| | | | |  | | By Eli Okun | | | |  President Joe Biden trumpeted that he'd created “more jobs in 28 months than any President has created in an entire 4-year term.” | Francis Chung/POLITICO via AP Photo | JOBS DAY — A recession looks more remote today after a shockingly strong jobs report showed that the economy added 339,000 jobs last month. The roaring numbers confounded expectations that the Fed’s campaign of interest rate increases was finally slowing down the economy. And while the unemployment rate did rise, ticking up unexpectedly to 3.7%, even that may be a positive sign for the Fed’s fight against inflation, in which wages are a major factor. Details from the AP President JOE BIDEN took a victory lap, claiming in a statement that he’d created “more jobs in 28 months than any President has created in an entire 4-year term.” Markets leapt hundreds of points on the news, which piggybacked on the debt-ceiling deal and receding fears about the spring banking crisis. “The labor market and the economy it supports will just not go gently into that good night, despite policy efforts to cool both,” economist JOE BRUSUELAS tells our colleague Sam Sutton. On that note: The Fed appears likely to stick with its plan to pause hate hikes for at least this month, NYT’s Jeanna Smialek reports, as central bankers “assess how the economy is absorbing the big policy changes they have already made and the consequences of other developments.” DOCU-DRAMA — Former VP MIKE PENCE will not be charged, nor will anyone else, as the Justice Department closes its investigation into his handling of classified documents, CNN’s Jerermy Herb and Katelyn Polantz report. DOJ formally sent a letter to Pence’s team yesterday informing him of the end of the probe. It’s fortuitous timing for Pence, who’s expected to launch his presidential bid next week and have a high-profile CNN town hall. He’ll now be able to draw a clearer contrast with DONALD TRUMP and Biden, who are each still under federal investigation for their possession of classified materials. Trump’s lawyers, meanwhile, can’t find the classified Iran document he talked on tape about taking from the White House in 2021, CNN’s Kaitlan Collins, Paula Reid and Katelyn Polantz scooped. Federal investigators have subpoenaed the document; it’s not clear whether they already have it or it’s missing. AFTERNOON READ — Tim Alberta’s massive Atlantic feature about what’s gone wrong at CNN under CHRIS LICHT has been the talk of the town today. Alberta depicts Licht, not without sympathy, as a man who’s lost the confidence of his newsroom without successfully luring Republican viewers back to the network — all while paying keen attention to how he’s perceived, both inside and outside the network. “Licht’s theory of CNN — what had gone wrong, how to fix it, and why doing so could lift the entire industry — made a lot of sense,” Alberta writes. “The execution of that theory? Another story. Every move he made, big programming decisions and small tactical maneuvers alike, seemed to backfire. By most metrics, the network under Licht’s leadership had reached its historic nadir. In my conversations with nearly 100 employees at CNN, it was clear that Licht needed a win — a big win — to keep the place from falling apart. The Trump town hall was supposed to be that win. It had to be that win. And yet, once again, the execution had failed.” Among the other notable nuggets:
- In the “pregame” to the town hall, the words “SEXUAL ABUSE” were written on a chyron — and an unnamed Licht lieutenant immediately demanded that they be removed.
- Alberta observes Licht exercising: As he squats to lift a metal pole, the exec says, “[JEFF] ZUCKER couldn’t do this shit.”
- Licht seems hyper-aware of his media coverage and criticism. He tells friends he’ll “destroy” KURT BARDELLA for a negative column. And at a holiday dinner at Cafe Milano, he barely seemed engaged with colleagues — focused instead on reading a Puck story about himself.
- FRANK LUNTZ tearfully tells Licht at one point, “My hopes and dreams are embodied in you.”
- How does Licht plan to cover Trump? “You cover him like any other candidate,” he says.
Reports Brian Stelter: “The consensus, among people who knew @TimAlberta’s piece was coming, is that it’s much ‘worse’ than they expected. Licht confided in Alberta the way a client confides in a therapist. Some CNN staffers are shocked.” Happy Friday afternoon. Thanks for reading Playbook PM. Drop me a line at eokun@politico.com.
| | | | A message from Altria: The future of Tobacco Harm Reduction. More than 70% of U.S. adults 21+ surveyed support Tobacco Harm Reduction as the right path forward for tobacco regulation. And two out of three believe the FDA should focus its efforts on Tobacco Harm Reduction. See the poll results here. | | | TRUMP CARDS THE INVESTIGATIONS — Fulton County, Ga., DA FANI WILLIS’ probe into the efforts to overturn the 2020 election is now covering activities not just in Georgia but in several other states and D.C., too, WaPo’s Amy Gardner and Josh Dawsey report. That’s “a fresh sign that prosecutors may be building a sprawling case under Georgia’s racketeering laws.” Specifically, investigators have been looking into the Trump campaign’s use of outside firms to find examples of voter fraud — which didn’t turn up widespread problems. 2024 WATCH UP FOR DEBATE — The Republican presidential field is stuck in a “deadlock” with major TV networks over who will host the debates after Fox News airs the first one in August, Axios’ Alex Thompson and Sara Fischer report. CNN and NBC News are pushing hard to host a debate, but Florida Gov. RON DeSANTIS, who shuns the mainstream media, is resisting RNC plans to partner with either network. Meanwhile, Trump is dubious of Fox News — and of how much he needs debates at all, since he’s in the lead now. Other outlets pitching: Newsmax, Rumble, ABC, CBS, PBS, WaPo. Other outlets NOT pitching: POLITICO, Axios, Facebook, Twitter. ALL IN THE FAMILY — Do Republican primary voters still care about family values? Despite Trump’s success, DeSantis is projecting a wholesome picture of his family in an intentional effort to peel off evangelical voters who are “sick of the sexualized drama from a man also under investigation for classified documents,” NBC’s Natasha Korecki and Henry Gomez report from Salix, Iowa. With his wife CASEY often on the trail too, DeSantis is hoping that the portrait of his marriage and three kids will draw a clear contrast with Trump’s personal life — and remind voters of his youth, too. ON THE TRAIL — DeSantis’ campaign swing this week offers an early opportunity to try to shake the persistent criticisms that he’s cold, aloof or bad at retail politicking, report WSJ’s Alex Leary in Laconia, N.H., and John McCormick in Council Bluffs, Iowa. He’s trying to personalize his speeches more. Though the governor was overall “well-received,” the Journal finds, there were some lingering moments of awkwardness or voters who wanted more. “I’m not taking issue with the topics he discussed. I’m taking issue with the delivery,” says one Granite State attendee. “I really wanted more interactivity. I didn’t want a monologue.”
| | | | DON’T MISS POLITICO’S HEALTH CARE SUMMIT: The Covid-19 pandemic helped spur innovation in health care, from the wide adoption of telemedicine, health apps and online pharmacies to mRNA vaccines. But what will the next health care innovations look like? Join POLITICO on Wednesday June 7 for our Health Care Summit to explore how tech and innovation are transforming care and the challenges ahead for access and delivery in the United States. REGISTER NOW. | | | | | CONGRESS MARK YOUR CALENDARS — Congressional leaders invited Indian PM NARENDRA MODI to address a joint session of Congress on June 22. Read the letter AMERICA AND THE WORLD DANCE OF THE SUPERPOWERS — CIA Director BILL BURNS secretly journeyed to China for talks last month with Chinese intelligence officials, FT’s Demetri Sevastopulo scooped from Singapore. The highest-level visit from a U.S. official since 2021 “signals how concerned the White House had become about deteriorating relations.” — Meanwhile, Defense Secretary LLOYD AUSTIN shook hands with Chinese counterpart LI SHANGFU in Singapore today, though they didn’t talk much, per Marcia Brown. — “Top American, Chinese defense officials vie for influence in Asia-Pacific,” by AP’s David Rising: “[T]op defense officials from both countries are preparing to try to win support this weekend from their regional counterparts, diplomats and leaders at a security forum in Singapore.” OPENING UP — “U.S. reopens embassy in Seychelles after 27-year absence,” AP FROM BONE SAWS TO CENTRIFUGES — “The Saudis want the U.S. to help build a ‘nuclear Aramco,’” by Semafor’s Jay Solomon: “Riyadh has proposed to visiting American leaders developing a joint U.S.-Saudi project to build the country’s civilian nuclear energy program.” THE DEBT CEILING HOW IT HAPPENED — They didn’t draw much attention, but behind the scenes centrist Sens. JOE MANCHIN (D-W.Va.) and KYRSTEN SINEMA (I-Ariz.) played a significant role in steering the debt ceiling negotiations to a deal, Burgess Everett and Jennifer Haberkorn report. They’re happy that the final bill ticked off the left and right while winning votes from the center. Sinema worked shuttle diplomacy with negotiators on both sides and helped the Senate land a time agreement yesterday. And Manchin got his prized special treatment for the Mountain Valley Pipeline inserted in the bill. THE TAXMAN GIVETH — The IRS and its defenders have a new fear after the debt ceiling deal: that Washington will keep seeing the agency as an easy place from which to claw back money, Brian Faler reports. “The administration itself is downplaying the impact of the impending $21.4 billion cut … But, by that logic, lawmakers will surely ask why they can’t lop off another year or two or three off the back end, and use the savings for something else.”
| | | | GET READY FOR GLOBAL TECH DAY: Join POLITICO Live as we launch our first Global Tech Day alongside London Tech Week on Thursday, June 15. Register now for continuing updates and to be a part of this momentous and program-packed day! From the blockchain, to AI, and autonomous vehicles, technology is changing how power is exercised around the world, so who will write the rules? REGISTER HERE. | | | | | POLICY CORNER INTERIOR AFFAIRS — Interior Secretary DEB HAALAND announced this morning that the agency will block future oil and gas leasing on federal land around Chaco Canyon in New Mexico for the next two decades, the Albuquerque Journal’s Dan Boyd reports: “Haaland, a former New Mexico congresswoman who is the nation’s first-ever Native American Cabinet secretary, said tribal communities have raised concern for decades about the impacts of new oil and gas drilling in the northwest New Mexico national historical site.” WAR IN UKRAINE THE NEXT TRANCHES — “Tanks, F-16 jets part of long-term aid for Ukraine, won’t be ready for upcoming offensive, U.S. says,” by AP’s Tara Copp PLAYBOOKERS OUT AND ABOUT — SPOTTED at a “Business and the Fight for Democracy” panel hosted by Clyde Group at Present Company Public House last night: Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes, U.S. Election Assistance Commissioner Ben Hovland, Mike Carney and Ginny Badanes. BONUS BIRTHDAY: Darby McQueen-Dever of Rep. Ben Cline’s (R-Va.) office 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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