Subject: POLITICO Playbook, presented by Chevron: COHN: ‘I have come under enormous pressure both to resign and to remain in my current position’ -- TEXAS HURRICANE could be Trump’s first major natural disaster -- PLAYBOOK ON THE ROAD: KARL ROVE at Machu Picchu
From: "Anna Palmer Jake Sherman Daniel Lippman" <[email-masked]>
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Date: Fri, 25 Aug 2017 04:53:07 -0600
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Today's POLITICO Playbook presented by Chevron 
            
By JAKE SHERMAN ([email-masked]; @JakeSherman), ANNA PALMER ([email-masked]; @apalmerdc) and DANIEL LIPPMAN ([email-masked]; @dlippman)
        
Listen to the Playbook Audio Briefing | Subscribe on iTunes | Visit the online home of Playbook
                  Driving the Day         
Good Friday morning. TWO THINGS we picked up on yesterday in our conversations. The Office of Management and Budget just sent up a list of provisions and programs that expire at the end of the year, which will help kick off crafting a short-term spending measure to avoid a shutdown. So, in other words, the White House isn't totally out of the game. But it's becoming clearer and clearer that the administration is itching for a shutdown fight over border wall funding. It's just not clear if they want that fight in September, December or both. ... 

... AND KEEP AN EYE ON TEXAS -- Hurricane Harvey is expected to make landfall in Texas Friday night or early Saturday morning. The Houston Chronicle says it will hit the Lone Star State as a Category 3 storm, per the Weather Channel. http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=e8bd862d2952d798f62825a1bc30fb75946ca7ff74d120ecc1448e69190a5393646612706d957349fa31670fd45ce17518e18d8f36882797 Storms, as we know, often morph quickly into political issues, so look for Trump to get involved (Trump and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott have already spoken by phone). http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=e8bd862d2952d798f2c1971e502b897015974b09adf0c5a8b855c3504fd15326b25d235cbda8baf983350d17bd1101a36842b5ed9deb3c50 

-- AP's Michael Graczyk in Houston: "The hurricane with the potential for up to 3 feet of rain, 125 mph winds and 12-foot storm surges could be the fiercest such storm to hit the United States in almost a dozen years. Forecasters labeled Harvey a 'life-threatening storm' that posed a 'grave risk' as millions of people braced for a prolonged battering that could swamp dozens of counties more than 100 miles inland." http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=e8bd862d2952d7986d28272955316f76c46372b61452b65125eff1de0f7973a3f3bba90daf2e7bb7b624b7aaadfa6368a7747872cb68fa18 

THIS COULD ALSO IMPACT THE GOVERNMENT-FUNDING DEBATE. Natural disasters typically force bipartisan cooperation. 

GARY COHN SPEAKS TO THE FT -- A FEW INTERESTING NUGGETS YOU SHOULD READ ... 

-- THE WHITE HOUSE IS MOVING THE GOALPOSTS ON TAX REFORM ... AGAIN: Cohn now says he believes tax reform will be done by the end of 2017. "'They have been holding hearings [on tax] for years ... It's not like they are just starting the process now,' Mr. Cohn said. 'I do think it can pass both of the tax committees and both chambers in 2017.'" KEEP IN MIND: Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said tax reform would be done and signed into law by the August recess. Then Marc Short, Trump's top Hill liaison, said Trump would like a bill by Thanksgiving. This is another punt. 

-- COHN SAYS TRUMP IS GOING TO LAUNCH A MAJOR PUSH TO PASS TAX REFORM. The FT reports Trump is heading to Missouri to begin selling his tax-reform proposal. "'Starting next week, the president's agenda and calendar is going to revolve around tax reform,' Mr Cohn said in an interview. 'He will start being on the road making major addresses justifying the reasoning for tax reform and why we need it in the U.S.'" OK, SURE. Trump was supposed to make August all about tax reform. Our colleague Colin Wilhelm pointed out yesterday that he hasn't done squat to advance a tax code rewrite this month (http://politi.co/2xhVsel). Trump has spent the month agitating against the GOP leaders he needs to
 get this done. PLUS he has a government shutdown and debt-ceiling debate to engage in. We don't doubt he'll do a few speeches. But aides tell us all the time that they doubt his commitment to the issue because of his reluctance to get in the game months ago. ALSO: Can he last an entire speech without dumping on a Republican leader or key senator? Stay tuned.

THE REALITY: Cohn is part of the group negotiating a tax-code rewrite. He has impressed longtime aides and lawmakers, has dined with lawmakers in and around leadership and is fully engaged in the talks. But he spent his career at Goldman Sachs, not in government, which might help explain why he thinks this will be so easy. 

-- A+ FOR AMBITION: Boy, this is an ambitious timeline. Cohn says tax reform shouldn't be so hard because Congress has been holding hearings on it for years. Yes, but those hearings involve the 40 members on the Ways and Means Committee and the 26 members on the Senate Finance Committee. Eighty-eight percent of Congress has only thought about tax reform as an abstract exercise. The FT story http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=e8bd862d2952d7988cd9de397fcd07e011357c7c15f5b75396034d1581800db06f73c306883cafc26547fe76ab706af828a9af3a67c69e20 

COHN ON CHARLOTTESVILLE: FT: "Did you consider resigning after Charlottesville?" 

COHN: "I have come under enormous pressure both to resign and to remain in my current position. As a patriotic American, I am reluctant to leave my post as director of the National Economic Council because I feel a duty to fulfil my commitment to work on behalf of the American people. But I also feel compelled to voice my distress over the events of the last two weeks. Citizens standing up for equality and freedom can never be equated with white supremacists, neo-Nazis, and the KKK. I believe this administration can and must do better in consistently and unequivocally condemning these groups and do everything we can to heal the deep divisions that exist in our communities. As a Jewish
 American, I will not allow neo-Nazis ranting 'Jews will not replace us' to cause this Jew to leave his job. I feel deep empathy for all who have been targeted by these hate groups. We must all unite together against them." Transcript of the interview http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=e8bd862d2952d798a446a7115ee74347156794332c1af8301c9a152808f8f30c8d087534214220c4cb97e6dbf7497eddc79b9f33d6ce719f 

NOT IT! -- "White House yielding to Congress on tax details," by Ben White: "The White House does not plan to release its own version of a tax reform plan and will instead leave that to the congressional leadership and the major tax-writing committees, a senior administration official said Thursday. The decision to hand off the specifics of tax reform comes after the administration promised earlier this summer to release a full tax plan when Congress returned from its August recess. It also follows President Donald Trump's repeated promises to deliver the biggest tax cut in American history.

"'Our plan is to have a full-blown release of the plan in the beginning of September, with being able to vote and getting this passed before the end of the year,' Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin told ABC's 'This Week' in July. Instead, the so-called Big Six tax reform negotiators -- a group that includes Mnuchin, National Economic Council Director Gary Cohn, House Speaker Paul Ryan, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady and Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch -- will essentially turn over what they have done to the committees and let them fill in the particulars.

"The move to turn over most of the detail work to Congress follows some progress from the Big Six to identify possible ways to pay for a cut in the corporate rate - to between 22 percent and 25 percent - including by capping the mortgage interest deduction, eliminating the deduction for state and local taxes, reducing the interest that companies can deduct and possibly taxing contributions to 401(k) retirement plans." http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=e8bd862d2952d798503737fbd210590d41088fc5adb61bd301ce774bbd4070f9bffbd49bfcb11cade5d2dc21c03788b68560039fcb5f1012

NYT's CARL HULSE -- "Trump Fences Himself In With Border Wall Spending Threat": "President Trump handed Democrats a gift this week with his vow to shut down the government if he doesn't soon get money for his border wall. Democrats may be only too happy to let him follow through on his threat since it will now be easy for them to blame the president for any government interruption, which would probably aggravate many Americans. Rather than cowing Democrats, Mr. Trump's tough talk is more likely to embolden the opposition in ongoing negotiations, particularly since he has now twice suggested he was willing to shutter government agencies if he didn't get his way. 

"It also puts more pressure on Republicans to find the votes internally to pass spending bills and an increase in the federal debt limit - two things hard-right conservatives in the House and Senate have refused to support in the past. That Republican resistance provides Democrats leverage - Republicans can either grant concessions such as no wall money or produce all the votes for the spending bills and debt limit increase themselves." http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=e8bd862d2952d7980670c906508a6ffee44af0ffc18a990a191db8efa0f7159e2bfb3357a1f69cc6ccaf224fb274db9edada64c0f21a97e6

****** A message from Chevron: We're piloting a program that uses drones to keep an eye on Chevron wells, tanks, and pipelines-all to keep DOERS and what they're doin' safer. Watch the video: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=e8bd862d2952d798a2ce20c0ded88d9b0d8a0e23fb5ceb31de20a36c991a7adf8767824220e707feaf6316f316ec5991fddd471d3dac62ea ******

SOMETHING TO WATCH -- "Ryan faces diciest stretch of his speakership," by Rachael Bade in Racine, Wisconsin: "For all its power and prestige, the speaker of the House is one of the most thankless jobs in Washington -- just ask John Boehner. Now, with Congress barreling toward major fiscal fights this fall, Paul Ryan is about to get a taste of the Boehner treatment -- and then some. Consider what's on the immediate horizon for the GOP wunderkind: President Donald Trump is ready to shut down the government over his border wall with Mexico. Breitbart has all but declared a renewed, Steve Bannon-led war on GOP leaders, with Ryan in its cross hairs. And conservative lawmakers are exhorting the
 speaker to play hardball on raising the debt ceiling -- even as the White House demands a no-strings-attached increase to calm nervous creditors.

"'Conservatives aren't going to roll over when it comes to the debt ceiling,' said Republican Study Committee Chairman Mark Walker (R-N.C.) in a Tuesday interview. 'I can tell you: It's going to be a battle.' Asked about Ryan's leadership on such matters, Walker added: 'I would like to see his genius in policy manifest itself. ... Behind closed doors, there are strong conversations when it comes to holding the line for the will of the bulk of the conference. And I would like to see some strength in that area.'

"When Ryan reluctantly took the reins of the House Republican Conference in late 2015, he went out of his way to say he was only heeding the call of duty and didn't really want it. Two years later, he faces the most treacherous stretch of his speakership as September showdowns over the budget and debt ceiling approach. Like Boehner, Ryan will be forced to mediate the long-running hostilities in his conference - between the always-potent Freedom Caucus and a newly-empowered faction of centrists. Only this time, Ryan also has a demanding and unpredictable president thrown into the mix, too." http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=e8bd862d2952d798a52bd34ebf8fea4605be5af17c18a4e4e052b7f1ecae77f16af761759b8b76a6b5e37c046c4c33e7a294b0fe5e60414e

FORMER SEN. JOHN DANFORTH (R-MO.) in the Washington Post: "Trump is exactly what Republicans are not": "Many have said that President Trump isn't a Republican. They are correct, but for a reason more fundamental than those usually given. Some focus on Trump's differences from mainstream GOP policies, but the party is broad enough to embrace different views, and Trump agrees with most Republicans on many issues. Others point to the insults he regularly directs at party members and leaders, but Trump is not the first to promote self above party. The fundamental reason Trump isn't a Republican is far bigger than words or policies. He stands in opposition to the founding principle of our party
 - that of a united country. ...

"In honor of our past and in belief in our future, for the sake of our party and our nation, we Republicans must disassociate ourselves from Trump by expressing our opposition to his divisive tactics and by clearly and strongly insisting that he does not represent what it means to be a Republican."  http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=e8bd862d2952d79840e49e8be9ec00420be35c76d654a6a65ea71bca4d5ac1643627001831c843a09181515a1c4be055b517a5280f6c6fea

THE PRESIDENT SPEAKS! -- at 6:35 a.m.: "If Senate Republicans don't get rid of the Filibuster Rule and go to a 51% majority, few bills will be passed. 8 Dems control the Senate!" ... at 6:40 a.m.: "General John Kelly is doing a fantastic job as Chief of Staff. There is tremendous spirit and talent in the W.H. Don't believe the Fake News" ... at 6:44 a.m.: "Few, if any, Administrations have done more in just 7 months than the Trump A. Bills passed, regulations killed, border, military, ISIS, SC!"

-- FOR THE RECORD: Senate Republicans have had trouble getting to 51 votes on major legislation. It's not true that eight Democrats control the Senate -- not by a long stretch. And the Senate GOP leadership has already said they aren't changing the filibuster rule. 

AXIOS' JONATHAN SWAN: "Trump seriously considering ending DACA": "Sources familiar with the deliberations tell Axios that Trump has made no final decision, and the White House continues to receive advice from the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice. Jeff Sessions strongly believes Trump should end DACA; DHS, however, has a more nuanced position, and Trump himself has said he's sympathetic to the children helped by the program." http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=e8bd862d2952d798056da3b8dafe8be801d2a802e95ed638c0ad4032449a2e70d71ad92f312e12836c5f57fad02178d738bcf22e7c61fefb

FWD.US PRESIDENT TODD SCHULTE'S DACA BRAIN DUMP -- "DACA could end (meaning renewals are blocked) by either a court order or the administration could stop issuing new permits and renewals at any moment. Despite the President keeping the program in place to date, at the end of June 10 Republican Attorneys General, led by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, threatened to undermine the President by suing the administration if the President doesn't end DACA by September 5th.

"Because the removal of these protections would force hundreds of thousands out of their jobs and make them subject to immediate deportation, this is a unique immigration policy moment -- in terms of immediate impact and in terms of how it would be perceived. It is important to be frank -- the President has had multiple opportunities to end this program, and has to date clearly made a decision that he wants to keep this program going. This is absolutely the right policy -- and given the terrible consequences of a DACA repeal -- smart politics. Seven in eight Americans believe Dreamers deserve a place in this country -- this is as close to consensus as we get on anything.

"Picking a fight intentionally to start deporting Dreamers is a uniquely awful political position. This is why for years Republicans have said they want to find a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers. If DACA were repealed in September, by January of 2018 - and for the next 2 years -- between 5,000 and 10,000 Dreamers each and every week would lose the protections of the program. Not only would they be subject to immediate deportation, but hundreds of thousands would lose their jobs. The politics of repealing DACA without a fix would be uniquely painful for the administration and the President's party, who they rightly believe would be blamed."

COMING ATTRACTIONS -- "Interior secretary recommends Trump alter at least three national monuments, including Bears Ears," by WaPo's Juliet Eilperin and Darryl Fears: "Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke recommended Thursday that President Trump alter at least three national monuments established by his immediate predecessors, including two in Utah, a move expected to reshape federal land and water protections and certain to trigger major legal fights. In a report Zinke submitted to the White House, the secretary recommended reducing the size of Utah's Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante national monuments, as well as Oregon's Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument, according to multiple
 individuals briefed on the decision." http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=e8bd862d2952d798ab908e3861032f24daabb30d7b69f74ba1c6f14d9c37011dcc5f1132b532eb62d2ed06155672f0f32303ad53182faccf

TRUMP'S FRIDAY -- TRUMP meets with Secretary of State Rex Tillerson at 11:30 a.m. and then goes to Camp David at 3 p.m.

JARED'S PEACEMAKING EXPEDITION UPDATE: HEADLINE of ISRAEL HAYOM, Sheldon Adelson's newspaper: "In Ramallah, they worry: Kushner didn't say two states."

-- "As Trump's Peacemaker, Kushner Finds Common Ground, and Complications, in Middle East Trip," by NYT's Declan Walsh in London and Peter Baker in Washington: "In his first solo trip to the broader Middle East as President Trump's designated peacemaker, Jared Kushner has found both cause for optimism and reminders of just what a daunting task his father-in-law has given him. Over the course of two days, he met with leaders from several influential Arab countries and emerged encouraged by their stated eagerness to help him bring Israelis and Palestinians together. But his visit on Wednesday with President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi of Egypt showed how other issues can easily complicate the
 initiative as both sides sought to paper over a dispute over American aid. ... In their meetings with Mr. Kushner, Arab leaders signaled readiness to cooperate, forgoing the usual grievances against Israel and instead focusing on their common interests, according to officials from Jordan and the United Arab Emirates." http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=e8bd862d2952d7981a1a376673b4ef8e80661ba40a29afaecf0e08e54644f64b2c770103d93c47d407a2c0ab1caf6625882220d870ea483c

TOP-ED - DAVID IGNATIUS in WaPo, "Could this be a game-changer for Middle East peace?": "The Trump administration is exploring new approaches for easing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that build on talks with a budding Sunni Arab coalition of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Jordan. Jared Kushner, the White House senior adviser and presidential son-in-law, visited the leaders of all four countries during his Middle East trip this week. He was accompanied by special envoy Jason D. Greenblatt and deputy national security adviser Dina Powell. The group came away hopeful that the new generation of Arab leaders is a potential 'game-changer,' said a senior administration
 official. ... The Trump administration seems to envision an 'outside-in' strategy for breaking the Palestinian-Israeli stalemate. The United States, it's hoped, could eventually bring together Israelis and leaders of the major Arab states for a peace conference. Trump's unusually close relations with both Israel and the Gulf Arabs are part of this strategy." http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=e8bd862d2952d798f4d5bbc8cf33ed6ea9c6df6708601690be09373a35e2639de4d2f9683b55fd7b99f7a4f06e2fe7342acf94a943ad2bf5

WHAT ONE TOP TRUMP SUPPORTER IS SAYING -- REP. CHRIS COLLINS (R-N.Y.): "Mr. Collins stated that 'no one in his right mind' would hold a town hall meeting at this point, and he cited safety concerns as the reason with the Steve Scalise shooting as an example." http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=e8bd862d2952d79863f7d9254744a64b16e6808a60a095d9611747b7bedf08596f61ccf60aac1b2c60bf71a6e1092bfccb6abb53d8cbc418 

THE JUICE ... 

-- FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: CAITLIN MITCHELL is joining the Democratic National Committee in the newly created chief mobilization officer role. She will be in charge of the new "mobilization department" and manage its digital, marketing and online fundraising departments. Mitchell previously worked as vice president of digital at EMILY's List. 

-- THE "NOT ONE PENNY" campaign is launching a seven-figure cable ad buy pushing lawmakers to not make changes to the tax code that "provide additional tax giveaways to millionaires, billionaires, and wealthy corporations at the expense of working families." The ads in D.C. and on local cable are targeting GOP Reps. Rod Blum and David Young of Iowa, Martha McSally of Arizona, Kevin Yoder of Kansas, Bruce Poliquin of Maine, Will Hurd of Texas, Rick Crawford of Arkansas and Darrell Issa of California. The national ad http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=e8bd862d2952d798ce7f8433458b2e7f94c59e2d80595414b53c98c3403b8bdea3d4c9ea6aef2112d9fcbd32f28e8341df58b69dfab509e2

PLAYBOOK ON THE ROAD -- Karl Rove: "enjoying the midday Playbook read after finishing a second day on Machu Picchu" http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=e8bd862d2952d7985ad21bf2ea10798bc194780f68b63a421913d23b573c63a4a320b22748a4d7b9fff6217d21c47c5d32a2928eb31a018d ... Anne Brady Perron: "Stopping to get my Playbook fix while hiking The Upper Narrows trail in Zion National Park." http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=e8bd862d2952d798bbb4adf4ad138fff1e41f15eeac08f5d42c1c8a6a0905919abf39d9f7e41a102bb079bff2dcf9b8252e5ed605ffe511e ... Charmaine Yoest (@CharmaineYoest), HHS assistant secretary of public affairs: "Never miss @playbookplus - even @theyoestdog keeps up at the beach. #PlaybookLoyal @apalmerdc" http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=e8bd862d2952d7989156fc6ae68b5bf27b019d9fa750e2a887401fccecf95fff73d6eee60a5873045124bffc6c05ae19006f352fdcc629b7 ... Poppy MacDonald (@PoppyMacD), president of POLITICO: "Staying caught up w/ @playbookplus while @ #OregonCoast #haystackrock
 #PlaybookLoyal" 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=e8bd862d2952d79881a414fb3d2032844b2581c788523f4328b3181f03e72edc4d0da84a3c50e951ad810e3cd9e3774b0bda145a798f9981 ... Daniel Roy, CEO of a software company in Utrecht, Netherlands: "reading Playbook from the heart of the Axis of Evil: Isfahan in the Islamic Republic of Iran. Apparently you haven't antagonized the Ayatollah enough: I'm happy to report that you're freely available over here (unlike among others www.foxnews.com - no surprises there)." http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=e8bd862d2952d7982782fe95d2aeeb2c3b4f4c6f4ec1992056cc544e14843286ac04a167164a96e93101aada38dfa4d57d33b312b4136ffc 

-- OTHER READERS sent in pix of themselves reading Playbook from the Scottish highlands; Mdina, Malta; near Bull Mountain, Montana; a palace in Milan; the Puget Sound; Punta Cana, La Altagracia in the Dominican Republic; fishing off Nantucket; the Solheim Golf Cup in Des Moines; Montauk, N.Y.; Cooperstown, N.Y.; Ayer's Rock in Australia's Northern Territory; Appalachian State University in Boone, N.C.; San Francisco; Mendoza, Argentina; in the shadow of the Matterhorn; outside the Colosseum in Rome; Canc&uacute;n; Grand Teton National Park; Fort Ticonderoga; Cuba; Koh Samui, Thailand; and Manhattan. LAST CHANCE -- Send photos to Daniel [email-masked], or tweet photos with
 #PlaybookLoyal for a chance to be featured next week in our last Playbook on the Road installment and be entered into a contest to win a signed Matt Wuerker cartoon. See the whole gallery of entries this week http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=e8bd862d2952d7985ad21bf2ea10798bc194780f68b63a421913d23b573c63a4a320b22748a4d7b9fff6217d21c47c5d32a2928eb31a018d

          Playbook Reads         

PHOTO DU JOUR: White House senior adviser Jared Kushner meets with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Aug. 24 in Ramallah, West Bank. | Osama Falah/PPO via Getty Images

AT LANGLEY -- "At CIA, a watchful eye on Mike Pompeo, the president's ardent ally," by WaPo's Greg Miller: "As CIA director, Mike Pompeo has taken a special interest in an agency unit that is closely tied to the investigation into possible collusion between Russia and the Trump campaign, requiring the Counterintelligence Mission Center to report directly to him. Officials at the center have, in turn, kept a watchful eye on Pompeo, who has repeatedly played down Russia's interference in the 2016 election and demonstrated a willingness to engage in political skirmishes for President Trump. Current and former officials said that the arrangement has been a source of apprehension among the CIA's
 upper ranks and that they could not recall a time in the agency's history when a director faced a comparable conflict. ... 'People have to watch him,' said a U.S. official who, like others, requested anonymity to speak frankly. 'It's almost as if he can't resist the impulse to be political.'" http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=e8bd862d2952d798b6b01d6c6f0b854272b7719527af2faa333e0d1a243009244edde2f09172a3b0e1271f58a40bedf530eea9f40c665201 

HMM -- "Mnuchin viewed eclipse from roof of Fort Knox," by WaPo's Drew Harwell and Beth Reinhard: "It turns out that [Treasury Secretary Steven] Mnuchin did view the eclipse while he was in Kentucky, and from an extraordinary place: Just outside the path of totality, from the roof of the nation's fabled Fort Knox, atop nearly $200 billion in American gold. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) posted a Facebook photo [http://bit.ly/2gbGVwC] of himself, holding a pair of eclipse glasses, and Mnuchin at the U.S. Bullion Repository, where he said 'we viewed the #solareclipse from the rooftop today.' But Treasury officials said Thursday that the trip was planned explicitly around
 'official government travel,' rejecting the idea that the Fort Knox visit and the appearance at a luncheon for the local chamber of commerce were mere cover. They said the luncheon appearance had been planned for early August but was delayed when McConnell postponed the Senate's recess, an account confirmed by a spokeswoman for the Louisville chamber, Alison Brotzge-Elder." http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=e8bd862d2952d798a198f6ccca6ccd96a68205a6ebd829c40353527d48302d964d5200bc5f394bd94ad72203069ad33945cd525cbb60fceb

THE NEW ECONOMY -- "Amazon Plans to Lower Some Prices at Whole Foods," by NYT's Nick Wingfield in Seattle and David Gelles in New York: "The era of Whole Paycheck, the derisive nickname for Whole Foods, may be drawing to a close. Amazon, which takes control of the upscale grocer on Monday, intends to slash prices the same day.

"The significance of the move goes well beyond the price of organic avocados, baby kale and rotisserie chickens, all of which will cost less on Monday than on Sunday. Rather, it is an outsize way for Jeff Bezos, Amazon's chief executive, to announce his plan to shake up the grocery industry and take on competitors like Walmart and Kroger. ... 

"Amazon plans to weave together its online business and physical stores by turning its Prime membership program into a Whole Foods rewards program, providing additional savings to customers. Amazon Prime is a $99-a-year service that gives customers faster free shipping, video streaming and other benefits. Whole Foods' private-label products will be available through Amazon's online services and Amazon lockers that will be installed in some Whole Foods markets. Customers will also be able to return online orders to Amazon through the lockers." http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=e8bd862d2952d798de35dacd55fb48c2aeb74fb3b1e0adf982f59ddeffd1fa6a5be5363edbdf176e5be49b78f9f0542214b1d354dd99b65b 

****** A message from Chevron: This is a story about energy, safety, and some truly high-flyin' doin'. We're piloting a program that uses drones, HD imaging, and thermal mapping to help keep a close eye on Chevron wells, tanks, and pipelines-all to keep DOERS and what they're doin' safer. Watch the video: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=e8bd862d2952d798a2ce20c0ded88d9b0d8a0e23fb5ceb31de20a36c991a7adf8767824220e707feaf6316f316ec5991fddd471d3dac62ea ******

MEDIAWATCH -- "Pro-Trump Media Bristles As John Kelly Limits What Gets To The President's Desk," by BuzzFeed's Adrian Carrasquillo and Charlie Warzel: "'I'm scared that the military complex is taking over the formerly populist White House,' said Lucian Wintrich, who writes for Gateway Pundit, one of the websites in the pro-Trump sphere, which has trafficked in conspiracies in the past. Longtime Trump adviser and occasional Infowars guest Roger Stone said Trump's 'news summaries have been sanitized, which means no Infowars, no Daily Caller, no Breitbart. As such, his views are shaped by CNN and FOX News. He watches network news as well, which is almost antiquated. That's why he's so mad
 about the Russia investigation.'"  http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=e8bd862d2952d798a0f81c2914c2ab0778d807baba4f4a7b1598aec4e816b932a7f98882faa553b9241bc44975b7aad1b62dc048d5dee2bb

-- "AP names Asher to news editor position in Washington" - AP: "The Associated Press on Thursday named award-winning journalist James Asher as a news editor in its Washington bureau, where he will oversee coverage of the investigations into interference in the 2016 election and other key elements of President Donald Trump's administration. ... Asher is the former Washington bureau chief for McClatchy. His work on the worldwide Panama Papers investigation with a team at McClatchy was awarded the 2017 Pulitzer Prize in journalism for explanatory reporting. McClatchy shared that award with the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists and The Miami Herald." 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=e8bd862d2952d7987a746d8e3bf2fc448f4396561cd321513810b21cdf213fb75f628bacde9fb4618776a06c9ec5ea7aac5273a810f6352b

                  Playbookers         
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY: ROY and KELLY SCHWARTZ celebrate 10 years today. 

-- National Journal Editor Stephen G. Smith writes in that "Ingrid Goes West," co-written by his son David Branson Smith, opens in theaters across D.C. today. Smith won the top screenwriting award at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival. Washington Post review http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=e8bd862d2952d7983e70676c5aeb963d60a863f3c3ef4bea4f4fa085c5f3cd23f15e01c6953db5f45bc65ad6ac62000f6cba5cef59a72fab ... Trailer http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=e8bd862d2952d7981fe456944b66a1d25bc8e14514df1c219a68be3d0a32247c2f9b1b79cdb48af89f38f2e8175648b1e37dec256653af75 

TRANSITIONS -- Willow Bay has been inducted as dean of USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism and as the Walter H. Annenberg Chair in Communication. ... Former Washington Post deputy national political editor Rebecca Sinderbrand has joined Yale University as a Block Visiting Lecturer where she will teach courses on journalism and politics.

SUNDAY SO FAR - NBC's "Meet the Press": Ohio Gov. John Kasich ... Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio). Panel: Yamiche Alcindor, Michael Gerson, Danielle Pletka, Katy Tur

--CBS' "Face the Nation" (guest host: Major Garrett): Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) ... a foreign policy discussion with Tom Donilon and Ret. Navy Admiral James Winnefeld. Political panel: Amy Walter, Susan Page, Ben Domenech, Clarence Page.

--ABC's "This Week": Panel: Matthew Dowd, Roland Martin, Julie Pace, Jen Psaki, Chris Ruddy

--"Fox News Sunday": Panel: Karl Rove, Catherine Lucey, Josh Holmes, Juan Williams

--CNN's "State of the Union": Va. Gov. Terry McAuliffe. Panel: Mary Katharine Ham, Jennifer Granholm, Michael Caputo, Karine Jean-Pierre

--CNN's "Inside Politics" (guest host: Nia-Malika Henderson): Margaret Talev, Jonathan Martin, Manu Raju, Jeff Zeleny

BIRTHDAYS OF THE DAY: Steve Hilton, host of Fox News' "The Next Revolution with Steve Hilton" (Sundays at 9 p.m./ET) and author of "More Human -- Designing A World Where People Come First." How he views the Trump presidency as going: "His big mistake was to subcontract policy strategy to congressional Republicans. The fateful decision to attempt healthcare reform before progress on the core economic agenda was a disaster. So much that has gone wrong flows from that mistake. Time is running out to correct it." Read his Playbook Plus Q&A:  http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=e8bd862d2952d7984c697e04f646df24aee1af8cc9dcd4ae5d75778ae8e988c1ff3827dfc221c916c2ecfb65e29854a7bc613f778b48b818 ...

... Sara Sendek, associate VP at DDC Public Affairs and a Bush WH and RNC alum, "celebrating with my D.C. family: Scott Sendek, Tory Sendek and Conor Maguire with dinner at Rasika." A fun fact about Sara: "Before my political aspirations, I had a dream of competing in the Olympics for figure skating and trained competitively for several years before I reached retirement age in my late teens." Read her Playbook Plus Q&A: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=e8bd862d2952d798c4fc23503afeda5ac3b1efbbcedb50bd13bb6096771bf0e0a19da44039a42b0ba9a7052d1714eebe4454f0a5c2a32233 

BIRTHDAYS: Trumpworld's Michael Cohen ... Elsa Walsh ... Dan Stein is 26 ... Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal is 75 ... Jedd Rosche, CNN Politics Congress editor ... Tom Squitieri is 64 ... Daniel Barash ... Sarah Peck, Sen. Kaine's comms director and Hillary's former Virginia comms director (h/ts Ian Sams and Michaela Balderston) ... Leigh Claffey, Sen. Ernst's press secretary (h/t sister Lauren Claffey) ... Zach Cikanek, VP of public affairs at FP1 Strategies ... Robin Groulx, director of video at Axios ... Mike Burns, comms director for Rep. Donald M. Payne, Jr., is 3-0 ... Obama Treasury alum Lennon Duggan ... Jeff Choudhry ... Debbie Matz ... Michael Wascom, SVP at The Moak Group ... Ella
 Goodman ... Ryan Dalton, deputy director of N.Y. Gov. Andrew Cuomo's D.C. office ... Brian Wise, managing partner of Wise Public Affairs ...

... Chris Hooton, chief economist at the Internet Association, is 32 (h/t wife Hadas Gold) ... Politico's Jonathan Halling ... Terry O'Neill, who just wrapped up as president of NOW (h/t Kiki McLean) ... Megan Clasen, HFA alum and digital director extraordinaire at JB for Governor (h/t Anna Rosenfeld) ... Rep. Elizabeth Esty (D-Conn.) is 6-0 ... Rep. John Faso (R-N.Y.) is 65 ... Rep. Susan Brooks (R-Ind.) is 56 ... Rep. Raul Ruiz (D-Calif.) is 45 (h/t Alex Macfarlane) ... former Rep. Ron Barber (D-Ariz.) is 72 ... Dave Hoppe is 66 ... Caroline Melo, a J.D. candidate at SMU Dedman law school ... William Flaherty ... Anna Mulrine ... Sarah Lee ... James Allen ... Sam Michelman, MBA candidate
 at Columbia Business School ... Cl&eacute;mentine Aymard Quinn ... Politico Europe's Christian Oliver ... Ted Metzger, supervising producer at CNN International ... Allison Davis O'Keefe ... Courtney Robinson ... Beth Burke ... Joe Walker ... Margo Hennigan ... Brian Majorsky ... Harley Mayersohn ... Robin Johnson is 59 ... PwC's Michael O'Brien is 45 ... Theresa Pagliocca ... Brian Sweeney ... Kim Warkentin ... Eric Stern ... Olivia Craighead (h/ts Teresa Vilmain)

****** A message from Chevron: This is a story about energy, safety, and some truly high-flyin' doin'. We're piloting a program that uses drones, HD imaging, and thermal mapping to help keep a close eye on Chevron wells, tanks, and pipelines-all to keep DOERS and what they're doin' safer. Watch the video: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=e8bd862d2952d798a2ce20c0ded88d9b0d8a0e23fb5ceb31de20a36c991a7adf8767824220e707feaf6316f316ec5991fddd471d3dac62ea ******

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