| | | |  | | By Adam Wren with Dasha Burns | | Presented by |  | | | With help from Eli Okun, Bethany Irvine and Ali Bianco On today’s Playbook Podcast, Adam Wren and Myah Ward preview President Donald Trump’s trip to Scotland and why he’s suddenly so focused on the midterms.
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| Good morning. It’s Friday. We made it. I'm Adam Wren. Get in touch. In today’s Playbook … — Trump leans in on the midterms — cementing Chris LaCivita and Tony Fabrizio as two of the most in-demand political strategists in the country. — First in Playbook: An exclusive preview of Rep. Ro Khanna’s (D-Calif.) speech today in Ohio slamming VP JD Vance over the Epstein files. — First in Playbook: FDA Commissioner Marty Makary tells Dasha Burns he has “no preconceived plans” to change federal policies on mifepristone.
|  | DRIVING THE DAY | | | 
President Donald Trump speaks onstage at the All-In and Hill & Valley Forum "Winning The AI Race" at Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium on July 23, 2025, in Washington. | Jemal Countess/Getty Images for Hill & Valley Forum | TRUMP GOES ALL-IN: As President Donald Trump heads to Scotland this morning for what will mostly be a short vacation (more on that below) his attention lingers stateside — and perhaps not for the reason recent news cycles might suggest. Trump has fully invested himself in the coming midterm elections. Advisers and allies tell Playbook that with passage of his domestic policy megalaw behind him, Trump is itching to return to the stump and hold rallies — something he has brought up in multiple meetings in the past couple weeks, two White House officials tell POLITICO’s Jake Traylor. But it would be a mistake to think that this is simply about Trump enjoying performing for adoring crowds of supporters: He sees near-existential stakes on the line for his political project and for himself. “I’m sure there's some memories from 2018,” when Republicans lost 40 House seats and Democrats retook the chamber, Tony Fabrizio, the president’s pollster, tells Playbook. “But it’s all about these last two years of his presidency and his legacy, and he doesn’t want the Democrats nipping at his heels all the time.” Trump’s midterm operation looks much different this time around. “I think it’s fair to say that the White House in the first term in the midterms kind of abdicated the midterm campaigns to the national party committees,” Fabrizio tells Playbook. “And I think with everything you've seen the president say, do, fundraise for … his intention is not to have that happen again. Our intention is not to have that happen again.” In pursuit of that goal, Trump has effectively deputized Fabrizio and Trump 2024 campaign manager Chris LaCivita as the White House’s political eyes and ears. And in doing so, he has made them the most in-demand GOP consultants of the 2026 cycle. Fabrizio and LaCivita — who don’t have a formal partnership — are helping the GOP as a whole avoid messy primaries by getting the president to weigh in early in favor of his preferred candidates. In the process, the operation is consolidating support behind those candidates as they gear up to face flush Democrats who, as Republican strategist Liam Donovan notes, will “beat each other up on personal and ideological grounds for the ensuing year [in] an inversion of the dynamic that has plagued the GOP in competitive races for the better part of the past decade.” In short: You can expect that 2026 will look quite a bit different than 2018. THE OUTSIDE INSIDERS: Fabrizio and LaCivita are joined at the hip with White House chief of staff Susie Wiles and deputy chief James Blair. “Daily — could be phone, could be text,” Fabrizio tells Playbook of his contact with the White House’s political shop. “They are very engaged. They are very, very engaged.” The pair “are very focused on being a great complement to the administration and helping them from the outside,” Alex Bruesewitz, the CEO of X Strategies, who worked with LaCivita and Fabrizio on the Trump campaign, told POLITICO’s Kimberly Leonard. Among those races: LaCivita’s firm is working on Mike Rogers’ Senate campaign in Michigan, Lindsey Graham’s in South Carolina, and running Super PACs for Sens. Ashley Moody (R-Fla.) and John Cornyn (R-Texas). He is likely to help Michael Whatley in North Carolina, too. Fabrizio and his firm are running more than a dozen statewide races, including mostly governors and senate campaigns. “Thanks to President Trump’s victorious campaign, virtually all of the business knocks on our doors,” Fabrizio says. Their presence can make or break a campaign, and their arrival on a campaign trip can sometimes signal a “soft endorsement” from Trump. According to Republican sources close to the White House, the two consultants’ political clients always get “run up the flagpole.” “Send in Tony and LaCivita and see how the campaign shapes up, and then maybe the president will endorse,” a south Florida Trump 2024 surrogate told Kimberly, describing how the pair are perceived among campaigns. Indeed, last night, the president unfurled a number of midterm endorsements on Truth Social, including the Senate campaigns of Rogers, Moody and Whatley. And as Whatley’s successor as head of the RNC, he endorsed Florida state Sen. Joe Gruters — a candidate for Florida’s chief financial officer whose campaign brought LaCivita and Fabrizio onboard as of last week. The duo is no longer working for Karrin Taylor Robson, the Arizona Republican gubernatorial candidate, having quit her campaign after a disagreement between Robson and Trump’s team over when to run TV ads touting Trump’s endorsement. Once Robson was on the air, LaCivita and Fabrizio left. “We don’t have to get our way,” LaCivita tells Playbook. “But you have to at least listen — and acknowledge and come half way. If you don’t, it’s not worth the time.” Even if they do get their way, though, there’s still a reality to contend with: Midterm elections tend to be punishing for the incumbent party. And even if 2026 doesn’t turn into a giant wave election, Democrats could still take the House. Fabrizio is clear-eyed about the task ahead. “I’m not dour about it, but in the same token, I'm not overly confident,” he tells Playbook. “I know that midterm elections are always a slog. You're always running against history.” THE SCOTLAND WALK-UP: Trump is expected to depart the White House at 8 a.m. today for some vacation golf at his Turnberry club and a visit to Aberdeen, where he’ll arrive at 8:20 p.m. local time. While there, he’ll open his third course in the country — this one in honor of his Scottish-born mother, Mary Anne MacLeod. It might be the perfect time for Trump to leave U.S. soil and distance himself from the Epstein saga as it enters its third week of headline domination in Washington. But even 3,500 miles of space might not be enough, as POLITICO’s Myah Ward, who is traveling with the president, writes in … The Epstein angle: For one, Jeffrey Epstein and the latest WSJ piece will be a key topic during any gaggle with the president on Air Force One. On the ground in Scotland, local police are prepared for protest activity, and there are already signs demonstrators will use the Epstein issue to needle Trump. A “twinned with Epstein Island” placard appeared at one of the president’s luxury resorts. And in London, an image of Trump and Epstein was installed at a bus stop near the U.S. embassy. Unrest timed to Trump’s visit was expected. For one, the Scots are generally less favorable towards Trump than the British public writ large, with frustrations tied to a number of policy issues, from tariffs to immigration and Ukraine policy. But Trump’s history with Scotland well predates his presidency. Locals have mixed views about his golf ventures, which began with a visit in 2006, when Trump first expressed interest in building a course on the North Sea. What Trump wants to discuss: We expect that the president will be eager to keep the conversation focused on the purpose of his trip, which will also include a bilateral meeting with U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who will visit the president in Scotland to “refine” the trade deal, according to the White House. As for Downing Street: Per POLITICO’s U.K. political editor Dan Bloom, Starmer’s priorities will likely be to keep Trump’s newfound support for Ukraine going, shore up his commitment to NATO and the AUKUS submarine deal and keep pressing the U.S. to reduce outstanding tariffs on the U.K., two U.K. government advisers told Playbook. The spiraling humanitarian disaster in Gaza is likely to come up, too. But Downing Street has been straining to manage expectations. One of the two advisers described it as more of a “staging post” ahead of talks on tariffs at other ministerial levels and Trump’s state visit to the U.K. in September. — Jake Traylor, Myah Ward and Kimberly Leonard and contributed reporting.
| | | | A message from bp: bp added $190+ billion to the US economy over the last three years. Like adding more than 300 TravelCenters of America sites to our retail network. With our on-highway locations spanning the entire US, we can bring more quality fuel, charging and food to customers. It's just one of the ways bp is investing in America. | | | | THE EPSTEIN CRISIS FIRST IN PLAYBOOK — FIGHTING VANCE: In remarks to the Democratic Mayors Association summit in Cleveland today, Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) will continue his crusade on the Epstein files, this time calling out VP JD Vance on his home turf, according to a copy of Khanna’s prepared remarks shared with Playbook. What he’ll say: “You may have forgotten what you said, but folks back in Ohio remember. Let me refresh your recollection. On Sept. 4, 2021, while running for Senate, you said: ‘Remember when we learned that our wealthiest and most powerful people were connected to a guy who ran a literal child sex trafficking ring? And then that guy died mysteriously in a jail? And now we just don’t talk about it?’ … Now, your silence has been pretty deafening. … Our mutual friend Theo Von has called on you to live up to what you told him and demand the release. … So Mr. Vice President, are you going to be true to your word and support Rep. [Thomas] Massie (R-Ky.) and my bipartisan bill to release these files?” But but but: Not all Democrats are leaning in on the Epstein discourse. One unnamed House Democrat told Axios’ Andrew Solender: "Candidly, this whole thing is just such bullshit." Said another: “Do I think this is going to win us the election? No. But ... this is a great opportunity for [Republicans] to kill each other.” MAXWELL HOUSE: At a federal courthouse in Tallahassee yesterday, deputy AG Todd Blanche met with Ghislaine Maxwell, the convicted child sex trafficker and conspirator of Jeffrey Epstein. Maxwell’s attorney, David Oscar Markus, described it as a “good day,” and said that Maxwell “answered every single question. She never stopped, she never invoked a privilege, she never declined to answer.” The interview with Maxwell will continue today, Blanche announced. More from AP’s Eric Tucker and colleagues NEW REVELATIONS: Trump’s name was among the “contributor list” for Epstein’s 50th birthday book, the NYT reported last night, confirming part of the WSJ’s recent explosive report. The Times also found that Trump sent Epstein a personalized copy of his 1997 book, “Trump: The Art of the Comeback.” “To Jeff — You are the greatest!” read the handwritten inscription from Trump. Speaking of the birthday book: Trump was far from the only major name to contribute to the Epstein birthday gift. Among the other major figures: former President Bill Clinton, billionaire Leon Black, fashion designer Vera Wang, media owner Mort Zuckerman and former Victoria’s Secret leader Leslie Wexner, WSJ’s Khadeeja Safdar and Joe Palazzolo scooped.
| | | | A message from bp: bp supports ~300,000 US jobs. Jobs that serve you across our US family of brands – like bp, Amoco, ampm, Thorntons and TravelCenters of America. And jobs that produce, refine and transport the energy that you get here. See how else bp is investing in America. | | | | MAGA IN POWER FIRST IN PLAYBOOK — ONE TO WATCH: Despite pressure from opponents of abortion rights, FDA Commissioner Marty Makary says he has “no preconceived plans” to change federal policies on mifepristone, an abortion pill that ends pregnancy before 10 weeks. But he also vowed to “continue to listen to folks that say they have concerns” about the drug. From the interview: “We have an ongoing review of safety data on mifepristone, which is a requirement from the prior administrations,” Makary tells Playbook’s Dasha Burns in an interview for “The Conversation” that will be released on Sunday. “You always have to be open-minded. You have to listen to different opinions and make decisions based on what you think is the right thing to do.” Watch the clip on YouTube … Subscribe to “The Conversation” on YouTube, Apple Podcasts or Spotify SIGNED, SEALED, RESCINDED: Trump signed the rescissions package into law yesterday, cementing around $9 billion in cuts for public broadcasting and foreign aid, as the possibility of a second rescissions package targeting education looms, AP’s Kevin Freking reports. A JERSEY WORKAROUND: Trump withdrew Alina Habba’s nomination for U.S. attorney in New Jersey as part of a larger push to keep her in power while circumventing the Senate’s role in approving key administration officials, our POLITICO colleagues Ry Rivard and Kyle write. How it works: After withdrawing the nomination, AG Pam Bondi would “appoint Habba as First Assistant U.S. Attorney — typically the second-ranking official in the office. Because the U.S. attorney’s post is vacant, Habba would automatically fill the role on a temporary basis; she can’t simultaneously be the president’s nominee and serve as acting in this way.” FED UP: Trump joined Jerome Powell for a tour of the Federal Reserve’s massive renovations yesterday. It made for an awkward scene, with Trump in a hard hat standing next to a man he’s been blasted as a “total and complete moron” for months, POLITICO’s Victoria Guida reports. Trump separately said that he believes Powell will “do the right thing” and cut interest rates later this year, WSJ’s Nick Timiraos and Meridith McGraw report. ADAMS’ (BIG) APPLE: Bondi announced yesterday that the DOJ is suing New York and Mayor Eric Adams over NYC’s sanctuary city policies, claiming that the city is violating the federal government’s “well-established, pre-eminent and pre-emptive authority to regulate immigration,” per NYT’s Santul Nerkar and Luis Ferré-Sadurní. Read the lawsuit WALKING AWAY: Gaza ceasefire negotiations yesterday were cut off as the U.S. team — led by envoy Steve Witkoff — backed away from the table and said Hamas “shows a lack of desire” to stop fighting and end the war, AP’s Michelle Price and Joseph Krauss report. “We will now consider alternative options to bring the hostages home and try to create a more stable environment for the people of Gaza,” Witkoff said. How that’s playing: Israel also pulled out its negotiating team, Bloomberg’s Eric Martin and colleagues write. Meanwhile, world leaders are rallying around Gaza, with Canadian PM Mark Carney slamming Israel for the growing humanitarian crisis in the West Bank. French President Emmanuel Macron said France will recognize Palestine as a state, per AP’s Angela Charlton.
| | | | Playbook, the unofficial guide to official Washington, isn’t just a newsletter — it’s a podcast, too. With new co-hosts who bring unmatched Trump world reporting and analysis, The Playbook Podcast dives deeper into the power plays shaping Washington. Get the insider edge—start listening now. | | | | | BEST OF THE REST BYE GEORGE: Former Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.) reports to prison today to begin his seven-year sentence. “The curtain falls, the spotlight dims and the rhinestones are packed,” Santos wrote on X in his farewell message. He’s worried about being a target while in prison, Santos told POLITICO’s Emily Ngo this week. Before he reports to serve time, he’s racking up media appearance after media appearance, Emily writes: “It’s all a sort of last hurrah before heading to the slammer.” COUNTDOWN TO RECESS: Staring down one more week of the Senate, we’re looking at a slew of nominations that could get pushed through the weekend, Axios’ Stef Kight reports. There’s already 8 p.m. votes scheduled for Monday. And there are hopes of roping together three funding bills into a “minibus” package to pass before the recess, POLITICO’s Jordain Carney and colleagues report. More from our colleagues in Inside Congress REDISTRICTING 101: Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis said yesterday that his state is “malapportioned” and should redraw districts ahead of 2026 — the latest attempt by a Republican state to gerrymander new GOP-friendly seats before the midterms, per POLITICO’s Andrew Atterbury. … And New York Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul is embracing the prospect of new districts in her state, POLITICO’s Nick Reisman writes. “All’s fair in love and war. We’re following the rules,” Hochul said, adding that if other states don’t follow the rules, “we’re also going to see what our options are.” THE TENNESSEE WALTZ: The special election in Tennessee to fill former Rep. Mark Green’s seat is set for an Oct. 7 primary day and Dec. 2 general election, per AP’s Jonathan Mattise. MEDIA CORNER: The FCC approved Skydance’s merger with Paramount yesterday, just two days after Trump heralded their settlement, NYT’s Ben Mullin reports. Brendan Carr said he received commitments from Skydance for Paramount to be unbiased and not include any DEI programs. THE USAID VACUUM: “Millions go hungry in Nigeria as aid dries up, jihadists surge,” by AFP: “While Nigeria’s 16-year-old insurgency has slowed since violence peaked around 2015, attacks have picked up since the beginning of the year due to a myriad of factors that saw jihadist groups strengthen and security forces stretched thin. … Rations are already meagre -- and set to run out as Western aid dries up. … ‘This is our last rice from USAID … There is no food left in the warehouses,’ said [Chi] Lael. ‘Lives will be lost.’” A NEW ONE FOR YOUR INBOX: Want to know how health care regulation, tariffs or court rulings could ripple through the economy? POLITICO’s flagship financial newsletter has a new Friday edition built for the economic era we’re living in. Each week, “Morning Money: Capital Risk” brings sharp reporting and analysis on how political risk moves markets and how investors are adapting. Sign up here.
| | | THE WEEKEND AHEAD POLITICO “The Conversation with Dasha Burns”: Marty Makary ABC “This Week”: Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) … Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.). Legal panel: Chris Christie and Sarah Isgur. Panel: Donna Brazile, Reince Priebus and Rachael Bade. MSNBC “The Weekend: Primetime”: Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.) ... Rep. Lizzie Fletcher (D-Texas) ... Dan Osborn. CNN “State of the Union”: Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) … Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.). Panel: Rep. Madeleine Dean (D-Penn.), Alyssa Farah Griffin and Jamal Simmons. FOX “Fox News Sunday”: Rep. Rick Crawford (R-Ark.) … Rep. Jason Crow (D-Colo.). Legal panel: Jonathan Turley and Ilya Shapiro. Panel: Stef Kight, Mario Parker, Kevin Roberts and Juan Williams. NewsNation “The Hill Sunday”: Andrew Desiderio, David Drucker, Emily Brooks and Kellie Meyer. CBS “Face the Nation”: Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) NBC “Meet the Press”: Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) and Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) … House Speaker Mike Johnson … Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.). Panel: Peter Baker, Amna Nawaz, Carlos Curbelo and Jeh Johnson.
| | | | Curious how policy pros are staying ahead? Meet our Policy Intelligence Assistant—only available with a POLITICO Pro subscription. It combines POLITICO’s trusted reporting with advanced AI to deliver sharper insights, faster answers, and two powerful new report builders that help you turn intelligence into action. Ready to experience it for yourself? Sign up for a demo and get 30 days free—no strings attached. | | | | | | | TALK OF THE TOWN | | SPOTTED: Merrick Garland having lunch at Tosca yesterday. Josh Shapiro, governor of Pennsylvania, was a guest on Stephen Colbert’s show last night. ON THE POST: Even the obituary writers at the Washington Post aren’t sticking around, as Michael Schaffer explores in his latest reported column. “It’s just an absolute exodus,” one staffer told Michael of the WaPo’s buyouts, which will be finalized July 31. On that note … First in Playbook: Manuel Roig-Franzia is leaving the Washington Post after 25 years to pursue new projects. His exit marks at least 100 journalists who have left the outlet since November, a person familiar told Playbook. PLAYBOOK METRO SECTION: “Artist pulls show from National Portrait Gallery over censorship concerns,” by Axios’ Jason Lalljee: “Artist Amy Sherald alleged the Smithsonian-owned art museum, which confirmed the show's removal, considered excluding one work in Sherald's show that depicts the Statue of Liberty as a transgender woman.” OUT AND ABOUT — The Consumer Technology Association hosted a fireside chat yesterday, with White House Office of Science & Technology Policy Director Michael Kratsios highlighting the administration's AI Action Plan. SPOTTED: Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), Joel Miller, Elena Hernandez, Dean Ball, Tim Kurth, Will Burns, Addie Cooke, Aya Kiy-Morrocco, Andres Castrillon, Sean Perryman, Kaya Singleton, Rebecca Steele, Pat Thompson, Melissa Tye, Stefania Yanachko, Allison Cullin, Jim Morgan, Ashley Menzler, Tillie Fowler, Pat Pelletier, Gary Shapiro, Kinsey Fabrizio, Michael Petricone, Tiffany Moore and David Grossman. — The Daily Caller hosted the “Daily Caller Live: American Jobs, American Strength” event yesterday at the Waldorf Astoria. SPOTTED: Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), Kevin Keane, Elijah Moorman, Grover Norquist, Phil Kerpen, Jonathan Williams, Dylan Housman, Amber Duke, Reagan Reese, and Adele Malpass. MEDIA MOVES — Konstantin Toropin will be joining the AP as a Pentagon reporter. He previously was a Pentagon correspondent for Military.com. TRANSITIONS — Kate Tyrrell is now chief of staff and senior deputy comptroller at the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. She previously was senior managing director at Greystone. … Michelle West is now a partner in the construction & project development practice at Burr & Forman in their new D.C. office. She previously was counsel at Fox Rothschild LLP. … Jeff Hantson is now a managing director at FGS Global in their D.C. office. He previously was deputy general counsel for Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) on the Senate Judiciary Committee. … Bert Kaufman is now senior counsel for autonomy and robotics at DoorDash. He most recently was a senior adviser at the Commerce Department. First in Playbook: Leslie Nettleford-Freeman is now associate general counsel and VP of legal affairs and brand protection at the National Association of Realtors. She previously was associate general counsel at AARP. WEDDING BELLS — Steve Elmendorf, co-founder and managing partner of Advoq, and Elio Artese, a lawyer, celebrated their marriage last night at the home of Ambassador Tom Nides and Virginia Moseley. Pic … Another pic. SPOTTED: Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), Reps. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), Haley Stevens (D-Mich.) and Rosa De Lauro (D-Conn.), Patti Solis Doyle, Jim Doyle, Elizabeth Miller, Dan Sallick, Michael Paese, Blake Kimbrough, Eric Schultz and Sean Crotty. HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Rep. Jared Golden (D-Maine) … Brad Karp … Alex Nguyen of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s office … Alex Pfeiffer … Andrew Feldman of Feldman Strategies … Kirsten Sutton … The Atlantic’s Anne Applebaum … Sarah Benzing … Fox News’ Katy Ricalde … Daily Mail’s Kelly Laco … Ella Gunn … Victory Enterprises’ Christian Hulen … Bloomberg’s Mike Nizza … Clio Grillakis … Liz Brown of the Children’s Hospital Association … Robert Zoellick … Ducks Unlimited’s Parker Williams … Rebecca Gale … WSJ’s Elise Dean … Jesselyn Cook … Annie Lentz of Rep. Maggie Goodlander’s (D-N.H.) office … Consumer Bankers Association’s Billy Rielly … Katie Martin … USDA’s Jennifer Tiller … CNBC’s Karen James Sloan … Sydney Gart … Christine Quinn … … Ron Walker 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 Zack Stanton, deputy editor Garrett Ross and Playbook Podcast producer Callan Tansill-Suddath.
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