed me to get my working papers for the summer to work in a factory, because I wanted to get money — as young people do, right? And it was the best lesson she could ever give me. I saw how horrible it was. And I remember saying, "The only way out is through education." Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT Last year, academic workers at the University of California went on strike in a major action that highlighted how pay hasn't kept up with costs of living in California. At the same time, Cal State is an important economic mobility engine for students who rely on affordable tuition. How do you think about financial sustainability for both educators and students? California is expensive. I'm a New Yorker. I get it. But there are a couple of things. Right now, in Washington, D.C., my organization and other organizations are fighting to double the Pell Grant. No. 2, we're talking with the Department of Education about the students we serve and about getting more resources to these students. We really need to bring up the students who need it most. No. 3, we've got to work with the Legislature. We have to have the faculty and the staff and the administrators and the students advocating strongly, because higher ed is an asset. It's a benefit. It's not an expense. Affirmative action has been illegal in California for many years, even before the recent Supreme Court decision. How do you approach diversity and building classes that reflect California? C.S.U. has been a model in this. First, you have to follow the law. Then you think about language. We talk about work force, and we talk about economic sustainability, community sustainability. It is a process of educating not only ourselves but also the public on how diverse perspectives bring better solutions to problems. What are your other priorities? What issues are on the horizon that haven't been on the radar as much? A.I. and ChatGPT is on top of us in teaching and learning. We can't ignore it. We have to think about — how do we use it for efficiency? How do we use it and then be able to assess that our students are learning? I was at a national conference and one person said, "We've got to be very careful." And another person said, "No, we've got to look at how we utilize it to help students generate ideas and write papers." There are two opposing views. Our institutions have to become educational laboratories, where you can learn what's cutting edge. For more: Read the Title IX assessment commissioned by C.S.U.'s board of trustees. Read the state auditor's report. Enjoy all of The New York Times in one subscription — the original reporting and analysis, plus puzzles from Games, recipes from Cooking, product reviews from Wirecutter and sports journalism from The Athletic. Experience it all with a New York Times All Access subscription. A rendering of a "solar canal canopy" being piloted in the Central Valley.Solar AquaGrid, via Associated Press The rest of the news Solar power: According to a study by the University of California, Merced, some 63 billion gallons of water could be saved by placing solar panels over California's 4,000 miles of canals — which could also generate about eight months of power for all of Los Angeles, The Associated Press reports. Nancy Pelosi's political future: The former House speaker has been the subject of whispered speculation in her hometown. One of at least three scenarios could play out in the coming months, Politico reports. SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA Powerball winner: A winning ticket for one of the largest Powerball jackpots ever — an estimated $1.08 billion — was sold at the Las Palmitas Mini Market in Los Angeles. More "hot labor summer": Thousands of hotel workers in Southern California went on strike again Thursday morning, KTLA reports. CENTRAL CALIFORNIA Death Valley heat: A 71-year-old man died in Death Valley National Park this week as temperatures in the area surpassed 121 degrees, The San Francisco Chronicle reports. NORTHERN CALIFORNIA Supercomputer: The Silicon Valley start-up Cerebras has unveiled a supercomputer with chips the size of dinner plates, as the A.I. boom drives demand for computing power. Stanford departure: A Stanford Law School administrator resigned on Thursday, months after conservatives criticized her actions during a campus appearance by a federal judge, The San Francisco Chronicle reports. WHAT WE'RE EATING Mark Weinberg for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Barrett Washburne. Arnold Palmer  By Lidey Heuck 10 minutes, plus 30 minutes' cooling Makes 5 1/2 cups (about 8 servings) The rocks and caves of Lava Beds National Monument in northeastern California.Drew Kelly for The New York Times Where we're traveling Today's tip comes from Galen Gattis, who recommends Lava Beds National Monument, in the northeast corner of California: "This is where the Modoc War was waged in 1872 and 1873, and where a band of 52 Modoc warriors and more than 150 Modoc people held off the U.S. Army for several months. General Edward Canby and others were killed by Captain Jack, the Modoc chief, during a peace conference. Captain Jack was later captured and hanged at Fort Klamath, near Crater Lake. The park offers many lava tube caves to explore, and the Park Service will loan you a lantern. Other than occasional rattlers and coyotes, it's a fun way to spend a day before heading back to your campsite." Tell us about your favorite places to visit in California. Email your suggestions to CAtoday@nytimes.com. We'll be sharing more in upcoming editions of the newsletter. Tell us What are the best books about California, or the part of the state in which you live? What fiction or nonfiction would you put on a Golden State reading list, and why? Email us at CAtoday@nytimes.com with your suggestions. Please include your name and the city where you live. An "awe walk" can help relieve anxiety and foster a sense of community.Nicolás Ortega And before you go, some good news Want to ease your anxiety and feel more upbeat? Try an "awe walk." It's an outdoor ramble intended to cultivate a sense of wonder and a connection to the world around you. Research suggests that awe, which happens when we encounter something so vast that our sense of self recedes, is good for our health, calms our nervous systems and fosters a sense of community. Dacher Keltner, a professor of psychology at the University of California, Berkeley, recently published a book about awe. He told The New York Times that when his daughter was younger, she had anxiety and became preoccupied with dying. On their nightly walks, they would touch the bark of a giant cedar tree in their neighborhood, which over time allowed them to connect to nature and each other. He said his daughter went from being "freaked out about dying" to getting "a sense of 'this is just part of life.'" "An awe walk can be a healing ritual," he said. "Twelve years later, I still walk to touch that tree." Thanks for reading. We'll be back on Monday. Enjoy your weekend. P.S. Here's today's Mini Crossword. Soumya Karlamangla, Geordon Wollner and Johnna Margalotti contributed to California Today. You can reach the team at CAtoday@nytimes.com. Sign up here to get this newsletter in your inbox. Continue reading the main story Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance. You received this email because you signed up for California Today from The New York Times. To stop receiving California Today, unsubscribe. To opt out of other promotional emails from The Times, including those regarding The Athletic, manage your email settings. To opt out of updates and offers sent from The Athletic, submit a request. Subscribe to The TimesGet The New York Times app Connect with us on: Change Your EmailPrivacy PolicyContact UsCalifornia Notices The New York Times Company. 620 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10018

Mayorkas brushes off his GOP critics

Presented by Capital Access Alliance: The unofficial guide to official Washington.

Jul 21, 2023 View in browser   By Ryan Lizza, Rachael Bade and Eugene Daniels Presented by With help from Eli Okun and Garrett Ross House Republicans have tried to make Alejandro Mayorkas the face of immigration policy, to the exclusion of most other DHS issues. | Jacquelyn Martin, File/AP Photo Listen to this week's Deep Dive DRIVING THE DAY DONALD WHO? — “No one wants to talk about Trump in Aspen,” by Nahal Toosi and Alexander Ward. As Maggie Haberman noted, this is “[a]bout as a revealing a story as you will read about the state of politics in the U.S. right now.” FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: DeSANTIS GROWS STATE ENDORSEMENTS — More than a dozen Utah state legislators will endorse Gov. RON DeSANTIS for president today in a press conference at the state’s capital. The slate of supporters, which includes Utah Senate President SUART ADAMS, brings DeSantis’ nationwide total of endorsements from state leaders up to 270, according to the campaign. “Governor DeSantis is a strong conservative leader who knows how to get things done and has the record to prove it,” Adams will say, according to a copy of a press release that will be blasted out by the DeSantis campaign later today. “Now more than ever, our nation needs an energetic executive leader who will get right to work for the American people on Day One." THE PLAYBOOK INTERVIEW: ALEJANDRO MAYORKAS — When Mayorkas was tapped to run the Department of Homeland Security — the now 20-year-old behemoth with some 260,000 employees — he said that he was determined to be the secretary of homeland security, not the secretary of immigration. How’s that going? Yesterday, we sat down with him on the sidelines of the Aspen Security Forum to find out. Even if Mayorkas didn’t oversee immigration — one of the most fraught issues in politics — running DHS and all it entails would be a thankless job. When Congress created DHS, it famously smooshed together a lot of large federal entities that don’t always seem to have a lot to do with each other. It includes the Secret Service, FEMA, the Coast Guard and TSA; it works to prevent terrorist attacks, monitor threats from WMDs, protect infrastructure and ensure we’re safe from cyber warfare. Yet of course it is Mayorkas’ management of Border Patrol, ICE and Immigration Services that has dominated his tenure and made him the GOP’s main target of attack in the Biden cabinet. This week, House Republicans inched a step closer to impeaching him. The House Homeland Security Committee issued a report accusing him of “dereliction of duty.” Next week, on July 26, Mayorkas will appear before Rep. JIM JORDAN’s (R-Ohio) House Judiciary Committee. You can expect a ruckus. During our 40-minute conversation, we discussed domestic extremism, what we know about the recent Chinese cyber attack against the federal government, why the end of Title 42 didn’t lead to the border surge many predicted, whether there’s a future where we get through the airport unmolested by TSA agents, the fentanyl crisis, the prospects of his impeachment, and how going through the meat grinder of D.C. politics has changed him. You can listen to the full interview on this week’s Playbook Deep Dive podcast. What follows are some key excerpts:   A message from Capital Access Alliance: We're asking Congress to authorize additional flights at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). We're sharing stories like Darlene's, a California school teacher. It illustrates how modernizing this outdated regulation can give Americans, including our nation’s students, affordable access to Washington, D.C. Visiting the nation’s capital is a rite of passage for students, and each one, regardless of where they live or their socioeconomic background, deserves to have that experience without prohibitive costs. Hear her story.   On how House Republicans have tried to make him the face of immigration policy, to the exclusion of most other DHS issues: “Let me start by saying something unequivocally: I am the secretary of Homeland Security. And our mission set is a very diverse and sweeping one … we do so much in so many different areas, and I'm proud to lead the department in each and every one of those areas. … “I well understand why the level of migration that we've been experiencing in our southern border has, in fact, captured a lot of attention. It's captured a great deal of my attention and the department's attention. What we are experiencing at the southern border is an element of a sweeping level of migration across the hemisphere and the world. It deserves and needs attention, and we're focused on it, and we're also focused on everything else our department does.” On what America could learn from Canada about immigration: “We’re dealing with a broken system — and everyone agrees on that, and yet we cannot cross the finish line of fixing it. It is a sad chapter of governance for our country. And we see other countries maximizing the benefits of immigration and minimizing the challenges of it through nimble processes and programs. … “When it comes to the value of immigrants and their contributions to the economy, Canada calibrates its level of migration … of skilled or low-wage workers … to their market needs. … We have limits, numeric limits … set years and years ago. We have 10 million vacant jobs in the United States; there's a tremendous supply of labor that could boost our economy. And yet we can’t marry the two.” On why unlawful crossings plummeted after the end of Title 42 in May, despite dire predictions of a surge: “We now have opportunities for you where you don't have to place your life, the lives of your loved ones, [or] your life savings in the hands of ruthless smugglers. We see so much tragedy and trauma along the migratory path. So we've built those lawful pathways. If you arrive in between the ports of entry … at our southern border without having taken advantage of those lawful pathways or satisfying other conditions, then you will … have a higher burden of proof to make your asylum claim. And if you do not succeed and you are removed, there's at least a five-year bar to admission to the United States. So it’s: lawful pathways, and a consequence regime for not using them — and we’ve seen a dramatic drop.” On the changing nature of terrorism: “The terrorism threat has evolved. … [Where] we've seen [a] rise in prominence is … what we call ‘domestic violent extremism’: individuals radicalized to violence because of an ideology of hate, anti-government sentiment, false narratives, personal grievances, misinformation. … The ideologies run the gamut. They are not of one political stripe or another.” On whether he believes Section 702 of FISA will be reauthorized this year: “I am very hopeful. It needs to be.” On whether Section 702 needs to be reformed: “That, I cannot speak to. I think there are some misperceptions of its use.” On the fentanyl crisis: “The scourge of fentanyl — the devastation of fentanyl — has been increasing year over year for five years or more. … I think it was in 2020 that there were well over 55,000 deaths of Americans at the hands of fentanyl. I prosecuted many drug-trafficking cases when I was a federal prosecutor … I do have a great deal of knowledge in how to address it. “What differentiates fentanyl … is its extraordinary toxicity, the ease of manufacture, the margin of profitability, the ease of concealment. It is an extraordinary challenge. We have to tackle this as a country — a united country — to address the supply side and the demand side.” On whether China is using the export of fentanyl as leverage in U.S.-China relations: “I don’t want to speculate. But we are intent on making progress.” On how political attacks, accusations of “dereliction of duty,” and the threat of impeachment have affected him:  “I am incredibly proud of my record in federal service, and I love serving our country. This country gave my family, including me, a new life. We fled the communist takeover of Cuba. And it’s a tremendous source of pride for me to have served our country and to continue serving our country. And I have so much admiration and gratitude for the people with whom I work. I have a very good understanding of who I am and what I am trying to do for our country in leading 260,000 people in the Department of Homeland Security. False accusations do not dent that one bit.” Related read: “Mayorkas gets new chief of staff with political battle skills,” by Eli Stokols and Myah Ward Happy Friday. Thanks for reading Playbook. Drop us a line: Rachael Bade, Eugene Daniels, Ryan Lizza.   A message from Capital Access Alliance:   BARBIE — “The Twitter Menswear Guy Has Some Advice for the Campaign Trail,” by Derek Guy: “If there’s one thing that still has bipartisan support in politics, it’s embarrassing menswear.” OPPENHEIMER — “College Towns Have Become the GOP’s Electoral Nightmare,” by Charlie Mahtesian: “In isolation, it’s a worrisome development for Republicans. Unfortunately for the larger GOP, it’s not happening in isolation.” MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE — “Candidates were drowning in grassroots cash. Now, they’re thirsting for it,” by Jessica Piper and Brittany Gibson: “A POLITICO analysis of federal campaign finance data found a dramatic downturn in small-dollar donations across the board.” MISSION: VERY POSSIBLE — “Manchin and Sinema back to bedeviling Democrats,” by Burgess Everett: “The West Virginian is flirting with a third-party presidential bid and rejecting Biden nominees. And the Arizonan is drawing the ire of Democrats, too.” BIDEN’S FRIDAY: 10 a.m.: The president will receive the President’s Daily Brief. 1:30 p.m.: Biden will deliver remarks on AI. VP KAMALA HARRIS’ FRIDAY: 12:30 p.m.: The VP will depart Washington, D.C., en route to Jacksonville, Fla. 3:45 p.m.: Harris will deliver remarks on the fight to protect the freedom to learn and teach America’s full history at the Ritz Theater & Museum. 4:45 p.m.: Harris will depart Jacksonville en route to Washington. THE SENATE is in. THE HOUSE is out.   STOP SCROLLING (for just a minute!). Introducing a revamped California Playbook newsletter with an all-new team and a sharpened mission! Join Lara Korte and Dustin Gardiner as they take you on an extraordinary journey through California's political landscape. From inside the Capitol in Sacramento to the mayor’s office in Los Angeles, and from the tech hub of Silicon Valley to even further beyond, we're your front-row ticket to the action. Subscribe for access to exclusive news, buzzworthy scoops and never-before-revealed behind-the-scenes details straight from the heart of California's political arena. Don't miss out — SUBSCRIBE TODAY and stay in the know!     PHOTO OF THE DAY President Joe Biden greets workers as he tours a shipyard in Philadelphia on Thursday, July 20. | Susan Walsh/AP Photo PLAYBOOK READS 2024 WATCH DeSANTIS CAMP ‘ON THE BRINK’ — The DeSantis campaign is planning a major overhaul of its messaging and strategy as the Florida governor struggles to find firm footing in the bruising presidential primary, NBC News’ Dasha Burns scoops. Expect more of a national focus than a Florida focus, and mainstream media potentially getting more access. The reboot will also be seen in DeSantis’ campaign events: “Going forward, expect fewer podiums and stages and more stops at Pizza Ranches, churches and VFW halls where DeSantis can speak directly to voters with no big platforms or barricades blocking close contact.” More details inside the campaign: “‘Downright low’ is how a source who was present when the staffers were fired described morale these days. ‘The entire campaign is on the brink,’ the person said. ‘I’ve never seen anything like it.’” Related reads: NBC: “Ron DeSantis defends Sen. Tommy Tuberville's blockade on military promotions” … CNN: “DeSantis calls for state investment manager to consider action against Bud Light’s parent company” CAN’T HURT TO ASK — “Trump Seeks U.A.W.’s Support as the Union Wavers on Backing Biden,” by NYT’s Jonathan Weisman: “In a video on Thursday, Mr. Trump predicted the demise of American auto manufacturing and the ‘slaughter’ of 117,000 auto jobs. ‘I hope United Auto Workers is listening to this because I think you’d better endorse Trump,’ he said.” Related read: “Trump vows to undo Biden’s electric vehicle policies,” by Timothy Cama FRIENDS IN HIGH PLACES — CHRIS CHRISTIE’s newest FEC filing showed the Trump critic winning the financial support of some donors with names familiar to Trump world: ANTHONY SCARAMUCCI, GEORGE CONWAY and MURRAY KUSHNER — JARED KUSHNER’s uncle, reports Dustin Racioppi. “The Kushner family has a long history of donating to New Jersey politicians, mostly Democrats,” Racioppi writes. “But the donations to Christie serve as a reminder of the bizarre and tangled relationship he has with the Kushners.” THE WHITE HOUSE JUST POSTED — AP: “Amazon, Google, Meta, Microsoft and other tech firms agree to AI safeguards set by the White House”  HOPELESSLY DEVOTED TO SU — “​​White House moves on from confirmation effort for Su as Labor secretary,” by Jennifer Haberkorn: Despite a lack of sufficient support to confirm JULIE SU as Labor secretary, the White House plans to indefinitely leave her in the role by using a “rule that allows a [Labor] deputy to serve in an acting capacity indefinitely, unlike other nominees who are subject to a time limit by a federal vacancies rule.” HOT LABOR SUMMER — Biden isn’t directly involving himself in any of the major labor movements currently taking place around the country, rather charging administration officials with monitoring the negotiations, NBC’s Mike Memoli reports. It’s a stark contrast from the White House’s approach to handling last year’s rail strike, when the administration directly mediated and negotiated an agreement between freight carriers and unions. “White House officials are downplaying any potential for the disputes to undermine Biden’s newly ramped-up efforts to politically capitalize on lowering inflation and a robust job market as he runs for re-election.” CONGRESS DEPT. OF DEAD ENDS — Yesterday, the Senate Judiciary Committee voted along party lines, 11-10, to approve a bill that would overhaul ethics and transparency requirements for the Supreme Court. But the legislation has dim prospects in the divided Senate — and there appears to be little chance of it even being considered by the GOP-controlled House, Katherine Tully-McManus and Josh Gerstein write. MARSHALL LAW — Sen. ROGER MARSHALL (R-Kan.) is pushing to open up the amendment process on the NDAA in a bid to advance a contested measure that would crack down on credit card swipe fees, Sam Sutton and Eleanor Mueller report. Marshall told our colleagues yesterday that he was “not trying to hold up any votes on the National Defense Authorization Act, though he expressed serious concern with the amendment process.” SHOT — “Three key moments from RFK Jr.'s testimony to Congress,” by Eric Bazail-Eimil CHASER — “As Republicans elevate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., his polls sour,” by WaPo’s Aaron Blake   A message from Capital Access Alliance:   MORE POLITICS AND THEN THERE WERE FIVE — Texas will leave the Electronic Registration Information Center, becoming the largest state to leave the bipartisan voting list project, Zach Montellaro writes. Only five Republican-leaning states are still members of the program, after the departures of Louisiana, Alabama, Missouri, Florida, West Virginia, Iowa, Ohio and Virginia. THE SELFIES — “Meet the 2024 self-funded candidates armed with $51 million in personal war chest cash,” by the Washington Examiner’s Gabe Kaminsky MEANWHILE, IN MAINE — “Protester claims Maine police illegally arrested him at Leonard Leo’s behest,” by The Bangor Daily News’ Billy Kobin: “The federal false-arrest lawsuit is bolstered by a 52-minute dashcam video that captures audio of police talking with LEONARD LEO, who accused ELI DURAND-MCDONNELL of cursing at him and his family on a street in Northeast Harbor.” TRUMP CARDS BILLS, BILLS, BILLS — “Trump prosecutions consume campaign funds and messaging as charges mount,” by WaPo’s Isaac Arnsdorf and Josh Dawsey: “To illustrate how Trump’s criminal defense is swallowing his campaign, just over half of the money he raised last quarter went not to the campaign itself but to an affiliated PAC that is footing the legal bills. … ‘A lot of money is going to legal and people who don’t do much, and not a lot is left over to do marketing and advertising,’ said one Trump adviser, who like others spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal plans. ‘A lot of the money we’re raising is just going to legal.’” OMERTA — “Federal judge orders forthcoming Trump deposition be kept under wraps in lawsuit against Michael Cohen,” by Kimberly Leonard in Miami YOU CAN’T HANDLE THE TRUTH — “Trump’s Truth Social partner lied to investors, SEC says in settlement,” by WaPo’s Drew Harwell JUDICIARY SQUARE ODD SCENE — DOJ special counsel JACK SMITH yesterday drew an admonishment for causing a delay in an unrelated hearing in a Jan. 6 criminal case. U.S. District Court Judge TREVOR McFADDEN “sent a U.S. marshal to summon Smith’s prosecutors from the grand jury room — where they were grilling a Trump-connected witness — to his courtroom Thursday afternoon,” Kyle Cheney writes. “That led to a bizarre scene in which THOMAS WINDOM, a leading prosecutor on Smith’s team investigating Trump’s effort to subvert the 2020 election, marched down the courthouse hallway and filed into McFadden’s courtroom during the ongoing Jan. 6 proceeding.” Related read: “Special counsel continues to schedule witness interviews even as potential Trump indictment looms,” by CNN’s Paula Reid, Katelyn Polantz, Kara Scannell, Hannah Rabinowitz and Jeremy Herb WATCHING THE WATCHMEN — “Obstruction Law Cited by Prosecutors in Trump Case Has Drawn Challenges,” by NYT’s Alan Feuer: “In its arguments to the appeals court, the government said that acting corruptly should be broadly construed to include all sorts of unlawful behavior … The defense argued for a much narrower interpretation, seeking to define the term as acting illegally to procure something to directly benefit oneself.” AMERICA AND THE WORLD HACK JOB — “U.S. Ambassador to China Hacked in China-Linked Spying Operation,” by WSJ’s Dustin Volz and Warren Strobel: “Though limited to unclassified emails, the inboxes of Burns and Kritenbrink could have allowed the hackers to glean insights into U.S. planning for a recent string of visits to China by senior Biden administration officials, as well as internal conversations about U.S. policies toward its rival amid a period of delicate diplomacy that has been challenged repeatedly in recent months.” TV TONIGHT — PBS’ “Washington Week”: Dan Balz, Jeffrey Goldberg, Fin Gomez and Sadie Gurman. SUNDAY SO FAR … ABC “This Week”: Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas). Panel: Rick Klein, Leigh Ann Caldwell, Terence Samuel and Heidi Przybyla. CBS “Face the Nation”: Chris Christie … Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas). CNN “State of the Union”: Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) … Utah Gov. Spencer Cox … Colorado Gov. Jared Polis. Panel: Karen Finney, Scott Jennings, Ashley Allison and Miles Taylor. FOX “Fox News Sunday”: Vivek Ramaswamy. Panel: Guy Benson, Francesca Chambers, Katie Pavlich and Juan Williams. Panel: Jonathan Turley and Tom Dupree. MSNBC “The Sunday Show”: Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) … Rep. Joe Neguse (D-Colo.).   SUBSCRIBE TO POWER SWITCH: The energy landscape is profoundly transforming. Power Switch is a daily newsletter that unlocks the most important stories driving the energy sector and the political forces shaping critical decisions about your energy future, from production to storage, distribution to consumption. Don’t miss out on Power Switch, your guide to the politics of energy transformation in America and around the world. SUBSCRIBE TODAY.     PLAYBOOKERS Barack Obama released his annual summer playlist — but not everyone was happy to be on it. Members of the Arsenal football club got a tour of the Capitol. Katie Britt has introduced a new (very Southern) divide in the “Barbenheimer” debate. Todd Young is Team Oppenheimer. Mike Braun is … something else entirely. Gina Raimondo and her husband participated in the “Save the Bay” swim in Rhode Island. SPORTS BLINK — “NFL owners approve $6.05B sale of Commanders to Harris group,” by ESPN’s John Keim OUT AND ABOUT — Stephen Replogle hosted a book party for Chadwick Moore’s new book, “Tucker,” ($30) at the Metropolitan Club on Wednesday night, where Moore interviewed Justin Wells, a former producer for Tucker Carlson’s Fox News show. Wells told the crowd that now “you are going to see more Tucker than you saw on Fox,” and teased that Carlson has a “very big” interview coming on his Twitter show. SPOTTED: Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) (who was heard saying he hasn’t “watched a minute of Fox” since Carlson’s departure), retired Army Col. Douglas Macgregor, Michael Needham, Amber Athey, Jeffrey Lord, Robert Bluey, Jeffrey Clark, Robby Soave, Steve Lance and Benjamin Braddock. Pic — SPOTTED at a book party last night at Juleanna Glover’s house for Matt Lewis’ “Filthy Rich Politicians: The Swamp Creatures, Latte Liberals, and Ruling-Class Elites Cashing in on America” ($26.10): April and Ramesh Ponnuru, Tim Mak, John Tamny, Matthew Continetti, Michael Tomasky, Miranda Kennedy, Adam Green, Nihal Krishan, Alex Thompson, Molly Ball, Christine Emba, Christina Paulos, Shoshana Weissmann, Ryan Steusloff, Chris Perkins and Will Saletan. — SPOTTED at the Washington AI Network’s inaugural event last night at The House at 1229, hosted by Tammy Haddad in conversation with Victoria Espinel of BSA | The Software Alliance and Kellee Wicker of the Wilson Center: James Roscoe, Senay Bulbul, John McCarthy, Liz Johnson, Lynda Carter, Adrienne Elrod, Alexandra Veitch, Teresa Carlson, Carol Melton, Stephanie Cutter, Vince Evans and Rory Gates. TRANSITION — Lacie Newton is now managing director of strategic comms at Assemble. She previously was founder of LN Communications. HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Reps. Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.) and Cori Bush (D-Mo.) … Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) … Fox News’ Peter Doocy … Mick Mulvaney … CNN’s Mark Preston … David Stacy … Google’s Ali-Jae Henke … SoftBank’s Christin Tinsworth Baker … Steve Lerch … Nancy LeaMond of AARP … Samantha Summers of Albertsons Companies … IBEX Partners’ Michael Sessums … Trita Parsi … Dave Noble … Edelman’s Athena Johnson … Katherine Schneider ... Jahan Wilcox ... retired Gen. Dick Tubb … the Government Publishing Office’s Hugh Halpern … Roshan Patel of the Democratic Lieutenant Governors Association … RNC’s Brian Parnitzke … former Reps. Phil Roe (R-Tenn.), Jimmy Duncan (R-Tenn.), Ed Towns (D-N.Y.), John Salazar (D-Colo.) (7-0) and Bobby Bright (D-Ala.) … John Negroponte … former Connecticut Gov. Dan Malloy … Garrett Ventry of GRV Strategies … Bob Shrum  Did someone forward this email to you? Sign up here. Send Playbookers tips to playbook@politico.com or text us at 202-556-3307. Playbook couldn’t happen without our editor Mike DeBonis, deputy editor Zack Stanton and producers Setota Hailemariam and Bethany Irvine.   A message from Capital Access Alliance: The bipartisan Direct Capital Access Act (DCA Act) would add a modest number of in- and beyond-perimeter flights at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) while protecting current regional routes. It will help reduce costs for consumers by creating competition and increasing supply. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) data shows that DCA has the capacity to safely add more flights during at least three different time blocks each day and has the capacity for far more additional daily departures and landings than The DCA Act would authorize. Bottom line: Modernizing the outdated federal perimeter rule would lower ticket prices and make America’s capital more accessible for air travelers around the country. It's time for Congress to get behind the bipartisan DCA Act.     Follow us on Twitter Rachael Bade @rachaelmbade Eugene Daniels @EugeneDaniels2 Ryan Lizza @RyanLizza   Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook family Playbook  |  Playbook PM  |  California Playbook  |  Florida Playbook  |  Illinois Playbook  |  Massachusetts Playbook  |  New Jersey Playbook  |  New York Playbook  |  Ottawa Playbook  |  Brussels Playbook  |  London Playbook View all our political and policy newsletters Follow us

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