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POLITICO Playbook's must-listen briefing on what's driving the day in Washington.
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Matt Gaetz has dominated the spotlight in Washington since President-elect Donald Trump announced him as nominee for attorney general. But Gaetz is far from Trump’s only contentious pick. On Capitol Hill, concerns are mounting about Pete Hegseth, the Fox News personality Trump picked to run the Department of Defense. There are concerns about Hegseth’s experience — he served in the military, but has never run a complex and vast organization. There are concerns about his controversial views — including that women should not be able to serve in combat roles. And then there are concerns about alleged sexual misconduct stemming from an encounter he maintains was consensual but which the woman in question maintains was not. What should we expect as Washington’s gaze turns to Hegseth? Defense reporter Joe Gould joins Playbook co-author Rachael Bade to discuss.
Today, the House Ethics Committee will meet to discuss is the findings of its investigation into Attorney General nominee Matt Gaetz. Because the committee has an equal number of Republican and Democratic members, only one Republican would need to vote with Democrats to release the report. So how will this play out? Congress reporter Daniella Diaz and Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels walk through the possibilities. Plus, with the additions of Mehmet Oz to lead the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and Linda McMahon to be Education secretary, President-elect Donald Trump reinforces his affinity for reality tv politicians. That, and the rest of the news you need to know today.
Correction: An earlier version of this episode stated that DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and FBI Director Christopher Wray would testify before the Homeland Security Committee at 10 a.m.
Since his first election win in 2016, Matt Gaetz has been embroiled in controversy, including a House Ethics Committee investigation and report that hasn’t been released. Those close to Trump are hoping the president-elect will reconsider his nomination as Attorney General.
Plus, Trump confirmed his plans to potentially use military force for mass deportations and appointed another Fox News personality to his cabinet. All that, and the rest of the news you need to know today.
Two of President-elect Donald Trump’s cabinet appointments are facing accusations of sexual misconduct, and the ensuing mess is just getting started. The House Ethics Committee report on Rep. Matt Gaetz, Trump’s nominee for attorney general, who has been under investigation for allegations of having sex with a minor and illicit drug use at sex parties, may be released yet. This, despite the Florida representative’s resignation from Congress, and even some Republicans are calling for the release of that report. But Gaetz isn’t alone. Over the weekend, the Washington Post reported that Pete Hegseth, Trump’s pick for defense secretary, paid a woman who accused him of sexual assault as part of a nondisclosure agreement. He denies the assault. Playbook co-author Rachael Bade unpacks this situation. Plus, is Howard Lutnick too thirsty to be Treasury secretary? All that, plus the rest of the news you need to know today.
Donald Trump spent his first full week as president-elect making a flurry of announcements unveiling key officials in his coming administration. Yesterday, he unveiled among his most controversial picks yet: To lead the Department of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. — a leading proponent of false and disproven claims about the safety of vaccines. So, what does this move tell us about Trump’s approach and attitude toward his second term?National political correspondent Meridith McGraw — who scooped news of the announcement — walks Playbook deputy editor Zack Stanton through what we know.
In a move that stunned much of Washington, President-elect Donald Trump yesterday unveiled his choice for attorney general: Rep. Matt Gaetz. The move would put Gaetz atop the Justice Department, which spent years investigating allegations that the Florida congressman had sex with underage girls and paid for their transportation — allegations which Gaetz has denied. Among those investigations is one by the House Ethics Committee, which was nearing completion — until, that is, yesterday, when Gaetz abruptly resigned from Congress. How is the news landing among the Senate Republicans whose support he needs to win confirmation? And where does the Ethics Committee’s investigation go from here? Congressional reporter Ursula Perano joins Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels to discuss. Plus, John Thune (R-S.D.) was elected to succeed Mitch McConnell as Senate GOP leader — and more about the other new Republican leaders on Capitol Hill.
President-elect Donald Trump will visit Washington this morning to meet with President Joe Biden. Although meetings between the outgoing and incoming presidents are a long-standing tradition, Trump has not always followed through. When their roles were reversed in 2020, Trump refused to meet with Joe Biden. There is no love lost between the two gentlemen who last met one-on-one on the debate stage, which ultimately ended Biden's reelection campaign. So, what could they possibly talk about? White House reporter Adam Cancryn talks with Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels. Plus, inside Trump’s latest barrage of cabinet selections, and who will emerge victorious in the vote for Sen. Mitch McConnell’s GOP leadership successor.
We’re getting a clearer look at President-elect Donald Trump’s new cabinet and one thing is in common: loyalty. So far, Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) has been named as ambassador to the United Nations, Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-N.Y.) as administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency and Stephen Miller as deputy chief of staff for policy. Health care reporter Alice Miranda Ollstein joins Playbook co-author Rachael Bade to discuss what we know about other cabinet picks.
Congress reconvenes on Tuesday for the first time since before the election, and the big winner, President-elect Donald Trump, is already asserting his dominance. The key players around Trump (but not the man himself ) have come out in full support of Sen. Rick Scott's bid for Majority Leader. But could the move doom Scott's campaign from the start? Playbook co-author Rachael Bade delves into this and other ways the president-elect is already making an impact on Capitol Hill.
Since Tuesday night, Donald Trump’s resounding victory has been the only thing on anyone’s minds in Washington. That … and how Democrats managed to mess up so spectacularly. With Trump’s selection of Susie Wiles as his White House chief of staff, we’re already getting a glimpse of the president-elect’s team — and perhaps an insight into how Trump’s second term will differ from his first. From Democratic recriminations to the GOP’s new agenda, what is in store in the days ahead? Playbook co-authors Eugene Daniels and Rachael Bade discuss.
President-elect Donald Trump and his team launched into transition planning in Palm Beach on Wednesday, barely 12 hours after polls closed. So who's going to be chief of staff? And who’s going to head up personnel decisions? Playbook co-authors Rachael Bade and Eugene Daniels share what they know about the transition so far — including Rachael's latest scoop on Chris LaCivita's beef with Corey Lewandowski.
It seemed unthinkable on Jan. 7, 2021. Now it’s reality. Donald Trump will retake the presidency after making sweeping gains in state after state, slashing away at the margins that kept him from a second term four years ago. He declared victory in a raucous speech in West Palm Beach last night, where he hailed “the greatest political movement of all time” — a boast that suddenly did not sound like unhinged hyperbole. Playbook editor Mike DeBonis breaks down what we know with Playbook co-authors Eugene Daniels and Rachael Bade.
After an election cycle that included an unprecedented switch at the top of a major party’s ticket, multiple assassination attempts against former president Donald Trump and razor-thin poll margins, Election Day is finally here. Playbook co-author Rachael Bade chats with national politics reporter Natalie Allison and Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels to see what they’re hearing from both candidates on the campaign trail.
Most Republicans, or at least smart Republicans, had hoped that Donald Trump would wrap up his campaign with a disciplined message, focused on the economy and immigration. But if you read the headlines over the weekend, they told a different story. Meanwhile, Harris's team is projecting confidence after calling itself the underdog for weeks. Playbook co-author Rachael Bade breaks down what she's watching on the last day on the campaign trail.
Four days remain in the election, and everyone is trying to predict how the presidential race will play out. You can learn a lot about the strength of a campaign from the number of donations it has received … or can you? Data reporter Jessica Piper joins Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels to break down some of the surprising trends she has seen among donors to the Harris and Trump campaigns.
Wisconsin is the red-headed stepchild of swing states. More focus typically falls on Pennsylvania or Michigan, but Republicans and Democrats are flocking to the badger state in the final days before the 2024 election in hopes of winning its 10 electoral votes. National politics reporter Lisa Kashinsky tells Playbook Deputy Editor Zack Stanton that both campaigns are feeling optimistic, but largely agree on one thing: the race is going to be close. Plus, new polls show a slight Harris lead in two key swing states, and the Elon Musk-funded canvassing scheme is in very hot water. All that, and the rest of the news you need to know today.
Last night, Vice President Kamala Harris delivered her closing message from the Ellipse to a crowd of roughly 75,000 people. In the speech, she highlighted her policy aspirations, commitment to fighting for reproductive rights and pledged an ethos of unity. But shortly after she left the stage, President Joe Biden made headlines for potentially disparaging Trump voters as "garbage" in a video appearance with Latino supporters. He was reacting to comments Tony Hinchcliffe made at Trump's Sunday night Madison Square Garden rally that Puerto Rico was a "floating island of garbage." Playbook co-authors Eugene Daniels and Rachael Bade dive in to how effective Harris and Trump's closing messages were and whether Biden's flub will overshadow Harris’ message.
In 2020, it took days to announce Joe Biden as president-elect. This election cycle, officials are hopeful that the process will be much faster in several states due to improvements in preprocessing absentee and mail-in ballots. But, pivotal battleground states like Pennsylvania and Wisconsin still lack faster preprocessing measures. Deputy national editor Zach Montellaro joins Playbook co-author Rachael Bade to explain what to expect after election day.
Donald Trump’s rally at Madison Square Garden won’t be remembered for the things the former President had to say, but for the racist and sexist rhetoric of other speakers who took the stage. The Trump campaign even issued a rare statement distancing itself from the speakers, concerned that the event will undermine recent attempts to focus messaging on the economy and immigration. Playbook co-author Rachael Bade digs in. Playbook co-author Rachael Bade digs in.
We’re 11 days out from the end of the election, so naturally, Kamala Harris is campaigning in … Texas? Today, the VP will travel to Houston to deliver a message aimed squarely at voters in other states: That Texas’ abortion ban is a result of Donald Trump’s court appointments, and that if he returns to the White House, those restrictions will only spread. Politics reporter Megan Messerly walks Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels through what we can expect from one of Harris’ marquee end-of-the-campaign events.
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I'm from macomb! 😊
I'm supposed to trust a news outfit sponsored by amazon?
The setting he is using on this microphone is making his voice sound like its only consonants. And then he talks 90 MPH and the words grable horribly.
The speaking audio quality is absolutely terrible. Be a professional. Get a microphone. #playbook #politico
we're gonna underestimate the #maga fascists again? @politico
Holy shit slow down when you talk. Can barely understand what some of your sentences say.
why do you call them "the squad"? it's racist & misogynistic. I don't hear anyone giving Manchin or Simena a negative name. do better Politico!
The past 10 Presidents could NOT FIX IMMIGRATION, Harris is supposed to? Biden throwing immigration on her tells me he is either a f_ing idiot or wants to get rid of her. I'm shocked Harris is not better prepared when speaking to the press and after her current answers, I can only deduce that she would make a lousy POTUS. The GOP will destroy her as they did with Hillary & Obama. I want a POTUS who destroys Trumpism.
Go figure the media company that relies on health care advertising is against the politicians who are for cheaper better healthcare for everyone that cuts the profit out. Big surprise.