Subject: POLITICO Playbook, presented by UC Davis: PENCE shuttling between DC and NY to try to urge Senate Republicans to pass Graham-Cassidy -- Bill is short of 50, but whipping has just begun -- TRUMP, ‘America first president,’ speaks this morning at the U.N.
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Date: Tue, 19 Sep 2017 04:38:26 -0600
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Today's POLITICO Playbook presented by UC Davis 
            
By JAKE SHERMAN ([email-masked]; @JakeSherman), ANNA PALMER ([email-masked]; @apalmerdc) and DANIEL LIPPMAN ([email-masked]; @dlippman)
        
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                  Driving the Day         
Good Tuesday morning. AMAZING SPLIT SCREEN TODAY. PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP and VP MIKE PENCE are in New York at the U.N. General Assembly. WASHINGTON is completely and totally focused on Graham-Cassidy, the final gasp of an Obamacare repeal. 

TRUMP ON THE WORLD STAGE -- POTUS SPEAKS TODAY IN TURTLE BAY -- "Trump, the 'America First' president, goes to the UN," by AP's Jonathan Lemire: "Elected on the nationalist slogan 'America first,' President Donald Trump will use his debut address to the U.N. General Assembly to argue that individual nations should act in their own self-interest, yet rally together when faced with a common threat such as North Korea. 

"Trump, who has warned of 'fire and fury' if North Korea does not back down, was expected to argue Tuesday that the dangers posed by Kim Jung Un's pursuit of a nuclear weapons program should unite all nations. And he planned to issue not just warnings to North Korea but also rebukes to states that have enabled Pyongyang, though it was unclear if he would criticize China by name.

"Addressing the General Assembly is a milestone moment for any president, but one particularly significant for Trump, a relative newcomer to foreign policy who has at times rattled the international community with his unpredictability. He has pulled the Unites States out of multinational agreements, considered shrinking the U.S. military footprint in the world and deployed bombastic language on North Korea that has been criticized by other world leaders." http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=ad8d5b43020dc04b197e91161ab1e233c825700ebcf7788974243ba88cd63ac32ada7cc753588ae9cab17655261f43f7188ee487689a6689

-- ALL TODAY: Pence meets at 9:30 a.m. with the E.U.'s High Representative Federica Mogherini before shuttling back to Washington for the Senate GOP lunch to push Congress to pass Obamacare repeal and replace legislation. He then turns around and goes back to New York for a diplomatic reception hosted by Trump and the first lady. Pence was scheduled to be in New York all day for U.N. business. 

THE ZOOM OUT, HEALTH CARE EDITION -- BURGESS EVERETT and JEN HABERKORN: "Senate Republicans' last-gasp Obamacare repeal effort is gaining steam, with key senators who tanked the last push in July signaling new openness to the latest attempt and GOP leaders growing increasingly bullish.

"While the proposal written by Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Bill Cassidy (R-La.) remains short of 50 votes, it also has just one hard 'no' vote, from Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, and another expected 'no' in Sen. Susan Collins of Maine. Three 'no' votes would kill the bill, but in an encouraging sign for repeal proponents, no one is stepping forward yet to deliver that final nail.

"Instead, wavering senators remain on the sidelines. Conservative Sen. Mike Lee of Utah is warming to the legislation, which would turn federal health care funding into block grants for states and eliminate Obamacare's coverage mandate, while Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski is undecided. ... A Republican senator who has spoken to GOP leaders said Murkowski is likely the bellwether. This senator said that GOP leaders believe other undecided senators will support the bill if it is put on the floor and that McConnell has begun whipping the bill because he 'realizes that there's life out there.' 'We are one vote away from doing this thing,' the senator insisted." 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=ad8d5b43020dc04b330609cbb5c732a6cf22f7ae5e923bc3332aa5a23ba33b65e2666ae06731cdfdad42058d4cc039ea0f8259bbf4097e24 

-- WE HEAR: HHS Secretary Tom Price and CMS Administrator Seema Verma are also going to huddle with Senate Republicans today.

-- BEHIND THE SCENES LAST NIGHT: Cassidy met with the leadership last night. Senate Republican leaders began whipping the bill on the Senate floor.

TIME IS SHORT: The Senate's ability to pass the bill using a simple majority expires on Sept. 30 -- 11 days from now. Generally speaking, the same people have the same problems with this bill that they had with the last. This time, there's a true deadline. Does that end date change the dynamics enough? 

BIGGEST LINGERING QUESTIONS ... 

-- THE HOLDOUTS. The key votes are, obviously, SENS. JOHN MCCAIN (R-ARIZ.) and LISA MURKOWSKI (R-ALASKA). They have both been cagey about where they stand. McCain has said he wants to ensure the bill goes through regular order -- Senate Republicans have scheduled two hearings next week. Not regular order, of course, but it's something. McCain to CNN: "We've had nine months. That's my answer. We've had nine months to get it done and we haven't. Is it my problem now that we only have a week? It's not my problem." http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=ad8d5b43020dc04bb9aa8c96872ea902393ff7f4ea73db0cd4ca62635bed23522e93a9fe5d893f249f56220902211bc05e44791e1bfc109f Murkowski has said she's worried both about process and how much money Alaska will get to help cover more people and pay for premiums. 

-- THE C.B.O. The Congressional Budget Office -- the official budget scorekeeper -- will only be able to provide a "a preliminary assessment of the Graham-Cassidy bill by early next week." But it will not have data on how the bill affects the deficit, insurance coverage or premiums. So, senators are being asked to vote blindly on the legislation, which could be tricky.

-- KENNEDY'S CATCH. Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) takes a different view, and says if Congress gives a bunch of money and authority to states, some big blue states are going to set up single payer systems. http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=ad8d5b43020dc04bce8933b6f0cc7db8a79f467e10ede91cec64b4c575253295e10b7e6ced084fcfffb6137f5acdc26cc75ae66d2ac041e0 

-- REGIONAL CONCERNS. OK, let's assume this gets out of the Senate. Some regional issues will bubble up in the House. Big states like New York do not fare well under the Graham-Cassidy bill. The margin for error in the House is roughly 22 votes. 

THE STARK POLITICAL REALITY -- This is the last chance to do something. That could prompt people to pony up and vote for the bill, but at the same time, you can't say you voted for the bill with the hopes that the other chamber will improve it. There is already talk about using next year's reconciliation to improve the health care system -- but that would screw up any plans on tax reform. 

-- THE POST: "New push to replace Obamacare reflects high stakes for Republicans" http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=ad8d5b43020dc04b24bee7126a4bf8ad735dc4e7afd664fbd68e06ac8f677434d18a8d5fd854cb385caa124d79a01769673c31a0b7307914 ... NYT: "Obamacare Repeal, Thought Dead in July, May Be Revived in Senate" http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=ad8d5b43020dc04b9358c8ffc668c305b8202daa871a472fe81f50e0c6ff8ffc8750ed45157d44215360e504043b83bcebfc0ca566206bef 

-- BEHIND THE SCENES --CNN'S MANU RAJU: "Trump privately tries to mend fences with Senate Republicans" http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=ad8d5b43020dc04b9c456eaff37674aa11d063818fdafbf159f83c3520bc082fdde5697df72c4b01412273cc636fa4c526332658daaa2679

TRUMP'S TUESDAY -- In addition to his address to the general assembly, TRUMP is meeting with U.N. Secretary General Ant&oacute;nio Guterres and the amir of Qatar. 

FIRST IN PLAYBOOK -- FORBES put Donald Trump on its upcoming 100th anniversary issue, which celebrates the "100 Greatest Living Business Minds." http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=ad8d5b43020dc04ba96b60ffe5cce42b7959b0ac63d074e4050a690c2dfc51753a9b2dd719ef312ab9b801851179920f0954b309407d8fa1 ... "Trump: The Early Tweets (1982-2000)" http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=ad8d5b43020dc04bef75697546156173487be9f3b90a72e18796ec384c1f1f6e9b4dc9feb560c1745ca57af9f7e8da4e8ae0c24392f82a57 ... "Trump: The Art of the Spiel" http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=ad8d5b43020dc04bac5c1666c5b52f0cd2d248f9aea18492af899cbdec317f818d8b627e1df0df184ca0cc3177e827aec2939ba28265e0ab 

BULLETIN -- at 5:21 a.m.: "MIAMI (AP) - Hurricane Maria regains extreme dangerous Category 5 storm strength, after brief drop in intensity."

2018 WATCH -- "Political campaigns prep for battle with hackers," by Daniel Strauss and Scott Bland: "The political world is officially obsessed with cybersecurity in 2017 - especially the Democrats burned by the hacking of their committees and operatives during the 2016 election. Much of the Democratic Party's permanent apparatus has already changed its day-to-day operations as a result, while beginning the slow process of persuading its decentralized, startup-like campaign ecosystem to follow suit. 

"House Democrats' top strategists have urged consultants working on their campaigns to start using Wickr, the end-to-end encrypted messaging app used inside the DCCC - but the consulting community has been slow to give up email and embrace the program, say three Democratic consultants involved in House races. Security measures vary widely from race to race, leaving many still vulnerable to hacking, and members of both parties say they are seeking centralized clearinghouses of anti-hacking information and services." http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=ad8d5b43020dc04b673d4e1f9e284c6f8ab8687d629a2b8ca94c30fb17efb0307a9590d2dd78e112cf9ede9ba5483e83a7d88554c4a9793e

-- THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE disclosed $372,045 in mail and media in support of Sen. Luther Strange in Alabama.

****** A message from UC Davis: The future looks bright thanks to next-generation, energy-efficient lighting developed at the UC Davis California Lighting Technology Center. With the potential to significantly reduce the nation's lighting energy use and greenhouse gas emissions, the CTLC is just one way we're supporting sustainability on a global scale. Learn more at 21stcentury.ucdavis.edu. ******

WHAT STEVEN MNUCHIN IS READING -- "Senate Republicans Consider a Trillion-Dollar-Plus Tax Cut for Budget," by WSJ's Rich Rubin and Siobhan Hughes: "Senate Republicans are considering writing a budget that would allow for up to $1.5 trillion in tax cuts over the next decade, said people familiar with the discussions. Budget talks are continuing and no final decision has been reached yet. A budget that creates fiscal room for a $1.5 trillion tax cut, if adopted, would then be followed by a tax bill that would specify rate cuts and other policy changes that don't exceed that figure. Calling for a tax cut in the budget would let Republicans lower tax rates while making fewer tough decisions on
 what tax breaks to eliminate to help pay for the cuts. ...

"With this latest turn in budget talks, Republicans are gradually shifting away from an earlier stance some took in favor of a tax plan that fully paid for itself in the first decade. Budget Committee member Mike Crapo (R., Idaho) said on Monday that the tax cut should be 'as big as we can get.' The budget is an essential first step to the major tax bill Republicans want to pass this year. If the House and Senate agree on a budget, they can fast-track a tax bill through the Senate on a simple-majority vote through a process known as reconciliation, rather than seek a bigger 60-vote majority that would require support from Democrats." http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=ad8d5b43020dc04bbecb31b188aadff28ddd79c06694536faf326a173d890dd602aa176d9f48509eae9a437768340eae771040f296b5af94

NOW YOU TELL US -- "Sean Spicer Says He Regrets Berating Reporters Over Inauguration Crowds," by NYT's Glenn Thrush and Dave Itzkoff: "In an interview on Monday morning, Mr. Spicer said he now regrets one of his most infamous moments as press secretary: his decision to charge into the White House briefing room in January and criticize accurate news reports that President Barack Obama's inauguration crowd was bigger than President Trump's. 'Of course I do, absolutely,' Mr. Spicer said. ... As Mr. Spicer prepared to return to Washington, he was asked if he was worried that Mr. Trump would take offense over the skit, which many viewers saw as lampooning the president's preoccupation with the
 size of his inauguration crowd. 'I certainly hope not,' Mr. Spicer said after a brief pause. 'This was an attempt to poke a little fun at myself and add a little bit of levity to the event.'" http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=ad8d5b43020dc04b24fcaa11fad601126e01fad90cc10841a7344bdce8c4da9ec2bebfd491550ddbbad760f7ad59a91b4e3df6522f1c33a0

AT FOGGY BOTTOM -- "State Department Tightens Rules for Visas to U.S.," by NYT's Gardiner Harris: "In a cable to American embassies around the world, Secretary of State Rex W. Tillerson wrote that visitors who require a visa before entering the United States must then follow through on their stated plans for at least three months. If in that period they do something they failed to mention in an interview with a consular official - such as marry an American citizen, go to school or get a job - it will be presumed that they have deliberately lied. That would make it difficult, if not impossible, for them to renew a visa, get a new one or change their status. ... Under previous rules, a change
 in plans was deemed to be misrepresentation only for the first month after arrival in the United States." http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=ad8d5b43020dc04bb6649b50d7407933d4fe85636b7a157689224111c6fe98277454351217847e0389511ce8cb25d9e6b033a7f60f4f22d3

MUELLER WATCH -- "With a Picked Lock and a Threatened Indictment, Mueller's Inquiry Sets a Tone," by NYT's Sharon LaFraniere, Matt Apuzzo and Adam Goldman: "Paul J. Manafort was in bed early one morning in July when federal agents bearing a search warrant picked the lock on his front door and raided his Virginia home. They took binders stuffed with documents and copied his computer files, looking for evidence that Mr. Manafort, President Trump's former campaign chairman, set up secret offshore bank accounts. They even photographed the expensive suits in his closet. The special counsel, Robert S. Mueller III, then followed the house search with a warning: His prosecutors told Mr. Manafort
 they planned to indict him, said two people close to the investigation." http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=ad8d5b43020dc04b45b7be95211e2683a9f8da6fedb50c169a728bd5d8fc9f2d6a8a9fdbdb07d54572f9aaebe2943017dcd00121af861640

-- CNN: "Exclusive: U.S. government wiretapped former Trump campaign chairman," by Evan Perez, Shimon Prokupecz and Pam Brown: "U.S. investigators wiretapped former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort under secret court orders before and after the election, sources tell CNN, an extraordinary step involving a high-ranking campaign official now at the center of the Russia meddling probe. Some of the intelligence collected includes communications that sparked concerns among investigators that Manafort had encouraged the Russians to help with the campaign ... Two of these sources, however, cautioned that the evidence is not conclusive. ... The surveillance was discontinued at some point last
 year for lack of evidence ...

"The FBI then restarted the surveillance after obtaining a new FISA warrant that extended at least into early this year. The conversations between Manafort and Trump continued after the President took office, long after the FBI investigation into Manafort was publicly known ... They went on until lawyers for the President and Manafort insisted that they stop. ... It's unclear whether Trump himself was picked up on the surveillance." http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=ad8d5b43020dc04b2549d9029e5c250be1ad49061bac91e2bd494bab13cb59069581e41856178b4cf17875f27cf006f62bd2cc01748e0b60 

-- "Haley's former chief of staff to join Trump's legal team," by Eliana Johnson: "President Donald Trump has added another lawyer to his legal team as FBI special counsel Robert Mueller prepares to interview a slate of senior White House aides. Steven Groves, who until last month served as chief of staff to U.N. ambassador Nikki Haley, will serve as deputy to White House special counsel Ty Cobb, who is managing the response to Mueller's investigation into Russian meddling into the 2016 election. White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders confirmed Groves' hire on Monday. ... Before joining the administration, Groves worked as a senior fellow at the Heritage Foundation, a
 conservative think tank, and as senior counsel to the Senate's permanent subcommittee on investigations, investigated the U.N.'s oil-for-food scandal." http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=ad8d5b43020dc04bf64775507ecbc8517b214d0b48c64ef5933e954c594a9aaac083b8013d7ffa56a09c19ab781cb6b8971a7fe147475342

-- "More Than Seven Lawyers Working On Michael Flynn's Defense Team," by BuzzFeed's Chris Geidner: "The fees will 'certainly be into the seven figures,' according to [a] source." http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=ad8d5b43020dc04b6574b00504a57222a7c919b7c4843bb1d97e392b59e1aeba4ffb4215bdb4b36ef5a01f5f0387155e8655bdd8c2f22dfd

CLINTON SPEAKS -- "Clinton urges government workers not to quit their posts," by Gabe Debenedetti: "Hillary Clinton on Monday urged federal employees who disagree with the Trump administration to stay in their jobs if they can, condemning what she called the 'disregard, even contempt, among many in this administration about what federal workers know and what they've done, and the advice they can give.' The 2016 Democratic presidential nominee, speaking at Warner Theatre in Washington in the first speaking event of the national tour for her new book, urged government workers to 'stick it out, stick it out, because the tide has to turn.'" http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=ad8d5b43020dc04b1031438b85bbfdce9a63c7c523e3955ee65532b40508fc06f43930b9ada160000e421b7f75594593a71a4c18eea3d865

SPEAKING OF CLINTON: "Feinstein and Biden slam Trump's golf ball retweet," by Brent D. Griffiths: "'Every one of us should be offended by the vindictive and candidly dangerous messages the president sends that demean not only Secretary Clinton, but all women,' Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) said in a blistering statement. Feinstein, a four-term incumbent, concluded that it was time for the president to 'grow up and do your job.' ... Hours after Feinstein issued her statement, former Vice President Joe Biden chided Trump on Twitter, writing that it was long past time for the president to stop using social media in such a manner. 'Enough,' he tweeted. 'This has to stop. Our children are
 watching.'" http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=ad8d5b43020dc04b90c43ea4fe06839996e49cbf2b153cc56e7c2a47803ba3213e76f65e28d702aa2da1db35ac3df52985be27044da42253

DACA POLITICS -- S.F. CHRONICLE -- "Protesters shut down Pelosi news conference on DACA: 'All of us or none of us,'" by Evan Sernoffsky: "Chanting pro-immigrant slogans -- 'All of us or none of us,' 'Democrats deport' and 'We are not a bargaining chip' - more than 60 young people overwhelmed a news conference that House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi had organized Monday on her home turf in San Francisco to urge passage of the Dream Act to protect immigrants who were brought to the country as children. After nearly an hour of boisterous chanting by protesters who described themselves as 'undocumented youth,' Pelosi and fellow House Democrats Barbara Lee of Oakland and Jared Huffman of San
 Rafael packed up and left as the carefully orchestrated event fell into disarray. ...

"Pelosi eventually walked outside to briefly address reporters before leaving. 'This group today is saying don't do the Dream Act unless you do comprehensive immigration reform,' she said. 'Well, we all want to do comprehensive immigration reform. ... I understand their frustration -- I'm excited by it as a matter of fact -- but the fact is, they're completely wrong.'" http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=ad8d5b43020dc04b4a37985d44218f797b95588f9c221334a3e6bb47bf0a9b3f837869b1715f55988071e9bcaa9c015f0c467696428f554c 

--@nbcbayarea: "'You're a liar!:' 'Dreamers' confront Pelosi over negotiations with Trump over DACA" -- 25-second video http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=ad8d5b43020dc04b2d222d6873f7c43793d9b98644a1d897d01e6662b728366b5bff3e409ac3343f1f482fa816f3fd77139fe71261349afd

THE JUICE ...

-- "MORNING JOE" is celebrating its 10-year anniversary this morning. In the 7 a.m. hour, guests include Bill de Blasio, Chris Christie and Michael Bloomberg. In the 8 a.m. hour, Tony Blair and Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) will join. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) will also make an appearance. The show also flew two fans who won their Twitter sweepstakes from Utah to see the show.

-- BREAKING -- HOLLYWOOD REPORTER -- "CBS Wins Bidding Showdown for Australia's Network Ten": "Creditors of embattled Australian free-to-air broadcaster Network Ten overwhelmingly voted in favor of a takeover bid for the company by CBS Corp. on Tuesday. Led by Ten staff, the acceptance of CBS' $32 million ... offer to unsecured creditors also saw creditors reject a counter offer of $44 million from Ten shareholders Lachlan Murdoch and Bruce Gordon. The pair had failed on Monday in a bid to get the local Supreme Court to stop Tuesday's meeting." http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=ad8d5b43020dc04be9d97566a1065f90135676c6636b2c7840b7e0ff1901754d4cbe505f96df65d2053f43a8e7f8c468e6f7deb712152ae0

          Playbook Reads         

PHOTO DU JOUR: President Donald Trump jokes with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Palace Hotel in New York during a meeting of the United Nations General Assembly on Sept. 18. | Evan Vucci/AP Photo

BREAKING LAST NIGHT -- HAARETZ'S BARAK RAVID: "Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sissi on Monday night in New York. This was the first public meeting between the two leaders since al-Sissi took office. The Prime Minister's office said that Netanyahu spoke with al-Sissi for about an hour and a half about regional issues. Al-Sissi expressed his desire to support regional and Israeli-Palestinian regional peace efforts." http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=ad8d5b43020dc04b94a7b75f48a383e0501488a9507f9641bd56b975eac85e28c7a901a3047480dd1e3abd31e2f1ec4b6dd77f4a082b6745 

FIRST FAMILY -- "Donald Trump Jr. Gives Up Secret Service Protection, Seeking Privacy," by NYT's Nick Fandos and Maggie Haberman: "Donald Trump Jr., the president's eldest son, has elected to forgo protection by the Secret Service, according to a senior administration official. The agency ceased protecting Mr. Trump, who lives in New York City and is an executive at the Trump Organization, last week. Mr. Trump, an avid camper and hunter, is said to be seeking more privacy than he can expect with a contingent of agents accompanying him everywhere. It was not immediately clear whether the decision applied to his family; he and his wife, Vanessa, have five children. ... But giving up
 protection of even the younger Mr. Trump alone will provide relief for the Secret Service, which has had its work force and resources strained by the size and lifestyle of the Trump family." http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=ad8d5b43020dc04b2b34e54da3f6170989d9a4ebec98d8cf5ee55049757dc9bc5cd6c50415383a2850c171c6436819d2a0e2ffef4f643934

ISAAC DOVERE talks to SEN. JEFF MERKLEY (D-ORE.) for the latest "Off Message" podcast: "Almost no one knows who he is, but Jeff Merkley thinks there's a spot for him on the left flank of the 2020 Democratic primary-whether or not Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren run. He's already beaten Warren to Iowa, and spent more time in Des Moines this month than Sanders has since last year's caucuses.

"'If I believe that something matters, I'll throw myself into it, and I'm OK losing. But when you throw yourself in with that attitude, and you're all about teamwork, sometimes you win,' Merkley said, recounting a career that's already taken him through a surprise election as a state representative in Oregon to being picked as speaker of the statehouse to beating a popular incumbent to get to the Senate in 2008. 'I'm willing to take on battles that I feel are important.'

"He already has down the coyness of a politician who spends a weekend in Iowa and pretends he's shocked to hear people thinking he has presidential ambitions. 'I knew it would create some rumors, and obviously I guess I was right,' Merkley said. When I noted that he was obviously fine with that, he shot back, 'I was right about that.'" http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=ad8d5b43020dc04b2077bd92817c4cddf0a8fe7b4e4466ed98867503237becc4c9da0a177b6c7d4413c246512eb0ef3d18111f2032b156a2

FEC WATCH -- "How the FEC Turned a Blind Eye to Foreign Meddling: For years, my fellow FEC commissioners refused to apply campaign finance rules to the internet. Now Russia is running amok on Facebook," by Ann Ravel in POLITICO Magazine: "[P]olicymakers for years have ignored or outright opposed the need to hold the internet advertising industry to the same standards the country has already agreed on for television and radio. Our campaign finance rules are outdated for the internet age, and rules on the books aren't enforced. ... 

"I warned that Vladimir Putin could meddle in our elections nearly three years ago, as vice chair of the [FEC] ... Our vulnerabilities seemed obvious: The FEC's antiquated policies refer to fax machines and teletypes, but barely mention modern technological phenomena like social media, YouTube and bots. The inadequacy of the FEC's current regulations makes it practically impossible for both regulators and citizens to determine if the funding for a political advertisement online came from a domestic source or an enemy abroad." http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=ad8d5b43020dc04b52ab60856fd7f9e3905fd51cee0f2719b76298ccef8ff6e1c20fc084380f938be8328a31e2984f7b5ee48b7bff8855ff

****** A message from UC Davis: Next-generation, energy-efficient lighting developed at the UC Davis California Lighting Technology Center is transforming the way we see the world around us. At home, work and in our communities - even in our national parks - we are benefitting from cleaner, safer and more visually appealing lighting. All brought to market faster through the center's innovation, education and partnerships with designers, manufacturers, utilities and government agencies. Now isn't that bright? Learn more about how we're supporting sustainability on a global scale at 21stcentury.ucdavis.edu. ******

BUSINESS BURST -- "Equifax Is Said to Suffer a Hack Earlier Than the Date Disclosed," by Bloomberg's Michael Riley, Anita Sharpe and Jordan Robertson: "Equifax Inc. learned about a major breach of its computer systems in March -- almost five months before the date it has publicly disclosed, according to three people familiar with the situation. In a statement, the company said the March breach was not related to the hack that exposed the personal and financial data on 143 million U.S. consumers, but one of the people said the breaches involve the same intruders. ... Equifax hired the security firm Mandiant on both occasions and may have believed it had the initial breach under control, only
 to have to bring the investigators back when it detected suspicious activity again on July 29, two of the people said." http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=ad8d5b43020dc04b5aa531ec809470083ae6a78c57ef2630f0caf712153020584a12902f48809b507615102721c23e6160be92e1430e53f9

MEDIAWATCH -- "Fox News Guest Says Rape Allegation Blacklisted Her," by NYT's Emily Steel: "Fox News, which for more than a year has dealt with the fallout from an embarrassing sexual harassment scandal, was sued on Monday by the political commentator Scottie Nell Hughes, who claimed that she had been raped by the longtime anchor Charles Payne and was then retaliated against by the network after she came forward with her allegation. 

"Mr. Payne, the host of 'Making Money' on Fox Business, returned to the air this month after the network suspended him in July pending an investigation into his conduct. Upon his return, the network said that it had completed the investigation, which began after Ms. Hughes took her allegations to the network in late June. Mr. Payne's lawyer, Jonathan N. Halpern, said in a statement on Monday that his client 'vehemently denies any wrongdoing and will defend himself vigorously against this baseless complaint.'" http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=ad8d5b43020dc04b17a098ac9fd398de9f5da9cc424900f39694792b914a6b7a8f9c00e02ddd3b5f4612ed324ea5bc39842663f0ae2ff1d8

-- "A Casualty of Trump's War with CNN is Back in the Game," by Vanity Fair's Joe Pompeo: Thomas "Frank now has a new job covering national security and counterintelligence for BuzzFeed, which he landed after applying through a link he saw on Facebook. He will start on October 2 as the Web site's first full-time reporter on that beat. ... Frank, 54, is a seasoned reporter with 16 years in Washington and four stints in Iraq under his belt. Prior to joining CNN earlier this year, he spent more than a decade at USA Today, where he was a 2012 Pulitzer finalist." http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=ad8d5b43020dc04b7a1c97310e696191ae02809ccdde37ab19c28bc470d7353fe2b1f1ea0995d4d228674e924872f8cf97b3014d2a871fe1

-- "Laura Ingraham's Fox News Show To Debut October 30; 'Hannity' Will Take On 'Maddow' At 9 PM" - Deadline: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=ad8d5b43020dc04bae65ac34a331b56c5c890594b1c999557f86c47122c229c67d466f2a096c2d50f1afa816008a4175427fccc3f18a2bad

-- MASSIMO CALABRESI is now Time magazine's Washington bureau chief. ALEX ALTMAN will become national editor (h/t Morning Media).

                  Playbookers         
SPOTTED: Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.) walking into Rasika yesterday on M Street ... AFL-CIO's Richard Trumka on the Acela in first class class from NYC to DC. "He's talking about Biden and the potential of him in 2020," per our tipster ... Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) and Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke last night at the bar at the AMC Loews theater in Georgetown

TRANSITIONS -- FIRST IN PLAYBOOK - ANDY HEMMING, former director of rapid response in the Trump White House, is moving temporarily to Brussels to work for public affairs and strategic communications firm Red Flag.

-- Tyler Houlton has joined DHS as deputy press secretary. He was most recently director of federal affairs at Americans for Prosperity and is also a former House chief of staff and alum of the NRCC. ... Mara Sloan has been hired as comms director by the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee. She's an alum of Bill Nelson, DWS, DNC and the Glover Park Group. ...

... Dr. Megan Reiss is starting today at R Street as a senior national security fellow. She was previously the senior national security fellow for Sen. Ben Sasse (R-Neb.). ... Justin Platt is joining Edelman as a VP on their media strategies and services team. He previously worked in public affairs former U.S. Army Secretaries John McHugh and Eric Fanning.

WELCOME TO THE WORLD -- Melissa Kiedrowicz Ellison, legislative director for Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-Calif.), and John Ellison, senior director at Precision Network, welcomed their son Everett Gray Ellison this past Wednesday. Pic of proud big brother Henry holding his new best friend http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=ad8d5b43020dc04bd746ae5fa907ed5944355ecf9c2fdb0c3259c942562a2a92fe556b4d6f5dffd62734a604afa661c7daafdbd738886fa3

SPOTTED at David Litt's book party for "Thanks, Obama: My Hopey, Changey White House Years" last night at Comet Ping Pong: fianc&eacute;e Jacqui Kappler, host and owner of Comet Ping Pong James Alefantis, Brad Jenkins, Erik Smith and Edith Gregson, Kelley McCormick, Craig Gordon, Christina Sevilla, Garance Franke Ruta, Rick Klein, Perry Bacon, Scott Mulhauser, Polson Kanneth, Steve Clemons, Margaret Carlson, Julia Ioffe, Elizabeth Thorp, Shawna Thomas, Todd Flournoy, Mike Memoli, Mark Paustenbach, Alexandra Barnett, Isaac Dovere, Crystal Patterson, Rebecca Cooper, Cassie Spodak, Kimball Stroud and Christine Delargy

BIRTHWEEK (was yesterday): Weekly Standard books and arts editor Adam Keiper

BIRTHDAY OF THE DAY: Michael Barone, senior political analyst for the Washington Examiner, co-author of 'The Almanac of American Politics' and a Fox News contributor. A fun fact about him: "I have been to all 50 states and 435 congressional districts. I reached my last state and district, Alaska, when I landed at Ted Stevens International Airport in Anchorage in February 1998." Read his Playbook Plus Q&A: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=ad8d5b43020dc04bf595dfc4ab8487813282b0f05c4d072e8fee810af9d72cf4f28258c7fc41a1675845589bc61ab6ea491cb650f88032f3 

BIRTHDAYS: Ana Marie Cox ... Andrea Saul, policy comms at Facebook (hat tips: Ryan Williams, Tucker Bounds and Jackie Rooney) ... Roger Angell is 97 ... former Defense Secretary Harold Brown is 9-0 ... Spencer Garrett ... Christina Iskandar ... Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) is 52 ... Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas) is 62 ... Anne Garland ... Rebecca Blank, chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Madison ... Jeannie Bunton ... Sarah Davey ... Toby Chaudhuri ... Suzanne Salgado ... Chris Cooper, former WSJ now at Potomac Square Group (h/ts Jon Haber) ... Politico's David Pittman and Colleen Connolly ... David Silber (h/t Claude Marx) ... Greta Carnes is 26 (h/t Courtney Corbisiero) ... Ariana
 Mushnick, senior associate on the digital team at Precision Strategies (h/t Tom Zigo) ... Dorey Scheimer, producer at Cox Media's Washington Bureau (h/ts Niels Lesniewski and Zac Halpern) ... 

... WSJ's Lucette Lagnado ... John Byers, deputy chief of staff for Rep. Leonard Lance (R-N.J.) (h/t Lesley Fulop) ... Sarah Kleiner, federal politics reporter at the Center for Public Integrity (h/t Dave Levinthal) ... Carly Rolfe, who works on comms at the Nats ... Edward Scheinman, senior editor at Pacific Standard, is 32 (h/t Nadia Szold) ... Amanda DeBard ... Kate McMahon Etter ... Curtis Rhyne ... Kivvit's Maggie Moran ... Sarah Marie Miller ... Frank Konkel, executive editor at Nextgov ... Dan Kolko ... WSJ night editor Wade Lambert is 57 ... Andrea McCarren ... Neal Urwitz, director of external relations at the Center for a New American Security, is 34 ... Kimberly Halkett ... Sean
 Coit, comms director for Sen. Coons (D-Del.), is 3-0 ... Paul Logan ... Mike Laws ... Ali Glisson ... Adam Temple ... Bill Varian ... Greg Audel ... Bruce Alpert ... Janno Lieber ... Donn Stanley ... Mary Pat Day ... Larry Fox ... Mark Edwards ... Sarah Bailey (h/ts Teresa Vilmain)

****** A message from UC Davis: Next-generation, energy-efficient lighting developed at the UC Davis California Lighting Technology Center is transforming the way we see the world around us. At home, work and in our communities - even in our national parks - we are benefitting from cleaner, safer and more visually appealing lighting. All brought to market faster through the center's innovation, education and partnerships with designers, manufacturers, utilities and government agencies. Now isn't that bright? Learn more about how we're supporting sustainability on a global scale at 21stcentury.ucdavis.edu. ******

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