| | | | |  | | By Garrett Ross | | | |  A new ad from Trump world is hitting out at Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis over entitlement vulnerabilities — and his reported eating habits. | John Bazemore/AP Photo | LEAK LATEST — “Leak suspect charged with retention of defense information, willful control of classified documents,” by WaPo’s Mariya Manzhos, Devlin Barrett and John Wagner: “JACK TEIXEIRA, the Massachusetts Air National Guard member suspected of leaking a trove of classified military intelligence, was charged by the federal government Friday with retention and transmission of national defense information and willful retention of classified documents. “Teixeira, 21, appeared shortly after 10 a.m. Eastern before Magistrate Judge DAVID HENNESSY of the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts in Boston. The two criminal charges carry a maximum of 15 years in prison. Teixeira did not enter a plea and is detained pending a hearing on Wednesday.” CNN: “See the criminal complaint and affidavit for suspect in classified information leak” Related read: “Russia’s commando units gutted by Ukraine war, U.S. leak shows,” by WaPo’s Alex Horton TWO TALKERS … UNIFIED AGENDA — Third Way President JONATHAN COWAN, MoveOn Executive Director RAHNA EPTING and Center for American Progress Action Fund CEO PATRICK GASPARD team up for a fiery op-ed in WaPo to rail against No Labels’ effort to build out a unity ticket for the 2024 election: “This plan for a third-party presidential bid in 2024 is dangerous” “No Labels is offering an illusion, not a choice,” they write. “At a time when our nation is being tested, this organization could help defeat a mainstream president and elect or reelect a radical and vindictive MAGA Republican. For the sake of our country, leaders across the political spectrum should call on No Labels to stand down.” No Labels responds: In a statement provided to Playbook, No Labels spokesperson MARYANNE MARTINI fired back: “Americans so clearly want other voices in our political process, but that’s the last thing No Labels’ opponents want. To them, Americans are sheep that need to be managed, not freethinking people who can make their own choices. But there’s a commonsense majority that knows we can’t afford four more years of endless partisan battles while Washington does nothing about immigration, our debt, our failing education system and so many other problems. They want what No Labels is offering and we aren’t backing down.” Flashback, Playbook on March 7: “Dems fret about a No Labels spoiler ticket” TRUMP HITS DeSANTIS — In a buzzy new ad, former President DONALD TRUMP’s super PAC goes after Florida Gov. RON DeSANTIS on Social Security and Medicare, while also jabbing his Republican rival over the reported incident when DeSantis ate pudding with his fingers. “Ron DeSantis loves sticking his fingers where they don’t belong — and we’re not just talking about pudding,” a voiceover says as a reenactor sticks three fingers in a pudding cup and scoops it into his mouth. Watch the full ad Our colleague Natalie Allison notes that the ad aired this morning on CNN, Fox News and Newsmax. Related read: “Donald Trump Targets Ron DeSantis, Other GOP Foes on Social Security, Medicare,” by WSJ’s Aaron Zitner: “Some congressional Republicans say they worry that the presidential-campaign discussion will make it harder to negotiate changes to the programs if voters aren’t told that the financial problems need to be addressed quickly.” Meanwhile: “DeSantis helps New Hampshire Republicans set new fundraising record ahead of potential presidential campaign,” by Fox News’ Paul Steinhauser Noteworthy: “DeSantis Attempts to Woo Young Evangelicals,” by NYT’s Ruth Graham Huh: Covering his speech at Liberty University today, Gary Fineout notes that DeSantis “did not mention the newly-signed ban on abortion after six weeks, although it was mentioned in his introduction. DeSantis stuck to familiar points he has cited in previous remarks.” AFTERNOON READ — “The Reopening That Wasn’t: As Government Employees Work From Home, People Find Services Curtailed,” by ProPublica’s Alec MacGillis: “Everything from pandemic policies to security concerns is causing agencies to reduce in-person services, including licenses and permits.” WORTH YOUR TIME — Video from WSJ: “Evan Gershkovich’s Family Speaks Out for the First Time Since His Arrest” Happy Friday afternoon. Thanks for reading Playbook PM. Drop me a line: gross@politico.com.
| | | | A message from Airlines for America: Did you know? 90 percent of Americans have flown at least once. More than half of Americans have flown before their 16th birthday. Two million people choose to fly each day in the U.S. This is possible because robust competition among U.S. airlines generates enormous options for consumers, which is why Americans from a range of economic, cultural and racial backgrounds have flown. In 2021, one-third of Americans who flew had family incomes under $75,000. Learn more: www.airlines.org. | | | JUDICIARY SQUARE SCOTUS WATCH — “Biden administration asks Supreme Court to restore access to abortion pill,” by Josh Gerstein and Alice Miranda Ollstein: “The Justice Department filed the emergency application with the high court after a federal appeals court rolled back a series of measures that had expanded the availability of mifepristone in recent years. Solicitor General ELIZABETH PRELOGAR called the potential impact of the decision ‘profoundly damaging’ and asked the high court to put the ruling on hold while litigation continues. If the justices aren’t willing to do that, the Justice Department asked that the rollback be suspended temporarily and that the justices hear argument on the issue before their summer recess.” TRUMP’S URGENT REQUEST — “Trump asks appeals court to immediately block Pence from testifying in Jan. 6 probe,” by NBC’s Daniel Barnes and Rebecca Shabad: “A ruling on Trump's motion could come within days, based on how quickly the circuit ruled on previous similar requests from the former president. If the court declines to stay the lower court's order, Trump would be left with no options to stop [former VP MIKE] PENCE’s testimony other than appealing to the Supreme Court.” CONGRESS SCARY STUFF — The U.S. Capitol Police said this morning its officers “stopped an assault rifle, with an extended magazine, before it reached Capitol Hill.” The details: “Just after 5:00 a.m, a USCP screening team spotted the gun, which was partially wrapped in a blanket in the back seat of a large Ford pick-up truck. The rifle was confiscated at an off-site delivery facility where the Department inspects delivery vehicles before they get to Capitol Grounds. Although our investigators are still looking into this case, at this time, there is no evidence that shows this person was targeting the Congress or the Capitol Complex.” Read the full press release TAIPEI-BACK — “China sanctions U.S. Congress member for Taiwan visit,” by AP’s Huizhong Wu: “The sanctions against Rep. MICHAEL McCAUL [R-Texas] include freezing his assets and properties in China, prohibiting any organization or individual in China from conducting transactions or working with him, and denying him a visa to enter the country, according to a statement Thursday from China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.” ALL POLITICS DEEP DIVE ON TENNESSEE — “When a Legislature Goes to War With Its State’s Richest City,” by Kathy Gilsinan in Nashville for POLITICO Magazine: “This is a version of something happening all over the country, at every level of government, in which the preferences of voters often filter through representative bodies whose lopsided majorities don’t really represent the electorate of the state around them. In Tennessee’s case, the metro area of Nashville, its most populous city and the economic engine of the state, finds itself with little policy influence inside a gun-friendly legislature.” Related read: “Politics Rooted in Protest Fuels ‘the Justins’ of Tennessee,” by NYT’s Clyde McGrady and Emily Cochrane FRIENDLY FACEOFFS — “Republicans look to stave off chaotic primaries in Senate races,” by WaPo’s Liz Goodwin and Yvonne Wingett Sanchez: “At a meeting in a Scottsdale conference room, state party Chair JEFF DeWIT urged the candidates to avoid destructive personal attacks on one another in a bid to avoid a rerun of 2022, when nearly every Republican running for statewide office lost following toxic primaries … ‘They want to ensure as best they can that we have candidates who are sane and can win,’ said GOP strategist DOUG HEYE, a former Republican National Committee official.”
| | | | GO INSIDE THE 2023 MILKEN INSTITUTE GLOBAL CONFERENCE: POLITICO is proud to partner with the Milken Institute to produce a special edition "Global Insider" newsletter featuring exclusive coverage, insider nuggets and unparalleled insights from the 2023 Global Conference, which will convene leaders in health, finance, politics, philanthropy and entertainment from April 30-May 3. This year’s theme, Advancing a Thriving World, will challenge and inspire attendees to lean into building an optimistic coalition capable of tackling the issues and inequities we collectively face. Don’t miss a thing — subscribe today for a front row seat. | | | | | POLICY CORNER TEAMING UP — “Biden administration announces plan with Mexico to fight fentanyl and firearms,” by NBC’s Julia Ainsley AUSTERITY HITS HOME — “Workers at anti-poverty World Bank struggle to pay bills,” by AP’s Fatima Hussein: “This week, as leaders from around the world are in D.C for the spring meeting of the poverty-fighting organization, [ANDRE] BLOUNT and his coworkers are trying to bring attention to what they see as a galling situation: The workers who put food on the table for an organization whose mission is to fight poverty are themselves struggling to get by. Union leaders say a quarter of the World Bank food workers employed as a contract laborers through Compass Group North America receive public benefits, like SNAP, or food stamps, just to make ends meet.” RIPPLE EFFECT — “Millions expected to lose dental care coverage after Medicaid review,” by NBC’s Phil McCausland: “More than 14 million adults across the United States who receive Medicaid are at risk of losing dental health coverage now that the Covid public health emergency is over, according to data exclusively obtained by NBC News.” THE ECONOMY WHERE DO WE GO NOW? — “Unemployment Is Low. Inflation Is Falling. But What Comes Next?” by NYT’s Ben Casselman: “For all the good news, economists remain worried that a recession is on the way or that the Federal Reserve will cause one in trying to rein in inflation.” BEYOND THE BELTWAY LOUISVILLE SHOOTER UPDATE — “Louisville gunman’s brain to be studied for CTE, father says,” by CNN’s Adrienne Broaddus, Aya Elamroussi, Eric Levenson and Mark Morales SCHOOL SUPPORT GROUP — “A Well of Conservative Support for Public Schools in Rural Texas,” by NYT’s J. David Goodman in New Home, Texas: “A national movement to give parents public vouchers to spend on private schools has run up against the deep loyalty Texas has always had for its public schools.” ONE TO WATCH — “Montana close to becoming 1st state to completely ban TikTok,” by AP’s Amy Beth Hanson and Haleluya Hadero: “Montana’s proposal, which has backing from the state’s GOP-controlled legislature, is more sweeping than bans in place in nearly half the states and the U.S. federal government that prohibit TikTok on government devices.” FLORIDA FILES — “Florida set to lower death penalty threshold as bill heads to DeSantis,” by WaPo’s Andrew Jeong
| | | | STEP INSIDE THE WEST WING: What's really happening in West Wing offices? Find out who's up, who's down, and who really has the president’s ear in our West Wing Playbook newsletter, the insider's guide to the Biden White House and Cabinet. For buzzy nuggets and details that you won't find anywhere else, subscribe today. | | | | | AMERICA AND THE WORLD MEGATREND — “India’s population overtakes China’s, but numbers mask a bigger story,” by WaPo’s Gerry Shih and Karishma Mehrotra: “While India’s overall population is no longer skyrocketing, and in fact it’s quickly flattening, U.N. experts have projected that sometime this month it will finally exceed China’s gradually shrinking population. (They can’t say precisely when.) This demographic milestone, however, masks dramatically divergent trajectories inside India, with fertility rates varying sharply from state to state.” FOR YOUR RADAR — “U.S. ‘disappointed’ by Chinese court’s decision to uphold death sentence for American citizen,” by CNN’s Jennifer Hansler and Nectar Gan MEDIAWATCH PARLER GAMES — “Parler Shuts Down Temporarily, Finds Buyer Months After Kanye West Deal Faltered,” WSJ’s Sarah Needleman scoops. PLAYBOOKERS OUT AND ABOUT — Dave McCormick held an event for his book tour at law firm Cozen O’Connor’s Philadelphia office Wednesday night. Former Rep. Rodney Davis (R-Ill.) moderated the conversation with McCormick. SPOTTED: Pat Meehan, Jim Schultz, Andy Reilly, Steve Aichele, Elizabeth Preate Havey, Pat Poprik and Howard Schweitzer. — SPOTTED at SMI’s Capitol Crossing rooftop spring reception last night: Col. Dennis Wille, Peter Hill, Bill McCann, Steven Carlson, Mark Fowler, Samer Hamadeh, Lee Hudson, Ireland Lesley, Tom Hicks, Ryan Maddock, Connor O’Brien and Rachel Alansky. TRANSITION — Vincent Femia is now executive director of advancement for corporate relations at the University of Missouri. He previously was deputy director of development at the Center for a New American Security. 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.
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