| | | | |  | | By Garrett Ross | | | NOT SO HOT — Today’s jobs report offered a solid but not stellar view of the still-recovering economy — doing little to change perceptions as President JOE BIDEN seeks to trumpet the country’s progress to voters. The economy added 187,000 jobs in July, a figure that fell short of forecasts — even while the unemployment rate fell to 3.5% and wage growth accelerated. The context: “Combined with June’s revised jobs gain of 185,000, the past two months have marked the weakest level of job growth since December 2020, but the gains are still considered solid,” WaPo’s Lauren Kaori Gurley writes. “Friday’s middle-of-the-road report reflects a gradual unwinding of tight labor conditions that Federal Reserve Chair JEROME POWELL says has helped keep prices elevated despite a rapid escalation in borrowing costs,” Sam Sutton and Zachary Warmbrodt write. “It’s also a sign the Fed could still achieve the nigh-impossible ‘soft landing’ — taming inflation without sending the economy into a tailspin. Big banks and Wall Street economists are increasingly bullish on the possibility.”
|  Donald Trump is locking up more support from prominent Republicans — this time in Alabama. | Chuck Burton/AP Photo | ROLL TIDE — DONALD TRUMP has secured the support of the entire Republican Alabama House delegation and five statewide elected officials, Alex Isenstadt scoops, “extending his commanding lead over his primary rivals in endorsements.” “The campaign announced the endorsements one day after Trump was arraigned on federal charges tied to his involvement in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot” — and hours before he is set to make an appearance at the Alabama Republican Party dinner this evening in Montgomery. There are still two prominent Alabama Republicans who have yet to come off the presidential endorsement board, however: Sen. KATIE BRITT and Gov. KAY IVEY. More on that NYT/Siena Iowa poll: The topline from this morning’s NYT/Siena poll of Iowa voters is that Trump is leading the field but by less than many national polls. Trump sits at 44%, with Florida Gov. RON DeSANTIS behind him at 20% and no other candidate garnering double digits. “The poll suggests that Mr. DeSantis’s efforts in Iowa have been having an effect, but that the challenge of defeating Mr. Trump there is doubly complicated: Several rivals are siphoning off the support he would need from voters who are open to alternatives to the former president, and Mr. Trump’s voters are still overwhelmingly behind him. And as with the national race, it seemed Mr. DeSantis was failing to win over voters with the issues he has made central to his campaign, including defeating so-called woke ideologies.” Meanwhile: DeSantis has now fallen below 15% in FiveThirtyEight’s national polling average, dropping to 14.3%. THE PASSION OF CHRISTIE — GOP presidential candidate CHRIS CHRISTIE made a trip to Kyiv, Ukraine, this morning to visit the war-torn country, WaPo’s Maeve Reston reports on the ground. Christie met with Ukrainian President VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY during his visit, which “underscored the sharp GOP divisions over U.S. support for the country in its war against Russia and the high stakes for Ukraine, which now depends on American military and economic aid for its survival.” Related reads: “U.S. and Western officials fear Putin unlikely to change course in Ukraine before 2024 election,” by CNN’s Kylie Atwood, Natasha Bertrand, Jennifer Hansler and Kevin Liptak … “Majority of Americans oppose more U.S. aid for Ukraine in war with Russia,” by CNN’s Jennifer Agiesta AUGUST-IN-WASHINGTON READING — “From Martha’s Vineyard addresses to rushing back to D.C.: When presidential vacations don’t go to plan,” by Kiera Frazier Good Friday afternoon. Thanks for reading Playbook PM. Drop me a line: gross@politico.com.
| | | | A message from The American Petroleum Institute (API): Did You Know? Oil and natural gas supplied 68% of the energy Americans used in 2021. With energy demand only projected to grow, the nation’s ability to prosper and ensure protection from global events hinge on our ability to meet increasing demand with more domestic energy production. Access to oil and natural gas reserves is essential for steady development that ensures America has the safe, reliable and affordable energy it needs to thrive. | | | 2024 WATCH A TALE OF TWO VPS — With the 2024 campaign season ramping up, two vice presidents are coming to the forefront of the race … VP KAMALA HARRIS’ moment: The current No. 2 in the White House has in recent weeks become a favorite boogeyman of Republicans, who have “set their sights on Harris in a more visible way,” WaPo’s Cleve Wootson Jr. writes. DeSantis has challenged her to a debate, and NIKKI HALEY, alluding to Biden’s age, has suggested it’s Harris herself at the top of the Democratic ticket in 2024. “For her part, Harris has leaned into the antagonism, hopscotching around the country, including to GOP strongholds, to fire up Democrats with vivid denunciations of Republican attitudes toward racial justice and abortion rights. The dynamic has raised the visibility of Harris, who is widely seen as a future White House aspirant herself but has struggled to find a path that would cement her standing with the Democratic base.” MIKE PENCE’s crossroads: It’s put-up-or-shut-up time for the former VP. In the crowded Republican field, Pence is “campaigning now as many things: anti-abortion warrior, unbending conservative, believer in ‘heavy doses of civility,’” NYT’s Matt Flegenheimer reports from the road in Iowa and New Hampshire. “Yet he is running most viscerally, whether he intends to or not, as a cautionary tale — a picture of what can happen when anyone, even someone as loyal as he was, defies Mr. Trump.” Consider this summation of Pence’s current standing: “But to see Mr. Pence up close, at stops across Iowa and New Hampshire in recent weeks, is to absorb the bracing particulars of a campaign not sparking — the creaky score of polite clapping in modest rooms — and of a candidate convinced he will be judged kindly by history, unable to hustle that history along. His most prominent turns this summer have been in court documents, not in early states.” Related read: “Mike Pence Certified the 2020 Election. It Might Cost Him 2024,” by WSJ’s John McCormick: “Neither wing of the GOP has backed a man who spent decades courting conservatives and would have been viewed as a top Republican contender in a pre-Trump world. Reporters often ask Pence more about Trump and related legal matters than his policy proposals.” UP FOR DEBATE — WILL HURD told Fox News’ Paul Steinhauser that he’s “confident” he will cross the donor threshold to appear at the first RNC debate, but reiterated his stance that he would not take the loyalty pledge to support the eventual nominee. “Donald Trump hasn’t even agreed to take the pledge,” he said. THE PENALTY BOX — “Biden’s inaction on death penalty may be a top campaign issue as Trump and DeSantis laud executions,” by AP’s Michael Tarm MORE POLITICS OVER THE MOONEY — National Republicans have lined up behind West Virginia Gov. JIM JUSTICE as the man to unseat JOE MANCHIN — a fact that has miffed conservative Rep. ALEX MOONEY, who is also running for the seat. Justice has already “racked up endorsements, a leadership-backed fundraiser — and most importantly, a big lead in the polls,” Burgess Everett writes. “But any hope of Mooney exiting quietly is now meeting reality. And surprisingly, the 52-year-old Freedom Caucus stalwart argues he should have been the party’s guy all along.” What Mooney told Burgess: “I thought I’d be the NRSC-backed candidate ... I’ve been a good, team-playing conservative Republican. … We’ll have to see to what extent the NRSC continues to be involved. Obviously they’ve hosted some things for Mr. Justice, which I frankly am disappointed in.” TOUGH TALK — “Senate’s endangered Dems take a pass on talking Trump,” by Anthony Adragna and Daniella Diaz: “POLITICO asked seven incumbents expected to face competitive reelections in 2024 to weigh in on the charges but heard nothing in response. Of Sens. TAMMY BALDWIN (D-Wis.), SHERROD BROWN (D-Ohio), BOB CASEY (D-Pa.), Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), JACKY ROSEN (D-Nev.), JON TESTER (D-Mont.) and KYRSTEN SINEMA (I-Ariz.), only Sinema’s team replied — with a no comment.” A NEW YORK MINUTE — “Some Democrats Don’t Like Eric Adams. But Can They Beat Him in 2025?” by NYT’s Emma Fitzsimmons, Nicholas Fandos and Jeffery Mays: “A group of mostly left-leaning Democrats held an early strategy meeting to discuss how they might defeat Mr. Adams in 2025. It won’t be easy.”
| | | | ATTENTION PLAYBOOKERS! You need to keep up with the latest political news and nuggets, so here’s a juicy tip: You need to add California Playbook to your daily reading. We have a new team at the helm who are eager to take you inside the political arena in California, from Sacramento and Los Angeles to Silicon Valley and throughout the Golden State! Get the latest exclusive news and buzzy scoops from the fourth largest economy in the world sent straight to your inbox. SUBSCRIBE TODAY. | | | | | TRUMP CARDS MADE-FOR-TV — “House Democrats push for televising Trump trials on classified documents, 2020 charges,” by WaPo’s John Wagner: “While cameras are common in state and local courtrooms, they are generally not allowed in federal courtrooms. The Judicial Conference of the United States, the policymaking body for the courts, has allowed some pilot programs in recent decades focused on civil cases. Lawmakers in both parties have unsuccessfully pushed legislation to allow more transparency.” INTERESTING POINT — “If convicted, Trump Secret Service protection may rule out prison,” by WaPo’s Spencer Hsu, Carol Leonnig and Tom Jackman CANNON FODDER — “Trump documents case judge made multiple errors in earlier trial,” by Reuters’ Sarah Lynch and Jacqueline Thomsen THE WHITE HOUSE WELCOME TO THE SHOW — “Play it again, Joe. Biden bets that repeating himself is smart politics,” by AP’s Josh Boak: “Move over, BEYONCE and TAYLOR SWIFT. Biden has his own greatest hits, and he’s keeping them on repeat. If you’ve heard one of the Democratic president’s recent speeches, you’ve basically heard them all — and you’re sure to keep hearing the same refrains in the year-plus leading up to Election Day 2024. People in Arizona, New Mexico and Utah will get to sample the playlist starting Tuesday, when Biden makes a three-day swing through the Southwest.” CONGRESS THE CRYPTO CRACKDOWN — “Crypto Heists Funneling Billions to North Korea’s Nuclear Program Attract Senate Scrutiny,” by WSJ’s Dustin Volz: Sens. ELIZABETH WARREN (D-Mass.), TIM KAINE (D-Va.) and CHRIS VAN HOLLEN (D-Md.) sent a letter to the Biden administration yesterday “pressing the Biden administration to disclose more information about its efforts to counteract North Korea’s dependence on stolen cryptocurrency to fund its nuclear program, calling Pyongyang’s growing reliance on digital assets to evade sanctions a severe national security threat.”
| | | | HITTING YOUR INBOX AUGUST 14—CALIFORNIA CLIMATE: Climate change isn’t just about the weather. It's also about how we do business and create new policies, especially in California. So we have something cool for you: A brand-new California Climate newsletter. It's not just climate or science chat, it's your daily cheat sheet to understanding how the legislative landscape around climate change is shaking up industries across the Golden State. Cut through the jargon and get the latest developments in California as lawmakers and industry leaders adapt to the changing climate. Subscribe now to California Climate to keep up with the changes. | | | | | BEYOND THE BELTWAY DeSANTIS DOWNLOAD — “DeSantis appointee to Disney board taught seminar using discredited research claiming White people were slaves in America,” by CNN’s Andrew Kaczynski, Em Steck and Steve Contorno: “The comments were made by RON PERI, one of five people DeSantis appointed earlier this year to oversee the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District to replace the old board after the company spoke out against what critics dubbed the ‘Don’t Say Gay’ law in Florida. Peri, an Orlando-based pastor and CEO of a Christian ministry group called The Gathering, made the comments in an hourlong class for his group posted on YouTube about critical race theory called ‘Cunningly Devised Fables.’” POLICY CORNER ESA ENDANGERED? — While scientists and conservationists say the Endangered Species Act of 1973 is still “as essential as ever” to protect the nation’s wildlife, conservatives in Washington are ramping up their efforts to weaken the bill, AP’s John Flesher reports: “[T]he law has become so controversial that Congress hasn’t updated it since 1992 — and some worry it won’t last another half-century … Some experts say the law’s survival depends on rebuilding bipartisan support, no easy task in polarized times.” FOOD FIGHT — As inflation rates cool worldwide, many countries are still facing record food price inflation, and experts fear it may get worse, WSJ’s Paul Hannon reports: “A combination of disrupted exports, unusually hot weather and Russia’s continuing pounding of Ukraine, one of the world’s largest grain producers, is likely to add fresh momentum to the main source of global inflation.” PLAYBOOKERS MEDIA MOVE — Olivia Petersen is now VP of public relations at WaPo. She previously was head of comms at Morning Consult. TRANSITIONS — Mikey Franklin is now executive director of Freedom at Home and Abroad, a new organization supporting US aid to Ukraine. He previously was senior strategist at New/Mode … Leslie McGorman is now director of policy and strategy at AIDS United. She previously was director of public policy at the American Academy of HIV Medicine. 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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