POLITICO Playbook Daily Briefing

For the first time since the start of his criminal trial in New York, former President Donald Trump returned to the campaign trail yesterday with rallies in Wisconsin and Michigan. The Trump who showed up marked a return to form — for better or worse — but also a reminder of the unique vulnerabilities he brings to the general election (from railing against his indictments and comparing himself to Al Capone, to thanking by name the conservative justices responsible for overturning Roe). Playbook co-authors Eugene Daniels and Ryan Lizza break down the appearances and where we expect things to go from here.

The Department of Justice is poised to significantly loosen federal cannabis restrictions, reclassifying the substance from Schedule I — the most serious classification — to Schedule III. Federal cannabis policy reporter Natalie Fertig joins Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels to walk through what this means practically and politically. Plus, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene is expected to double-down on her effort to oust Speaker Mike Johnson, and Vice President Kamala Harris heads to Florida to reinforce Biden’s abortion rights message.

White House reporter and West Wing Playbook author Eli Stokols has been reporting on the simmering rift between Joe Biden’s administration and the New York Times, and the White House Correspondent’s Dinner this past weekend introduced another layer. Stokols joins Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza to discuss. Plus, MTG is a no-show in the House Monday night, and the rest of the news you need to know today.

Prior to last week’s congressional recess, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene appeared poised for battle to vacate Speaker Mike Johnson from his post. But over the weeklong break, she didn’t offer any updates on the mission. It has now been 38 days since Greene first filed that motion, and she has gone completely quiet on her plans. What’s going on? Playbook co-author Rachael Bade walks through some possibilities. All that, and the rest of the news you need to know today.

Former President Donald Trump had a huge day in two different courtrooms on Thursday, but was only present for the one in Manhattan. David Pecker took the stand as a key witness in the case, and he alleged Trump was not the only prominent political figure for whom he caught and killed stories. Legal reporter Ben Feuerherd takes Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza through what it was like in the courtroom. All that, and everything else you need to know today.

Even by modern standards, this is a dizzying day of Trump legal news. Today, he’ll return to a Manhattan court room where Judge Juan Merchan could rule over whether he violated a gag order and former National Enquirer chief David Pecker will resume his testimony in Trump’s criminal trial. Meanwhile, in Washington, the Supreme Court will hear oral arguments over Trump’s claims of presidential immunity from prosecution related to his attempts to overturn the 2020 election. POLITICO Magazine staff writer Ankush Khardori joins Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels to walk through what to expect.

Late Tuesday evening, the Senate finally passed the long-awaited foreign aid bill that also moves to ban TikTok, citing national security concerns. President Joe Biden is expected to sign the bill in the coming days. So, what does this mean for the popular social networking app, and can anything save it? Tech policy reporter Rebecca Kern walks Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels through some of the possibilities.

Can Joe Biden win Florida come November? It's unlikely, but the Sunshine State might still loom large in Biden's campaign -- serving as perfect fodder for why he needs to be reelected. When Biden travels there today, he will denounce its red-tinged policies, especially the six-week abortion ban set to take effect next week. Deputy national editor Zach Montellaro joins Playbook deputy editor Zack Stanton to talk through it all. Plus, Trump faces accusations he violated the gag order, and how the chaos at Columbia University is affecting Capitol Hill.

After every day last week was devoted to assembling a jury, the trial involving allegations that Trump paid hush money to two women with whom he was having affairs will begin today in Manhattan. Senior legal affairs reporter Josh Gerstein chats with Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza about what’s on his radar and District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s attempt to “rebrand” the case.

Mike Johnson is close to notching a major legislative victory that may come at an extremely high cost: His job as speaker of the House. The foreign aid supplemental that’s been roiling the House GOP comes up for a procedural vote today where it’ll need Democratic support to pass — and if that vote on the rule passes, the underlying legislation will also need Democratic votes to get through. That’s good news for Ukraine and Israel. But for Johnson, the picture is decidedly less clear. Playbook co-authors Rachael Bade and Ryan Lizza game it all out.

After two days, the jury for Donald Trump’s criminal prosecution for business fraud in New York is taking starting to take shape — and the legal world is surprised by what it sees. Of the seven jurors impaneled so far, two have something very important in common: They are lawyers. That is deeply unusual, legal correspondent Betsy Woodruff Swan tells Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels, and it could have interesting implications for the entire case.

On Tuesday, Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky became the second congressman to publicly declare support for a motion-to-vacate attempt against House Speaker Mike Johnson. The basis for all of the drama? The rising tensions over the proposed foreign aid package. Playbook co-author Rachael Bade joins co-author Eugene Daniels to walk through all the nuances, and what comes next. Plus, what's next in the Trump hush money trial, and could the impending impeachment trial of Alejandro Mayorkas be the shortest one in history?

After stalling for months, House Speaker Mike Johnson finally has a plan to tackle aid to Ukraine and Israel — and it amounts to the trickiest legislative issue of his speakership. Among its provisions? Turning foreign aid into loans, using frozen Russian assets to assist Zelenskyy’s government and — if that weren’t enough — a TikTok ban. Playbook co-author Rachael Bade breaks it all down.

Donald Trump will appear in court today for the first day of his hush money trial in Manhattan. Ankush Khardori, former federal prosecutor at the Department of Justice and senior staff writer at Politico joins Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza to walk through what to expect. Plus, all eyes are on Iran on Capitol Hill, and Majority Leader Chuck Schumer could take up the newly-reauthorized FISA as soon as tonight.

Donald Trump has been outspoken in his belief that he has been martyred by the U.S. justice system, especially in the lead-up to his hush money trial Monday. But as legal editor James Romoser has uncovered, Trump might be on to something with the idea that the justice system is two-tiered; what he hasn't mentioned is the extent to which it favors him. Romoser joins Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels to break it all down. Plus, Eugene's reporting about Vice President Kamala Harris' new, more aggressive message on abortion rights; and on this week's Playbook Deep Dive, Michael Cohen sat down with Ryan Lizza — don't miss it.

Is Mike Johnson’s time as speaker limited? After weeks of delay, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s motion to vacate — a procedural move that would oust him from the House’s top spot — seems to be coming to a head, just at Johnson’s moment of maximum vulnerability. And this time, House Democrats won’t be able to save him. Congress reporter Anthony Adragna joins Playbook co-author Rachael Bade to break it all down.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is expected to provide a new centerpiece of sorts for the administration's Indo-Pacific strategy during his visit to the U.S. today, with a main goal of countering the footprint of China in the region. DC-based China correspondent Phelim Kine walks Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza through the nuances. All that, and everything else you need to know today.

Donald Trump’s new video outlining his stance on abortion rights offered the clearest reminder yet that he is being simultaneously pulled in two opposing directions. He wants the credit for appointing the conservative justices who overturned Roe and wiped away constitutional protections for abortion. What he very much does not want is the electoral albatross that comes along with that reality. The result is a muddle that is unlikely to satisfy anyone — though the Trump team seems to think it’s the best political path available to them. National political correspondent Meridith McGraw joins Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels to talk it through.

After the two-week spring recess, Congress will return to a plethora of work, including the debate surrounding FISA, the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. In the coming days, House Speaker Mike Johnson will finally bring to the floor a reauthorization of this foreign surveillance law. But with Republican infighting over FISA and a pair of contentious amendments being pushed by privacy hawks eager to limit the ability to gather Americans’ data (and a coordinated effort by national security-minded members to kill those amendments), the debate will be nothing near straightforward. Playbook co-author Rachael Bade breaks it all down.

In a phone call yesterday with Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu, President Joe Biden made two central demands: First, to allow the flow of humanitarian aid; second, to empower negotiators to broker a cease-fire and hostage deal. If that sounds like a marked change in Biden’s posture, it is: The killings this week of seven aid workers with World Central Kitchen seems to have fundamentally shifted the calculus at play for the U.S. in Gaza. National security reporter Alex Ward joins Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza to break it all down.

House Republicans are fighting again. That’s not a story in and of itself. But the stakes are. There is disagreement over both whether and how to fund Ukraine aid, and nobody is happy about it. “This isn’t a Republican speaker we have right now; this is a Democrat speaker,” Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene told Tucker Carlson, slamming Mike Johnson while explaining her motion to oust him as House speaker. Can the chaos be tamed? White House reporter Jen Haberkorn joins Playbook co-author Rachael Bade to discuss it all.

On Tuesday, it was confirmed that seven aid workers — including one American — were killed by an Israeli strike in Gaza. The workers were with World Central Kitchen and traveling in clearly marked vehicles in an area designated safe for transporting aid. President Biden has condemned the attack, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said the attack was in error. But will this be a turning point in how the U.S. approaches its alliance with Israel? National Security Daily author Matt Berg joins Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels to discuss.

On Monday, the Florida Supreme Court issued a number of significant rulings that will impact abortion politics in the state. The justices upheld a Gov. Ron DeSantis-backed, 15-week abortion ban that in one month will trigger a far more restrictive 6-week ban. The justices further ruled that Floridians will get a chance to vote on a constitutional amendment come November that would reverse the ban and make abortion broadly legal in the state. So, what does this mean for the Biden campaign in a state where registered Republicans handily outnumber Democrats? Florida Playbook author and politics reporter Kimberly Leonard joins Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza to discuss.

In an interview with Trey Gowdy of Fox News on the evening of Easter Sunday, Mike Johnson called Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s effort to oust him a distraction from the mission. Attempting to impart a dose of reality on Republican viewers, the House Speaker told his former colleague that his job is particularly difficult right now, but said he does have plans for resolving the Ukraine aid debacle. Playbook co-author Rachael Bade talks through it all.

The smattering of prominent Republicans who have refused to commit to supporting Donald Trump in the general election differ in their ideological beliefs, their geography, their offices and their profiles. But they all share one thing in common: None have heard a peep from Joe Biden. Senior political columnist Jonathan Martin knows that because he reached out to every single one of them. Today, he joins Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza to talk about why this is political malpractice for Biden. Plus, the continuing fallout from the internal revolt at NBC over former RNC Chair Ronna McDaniel’s hiring and firing, and the one-year anniversary of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich’s arrest in Russia.

Robert F. Kennedy’s presidential run has been a spectacle from the start. Despite being born into Democratic royalty, the independent candidate holds a hodgepodge of policy views that sometimes veer into conspiracy theories — but which also give him a strange appeal to an array of voters scattered across the political spectrum. Could his choice of running mate change that? Politics reporter Brittany Gibson joins Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels to discuss RFK Jr., his role in the broader 2024 race and how his running mate, Nicole Shanahan, might play into Democrats’ hands with her views on in vitro fertilization.

On Tuesday, the Supreme Court heard arguments on whether the nation should significantly limit the use of mifepristone, a pill that terminates early pregnancy. A number of justices on the majority-conservative court appeared to take issue with the idea of a sweeping, national pronouncement. But, this story is really just getting started. Anti-abortion activists and elected officials have several backup plans if the Supreme Court reject their arguments for nationwide restrictions on the drug. Health care reporter Alice Miranda Ollstein walks Playbook co-author Rachael Bade through the story.

In the last 24 hours, the diplomatic dynamic between the U.S. and Israel took on another layer of complexity when the U.S. abstained in voting for a UN Gaza ceasefire resolution, allowing it to pass. The action resulted in officials from Israel cancelling a trip to Washington. National security reporter Alex Ward joins Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels to discuss how things got here, and what lies ahead. All that, and the rest of the news you need to know today.

There are three important things on Donald Trump’s agenda today, and they're all connected. First, the former president has a half-billion dollar bond due stemming from the New York civil fraud case. He has said he is struggling to procure the funds to fulfill this, so it is particularly timely that Trump Media and Technology Group is going public today. Trump is estimated to have about a $3 billion stake in the company, but he can’t use that money to pay for his bond thanks to lockup provisions. Finally, Trump will get a date from the Manhattan DA in the hush money trial that was delayed due to a last-minute documents dump. Legal editor James Romoser joins Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza to talk this all through.

Most polls show a tight race between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump. But ever since Biden’s notably energetic State of the Union address, his campaign has been feeling a strange new optimism. He’s outpacing Trump on fundraising, his campaign schedule is purposefully packed and his team is already going up with TV ads in an effort to define the race early — while Trump is still struggling to catch up. National politics reporter Elena Schneider tells joins Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza to talk it all through.

Time and again, Speaker Mike Johnson has relied on an unexpected source to propel legislation to success: House Democrats. We’ve already seen Dems help Johnson pass a $78 billion tax bill, the proposed de facto ban on TikTok and multiple stopgap spending proposals. (Up next: another federal funding deal!) But is the approach an unexpected stroke of bipartisan unity, or a risky tactic that will blow up in the speaker’s face? Congress reporter Nick Wu joins Playbook co-author Rachael Bade to discuss. Plus, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell throws water on the idea of turning Ukraine aid into a loan, and the rest of the news you need to know today.

Bernie Moreno, the car dealer-turned Trump-endorsed Senate candidate, won the Ohio GOP primary quickly and handily yesterday. It is obviously good news for the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, but it is also the outcome many Democrats were hoping for as well. Will longtime incumbent Democrat Sen. Sherrod Brown be able to keep his seat out of the hands of another MAGA Republican? Politics bureau chief and senior political columnist Jonathan Martin joins Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza to break down the election results, and what they may mean for November.

Five states — Arizona, Florida, Illinois, Kansas, and Ohio — are holding primary elections today. Though President Joe Biden and Donald Trump clinched the presumptive nominations for their respective parties last week, some of the House and Senate contests around the country could have enormous implications. Plus, in one swing state, we will get another look at how big of an impact the Democratic voters displeased with Biden could have in November. Senior campaign and elections editor Steve Shepard joins Playbook co-author Rachael Bade to break it all down. Plus, some much-needed movement on Congress’ struggle to fund the government before the end of the week, and new developments in how they will tackle their next big funding fight: Ukraine.

Six massive bills that make up roughly 70% of discretionary federal spending — including the military — need to be passed by Friday in order to keep the government open. It is a predicament Congress has found itself in over and over again the past few months, but, as appropriations reporter Caitlin Emma tells Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza, the challenge is different this time: These are some of the biggest and hardest bills to fund, and a final showdown is looming. Plus, a new Ipsos-POLITICO poll reveals a conviction may not doom Donald Trump’s presidential hopes, but it could do real political damage. That, plus the rest of the news you need to know today.

A theme has emerged in the recent developments surrounding former president — and presumptive GOP nominee — Donald Trump’s criminal trials: They keep being delayed. In the New York hush money case, Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg conceded that he would be OK with as much as month's delay. Federal judge Aileen Cannon is also expected to delay Trump’s May 20 trial date in Florida but is otherwise remaining tight-lipped. And news on whether Georgia DA Fani Willis will remain on Trump’s case in Atlanta might also emerge this week. Legal editor James Romoser joins Playbook coauthor Ryan Lizza to discuss.

It’s one of the biggest economic trends shaping American life — and it happens to be something of an obsession of the president’s: The high cost of housing. Sources tell POLITICO that for months, Biden has used his debriefs to press senior staff on affordability, quizzing them on mortgage rates and rental costs. Now, the White House is making a fresh push to show it shares Americans’ frustrations and elevating housing to a top priority as the general election begins in earnest. White House reporter Adam Cancryn joins Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels to discuss.

Republicans on the Hill were hoping that Special Counsel Robert Hur’s testimony Tuesday would kickstart their stalled impeachment campaign, but that isn’t how things shook out. Without the smoking gun Republicans were hoping for from Hur, they now must face the reality that an impeachment of President Joe Biden is increasingly unlikely. Congress reporter Jordain Carney joins Playbook co-author Rachael Bade to discuss. Plus, Biden and former president Donald Trump clinch their respective party nominations, and TikTok may be on the chopping block. All that, plus the rest of the news you need to know today.

Special Counsel Robert Hur is set to appear before the House Judiciary Committee today to talk about his explosive report on Biden's handling of classified documents. Ankush Khardori, a senior writer for POLITICO Magazine and a former federal prosecutor — joins Playbook co-author Rachael Bade to talk about what Democrats should take heed of as Hur takes the stand. Plus, the House is inching toward what could be a bipartisan vote to effectively ban TikTok in the U.S. That, plus the rest of the news you need to know today.

The budget President Biden is releasing today is through fiscal year 2025, potentially leading into Biden’s second term if he is reelected. As economics reporter Victoria Guida tells Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels, it’ll be an interesting look into what his policy priorities are going to be. Also today, the deteriorating relationship between Biden and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Plus, the race for Senate Republican Conference Chair appears to have a new challenger.

It was the speech Joe Biden’s supporters were aching to hear: A 66-minute stemwinder that torched Donald Trump and the GOP on issues from abortion rights and IVF to taxes on the wealthy to Ukraine and Russia. Along the way, Biden bore his teeth and set to bed — for the moment, at least — concerns about his mental acuity. The big questions after: Did the SOTU speech just reset the 2024 campaign? And where does Biden take his message from here? Playbook co-authors Rachael Bade, Eugene Daniels and Ryan Lizza discuss.

The importance of State of the Union speeches is vastly overrated. Except this year. When President Joe Biden addresses a joint session of Congress this evening, the vast viewing audience won’t simply by listening to the usual laundry list of accomplishments; they’ll be looking for reliable proof of his stamina and mental acuity, for his narrative frame that justifies his reelection campaign, and for a sense of vision that will provide his presidency with badly needed momentum. How’s the Biden team handling all this? White House Correspondent Adam Cancryn joins Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels to discuss that and what else to look at tonight’s big speech.

On the campaign trail, Super Tuesday was a romp for Joe Biden and Donald Trump — though both men stopped short of a clean sweep in their parties’ respective contests. Down the ticket, we now have a clear view of what the November general election will look like in some of the nation’s most pivotal House and Senate contests. And yet, for all of that, Tuesday’s most consequential news might be about someone who isn’t going to be on the ballot this fall: Sen. Kyrsten Sinema. The colorful Arizona independent announced that she will not seek reelection this year — a move with significant implications not just for November, but for the future of the Senate. Politico Deputy Managing Editor for Congress Elana Schor sits down with Playbook Deputy Editor Zack Stanton to discuss what it all means on the micro level — and the larger trend it hints at on a macro level.

Though it is one of the most significant dates of the U.S. election cycle, this year’s Super Tuesday looks like it won’t come with many surprises. President Joe Biden has won every early Democratic competition, and former president Donald Trump has won all but one. But in some parts of the country, like Texas, things are getting exciting on a state level. The implications of the drama stretch all the way to the White House. Senior columnist and politics bureau chief Jonathan Martin walks Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza through the situation. Plus, SCOTUS rules Trump can appear on state ballots, and the rest of the news you need to know today.

Ahead of the State of the Union on Thursday, members of President Joe Biden’s cabinet are scattering about the country to tout Biden's accomplishments to voters. Included in that group is Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who spoke with national politics correspondent Adam Wren over the weekend. Adam joins Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels to reflect on the takeaways from that interview. Plus, House and Senate negotiators released a $459 billion spending package Sunday afternoon that would keep the government open — for now. All that, and the rest of the news you need to know today.

Donald Trump’s week has been a mixed bag. There was a victory of sorts as the Supreme Court agreed to hear his argument that he is immune from charges related to allegedly subverting the 2020 election — effectively granting him a bit of a delay in the trial. Then there was a humbling filing in which the former president and self-proclaimed billionaire admitted to not having the cash on hand he needs to pay the hundreds of millions of dollars he’s on the hook for in two civil suits — judgments he’s appealing and trying to postpone. And, finally, today, he faces vital hearing in his federal criminal trial over allegedly mishandling classified documents — one that could affect how long the trial date will be delayed. Legal editor James Romoser joins Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels to break it down for us.

The MAGA makeover of Senate GOP leadership is coming. At least, that’s what allies of Donald Trump are hoping now that longtime Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell announced that he’s stepping down from his leadership post at the year’s end. It’s a seismic shift on Capitol Hill — one with major implications on everything from the GOP’s policy outlook to President Biden’s relationship with the Hill. Playbook co-author Rachael Bade walks through the situation. Plus, a government shutdown looks to be narrowly avoided by yet another CR, and SCOTUS takes up the question of Trump’s potential immunity for his alleged attempts to subvert the 2020 election. All that, and the rest of the news you need to know today.

Hunter Biden will appear for a closed-door Congressional deposition today, where he will answer questions about alleged involvement with his father’s business dealings. Republicans hope any revelations within the meeting will justify proceeding with impeaching President Joe Biden. But the case is already on wobbly footing. Congress reporter Jordain Carney walks Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels through what to watch, and just how vital this is to the potential impeachment.

In must-win Michigan, Joe Biden is expected to handily win the primary election today. But the numbers — specifically the number of Democrats who vote “undeclared”— could provide some insight into one of the president’s weak spots come November. Playbook deputy editor Zack Stanton, freshly returned from a reporting trip in the Wolverine state, offers some insight into the importance of the race and what the locals are saying about 2024.

Once again, Congress has found itself up against a deadline for a partial government shutdown, and once again, things on Capitol Hill appear to be cracking under pressure. Late last week, congressional leaders had hoped they would be able to unveil a small government funding package today to buy time to negotiate the rest of the bills that need resolutions before the deadline. But now the situation has “devolved into full blown finger-pointing and fighting,” according to budget and appropriations reporter Caitlin Emma, who sat down with Playbook co-author Rachael Bade to walk through the situation. Plus, Donald Trump unsurprisingly beat Nikki Haley in the primary in her home state. What’s next for the former governor’s campaign? Playbook co-author Rachael Bade interviews budget and appropriations reporter Caitlin Emma.

South Carolina’s Republican presidential primary has long had a reputation as something like a knife fight in a phone booth. But this year, it feels different. It’s a conventional campaign despite having the most unconventional candidate of modern times in the lead. It even risks being — gasp! — a bit boring. At least, that’s according to Jonathan Martin, our politics bureau chief and columnist, who joins Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza to talk all things Trump, Haley and Palmetto State.

Following a ruling in Alabama that grants legal personhood to frozen embryos, Republicans are bracing for another round of backlash — and for more punishing headlines likely to turn off swing voters, suburbanites and women ahead of the 2024 election. Why? The ruling ventures into virtually unexplored legal territory that could see IVF and other fertility treatments targeted and effectively banned in states that have embraced major restrictions on abortion, including fetal personhood laws. Yet an overwhelming majority of Americans support IVF, suggesting that Republicans may be walking on thin ice. Health care reporter Alice Miranda Ollstein talks Playbook deputy editor Zack Stanton through the situation.

The first Federal Election Commission reports for 2024 paint an interesting picture for the three most prominent candidates in the race. The biggest takeaways? President Joe Biden’s campaign is flush with cash; January showed strong fiscal turnout for former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley’s campaign; and the leadership PAC for former President Donald Trump’s campaign spent $3 million on legal fees during the first month of the year. State politics reporter Zach Montellaro walks through the highlights with Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza. All that, and the rest of the news you need to know today.

With a week until the Democratic Primary in Michigan, President Joe Biden has his eyes on the state’s Muslim population that helped get him elected in 2020. The Abandon Biden movement, a coalition of Michigan progressives — including Rep. Rashida Tlaib — calling for residents to vote uncommitted next week, is growing stronger by the day. The administration, too, has shifted its message toward Israel dramatically, and the U.S. has drafted a U.N. Security Council resolution calling for a temporary ceasefire and encouraging Israel to push pause on plans to attack the southern city of Rafah in the Gaza Strip. Playbook co-author Rachael Bade walks through that and the rest of the news you need to know today.

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis took the stand on Thursday to face pointed and personal questions from from lawyers representing former President Donald Trump. They allege Willis’ past romantic involvement with fellow prosecutor Nathan Wade is a conflict of interest and ought to disqualify her from leading the criminal case against Trump for alleged election interference in Georgia. But is their real goal to disqualify her, or simply delay the proceedings? Senior legal reporter Josh Gerstein walks Playbook deputy editor Zack Stanton through what we saw, and what it all could mean.

Two major hearings today will shape the trajectory (and timing) of the legal woes that Donald Trump faces as he attempts to return to the White House. In New York, a judge will decide whether the hush money case against the former president can move to trial in late March or whether that timeline will be pushed back — a popular Trump delay tactic honed over his many decades of lawsuits. Meanwhile in Georgia, Trump and his co-defendants aim to sideline Fulton County DA Fani Willis in her sweeping election interference case. Plus, more headaches for Speaker Mike Johnson, and urgent new concerns about Russian space nukes. Playbook co-author Rachael Bade talks with legal editor James Romoser and walks through what you need to know.

On their second attempt, House Republicans managed to formally impeach Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas by one vote. That will likely be the end of the story, though, as the impeachment proceedings are expected to come to a stop in the Senate. Plus, in Tuesday’s election, Democrats managed to flip a seat in the New York District 3 special election to fill the seat formerly occupied by Rep. George Santos. And, despite the increasingly urgent need for foreign aid, the supplemental continues to stall. Playbook co-author Rachael Bade walks through all of this and more.

The center of the political universe today is on Long Island, where voters in Queens and Nassau County will decide whether Democrat Tom Suozzi or Republican Mazi Pilip will replace George Santos, the fabulist who was expelled from Congress. Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza calls up Politico editor Steve Shepard — a fellow Long Island native — to discuss. Plus, the latest on the Senate's supplemental bill and the changes former President Donald Trump is pushing at the Republican National Committee.

Over the weekend, former President Donald Trump captured headlines and confused many when he said he would “encourage” Russia to attack NATO members who did not pay their financial dues. Among those who were quick to condemn the comments is former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, Trump’s remaining challenger for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination. Playbook co-author Rachael Bade spoke with Haley about her reaction to the comments. Plus, House Intelligence Chairman Mike Turner weighs in on Speaker Johnson's approach to Ukraine aid.

The special counsel report on Joe Biden’s handling of classified documents was about as damaging as it could possibly be while stopping short of recommending criminal charges. Over nearly 350 pages, the investigation paints a troubling picture of Biden’s behavior and cognitive abilities — one almost certain to feed voters’ existing concerns about the 81-year-old president, whom it describes as a “sympathetic, well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory.” National correspondent Betsey Woodruff Swan walks Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza through the report and its reverberations across Washington.

This morning, the Supreme Court will hear arguments in a momentous case that could determine former President Donald Trump’s ballot eligibility — and, potentially, whether the 14th Amendment’s insurrection clause bars him from a return to the White House. Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza and legal editor James Romoser break down what to expect inside the courtroom.

House Republicans dramatically failed to both impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and pass the Israel aid bill last night, delivering two major blows to the party leader. Speaker Mike Johnson has vowed to reintroduce articles of impeachment, but with yet another failure during his brief tenure, Playbook co-author Rachael Bade explains Republican members of the House are beginning to question whether he can guide the party through a very public implosion. All that, plus the rest of the news you need to know today.

It took months of negotiations to craft the bipartisan border agreement that debuted Sunday night, and only a few hours for its fate to take a grim turn. Republican senators are continuing to come out of the woodwork to voice concerns that the deal isn’t tough enough on border security. But, as congress reporter and Inside Congress author Daniella Diaz tells Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza, there is no apparent Plan B. Plus, the all signs point to an impeachment of Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, but the implications of that move aren’t entirely clear.

Senate negotiators unveiled at the text of the bipartisan border agreement Sunday night, offering a compromise that would both tighten security at the U.S.-Mexico border and send air money to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan. But whether the $118 billion agreement that came to be after months of negotiations even stands a chance is another question entirely, Playbook co-author Rachael Bade explains.

At this hour, virtually no one knows exactly what is or isn’t in the hotly anticipated bipartisan Senate border bill — legislative text could drop as soon as tonight. But it’s already dominating conversation in Washington and on the campaign trail. Former President Trump is eager to kill the deal and keep the border alive as a galvanizing election issue — and so far, House Republicans seem to be falling in line. But could the arrival of the actual proposal swing momentum in the other direction? Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza sits down with editor Mike DeBonis to walk through the possible paths forward.

What are the biggest takeaways from last night’s major new fundraising numbers? For starters, here are two: Democratic frontrunner President Joe Biden is in pretty good shape, and GOP frontrunner former president Donald Trump is spending an unprecedented amount on legal fees. Campaign reporter Zach Montellaro joins Playbook deputy editor Zack Stanton to walk through more key findings, and what these totals can tell us about the shape of things in the year ahead.

CEOs from five of the world’s biggest social media companies head to Capitol Hill today to face a grilling about the safety of children on their platforms. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg — a hearing veteran — will be joined by leaders from X, Snap, Discord, and TikTok during the appearance. Politico Tech host Steven Overly talks with Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels. Plus, the House's Homeland Security Committee is moving closer toward an impeachment of Alejandro Mayorkas, and the latest on the border deal.

President Joe Biden has vowed the U.S. will respond to the weekend drone attack of three U.S. troops in Jordan, but what will that look like exactly? And, does this mean the country is at war with Iran — or at the very least, an Iran-backed militia group? Pentagon reporter Lara Seligman walks Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza through the details.

After three U.S. troops were killed and 25 more were wounded in a drone attack in Jordan, President Joe Biden vowed a response and Senators Lindsey Graham and John Cornyn echoed a call for retaliation. Plus, over the weekend, House Republicans unveiled articles of impeachment against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. Finally, Legal Editor James Romoser walks Playbook co-author Rachael through this week in Trump trial watch.

Republicans demanded a border deal in order to pass any Ukraine aid. And they’ve just about got one. But if Donald Trump gets his way, Republicans will abandon that effort and the bill will go down in flames. Congress reporter Ursula Perano joins Playbook co-author Rachael Bade to talk through the bizarre politics on the Hill that are leading some Republicans to ditch the deal they helped broker — and what Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell really thinks about it.

When it was unveiled, the bipartisan tax deal brokered by Senate Finance Chair Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and House Ways and Means Chair Jason Smith (R-Mo.) seemed like a layup — it expanded the child tax credit (a Dem priority) while offering relief to businesses (a GOP priority). But now, in the cold spotlight of simple congressional vote-counting, it faces a very real challenge: border politics. Can it actually pass? Tax policy reporter Ben Guggenheim walks Playbook co-author Rachael Bade through what has to happen to make it through the Congress.

A victory in the granite state for former President Donald Trump effectively ended Nikki Haley’s shot at the 2024 GOP presidential nomination. But the former governor of South Carolina announced Tuesday she will continue the fight in her home state, even though she is expected to lose by an even larger margin there. President Joe Biden, meanwhile, handily — and, as expected— won the New Hampshire write-in campaign, upsetting Minnesota Rep. Dean Phillips who hedged much of his campaign’s bets on success in the state. The biggest takeaway from the night, as Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza tells Eugene Daniels, is that all signs point to a repeat of the 2020 race.

Playbook co-authors Rachael Bade and Ryan Lizza talk about what Ryan's been experiencing on the ground in New Hampshire, where Donald Trump currently has a double digit polling lead over Nikki Haley. Plus everything else you need to know today.

After vowing to stay in the race despite a disappointing second place finish in Iowa, Gov. Ron DeSantis made a 180-degree turn and ended his turbulent campaign Sunday. Florida reporter Gary Fineout talks to Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels about the failure to launch and whether we'll see DeSantis as a surrogate. Plus, POLITICO legal editor James Romoser breaks down what you need to watch for in Donald Trump trial news this week.

With Senate negotiators expected to unveil a bipartisan border deal any day now, the chatter on Capitol Hill has turned to one elephantine obstacle: How to get this thing past the GOP-led House. The answer may just be… Democratic votes. And that could be a problem for Speaker Mike Johnson, especially as Donald Trump and the party’s right flank aren’t eager to support a border compromise — potentially dooming Johnson’s speakership. But now, a new scenario is gaining steam: If that happens, might Democrats actually help keep the gavel in the Louisianan’s hands? Playbook co-author Rachael Bade walks through the possibilities.

With a partial government shutdown just days away, a clutch of top government officials — including President Joe Biden and House Speaker Mike Johnson — met yesterday to negotiate a potential spending deal. But before any deal gets finalized, they must reach a compromise on two big issues: border security (a priority for the GOP) and aid to Ukraine (a priority for Biden). So, what, if anything, changed in the meeting? And what’s the state of play today? White House reporter Myah Ward shares her readout with Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels.

The Supreme Court will take up Chevron deference on Wednesday, a principle related to how much consideration judges must give to federal agency regulations and other executive branch decisions that stems from a Reagan-era environmental regulation. Energy reporter Alex Guillén tells Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza that the fact the court is even taking it up signals that a change in the 40 year-old rule seems likely.

Capturing more than 50% of the delegates up for grabs, former president Donald Trump claimed a historic, dominant win mere minutes after the Iowa caucuses began Monday night. By the end of the evening, he had also picked up another endorsement, this time from businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, who withdrew his bid for president. Florida governor Ron DeSantis claimed second place and South Carolina governor Nikki Haley came in third. Playbook co-author Rachael Bade was on the ground in Iowa and tells Eugene Daniels what she saw and heard.

We’re just days away from the first ballots cast in the 2024 presidential cycle: the Iowa caucuses. But this year’s GOP contest is shaping up to look a bit different than you may expect. Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza sits down with storied Iowa Republican strategist David Kochel in Des Moines to talk the field, campaigns and what to expect on Monday.

Last night in Des Moines, the split-screen reality of the GOP primary was on full display. On CNN, Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley brutalized each other for two hours during a debate essentially for second place — largely ignoring the man who even while absent from the stage, is running away with the race. Instead, a noticeably subdued former President Donald Trump took to a Fox News-sponsored town hall, where he mostly focused on a general election message. What should we make of it all? Playbook co-authors Rachael Bade and Ryan Lizza sort through what matters, what didn’t and where things stand with just a few days left.

Some of the youngest staffers working in government are challenging norms that have been in place for decades by speaking out when they don’t agree with the Biden administration. The unwritten code of conduct is to keep quiet or quit, but the newest generation is speaking up, speaking out, and staying on the payroll. Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels walks co-author Rachael Bade through how the president is handling the conundrum.

Former President Donald Trump will appear in a D.C. Circuit Court Tuesday as oral arguments are heard in the case claiming he attempted to subvert the 2020 election. But, as senior legal affairs reporter Josh Gerstein tells Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza, Trump’s presence — which isn’t required— could be performative ahead of the kickoff of GOP primary voting.

Over the three week-long holiday break, House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer appear to have reached an agreement on top line spending numbers. Plus, Senate negotiators say they've made progress on discussions about the U.S.-Mexico border. But as Playbook co-author Rachael Bade explains, multiple complications remain before either deal can be finalized.

Grassroots groups looking to add a constitutional amendment protecting the right to an abortion are inching towards procuring enough state-certified signatures by the Feb. 1 deadline to put a referendum on the 2024 ballot. If successful, the move could undo the state’s abortion bans and deliver a hard blow to Governor and presidential hopeful Ron DeSantis. Florida-based health reporter Arek Sarkissian walks Playbook co-author Rachael Bade through the ins and outs of the ballot initiative

Former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley is rising in the GOP presidential polls. With New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu’s endorsement, she’s prepared to enter the state’s primary in a strong position. But the elephant in the room is that at this point, it is still a race for second place. So has anything changed? Massachusetts-based political reporter Lisa Kashinsky tells Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels that Haley, who once shied away from directly attacking former President Trump, seems to have decided to up the ante.

As the election year kicks off, President Joe Biden is making plans. In the coming weeks, Biden will headline big speeches in both Pennsylvania and South Carolina. Meanwhile, House Speaker Mike Johnson is applying pressure on the president to act more aggressively about the crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border, which just happens to be an area where the president consistently polls weakest. Playbook co-author Rachael Bade breaks it all down.

Though the House and Senate are still on holiday recess, two big pieces of business from 2023 remain unfinished. Government funding for the new fiscal year and the $100 billion supplemental for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan — a bill that Republicans are demanding be paired with new border security policies — are likely to dominate the first few weeks on the Hill. The looming Iowa caucuses, too, Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza explains, may further complicate things. An earlier version of this episode misstated the first government funding deadline this year. It is January 19.

For 40 years, Michigan’s Macomb County has been something like the de facto national capital of white middle America — home of the “Reagan Democrats” and a must-visit for every serious presidential contender. But behind that very familiar story is one you’ve never heard — and which hasn’t really been told in full until this morning, in Politico Magazine. Deputy editor Zack Stanton joins Playbook co-author Rachel Bade to unspool the thread that runs through the last half-century of politics — and which explains so much about American life.

Deep blue California is shaping up to have one of the most consequential and hard-fought Senate races of the 2024 cycle — and that’s before the general election takes shape. A new POLITICO/Morning Consult poll finds that Rep. Adam Schiff, a Democrat of Burbank, is in the driver’s seat, with a wide lead heading into election year. But in the race for second place, two prominent Democrats — Reps. Katie Porter and Barbara Lee — are in a statistical dead heat with Republican Steve Garvey of L.A. Dodgers fame. Why does that matter? California political reporter Melanie Mason joins Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels to talk it through.

The Colorado Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that former president and 2024 GOP frontrunner Donald Trump is ineligible to appear on the state’s ballots, citing his involvement in the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the Capitol. Senior legal reporter Kyle Cheney joins Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels to break down what this means going forward, and how it may impact the election at large.

At a number of recent appearances, President Joe Biden has shown he is not afraid to draw comparisons between the rhetoric of former President Donald Trump and Adolf Hitler. Though not wholly unexplored territory, the move is unusual and seen by some as extreme. White House bureau chief Jonathan Lemire joins Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza to discuss why the Biden team has decided to cross the line, and what potential drawbacks he could face.

With senators stuck on the Hill for another week before the Christmas holidays — thanks to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer — the pressure is on to pass President Joe Biden’s $106 billion national security supplemental. But Republicans aren’t going for it, so it is unclear whether there will even be a hearing before the new year. Plus, more trouble in the DeSantis camp as Jeff Roe, the leader of his PAC, Never Back Down, resigned Saturday night.

It’s the race that political obsessives across the nation are looking to: the special election to succeed ousted GOP Rep. George Santos in New York’s third congressional district. And the nascent campaign to become his replacement is set: Republican Mazi Melesa Pilip, a Nassau County legislator and Ethiopia-born former IDF soldier, vs. former Democratic Rep. Tom Suozzi. New York Playbook author Emily Ngo joins Playbook deputy editor Zack Stanton to talk through all the twists and turns of the race everyone will soon be talking about.

As it weighs how to proceed in negotiations over a new tranche of aid to Ukraine, the Biden administration faces a dilemma of both policy and politics: How much can they concede on border security without losing ground with Democratic voters in 2024? The answer to that question is complicated — both on Capitol Hill, where progressives are fuming at Biden for what they see as caving to the right, and in the general public, where independent voters are fuming at Biden for being too far to the left on matters of migration. White House reporter Jen Haberkorn joins Playbook co-author Rachael Bade to explore the ins and outs of the latest fight roiling Washington.

In a last ditch attempt to convince Congress to agree to send more humanitarian aid to his country before the end of the year, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy traveled to Capitol Hill. He met with House Speaker Mike Johnson and other senior officials, and hosted a press conference with President Joe Biden. But, as national security reporter Alex Ward tells Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels, without a border deal, chances of more aid to Ukraine are all but impossible.

On Monday, special counsel Jack Smith — who is investigating Donald Trump's attempt to subvert the 2020 election — asked the Supreme Court to leapfrog the D.C. Circuit court and take up the case in order to keep it on track. He reasoned that the case will ultimately end up with SCOTUS regardless, and it should decide the issue before the end of the current term. But that’s not the only thing Smith revealed, legal reporter Kyle Cheney tells Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels; one of the more intriguing revelations involves Trump’s Twitter account.

House Republicans are ready to get rolling on formally authorizing an impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden with a floor vote later this week. Despite a lack of evidence, accusers say Biden may have benefited from his son’s business ventures. Right now, as Congress reporter Anthony Adragna explains, the GOP is largely united in supporting the investigation. But that doesn't necessarily mean they'll ultimately vote to impeach Biden. Plus, an update on an action-packed week on Capitol Hill, with big-ticket issues such as the National Defense Authorization Act and the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, and a visit from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Hunter Biden’s legal jeopardy reached dramatic new heights late Thursday night, when he was charged with nine criminal counts stemming from allegations that he failed to pay taxes. National correspondent Betsy Woodruff Swann tells Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels that the severity of the new charges may be cause for concern for both Hunter and for his father — who is less than a year out from running for reelection.

It was the last scheduled GOP debate before primary ballots start being cast. But did it change anything? Last night in Tuscaloosa, Chris Christie, Nikki Haley, Ron DeSantis and Vivek Ramaswamy traded barbs, unspooled occasionally outlandish talking points and did their best to recapture the narrative in the final month of the primary race. Yet it was the candidate not in attendance — Donald Trump — who once again loomed large, defining the stage even while absent. And what we saw seems unlikely to disrupt the fundamentals of the campaign. National politics correspondent Adam Wren joins Playbook deputy editor Zack Stanton to unpack it all.

The Colorado Supreme Court will hear oral arguments today on whether Trump should be disqualified from the ballot in 2024 based on alleged violations of the 14th amendment. The case, which legal reporter Kyle Cheney explains is almost bound to end up being heard by the U.S. Supreme Court, has implications both for the 2024 election and legal precedent for years to come.